The shrill ringing of her phone awakened Brooke. "Mmm, Lucas can you get that," she moaned, pulling a pillow over her head in an attempt to block out the noise. "Lucas?" she called. She looked over to his side of the bed only to find he wasn't there. There was a note in his place. It said 'I would have said goodbye, but I just couldn't bear to wake the sleeping beauty beside me. Lunch is in the fridge; I know you won't be awake for breakfast. Relax and have a good day. See you after work my love'. She smiled—he was so good to her. She was torn from her good thoughts by the still ringing phone. "Hello?" she answered sleepily through a yawn. "Well I'll be damned. I am actually talking to Brooke Davis-Scott," the person said. "Peyton! Hey! How are you?" Brooke asked, perking up a bit. "I'm fine now that I've finally had the chance to talk to my best friend. You're a hard woman to catch up with," Peyton replied. "I know, I'm sorry. Between work and the baby I've been too exhausted to do anything. Today I just had to take a much-needed day off. I haven't talked to you or Haley or Nathan in so long. How are things in Tree Hill? I still like good gossip every once in a while," she said with a giggle.

"Big city girl is actually concerned about little old Tree Hill? There's nothing much going on here...same old, same old. Oh, there is a little bit of news. You'll never guess who just moved back here...Jake. And even better, we're going out Friday night," Peyton said. "Wow, Jake? I haven't seen him in years. Umm, tell him I said hello. Is his daughter with him?" Brooke asked nervously. "Yeah, I've only seen her briefly though. She's come a long way from the little baby we saw in high school. She's so gorgeous, Brooke. Dark hair, huge dimples...she actually reminds me of you," she said. Brooke started to feel that ache in her heart that had become so familiar over the years. She didn't have a choice in what she did, but she couldn't help but feel guilty about it anyway. "Brooke! Brooke!" Peyton yelled, snapping Brooke out of her daze, "Are you ok? You zoned out on me there." "Oh, yeah...I'm fine. The baby was kicking," she replied.

"Speaking of, how is my godchild? Where's Luke? And you, how are you feeling?" Peyton asked. "I know we haven't talked in a while, but one question at a time Pey," Brooke giggled, "The baby is fine, Luke is at work, and I'm feeling like the cow that I am." "It's 1 in the afternoon and you're still in bed—and from the sounds of it, still exhausted. Did somebody wear poor Brookie out last night?" Peyton joked. "Poor Brookie was too tired to go there, but he would have if I'd let him. I don't know how he can stand to touch me. I'm huge, but for some reason he can't seem to keep his hands off me," she replied. "Oh please, Brooke. Who are you kidding? Pregnant or not you're as gorgeous as you've always been...and he loves you. If he wasn't trying to have you every second I'd have to wonder about him," Peyton said, "My best friend is having her first baby and I'm missing it. This is one of those times when I really, really miss you and wish you were here." "You just might get your wish. This city is stressing me out and Luke is worried. I'm due in a month and I just want to be somewhere where I can relax and not have to worry about a thing. We were thinking about moving back to Tree Hill until the baby's born," she said.

"Are you serious? Wow, that would be so great! But what are you going to do about the boutique? And Lucas' practice? Who's going to take care of your house while you're gone?" Peyton asked. "My assistant Jamie can handle the boutique and I'll only be a phone call away if something goes wrong. Lucas' partner can handle his patients while he's gone, and the brownstone will be fine. Jamie would be happy to housesit," Brooke replied. "So you're really going to do this? I can't wait," Peyton said. "Yeah, I think it would be good for me and the baby. Plus it would be nice to hang out with the old gang again," she said. "Well sweetie, I'm sure you were sleeping...didn't mean to wake you, just wanted to hear that sexy voice of yours. I'll let you get back to enjoying your day off. I love you and I'll talk to you again soon. Can't wait to see you...bye," Peyton said.

"Love you too Peyton. Bye," Brooke replied.


The first thing she saw when she got off the plane was Karen's smiling face. Over the years, they had become very close. Karen was the mother she had always wanted, but never had. "Brooke! It's so good to see you! How are you sweetie?" Karen said as she pulled Brooke into a hug. "Good to see you too, Karen. I'm fat and everything hurts, but other than that I'm ok," she replied with a smile, "Hey Uncle Keith." "Hey there heartbreaker," he said, hugging her too, "where's Luke?" "Back there somewhere struggling with the luggage. He refuses to let me do anything. Think you could go help him out so we can get out of here? I desperately need a nap," she said, giving Keith a pleading look. "No problem," Keith replied. Brooke and Karen sat on a nearby bench to wait for the guys to return. "Well darling, you're looking absolutely miserable. I remember what that's like. The backaches, the swollen ankles, the morning sickness...it's hell. Lucas better be doing anything you ask or I'll have to hurt him," Karen said, rubbing Brooke's back lovingly. Brooke smiled and laid her head on Karen's shoulder. "It's not bad enough that I'm huge, your grandchild also refuses to let me get any sleep," she said with a yawn. "Well, Keith and I cleaned the house from top to bottom. There are clean sheets on the bed, and food in the fridge...so you don't have to do anything except relax and enjoy your nap," Karen said.

