Author's Note: Flashback sequences written in Italics...

Brooke looked on as little Harmony squealed with delight as Brooke let her tiny legs dangle in the shallow end of the beach. The child, looking adorable in a pink bathing suit and matching sun hat, loved to play and splash in the waves. Those were the times when Brooke felt most serene and in control. When she could be free and one with the ocean as she held her little girl.

Lucas emerged from the house, just standing on the steps as he watched his wife and daughter frolicking in the sea. It warmed him all over. After ten months, sometimes it was hard to believe that he was actually a father. He couldn't believe how beautiful she was and how much she had grown. Most of all, he couldn't believe how much he loved her. He never knew that he could feel so strongly and unselfishly for another human being. He wanted to give her everything and be everything for her. He wanted to be the father he never had. Although he never in a million years could have imagined just what his daughter would mean to him, he remembered the exact day when he first realized he wanted her in his life…

He harbored much love, respect and passion for the game. He always had, ever since he was a boy. Playing professionally had been a dream come true and he often referred to the NBA as "the other love of his life", only coming in second to his wife, Brooke. Yet another season was over and although it had ended for the Knicks just days prior, he was already itching to get back on the court. Nathan had said to him once, "Bro, there is no such thing as not being on the court. If you're not on the court playing ball, you're then getting ready to go on the court and play ball". It was painfully obvious that that kind of mentality had been instilled inside Nathan by Dan from a very early age but in his own heart, Lucas felt that there was truth to that sort of sentiment. One season had barely ended and already he was anxiously planning for and looking forward to another one.

"Heads up", Nathan warned to his older brother as he tossed a football in their private pool at the Westin Resort and Spa hotel in Cancun, Mexico.

Lucas caught the pass just in time.

"I got it, little bro. You're playing with the Tree Hill Middle School 6th grade Jr. Football League MVP, you know."

"How could I forget?" Nathan asked with a laugh. "You only tell me every time we hang out and start tossing the ball around. I don't know. You're looking a little distracted today. Worried about our wives who are out right now doing the dangerous 's' word with our credit cards?"

"You mean shopping and spending all our money? Unfortunately Brooke has made that into an art form and in the process she has managed totrain me. I'm actuallygetting kind of used to it although I'll never admit it to anyone else. Anyway, I'm just thinking about next season."

"Why?"

"Why not?"

"Because we are in a kick ass hotel on the white, sandy beaches of Cancun, living it up on our extended vacations with our incredibly sexy wives. That's why", Nathan grinned, catching another pass.

"I know but I'm just excited about next season. I can't wait. Man, there is nothing like coming out from that locker room at the Garden and having thousands of people scream for you while you do what you love. There is no bigger rush. Isn't that how you feel when you're out there?"

"Of course", Nathan shrugged. "The fans and the fame and the money…it's great. I guess that's what I worked for my whole life to get where we are today. Dad always said there was nothing more important but he was wrong, Luke. I knew that the moment I fell in love with Haley."

"Don't get me wrong. I love Brooke to death and our marriage will always come first but basketball…it's weird. I can't describe how it makes me feel or how much I love it but I really do. Hell, Brooke and that ball are about the only constant things I've had in my life."

"I know but remember, it's just a job, dude. Yeah we love it and it's way different than your average nine to five but it's still just a job."

"I remember the first basket I ever scored as a pro. It was a 22 footer three point shot against the New Orleans Hornets. That was the best night of my life. But I guess I don't have to tell you that. How many moments have you had like that in your career? Remember that game winning three you hit from half court against the Clippers? That got you guys into the playoffs. That was your rookie season, man. That had to be like the greatest night of your life."

"One of", Nathan answered honestly. "It's up there with scoring 63 points the last game I ever played for Whitey and the sophomore year at UNC when you and I won the co MVP trophy and of course my wedding night with Hales. But you know what the best night of my life was? When Aidan was born."

"That little nephew of mine is pretty cool", Lucas smiled. "It's hard to believe sometimes. Feels like yesterday we were back in high school without a care in the world and now we're both in the NBA and both married and you're a dad now. Too weird, bro. Did you ever think it would be like this?"

"No. I love L.A. and I love being a Laker and I really love being married to Haley. Everything just sort of fell into place at the right time. She was happy pursuing the music thing and I thought everything was perfect and one night she just told me that she wanted to have a baby. It was out of the blue and I was tired coming off the road from aseven game trip and nursing a sprained ankle. You know how sometimes you come off the road and you're fucking exhausted and all you want to do is sleep?"

"Hell yeah", Lucas grinned.

"And when that happens, what doesthe wife want to do?"

"Talk", they both laughed in unison.

