Not as long as the previous chapters but I promise the next chapter is going to be long and hopefully satisfying to all who are enjoying this story...remember if you have any suggestions please let me know and i'll work them into the story...review anyway if you don't have any suggestions because reviews keep me motivated!

On with the chapter!


Brooke lost herself in the kiss. She felt like she was back in his arms and it felt so good. She didn't want to lose him again.

Then she remembered she wasn't in Lucas' arms but Ryan's and Ryan has a girlfriend who happened to be her cousin. No matter how hard she'd try she'd never find anyone that she loved as much as she loved Lucas but all men were the same. No good, cheating, slobs.

"God," Brooke pulled away, "What are we doing?"

"Kissing?" Ryan said realizing Seth's sarcasm was rubbing off on him.

"No shit Sherlock." Brooke laid Adam on the bed and started pacing the room.

"I'm sorry. I guess we just got lost in the moment." Ryan stood up too wiping his mouth. There was something about Brooke that was so familiar too him; he felt comfortable around her.

"Me too but we can't do this." Brooke was so confused at what she wanted anymore, "You have a girlfriend, my cousin and I'm just not ready for something like this."

"No need to explain. We were wrong. Let's just forget about it." Ryan went to leave.

"It's just so easy for guys to forget about me isn't it?" Brooke was angry that every guy she'd ever even talked too wanted to forget about it.

"I didn't mean it like that." Ryan said defensively, "It's just what I have with Marissa it, fragile and I don't want to ruin that with a spur of the moment thing."

"Guys always get the easy way out. They never feel guilty for doing something wrong." Brooke was on a roll, "They always just forget about it."

"Brooke, you know it's not like that." Ryan tried to save whatever part of this friendship that he could, "No one could ever forget about you."

"He did," Brooke's tone dropped and her eyes shimmered with tears, "That's exactly what he did, just forgot about me."

"No guy in their right mind could just forget about you." Ryan stopped to think carefully, "I bet he'd paying everyday for how much he's hurt you and I bet he's hurting too. He probably wishes you'd forgive him even though he knows he doesn't deserve you."

"When'd you get so smart?" Brooke sat back down on the bed.

"Let's just say I speak from experience." Ryan said sitting back down too.

"So you've done this before?" Brooke always had picked the best ones. And just when she thought she might find that perfect one-woman guy she was let down yet again.

"Done what before?" Ryan laid back looking up on the ceiling.

"Cheat." Brooke said plainly.

"This wasn't cheating it was a slip up." Ryan was trying to convince himself too, "But it doesn't matter if I have or haven't. This healing session was about you not me."

"Who said I needed a healing session?" Brooke hated it when other people tried to help her. She raised herself without anyone's help and she could raise a child too.

"Isn't that what we're doing?" Ryan was confused. This girl made him so confused.

"Why do you have to complicate everything?" Brooke yelled in exasperation.

"Me?" Ryan shot up were he lay, "I'm the one who complicates everything."

"Yes, that's right." Brooke placed her hand on her hip.

"You're the one who walks around looking for people to feel sorry for you because you're a mother and alone. That's all your fault, not mine. You could be back with this love of your life that stabbed you in the back but you don't because of your ego." Ryan was stunned at the words that spewed from his mouth.

"You're right about one thing. It's all my fault. But unlike you I don't regret the things I've done or the decisions I've made. And about Lucas, you have no clue what went on there and now you never will." Brooke stood up and went to the door, "Now please leave because we'd like to get some sleep."

"Brooke, I'm sorry, I didn't mean those things I said." Ryan apologized which was another new thing for him.

"Oh, but you did and you know what?" Brooke paused opening the door, "That's okay because I don't give a rat's ass what you think! Now leave!"

"Good night." Ryan said as he left and she slammed the door behind him.

"I'm so sorry baby." Brooke laid herself down next to Adam, "I never meant for any of this."


The next morning Brooke awoke to sunshine pouring through the windows of her new home. It took her a little while to process where she was but once it all came back to her it was a lot less scary.

She got dressed and then dressed Adam in a little basketball themed outfit and walked back to the main house. Sandy and Kirsten were sipping coffee and reading the newspaper while Seth and Ryan crunched on cereal.

"Morning Brooke." Kirsten smiled over her newspaper.

"Morning everyone." Brooke smiled back avoiding any eye contact with Ryan.

"Have some breakfast." Sandy said motioning to the table.

"I'll just make Adam a bottle." Brooke said grabbing the carton of milk from the table.

"So what do you think of our humble establishment so far?" Seth asked with a mouthful of cereal.

"It's great." Brooke sat with Adam in her lap contently sucking on his bottle, "I can't thank you all enough."

"We're glad we can help you." Kirsten set her paper down and went to refill her cup of coffee.

"Marissa, Summer, Ryan and I are going to the pier later." Seth announced, "Want to come?"

"I don't know." Brooke hesitated. She wouldn't feel comfortable around Ryan and Marissa.

"Well we're taking her to register for school but afterwards she can." Sandy said folding his paper up too, "That is if she wants too."

"Come on it'll be fun." Seth sounded like a little kid begging his parents for something, "Plus Summer loves you."

"I guess I'll come." Brooke knew that was the easiest way out.

"Goodie." Seth smiled widely and took his empty cereal bowl to the sink, "I'll call Summer to let her know."

"Seth, asked Summer if she and Marissa can watch Adam while we're registering Brooke." Kirsten said cleaning up the table.

"Sure mom!" Seth yelled from wherever he stopped in the house.


The meeting at her new school had been a bit uncomfortable. She told the principle right off that she had a baby and he was her tip priority. This registration had felt more like a job interview than a school. The principle was uneasy to let her, a single mother, into her school but the Cohen's talked her into it. The deal was done and Brooke was enrolled in school

Brooke drove off to the pier where she'd be meeting up with Marissa, Summer, Seth, Ryan and Adam. There were so many people on the pier that Brooke didn't worry if things got too shaky she could just disappear into the crowds. That was her escape plan.

"Hey Brooke!" Summer yelled from where the others were standing and waved her over.

"Hey guys." Brooke said taking Adam out of his stroller, "And how are you little man."

Adam cooed in delight to be in his mother's arms. Everyday he began to look more and more like Lucas but Brooke was happy. Lucas was a good looking guy and she was lucky to have a good looking son.

"So what do you want to do?" Summer said breaking the eerie silence.

"Actually I need to take a bathroom break and I get he does too." Brooke put Adam back in his stroller, "Where are the bathrooms?"

"Sounds good." Summer said starting to push the stroller down the boardwalk, "We'll come too."

So Marissa, Summer and Brooke started their bathroom adventure down the boardwalk.

"Brooke Davis!" The all too familiar voice yelled from behind her.

Brooke whirled to find herself face to face with someone she thought she'd never see again.


Haha! Cliffhanger! Who could the familiar voice be? I guess you'll have to read to find out!

Also sorry to all the Brooke/Ryan fans...that's not how I intended this fic to end up...you'll have to see what happens to find out what is really intended with all of this drama and mess!

Remember to review!