Brooke sat on the beach, a sweater draped over her arms. It was late at night and there was a full moon, the only sound was the waves crashing in. She smiled as she stared out at the darkness. It had been tough but she and Lucas had made a commitment. They were together exclusively and had vowed to do whatever possible to make it work. She wouldn't leave her life in New York and he would not leave college in North Carolina so they made a promise to compromise and make time for each other whenever possible.

That meant the phone lines burning up several times a day. It meant visits at least twice a month. But more important, were the letters they wrote to each other. Brooke could not describe how his letters made her feel. They were so intimate and so much more personal than a phone call. There were words on paper, describing everything from his days at school to his medical progress to his innermost feelings and thoughts. She loved getting his letters and reading the words over and over again.

His world was now her world and she loved being a part of it. She loved the small town and the quaint antique shops. She loved Karen and Uncle Keith and Nathan and Haley and little Brittany and Deb. Even Dan had started to grow on her. On a plane headed to Tree Hill, she had read his latest one over and over.

12 March 2005

Dear Brooke,

I just received your letter in the mail this morning. I studied right after school and ended up crashing early so I didn't have time to go to the mailbox yesterday. I just got the letter this morning and I was so excited to read it that I could barely concentrate on my classes today. I think about you so much and you always say that you think about me too. Something's got to give because if not, I'm gonna end up flunking right out of school. Yeah Mom likes you a lot and even old Dan does too (as much as Dan can like anyone) but they will KILL you if it comes to pass that money has been wasted on my precious education these last few years. You know, I was on your site the other day and I started missing you so much that it took everything inside of me to not jump on the first bus to New York. But it's always nice to hear that you miss me because I miss you too...more than you can imagine and certainly more than I can put into words. I actually got my ass in the gym two days ago and I started shooting hoops. Yes, I suck but it went well…better than I thought. Also, I didn't use my cane once to get around all day yesterday. My balance sucks and I might have moved slower than Grandma Moses but hey, we all have to start somewhere, huh? I know as I write this you had that HBO audition today. Hope everything went okay. I'm sure you were great (as always). Last time I was at your place and you read lines from that script of the play you just did, well Brooke I was in awe. You're such a good actress. It amazes me the level of depth and emotion you have and the way you built that character and delivered those lines. I know I say it all the time, but I think you're the best and I know I'm the luckiest dude alive because I have you. It made me laugh out loud when you wrote that you actually threw up when you read my last letter. Babe, I didn't know your stomach was that weak. It was just me telling you what I can say right now (I need you and I miss you) and what will take the rest of my life to express (I love you). But you know that already. I just wanted to drop you a quick line but I have to get going. I'm actually going to sit in on a practice today. The weather report said it was gonna be warm this weekend when you get here so I was thinking about maybe going down to Wrightsville Beach and staying at Dan and Deb's beach house. That should be fun. Just think about being in your bikini and swimming in the ocean in a few days while now you're undoubtedly bundled up in New York sipping Espresso at Starbucks. I know you a little too well, don't I baby? Take care and I'll call you soon.

P.S. Go see Million Dollar Baby if you haven't already...kick ass movie!

All My Love,

Luke

She would never get tired of reading those words. Never…

"Hey you", he smiled, walking up behind her. "It's late and it's getting chilly. Ready to come inside?"

She nodded and accepted his hand as he led her into the house. Waiting in the living room was a blanket in front of the fireplace. The day had been warm enough for shorts but the nights proved to still be a little cool. Brooke hadn't realized how cold her body was until she was shivering in front of the fire.

"Babe, are you sure you're alright?" Lucas asked as she struggled to get comfortable.

"I'm more than alright. I'm great", she smiled as she looked around.

The room was filled with framed photos of Lucas and Nathan as boys, high school and college students playing basketball. Various sports trophies lined the house.

"Most of those are Nate's", he said.

"But some of them are yours, right?"

"Some", he shrugged with a sheepish grin.

"You really love it, don't you?"

"I was really good at it, Brooke. You know, besides Mom, that was the first time anybody ever told me that I was good. Out on that court. It's what brought Nathan and me together. It's what brought Dan and me together even."

"You miss it?"

"Yeah. But not for what you might think. Like, Nate and I talk and sometimes he wonders what might have been for him. Like money and an NBA contract and fame…that stuff is cool but it's not important to me. I miss it because I love the game, Brooke. I just miss the feeling of being out there doing something I love so much, something I thought I was born to do. Is that lame?"

She shook her head.