Karen and Keith had finally hooked up shortly before the gang graduated from high school. They bought a new house together, but Karen couldn't bear to sell the house that Lucas grew up in. So that is where Lucas and Brooke would be staying. "Oh my gosh Karen, I couldn't possibly love you more right now. Thank you, you're so good to me. You're the best mother-in-law ever!" Brooke said excited at the possibility of doing nothing. "No need to thank me, it's my job as a grandmother to take care of this little one. When mommy's happy, baby's happy," Karen replied, rubbing Brooke's swollen tummy. Just then, Lucas and Keith returned with the luggage. After all the greetings were done, they headed home. As Keith and Brooke got into the car, Karen and Lucas hung back a bit. "My son—has a wonderful career, married an amazing woman, and now he's about to become a father. You've become the man I've always wanted you to be. You've done well, you know? I'm so proud of you," Karen said to him. "I know, but I couldn't have done any of it without you," Lucas replied. "Getting Brooke pregnant was all you. I had nothing to do with that," Karen said. They laughed and got into the car.


Brooke sighed contentedly as she eased into the bathtub and rested her back against Lucas' chest. "Is the water too hot for you?" he asked. "No, it's perfect," she replied. Brooke moved to pick up the loofah, but he stopped her. "Don't you move a muscle, you're supposed to be relaxing. I'll do that," he said, taking it from her hand. He coaxed her to sit up a bit as he began to wash her back in slow, soothing circles. From there he moved on to the rest of her body...down her arms, her legs, her chest, and finally ending with her stomach. Brooke felt so relaxed she couldn't keep her eyes open. She slowly returned to earth as she felt his lips on the back of her neck. "How'd that feel?" he asked between kisses. "Like heaven," she answered, practically purring. She reached an arm behind her head and brought his lips to hers. "As much as I love Haley, Peyton, and Nathan...I'd much rather spend the night at home making love to my beautiful wife," he whispered in her ear while absentmindedly rubbing her tummy, "What do you say we bail on them?" "I'd love to, but they'd probably kill us if we did," she said with a giggle. "They'd kill me. They wouldn't touch you...not until after you have the baby at least," he replied. "Well, if we're going to make it on time we have to get out," Lucas said, as he exited the tub. After drying himself off, he grabbed a towel for Brooke then returned to help out. They got dressed and headed out to the café.

"Hey Tigger!" Haley said as she spotted Luke and Brooke coming into the café. "Hey Tutor Girl! Long time no see...you look great," Brooke replied as she hugged Haley. "You too. Wow, you're absolutely radiant," Haley said, "How's that friend of mine treating you?" "He adores me, how could he not?" Brooke said. They both giggled. "Hales, stop monopolizing my best friend and go talk to your own," Peyton said as she approached the hug fest with Nathan. "Hey beautiful," Brooke said, tears flooding her eyes as she hugged Peyton, "I missed you so much." "Aww, look at you, don't get all emotional on me. Oh my gosh, your little tummy is so cute!" Peyton said, rubbing Brooke's stomach. "Little? If that's not an understatement I don't know what is," Brooke replied, "Nathan, are you just going to stand there staring or can one of your oldest friends get some love?" Nathan smiled and hugged Brooke as if he was scared he would break her. "Oh come on Nathan, I'm pregnant not made of glass. You can do better than that," she said. "Hi Brooke, I see you haven't changed much," he replied, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

After they had gotten all the greetings out of the way, they sat down and ordered their dinner. "Baby, you have to taste this. It's amazing," Lucas said, as he picked up a forkful of his pasta and held it up to Brooke's mouth. Suddenly she got a horrified look on her face. "Does this have anchovies in it?" she asked, with her mouth still full of food. "Yeah, I think it—OH! I'm so sorry baby, I forgot," he said, quickly getting up and helping Brooke out of her chair. "Excuse me," Brooke mumbled as she ran off to the bathroom. Everyone else at the table just looked at each other in confusion. "Sorry guys, everything's ok. It's just that ever since she's been pregnant, anchovies make her sick," Lucas explained. Everything went smoothly after Brooke returned. They all stayed well after closing just catching up on what's new in each other's lives, and reminiscing about old times.

Things had changed so much since high school. Brooke and Luke were married and living in New York. Peyton had attended college in New York with Brooke, but had returned to Tree Hill and become an art teacher at their old high school. Haley was living in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and teaching at UNC while working on her Ph.D. Nathan, like Peyton, had returned to Tree Hill after college. When his basketball career didn't go anywhere, he decided to coach instead and took over for Whitey at their old high school. They were all having a great time, but Lucas could see that Brooke was uncomfortable from sitting in the hard chair for so long, and she was also probably getting tired. A tired, achy Brooke meant that he would have to deal with a cranky, irritated Brooke when they got home...and that's just something he wasn't up to facing. "As fun as this has been guys, I've got to get my wife home and in bed," Lucas said. "From the looks of things, I'd say you've gotten her in bed before," Nathan replied. "Ha ha funny bro," Lucas said sarcastically. "I am pretty tired, and my back is killing me," Brooke said. They all said their goodbyes, promised to get together again soon, then headed their separate ways. Since Lucas had to stay after to clean and lock up the café, Peyton gave Brooke a ride home.

Lucas arrived home to find Brooke curled up in bed...sleeping in one of his shirts, as she often liked to do. He got undressed and crawled in behind her, spooning her. Sleep was the last thing on his mind; he was enjoying watching her too much. She was so beautiful he couldn't believe that she was actually his. He threw an arm over her waist, cupping her stomach. The baby kicked in response and he bent down to kiss the place where he had just seen the tiny foot jut out. He buried his nose in Brooke's hair and was greeted by the familiar fruity scent he had come to love so much. She sighed and snuggled into him a little more, seeking the warmth of his body in the cold night. "I love you," he whispered in her ear before kissing her cheek. She smiled in her sleep. Lucas wished he could stay in that moment forever...watching his angel sleep, feeling their baby kick...it was hard to believe he could ever get any happier. He pulled the covers up around her and watched her until he drifted off, not knowing that their lives would soon be getting a lot more complicated.

TBC...