Lucas, Brooke and little Harmony settled comfortably into the seats aboard their private plane. In an hour or so they would be landing at North Carolina's New Brunswick Airport. Lucas couldn't help but smile as he watched his daughter nurse from his wife's breast. In his eyes there had never been a more natural or beautiful sight.

"Brooke, are you sure it was okay to bring her?"

"Dr. Whaley said it was fine."

He nodded but was still uneasy. It had been a few weeks but Harmony's pneumonia had seemingly cleared up and she was back to her happy, content self. Still she had given her parents quite the scare and Lucas wanted to make certain a physician had approved for them to take the child on a trip. Brooke was uneasy as well but for more reasons than one. They were headed back to Tree Hill for Dan's 46th birthday party, an event Brook wasn't exactly looking forward to. She had no desire to be around him so instead she had opted to stay over at Karen's.

"So", Lucas began. "Did your attorneys call you with the big news yet?"

"Yeah", Brooke smiled as she rolled her eyes. "Some legal mumbo jumbo about needing a few extra weeks to sort out some of our financial divisions."

"Yep. Looks like you're gonna be stuck being married to me longer than planned."

"Woe is me", Brooke joked.

She was just teasing but in reality had become quite comfortable with her situation with Lucas. They were getting along better than ever and she was able to look back on the events of the past year and no longer hate him. Ever since he had accepted the fact that the marriage was over and stopped his groveling and whining, they had settled into a comfortable arrangement. They were friends and more importantly, he was an excellent, loving and attentive father towards Harmony.

"Hey five years hasn't been that bad, has it?"

"No…I guess it hasn't", she replied with a tired smile.

"Um, I'm probably gonna move back to the loft in the city but I'm looking for another house in Greenwich."

"Well it's no rush for you to move out just yet. I know you don't want to be away from Harmony any longer than you have to and I'm certainly not looking forward to the shared custody thing just yet."

He agreed with her as he nodded. Taking care of the minor details now made everything seem so final. It was really happening. It was no longer just talk or a plan in the far off distance. The marriage was really ending.

-----------

"Brooke, I'm really glad you and Harmony decided to stay with me", Karen said as she offered her daughter in law a mug of hot tea. "I don't get to see enough of you guys and it's a real shame."

"Thank you for having us. Sorry but I just couldn't bare the thought of being under the same roof with Dan."

"Join the club", Karen chuckled. "Actually he has toned it down and been a nicer person since his heart attack."

"I guess", Brooke lied, almost tempted to tell Karen about what had transpired over breakfast the morning of Harmony's christening. "I mean, was he always like that?"

"What? You mean a world class jerk?"

"Yeah", Brooke laughed.

"Not always", Karen said softly. "The man you know today is not the man I fell in love with almost 30 years ago. Something happened to Dan that makes him the way he is although I don't know quite what it is. Maybe it was me and getting pregnant that was all too much for him. I don't know. I just know that once upon a time he was a sweet, genuine guy and we were blissfully happy and head over heels in love. And one day it just all ended. He hurt me and worse, he hurt our son and turned into the monster that we know and loathe today."

"In a round about way, maybe you and Luke were the lucky ones. I'm sure it was much harder on Nathan and Deb. I feel sorry for Deb. She's such a nice person, I could never figure out how she put up with all his crap over the years. Anyway, I was concerned at first that he didn't want to have much to do with Harmony but now I'm kind of glad. Hell, better no influence than a bad one, right?"

Brooke stared out the window at the starry night sky. Even though it was home there was always something strangely suffocating about Tree Hill, now so more than ever. More than anything she wanted out with her daughter. She prayed for the strength to somehow just survive the party and get back North where things were somewhat simpler.

-------------------

The Scott residence was in full swing by the time Brooke arrived. The first person she saw was Haley sitting alone on the sofa and for a minute there was an awkward moment as the two women stared at each other. Then their glares softened as Brooke made her way over to Haley.

"So…been to any bad parties, lately?" she grinned.

"What besides this annual 'kiss Dan's ass' jamboree?" Haley managed to smile.

"Yeah, I can't believe I'm here either. Funny, how every year we get roped into this. Lucas really wanted me to come and I sort of agreed and well, you know the rest…"

"Well, I'm glad you came, Brooke."

"You are? I mean, you're not still mad? About that, Haley…"

"No, it's okay. Really Brooke. You don't have to explain. I totally overreacted and I'm sorry about that. Choosing the godparents was up to you and Lucas and honestly I think Gordon and Peyton were excellent choices. You're really close to them both and I know they really love Harmony."

"They do but I guess I should have talked it over with everyone first. I hurt your feelings and I'm sorry for that. Hales, you know I'd never do something like that on purpose."

"Yeah…I know. It's just that with you and Luke getting divorced soon and everything. Well, it's kind of scary. For so long it's always been you and Lucas and Nathan and me. We all started dating at the same time and we got married at the same time and we had our kids together. Somehow I just thought it was all gonna last forever, you know? And now real life is setting in and you're going to move on. I mean, I love you and I want you to be happy but at the same time I feel like I'm losing both you and Harmony."

"Hales, sorry to break it to you but you are never getting rid of me", Brooke smiled as she squeezed her hand. "Think of me like…herpes. I might even go away for a while but trust me, I'll be there until the very end."

"Brooke, that's disgusting", Haley laughed. "See? That's another thing. I'm gonna miss your wacky analogies."

"We'll always be there for each other, Haley. Lucas will still be around to be a father to our daughter and after eleven years, this family has kind of grown on me so there's no way I would just walk out on you guys. We're still going to be friends and we'll still raise our children together. I'm divorcing Lucas, not you or Nate or Aidan and Tristan or Deb and Karen. Nothing will change."