"Anyway, I just wanted to sleep and Hales gives me this big spill about starting a family and having babies and all I hear is blah, blah, blah. So I finally go to bed and the next morning she serves me breakfast in bed then we spend the weekend sailing in San Francisco and we make love for like three days straight. So I have another road trip and I come home and I see her getting dressed after a shower and I noticed she didn't have that patch thing on her hip anymore. Dude, I feel the panic creeping up in me so I casually ask her about it and she says she stopped using birth control the night 'we' decided to try to have kids."

"The night you were just blowing smoke up her ass and telling her what she wanted to hear so she would shut up and let you sleep", Lucas chuckled.

"Exactly. You know how women are and you especially know how sensitive Hales is. I couldn't exactly go back and renig on something as important as children. So I did what any other guy in my position would do. I just prayed that I wouldn't knock her up. Lo and behold, the next month, dude. The very next month her period is late. She's excited meanwhile I'm feeling like I got run over by a freight train. Finally we take the test and I am silently begging God for there not to be two little pink lines but of course they were. So that was it. 'We' were pregnant all of a sudden. At first it wasn't really real to me, then I started seeing her body change. Then there were the ultrasounds and I felt him moving inside her. It was sort of cool. By delivery time, I was more excited than Haley. And she was in labor and pain for hours and finally this wrinkly, wet, squawking little thing comes out and they put him in my arms and I looked at him and I can't even explain it, bro. I've never felt like that. I just knew at that moment that he was my son and that I'd love him and protect him with my life and that his safety and health and happiness…well, nothing elsemeant more. I still spend hours just feeding him and watching him sleep. I don't even mind the diaper duty. I just can't explain how it is. And I think about the bond that I have with Aidan and it makes me wonder what the hell happened with Dad and us. But there's nothing like it. It's the best feeling in the world, better than any amount of money or any dumb game, I can tell you that much."

Lucas listened as he studied his younger brother's face and mannerisms. The sincerity in his eyes and the love in his voice were plain to see. Aidan had been a surprise and not one Nathan particularly wanted but the little boy had changed his life and now was the best part of it. It made Lucas think about all the recent conversations he and Brooke had had. It made him think about how good she was with their nephew or how she would stop strangers on the street just to play with their babies in the strollers. Maybe Nathan had a point…

Lucas could hardly wait for the elevator to reach the top floor. He felt like sprinting to their hotel suite. When he arrived, there she was on the bed in a blue bikini reading the latest edition of Cosmopolitan. She looked gorgeous, he thought as he hopped on the bed with her.

"What's up with you, Broody?" she asked, not bothering to look up from her article.

"Let's do it, Brooke", he blurted.

"We did it this morning…twice."

"Not that", he said, taking the magazine away. "I mean we'll have to do it in order to do it but…"

"Lucas, you're losing me, babe. I think you and your brother were outin the sun just a little too long. Now what are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about a baby. I want to have one with you…now. I don't mean right now like tomorrow but we can start trying. I'm ready, Brooke."

Tears filled her eyes and her heart skipped a beat. She could hardly believe her ears.

"Lucas, are you serious? I thought you said we should wait a couple of years…"

"I know what I said but maybe I was wrong. I mean, why wait? We're young and healthy. We can certainly afford a kid and I know we could make time for it. Brooke, all that stuff I said before was because I was scared. Scared of change, scared of what a new addition might do to us as a couple, scared of what kind of father I might be. But I'm not scared anymore. I love you and I want us to be happy together and all of a sudden the thought of a few rugrats running around doesn't sound so bad. So what do you say?"

"Are you serious?"

"I'm serious. Tell me what you think, Cheery."

"I think...I think that I am so happy I'm about to explode right now. And I think you are going to make the most excellent father ever. And I also think that I'm the luckiest girl in the world. I mean that. I love you, Luke."

He smiled and kissed her tears hugging her smaller body close to him. He felt complete and at peace. That's what Brooke had done for his life. He loved her and when he looked into her eyes, all doubts were erased. He saw his future…their future.

He couldn't help but smile as he walked over towards them.

"Peyton called", he said. "She said thanks for the tickets to the Keane concert for her birthday and that she and Jake had a blast. I told her you'd call her back when you put Harmony down for a nap."

"I knew she would love those tickets. It was either that or Modest Mouse."

"What do you know about Keane and Modest Mouse?" Lucas grinned.

"Plenty", she scoffed. "I for one happen to listen to their music."

"What are you trying to do? Give me another heart attack?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, it's just that this is a huge contrast from the girl I met years ago back in Tree Hill. When we were teens you always used to yell at Peyton and me about our 'creepy little alternative bands', as you liked to call them. You've always been more mainstream, I guess. You're usually into the commercial stuff, whatever is hot at the moment. Usher, Madonna…"

"I like different kinds of music. I always have or did you forget the Pearl Jam concert freshman year of college?"