"Not at all. You know, once, a couple years ago, I took this acting class. This awesome coach came up from L.A. to teach it and the room was filled with struggling actors and some movie stars and TV stars and Broadway stars and some just wanna be stars. Anyway. In the midst of it all, there was me, Brooke Davis. And the teacher asked what we wanted most, you know, from our careers and life and just everything and you know what I said? I said, I wanted to be the best actress in the world. A lot of people laughed out loud and it was kind of embarrassing but I really meant what I said. I guess I lost track of that for a while, what it's really all about."

She looked like a beautiful porcelain doll or an angel as she spoke softly and candidly, the glow of the fire casting off her face.

"Broke, remember that poem I first wrote?"

"Yeah."

"I know I said I wrote it up in a few minutes, which was true but when I said I didn't put a lot of thought into it, that was a lie. I mean, it's all I thought about. That was me. I was that character. I'm the one trapped in this mangled body. I'm the lonely boy in the poem. And I wrote it to you, for you because I looked deep in your eyes and saw something similar."

Brooke smiled as she shook her head.

"That's where you're wrong. You're more than that. You are this incredible and amazingly gifted, complex, talented, smart...sexy, wonderful human being. Lucas, you're everything. And I'm crazy in love with you. I always have been. I didn't fall for some sad lonely boy in a poem, I fell for that wonderful man who wrote it."

Lucas looked into her eyes and bit his lip to keep from bursting into tears. He had never felt that way before. He could break down and cry right there just because he loved her so much.

"Tell me", he whispered. "Brooke, I just need to hear you say the words."

She gladly obliged.

"I love you, Lucas Scott."

Brooke sat up, looking him in the eye as she nervously removed her tank top. With trembling hands, she took off his wife beater tee shirt as well. She gasped with surprised pleasure at the exposed muscular set of abs and chest. Lucas lay down and took her in his arms. God, was she beautiful! So soft and sweet and feminine. He ran his hand through her hair and let his finger run a trail over her face. She looked up at him with the purest of love and adoration. Lucas lowered his mouth onto hers and let his tongue explore every sweet crevice. Brooke kissed back softly at first then with more passion. His left hand rested on her flat exposed belly and she moved it up to feel the thin material covering her breasts. Luke's lips sucked the nape of her neck as he moved his hands with more feeling.

"Brooke, wait."

He sat up and looked at her.

"You okay?" she asked breathlessly. "I mean, do you want to? If you're not ready, that's cool. I don't want to pressure you…"

"Isn't that supposed to be my line?" Lucas chuckled.

"Talk to me", she whispered.

"I love you, Brooke and I want to make love with you so bad but I'm scared. It's been a very long time since I've been with anyone and my body is...my body is still healing. This is kind of embarrassing but I don't even know what I can do anymore. The doctors said I might have difficulty, you know, getting it to work and uh…finishing the job, so to speak. Only for a little while but um…I don't want to disappoint you."

"You never disappoint me", she spoke from her heart. "Lucas, I don't care what we do tonight as long as you hold you in your arms all night."

"You look so beautiful, lying here, Brooke", Lucas said as he played with the cross laying across her chest.

Brooke smiled and finished undressing as she helped Lucas do the same. They lay side by side, nude, as hands roamed freely over their bodies. They weren't ready for intercourse but there were other methods of pleasure. Lucas cupped her firm breasts, using his fingertips and tongue to drive her wild. He worked his way down, kissing and loving every inch of her young, naked flesh, relishing in the sounds of her pants and whimpers. Brooke was in Heaven. Emotionally and physically, she had never known feelings like that before. It was a beautiful, special, magical night. The next morning they were awakened by the ring of her cell phone.

"Hello", Brooke sleepily mumbled. "Oh it's you. This better be good, Timster. It's way too early…"

Lucas yawned as he half heartedly listened to his girlfriend's end of the conversation. He watched as she sat straight up. Then her mouth dropped open. Next tears formed in her eyes and finally, the phone slipped from the weakness of her grasp.

"Brooke? You okay, babe? What happened? What did Tim say?"

It took a minute for her to get her composure. There were no words.

"I…I got nominated for an Emmy."

Her emotions ranged from crying to giggling to shaking uncontrollably.

"An Emmy? Oh Brooke, that is great! Baby, I am so proud of you."

She hugged him and buried her face in the crook of his shoulder.

"I can't believe this. Savannah has been in a thousand year coma but I guess the work I did before that was good enough."

"Of course it was", he smiled. "Remember what you told me last night about being in that class? Well, now your dreams have come true, Brooke. On this given day, your peers and the academy are acknowledging that you are the best you can be."

She grinned and relaxed, lying back down and trying to take it all in. Rubbing the back of Luke's neck, she kissed his fingers.

"Yeah, you are right", she said with love. "I guess all my dreams are coming true after all."