"48...49...one more Scott and you better not punk out on me...50. Whoo hoo! You did it, man!" Nathan yelled.

"Just call me the Iron Man", Lucas grinned.

It hadn't been smooth sailing but things had been going okay. No matter how tough the physical struggle proved to be, Lucas continued to be a fighter hanging in the game. He had something to prove to the press, the fans, his family, his friends and more importantly himself.

"That was awesome dude. You actually wore me out on that one. We need a water break, anyway."

The brothers knocked fists and exchanged smiles. Luke's quickly faded as he noticed a third party standing at the gym door. She looked like a little girl in a simple black skirt and orange tank top.

"Water is for the weak, Luke...", Nathan joked, his voice trailing off as his attention diverted to Brooke. "Um, looks like you got a visitor."

"Sorry to interrupt. Uh, Haley said I could find you guys here. Um, you looked great, Lucas. I guess things are really coming along."

"Thanks", he muttered.

An awkward three way silence followed.

"Well, we're kind of busy here", Lucas mumbled.

"I know. I'm sorry to just barge in but I want to talk to you. Can I just hang around for a minute until you're done? This is really important, Luke."

"Maybe another time. We..."

"Uh, it's okay. We were almost done here anyway, right, Lucas?" Nathan said.

"Dude, I..."

"It's okay. I guess I'll see you guys back at the house."

Nathan nodded, and grabbed a towel as he walked out, leaving the estranged couple alone.

"Why did you come here?" Lucas asked softly.

"I had to see you", she shrugged. "I know I'm not probably high on the list of your favorite people right about now but at least give me five minutes of your time."

"Starting now...", Luke's sarcasm drenched voice responded, arms folded.

"Lucas, you weren't the only one who has made mistakes. I made them too. A lot of them. I just can't keep making them. I can't keep going on and living like this."

"Brooke, what's this about?"

"The other night when we talked about everything, I finally explained to you the reason I couldn't forgive you before. I mean, you know about my insecurities and trust issues and all the crap I went through with my parents. But it's more than that. I wasn't completely honest with you…or myself."

"Brooke…"

"No. It seems like we had a perfect life before. We were young and in love with plenty of money and a whole city at our feet. I thought it was pretty perfect but now I kind of see perfection really doesn't exist. I love you, Luke and I always tried my best to make you happy. Always. But maybe I wasn't the easiest person to get along with or be married to. Sometimes I guess I can be pushy or overbearing or even annoying. Selfish too, even. You put up with a lot and you always loved me."

"Brooke, I…"

"Please let me finish. I have to say this. I should have said these things a long time ago and maybe that would have saved us both a whole lot of heartache. Look, you know how much I wanted to have a baby. I really wanted to be a mom more than anything. When that didn't happen right away, I was devastated. It hurt. And I felt like it was my fault. But more than that, and I'm ashamed to admit it, it was about competition as well. I was competing with Haley and the women at work and even myself at times. It was like I had to prove that baby making was something I was good at as well. You know I can be a jealous person at times and when I wasn't getting what I wanted, it made me mad. It was one more thing that someone could have or do that I couldn't. Pretty shitty reasons to want to bring a life into this world, huh? Anyway, I know the pressure and my many meltdowns couldn't have been easy on you. Lucas, you were always enough for me. You were the one true thing that I had and the last thing I ever wanted to do was drive you away. But I did. I'm not excusing what you did by cheating but maybe I can understand why. I can admit that now and I couldn't then, not even to myself."

"So what are you saying?"

"That I'm sorry, that I should have been more forgiving…I don't know."

"Brooke, what I did was still wrong. And I never looked for a way out from that."

"I know. And I'm not trying to give you one. I know you hurt me but I also know that you're sorry. I was so angry and hell bent on punishing you. You made a big mistake but I don't think it's fair that I judged you on that considering your whole life you've been an honest and decent stand up guy."

"Where is all this coming from?"

"My heart", she shrugged. "Just like I blamed myself for not getting pregnant, I blamed myself for somehow letting our marriage fail as well. I always accused you of it but the truth is, when things weren't perfect, I was the one who was scared to death. So I ran away. Instead of facing things or giving it an honest second try, I took the easy way out, Luke. I ran and filed for divorce, which was a little premature. I was hurting and pissed off when I should have waited until I was more rational and things calmed down. For years now I've held this divorce over your head, a divorce now I don't think I ever really wanted in the first place."

"I…Brooke, I don't know what to say. I mean, how am I supposed to take all this? Why are you telling me this now?"

"Because it's the way I feel and because it's the right thing to do and you should know. Lucas, I love you. I have never denied that I didn't. And all those times you came to me and told me that you wanted us to be a family and that you wanted to try again…well, I wanted that too. I was just scared at the time. Hell, I'm still scared but I don't care anymore. I won't let that fear allow me to be without you because I don't want to be without you anymore, Lucas."

"Brooke…"

She walked over to him with tears in her eyes and gently stroked his face.

"I love you and I'm sorry. I want us to try again, Luke. I'm not perfect and you're not perfect. We had a wonderful relationship and I have never been that close with anybody like that my entire life. I want that again. I want us. "

He flinched as he noticed her hand still on his face. Her words had truly overwhelmed him. He had so long to hear her say them and in his head he thought he felt the same way. Now his heart was telling another story.

"Brooke, don't. Please. Just stop."

"Lucas…"

"It's different now, Brooke. Can't you see that? I'm sorry. You can't just walk in here, snap your fingers and expect everything to happily fall back into place. That's not going to happen."

"So it's the neverending circle of pain?" she asked. "You want me, I don't want you, you get hurt. Now is it my turn to be punished?"

"I am not punishing you. Brooke, do you know how long I've hoped and prayed that you would say those things to me? I woke up so many mornings, hell every morning, literally aching for you. But I realized that I was just wishing for the impossible wish."

"Lucas…"

"You're not the only one around here who is scared and insecure. What happens if I let you back in and tomorrow or the next day or next week you freak out on me and change your mind?"

"I won't. Luke, that won't happen."

"How do I know this isn't all about my heart? What if you're back out of fear of losing me or obligation or even pity? Brooke, I don't want you to feel sorry for me."

"I don't."

"I want you to want me because you do. Not because Peyton or Nathan or Haley or Gordon or your mom tells you it's the right thing to do and not for any of those other reasons either. Look, I love you too but I'm sorry. I can't. Brooke, we can't."

She began to shake, her bottom lip trembling out of control as the tears flowed.

"I guess it's too late. I guess I should have expected this", she sobbed.

"I don't want to hurt you, Brooke. Believe me, I'm not trying to hurt you any more than I already have. This is just how I feel. We'll always love each other and we'll always love Harmony but we're just in different places right now. Do you understand? I don't want to fight with you anymore or keep going through the unnecessary pain. I just want to be okay again and I want you to be happy."

"I want you to be happy, too", she said through tears.

"I want us to be okay and not just for Harmony's sake."

"Truce?" she managed as she extended her hand.

"No", he shook his head. "Because we're not at war. We're better than that. How about friends?"

She smiled and shook his hand, crying a little harder as he pulled her deep in his arms. He held her as she sobbed, shedding some of his own tears. It had been a sad day, the day they both realized it was over.