"Man, I had forgotten that. That was a good time. Pey and me were Eddie Vedder freaks and we practically had todrag you and Jake to that concert."

"You did not drag us and Jake and I had fun, or at least I did."

"Yeah right. Brooke, you complained the entire time especially when Peyton's car broke down."

"Yeah because you guys didn't want to wait for the tow truck."

"Because the tow truck would have made us miss the concert. So we had to improvise."

"Improvise?" Brooke laughed. "Lucas, we hitchhiked!"

"It was Eddie Vedder for God's sake. Desperate times call for desperate measures."

"Then we get all the way to the concert and Peyton realized she had left the tickets back in her car which was what? 150 miles back on the side of the road? You were so mad at her."

"Not as mad as she was at herself. And then if it couldn't get worse, it decided to rain cats and dogs. Thank goodness we ran into that scalper dude."

"Thank goodness he didn't jip us because if he had we all would have been royally screwed. We gave him all our money."

"But it was worth it in the end", Lucas recalled fondly. "Third row seats. I remember you started crying when they sang Jeremy."

"I did, didn't I? It was just kind of cool, you know? Seems like we had to go to hell and back to get there and then we made it and it turned out okay and it was just kind of nice, I guess. Gosh, I haven't been to a concert in like ages. That's what I'm gonna do when this is all over. I am going to go to a really cool concert and just rock out in the front row. Take away all the stress of the last few months. I think I'll need it after putting up with you", she teased.

"You know you like it. You know you love being stuck with me in a small, cramped little beach house with a horrendous moose head on the wall", Lucas laughed.

"What have I told you before? I'm not one of your little fans."

"I've received hundreds of offers in the mail from fans who said they'd be willing to help if I needed it. I'm sure they wouldn't mind the moose head."

"I believe that", she grinned. "You and Nathan have had 'fans' ever since we were in high school. People were just drawn to you. I never really understood what that was like. When we first moved to New York we couldn't even take a walk on the street without you getting mobbed. To me, you've always been just Luke. You were always down to earth and easy going and normal yet to the world you're some sort of icon."

The smile on Luke's face faded to a thoughtful look as he carefully pondered his response.

"I don't know, it's weird, Brooke. I am a regular guy. I eat, shit, and bleed like every other human being. When I see fans and girls and stuff falling all over me and crying...it's like they want to know me. You know? They send me gifts and they pay ridiculous amounts of money to wear jerseys and shoes with my name on them. That's so strange to me the way they act sometimes. Like I loved Pearl Jam growing up and if I'd ever met Eddie Vedder I probably would have cried or passed out like a little bitch. I would have flipped out. Then I have people who feel the same way about me. It's weird and strange and surreal and crazy but totally wonderful at the same time. There's nothing like it. I love the fans. You've got your weirdoes out there and stuff but for the most part everyone is really sweet and genuine. That support system has always meant everything to Nathan and me. Playing in the NBA is all we've dreamed about since the time we were little kids. I've devoted everything to that and I'm proud. I am most comfortable on that court and I love the sport so much it didn't matter if I was playing in front of 2 people on the River Court or 15,000 at the Garden. There's nothing in the world like it. I guess I was a pretty lucky guy."

"I'll say", Brooke replied, touched by his sincerity and honesty. "You are still a lucky guy. You got to do what you loved. You were great at it and people still love you for it. It made you happy and fulfilled. Who could ask for more than that? Maybe your career is over but your life isn't. And who says you have to ditch the sport completely? There are other things you can do and still be involved with basketball but first of all, we need to get you healthy again. When can you start doing the therapy and stuff?"

"The doctor says to take it slow but I can pretty much start anytime I'm ready."

"Okay. What the heck have you been waiting for?"

Her words so simple and true smacked him across the head and awakened something within him. Brooke was right. He did have the life he had always wanted. This condition was just another one of life's little tests. It was a major setback but one that he could still overcome. God had spared his life and given him a second chance. Now it was up to him to live it. What in the hell was he waiting for?

"You're right, Brooke", Lucas whispered. "Damn, you're exactly right. I guess it is time to get off my butt and get cracking. I got a lot of work ahead of me but I can do it. And I'm ready."

"That's the spirit, Rocky", she grinned. "I'm proud of you. If you need anything, then I'm here. I mean it. I do promise not to be annoying and overbearing and I swear I will not cook anymore or attempt to fix anythingor test my ER skills out on you and the defibrillator. But I will help you with whatever you need."

He smiled to himself. Little did she know that she already had.