It had been an exhausting few days. In less than a week, she had made the plans to move herself and her baby to California all in an attempt to help Lucas with his recovery. Brooke would miss the East and her home in Greenwich and her cozy little loft in the city. Now she was embarking on a whole new world. She and Lucas would be living together again and it would be up to her to help him with his needs. Be a friend, a parent, an encourager and a nurse all wrapped in one. At the same time, her first priority would remain Harmony. All this in a Malibu beach house not much bigger than the city loft. Only three bedrooms and two bathrooms and in her haste to take care of everything, Brooke had had to trust the decorating skills of her sister in law. No disrespect to Haley, as her own mansion was gorgeous, but the two women had very different styles. Brooke loved name brands and imports, the more lavish and expensive, the better. Haley's tastes were warm and simple and upon moving to Brentwood had joked that she could decorate her whole 9.5 million dollar home for less than a grand at the local Target. Brooke shuddered involuntarily at the thought. She wished she could have gotten a larger place and decked it out with expensive art and furniture. Unfortunately her funds were ten steps behind her brain and Haley had so graciously volunteered to finance the decorating. Brooke hadn't had the heart to ask Lucas. Not that she was at the poorhouse yet. Most of her own money had been spent doing things for the Connecticut home as well all the cash she had shelled out for attorney's fees. She still had a surplus of wealth left but certainly not enough to be comfortable forever. With her sudden loss of income it would be foolish to drain her account on anything not a necessity.

"So this is really it, huh?"

"Don't sound so sad", Brooke quipped.

"I am sad, hag", Gordon pouted, tossing a grand size Kit Kat bar at her that landed with a thud against her head.

"Ouch! Gordie, this has to be the biggest piece of candy I've ever seen. What the hell am I supposed to do with it?"

"Diva, it's supposed to be a bribe. You know, so you won't leave me."

"Diamonds and cash would have worked better", she joked.

"What? Candy worked for Michelle Pfeiffer in that Dangerous Minds movie."

"And I will miss you most of all, Scarecrow", Brooke grinned, hugging him.

"I still can't believe you're going."

"You think I'm making a mistake?"

"I don't know, Diva. Only time will tell, I guess. But if it's any consolation, you are doing the right thing and I'm proud of you."

Brooke stuck up her middle finger.

"Everyone is proud of me and everyone says I am doing the right thing so that's all I have to say about that."

"Touchy, touchy", Gordon laughed. "Well, I'm sure you'll be a regular Florence Nightingale and Suzy Homemaker and old Judas will appreciate your services. Shit, I'd get on his payroll if I were you."

"Don't even get me started. I will be on his payroll as soon as he signs the damned divorce papers. I know we're not supposed to push him or upset him but damn! I am five steps away from the Salvation Army 35 grand a month in alimony plus an additional 20 for child support doesn't sound too shabby right about now."

"Child, for that I'd forge his signature."

"It's more than that, though. We'll be living together again in a very small spaces and well let's say I have a feeling Mr. Scott won't exactly qualify for patient of the year. He has been moody and depressed and I have a feeling we might be butting heads sooner than later."

"Girl, don't pay no attention to Judas. You are doing the right thing but at the same time you're doing him a favour, too. Just slip some Nyquil in his drink if that fool starts tripping."

"God, I'm going to miss you. Promise you'll come visit?"

"No doubt. It's gonna be more drama and mess in that house than an ER episode during February sweeps. You know my nosy ass is like Aerosmith…I don't want to miss a thing! Whoo child!"

"I just pray to get through this. Let me make it the next few months, let us be able to get along and not kill each other, let him recover, please oh please let him sign the divorce papers then we both move on."

"It's gonna be hard on him. Not having ball, I mean."

"Tell me about it", she agreed.

"I feel sorry for him. What time is his press conference today?"

Brooke looked at her watch.

"A few minutes actually. ESPN is airing it live at 4."

It was the day Lucas Scott would announce to the world that he was leaving the NBA forever.

"You didn't want to go?"

"I don't think I could handle it."

"Well you better learn because I want to watch. Shoot what channel is ESPN again? Child, if it ain't Lifetime, MTV, Women's Entertainment or HBO after dark, you know I ain't with it."

"26", Brooke sighed as she settled down to watch.

Moments later they went live and Lucas sat with his former Knick coach, a trainer, a doctor and a lawyer.