"Promise?"

"Pinky promise", she grinned before the women hugged. "Now let me make the dreaded rounds and show my face so I can get the hell out of here in one piece."

Brooke felt relieved after making up with Haley. After all they had spent years united as sisters and not just in name only. It was almost a full time job being married to a Scott and they'd shared a common unity over time. No matter a silly fight, hurt feelings or a divorce, both knew that bond would never die.

Brooke had decided it tacky if she showed up without a present so at the last minute had ordered two custom made platinum cuff links. As she placed the gift with the others, she saw her step mother looking ten years younger and like a million bucks in a fitted black gown.

"Oh Brooke, it's so nice to see you", Deb said as the women exchanged hugs. "I love your dress."

"Yours too. And your hair! Oh Deb it is absolutely gorgeous", she said, referring to her step mother's classic up do.

"If you think her hair looks great now, then you should have seen the mop when she woke up this morning", Dan grinned, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.

Like always he just seemed to pop up like the villain in a bad horror flick. And when he made his grand presence known, it was usually followed by some lame and tasteless joke at the expense of others. The smug look on his face was too much for Brooke. She'd had it. She'd had it for eleven years.

"Well Dan, that is pretty rude of you."

"Brooke, it's okay…", Deb began.

"No Deb, it's not. Dan, you're an ass. This is your wife and you shouldn't be insulting her here or anywhere for that matter. Deb, you look beautiful tonight but if you could, please excuse me. All of a sudden, I need a breath of fresh air."

Brooke made her way out to the terrace where she cursed herself for ever making the God forsaken trip back to Tree Hill, especially considering the occasion. Fumbling inside her purse, she pulled out a pack of cigarettes, her hands shaking as she struggled to light the Marlboro.

"You know those things will kill you…"

"And so will being married to you", she quipped. "Lucas, please. With the night I am having, I am so not in the mood for one of your 'tobacco kills' lectures. Please. Just let me enjoy my cancer stick in peace."

"Fine", he shrugged. "In fact, I think I will enjoy one with you."

She smiled as he stole a cigarette from her pack and lit it. They sat in silence for a while just blowing smoke rings in the night air.

"So Mom is looking after Harmony?"

"Yeah."

"And she's doing okay?"

"Except for the sniffles. But Karen has her medicine. They'll be fine."

"Good. I…I'm glad you came tonight, Brooke."

"Yeah? That makes one of us."

"Well, I'm glad I came too."

"Why?"

"Look, I know Dan has been pretty much a prick my whole life. I'm kind of used to it but you know after high school we tried making amends or whatever. For the last eight years, we've had our differences but for the most part we've been civil. I don't know, ever since the heart attack, it's like he's gotten better. I'm not saying we should saint the guy or anything but I've actually enjoyed spending time with him this visit. It was nice. He wants to see Harmony before we leave so I was thinking about bringing her over here tomorrow so they can hang out or whatever. I think…"

"No!" Brooke shouted.

"What?"

"No, Lucas. Um, I don't think that's a good idea. You know she's been sick and all…"

"But you said she's fine now. Brooke, what's really going on?"

"I'm sorry. Look, I know he is your father and maybe he's been better to you recently but that doesn't erase his entire history of being the Tree Hill tyrant. I don't want to expose our baby to that."

"Brooke, the man is trying…"

"That's not good enough for me."

"No, I guess it's not. Forgiveness isn't one of your strong points."

Brooke tossed her cigarette and began to storm off before Lucas grabbed her hand.

"Brooke, wait. I'm sorry, okay? Please don't leave. I shouldn't have said that. I…I just want to do the right thing by my daughter. No, he was never there for me but maybe he can be for her. I've wrestled with this in my head over and over again and I don't think it's right to deny Harmony her grandfather. She should be allowed to make her own choices."

"It's not a good idea", Brooke repeated quietly. "I don't trust him, Luke."

"I'm not sure I do yet either but he at least deserves a chance. Sometimes you have to give people the benefit of the doubt and look for what's in their heart. Dan hasn't always done the right thing but deep down I don't necessarily think he is some horrible person either. He's just who he is. All the grumbling and the tough words are just a front."

Brooke looked in Luke's eyes and saw the hope etched in them. What if he was right? What if Dan was just all talk? What if she had blown their conversation completely out of proportion?"

"Fine", she sighed. "I'm still not totally sure about this but I'm willing to give it a try as long as you stay with them the whole time. Pick Harmony up after lunch tomorrow. I'll have her ready."

Lucas smiled and thanked her, placing a lingering and sweet kiss on her cheek. She closed her eyes as her skin tingled just being near him. Quickly shaking the feeling, she returned to the house just in time as the guests began singing Happy Birthday. A pretty, young and petite brunette Brooke had never seen before was front and center, singing the loudest. Dan smirked the whole time, never taking his eyes off of her even as Deb looked visibly upset. After the cake was served, Brooke decided it was time to make her getaway. She slipped on her coat and snuck out the back. Facing the pool house a few feet away in the shadows she could see two people. It looked as if they were making out and for a minute it looked like Nathan and Haley. Brooke got a closer look and saw Dan and the mystery lady. She thought she might be ill as she hailed a cab and fled back to Karen's. All she wanted was to get her baby and go and that is exactly what she intended the next morning. She had been a fool and so had Lucas to believe that someone like Dan could and would ever change. Bitter tears stung her eyes. People didn't change and sorry was just another word. Maybe forgiveness wasn't her strong point but she vowed to remain unforgiving as opposed to letting her guard down and being duped by the unscrupulous. At 26, she was old enough to know better and she could take it. But Harmony was just a baby, an innocent soul and it would be Brooke's job to protect her… always.