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

It was a pretty California day and Lucas had felt up to a slow jog on the beach with his daughter and the dog. Brooke had used the time to catch up on her favorite daytime talk shows and soap operas but it was hard to concentrate on the TV drama when she had so much in her own life to deal with. Silently she stared at the digital pictures saved on the computer of Jake and Peyton's wedding. It had been perfect and they looked so happy. She smiled as she looked at each photo…the newlywed couple, a picture of the food table Haley had prepared, the children, the entire Jagielski family and finally the last two were group photographs. The first showed the entire gang smiling sweetly at the cameras. It looked liked something out of a magazine with the beautiful purple sky for background. The latter photo had caught Jake with his eyes closed, Peyton looking away, Gordon in some ridiculous Vogue pose, Nathan with dreaded red eyes, Haley yawning and the kids in various forms of disarray. But the most disturbing part was Lucas and Brooke themselves. She was the only person looking directly into the camera and her expression was so sad. And Lucas was looking right at her with an intensity she had never seen before. She studied the photo and wandered what they must have been thinking at that moment? Maybe about their own wedding on the beach just a few short years earlier…

The telephone rang and it startled Brooke back into reality. She sighed as she answered it.

"Hello?"

"So how is my favorite daughter in law?"

"Huh?"

"Actually, you're my only daughter in law…I think. How's it going?"

Brooke recognized the voice.

"Karen. Hey."

"I was just calling to say hi and see how things are going. You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry. I've just been a little out of it lately."

"What's on your mind? Is that boy of mine driving you insane?"

"Actually, he is", Brooke replied with a meek smile.

"Oh God, what's he doing now? He should be grateful that you're there to take help take care of him. Heart condition or not, he better not be disrespecting you and giving you grief when you're just trying to help out. I think I raised him a little better than that."

"No, no, it's not that. We've been getting along much better lately. I am actually kind of worried about him."

"Is Lucas okay?"

"Physically he's better. He's healing and the doctors are pretty pleased about that. He's being a lot nicer too but still he gets in these moods sometimes. I guess he can't help it. He gets sullen and quiet and he doesn't want to be bothered. All he does it watch TV. It doesn't happen too often but when it does, it's pretty freaky. It's hard to see him like that but I guess he'll never really be the same after the heart attack."

"Things happen in our lives and change who we are as people sometimes, Brooke. Like how having Harmony changed your life. You remember the person you used to be before you became a mother? Lucas is probably just trying to adjust to the man he is now and the person he once was."

"I remember who he was before this. Before all of this. Before the heart attack and the Felix and Anna stuff and before the cheating. I remember who we both were. The only word I can think of to describe our marriage was glorious. We were so happy and we did almost everything together. I remember picnics in Central Park and watching the marathons. On Sundays we'd put on sweats and baseball caps and catch the subway and walk through the city. Just blending in and doing all the New York things couples do, I guess."

"You miss it?"

"Of course I do. Who wouldn't? Most of all, I just miss him. Talking to him and looking in his eyes. Sometimes just being together, doing nothing but enjoying the peace. We haven't had peace for a long time, Karen. I miss that. I miss the old Lucas."

"I know what you mean, Brooke and you're exactly right. Luke is different and I don't like it. He can't help it and it's just a phase I suppose but it bothers me just the same. He's always been a thoughtful person. Very strong and determined and smart as a whip. Even when he was a baby he was just a take charge kind of little guy, a born leader. When he had all those problems growing up with Dan, God knows it must have killed him inside a thousand times but he was strong. He held it together and spent more time worrying about me than himself. He's a good son. He always tried to take care of me. And when he got hooked on basketball, he was committed to it 100 percent. So many nights he'd break curfew and I'd sit up at the kitchen table worried to death so I'd eventually get in my car and drive down to the River Court and there he'd be shooting hoops in the dark with Fergie and Skills. Sometimes I'd get so frustrated with him but he was talented and he stuck it out. He stood up to the pressure of Dan and Nathan and stayed motivated and committed to being the best. He always made a way. He managed to play ball, be an honor roll student, work at Keith's shop and help out at the café. He always kept a good head and worked damned hard to make things better. Lucas always looked on the bright side. He's a good man, Brooke. He has never quit anything his whole life and I hope he doesn't start now. I don't want him to give up on everything. His sickness, having to quit the NBA, your marriage…"

"I know. It's been rough on him. But sometimes I look at him and I see the old Luke. The one before all this happened. That gives me hope, Karen. I know he's still there."

"What about you, honey? Are you still there?"

Brooke knew exactly what Karen meant. It was as if the two women were communicating in some type of secret code. Yes it was about the "old" Lucas but it was also about the "old" Brooke as well. Could she look inside herself and see the happy woman with the uncomplicated life who used to exist before the confused and unforgiving creature that now loomed.

"I don't know, Karen. I don't know."

That seemed to be the million dollar question and one that haunted Brooke around the clock.

-------

Brooke was so excited she could barely contain herself. She pounded on the door with a lopsided grin on her face.

"Open up, Luke! Wake up! It's me. I've got something for you."

A sleepy Lucas opened the door, his boxer shorts rumpled.

"Brooke, what the hell? It's like eight in the morning. What are you doing?"

"Look", she said proudly, pointing to a box in the hallway. "That's all yours."

"What is it?"