"We go live to Radio City Music Hall where Lucas Scott is expected to give a statement concerning the problems with his health that almost killed him last month…"

Lucas began reading from the prepared statement.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, members of the media. Although I will not be answering any of your questions at this time, today I have come to announce that it is with great regret and sadness that I must leave the team I love, the New York Knicks, as well as the NBA franchise that has been so good to me over the years. I am officially retiring due to physical complications from a heart attack I suffered last month. I have a heart condition known as HCM. It's a mutation that causes the heart muscles to thicken. Eventually it stops the heart from pumping blood and that is what led to my cardiac arrest. Although I can be treated with therapy and medication to live a long and normal life, the condition is aggravated by extreme stress and physical activity thus making it impossible to continue playing the sport I love. I have thoroughly enjoyed my years in the NBA. I'd like to thank my coaches and trainers and all the guys I have played with and against out on that court. I'd like to thank my little brother, Nathan Scott, who in my absence now might actually have a shot at a championship", he joked. "Seriously though…much love and thanks to my family…my mother, Karen Rowe, my brother, my sister in law, Haley Scott, my little nephews, Aidan and Tristan Scott, my step mother, Deborah Scott and most of all my baby daughter, Harmony…"

"Thanks for the acknowledgement, asswipe", Brooke angrily mumbled.

"…I'd also like to thank my friends, too many to name but you know who you are. My agents and manager and publicist and of course the fans. You guys have loyally stuck by me ever since I began as a Tarheel over eight years ago. Thank you for your prayers, gifts, letters, well wishes and overall kindness. It helps more than you know. I also ask that you please give me as well as those close to me, a little privacy in the next few months as we attempt a new life with this ordeal as well as I began my cardio rehabilitation. Thank you all."

The reporters were in a frenzy yelling out question after question but true to his word, as soon as the statement was read, Lucas calmly left the press conference. Immediately Gordon began going on and on and on. He sat a few feet away but Brooke couldn't even hear him. Her mind had drifted elsewhere…

He collapsed on the shiny hardwood floor of his new and beautiful but unfurnished loft. The sights and the sounds of the city reverberated from an open window a few feet away. New York City was a long way from Tree Hill, North Carolina. Now both would be home thanks to the Knicks hat still on his head following the first of several NBA draft parties. He had done it. Slowly but surely the mission was accomplished. From the River Court to the Ravens to the Tarheels and now he was finally a professional basketball player in the NBA. It all seemed to much for the broody, small town boy who had grown up buffing paint jobs in his uncle's fledgling auto body shop.

"Well, if isn't the greatest thing that's happened to basketball since Michael Jordan", Brooke grinned as she emerged from the dark shadows. "Husband, guess who is the proudest and luckiest wife in all the world? I'll tell you, all signs definitely point to me."

In her hand was a bottle of champagne and two glasses. On her body was the new number 3 "Scott" Knicks jersey.

"Brooke…where the hell did you get that?" Lucas laughed. "Babe, they won't be out for months."

"I have my ways. Now let's say we celebrate. Toast to new careers and a new life in a new city."

They clinked glasses and took a sip.

"And to me being smart enough to marry the most beautiful woman in the world", Lucas smiled. "My incredibly sexy, talented, wonderful bride who by the way looks absolutely smoking in my new jersey. And uh, I can't wait to see what's underneath it."

"Nothing", she grinned seductively, pulling it up to expose the non existent panty line of her creamy and bare hip.

Lucas licked his lips and gulped the rest of his drink, pulling her on top of him in one swift motion.

"My, my, my, Mr. Scott. Aren't we quite the little impatient horndog?" she laughed as she kissed him.

He kissed her lips, neck, and shoulders before stopping. The lights were seeping in through the window just enough to cast an elegant glow across her face. Lucas tenderly removed a stray piece of hair that had fallen in her eyes.

"I love you, Brooke. I mean that."

"I love you, too."

"I just want you to know that all my dreams have finally come true. Everything I wanted and imagined in life and it's here and now. The NBA was always a dream and now it's a dream come true. Thank you. As great at this moment is, it wouldn't nearly be as special without you."

She looked in his eyes and saw tears of hope, joy and sincerity. She was his future and he was her whole world.

"I love you, number 3, Mr. Lucas Eugene Scott", she smiled.

"I love you, too."

"Show me…", she whispered.

"Diva…diva, are you listening to me?"

"Huh? I mean, yeah."

"Damn, you've been off daydreaming a million miles away. Where have you been, La La Land? Welcome back, Kotter."

"I wasn't in La La Land, Gordie", she smiled fondly. "I just took a brief trip back to a time and place where things were perfect and wonderful."

"Your happy place, huh?"

"Yeah", she repeated. "My happy place."

A place now that existed only in sweet memories. A place she doubted she could ever return to again.