"Mail. I picked it up this morning. You've been neglecting your P.O. box here so I went to pick up the stuff because the Post Office was running out of room. That full box is yours and you have another two in the living room."

"Well thank you and I appreciate it. I'll get to it later", he said, crawling back in bed.

"No", she laughed, dragging him to keep him from crawling back underneath the covers. "It's a beautiful day, don't get back in bed. Come on. The only people asleep are winos and vampires. Get in here and read this stuff."

Groaning, Lucas had no choice but to comply. He sank down on the floor and began sorting through the various packages and letters. Most of all them expressed the same thing...

Lucas, we love you...Luke, we miss you...Scott, get well...Number 3, don't give up... You're an inspiration...

"Listen to this stuff, it's great! All this is for you, Lucas. You have fans, millions of people who adore you. They are behind you all the way."

Rather systematically, Lucas opened every package and read every card and letter. The thoughts and love from his fans was amazing has always. It warmed him all over to know that they thought of him and prayed for him and still loved him.

"This is pretty cool", he said in a soft voice.

"Cool? This is more than cool. Man, this is incredible. You can't give up. I won't let you."

"I haven't given up Brooke and I won't. It's just hard. I have good days and bad days and some days are better than others. You just don't understand."

"Remember Patrick Freeman?"

"Yeah…I remember", Lucas answered softly.

"Lucas remember the night we first met him…"

It all came back to him. It was his rookie season with the Knicks, a home game and Brooke had patiently waited for him after the showers. His shoulder was banged up a little bit and he was pretty pissed off because he had fouled out against the Wizards with less than a minute left in the regular play in a game that ended up going into double overtime. When the evening was said and done, all they both wanted was to go home. As they were leaving, a short, plump woman approached them.

"Hello, Mr. Scott, Mrs. Scott. I am so sorry to bother you but I was hoping you could sign an autograph for my boy."

Lucas sighed and nodded, scribbling his signature half heartedly on a piece of scrap paper.

"Oh Patrick will be so pleased. Thank you, Mr. Scott. Thank you for taking the time."

The lady seemed extremely grateful even after the simplest of gestures. She held up the paper to a frail boy sitting on the back bleachers.

"Is that your son?"

"Yes", she nodded.

"Is he okay?"

"Patrick was born with a heart defect. We're from Delaware and our church took up a collection for tickets to come here tonight. Oh my Patrick is your biggest fan. He's loved you since your UNC days."

Lucas looked over at the weak and sickly child and his heart went out to him. Suddenly fouling out and an aching arm didn't seem so bad. Handing Brooke his bag, he walked over to the young man.

"Patrick, right?" Lucas asked, shaking his hand. "Hey man, I'm Luke."

"I…I know", the boy responded.

"Your mom says you guys drove a long way for the game tonight. You like basketball? You play?"

"Yeah…"

"Well come down and show me what you got."

The kid could hardly believe his eyes and ears. Lucas Scott, his favorite NBA player not only had signed an autograph and chatted with him, was inviting him down onto the Knicks' court at Madison Square Garden for some one on one. Mrs. Freeman's eyes teared as she saw her son's dream come true.

Together Patrick and Lucas dribbled the ball and took shots.

"So you always liked the Knicks?"

"Yeah but now even more because you're playing. And I like your brother on the Lakers too. You two are my favorite players."

"Now you're talking", Luke grinned.

They continued to play and chat until both Lucas and Brooke noticed the boy was seemingly out of breath.

"You okay, little man?"

"Yeah. I get tired a lot. It's hard to run and play sometimes. My heart's not so good."

Lucas looked down at the young man who could hardly get himself together."

"Looks like you got a heart of steel to me". Lucas winked.

That night he had exchanged e-mail addresses with Patrick and the two had stayed in touch over the next year. Lucas often made sure he had front row seats to New York home games and even flew him and his mother to L.A. for a Knicks Lakers bout. They had remained friends up until a few years ago when Patrick finally succumbed to his illness at the tender age of 13.

"Pat was a fighter, Luke. Right up until the end. It's amazing how brave a child can be. But he was. And Patrick never gave up and he never gave in. That was something he had to live with all his life. That little boy loved you. You can draw strength just from knowing that and knowing what he went through."

Lucas smiled in spite of every thing that had happened. He needed to have his life back again. Maybe that would never happen but at least he had a life.

"Yeah, Brooke. I…I um, I guess you're right."

"I guess I am", she smiled. "Actually, I'm always right…you should be used to that by now. But now it's time to put the plan in motion."

An hour later little Harmony toddled on the mats of the gym floor as her mother sat Indian style with a coach's whistle pursed between her lips. Lucas grunted as he lifted the leg weights. His knees were slightly tender from lack of a work out but he had to start rebuilding strength in his lower body. With much prodding and support from Brooke, he was back in the gym giving it all he had. There were times he wanted to quit but when he looked at the strong will and determination in Brooke's eyes and the beautiful smile on his daughter's face, how could he? There finally seemed to be a light at the end of a very dark tunnel. The toughest part would be mentally preparing for the rough journey ahead. Somehow he knew Brooke and Harmony would be there and that made it all a little easier. He smiled to himself as he watched her from across the room hair in a messy bun and the whistle in tow. She was beautiful but in addition to that, it was more of her crazy personality, wacky sense of humor, and amazing strength that captivated him. She was just Brooke, plain and simple. For the first time in a long time, the future didn't look quite so glum.