Brooke prepared to bring in the groceries. She knew the ice cream was melting but she couldn't help but sneak a peek at her magazines. She lived for magazine day. On the bottom corner of US, was the caption: Exclusive First Look At Haley James' New Baby Girl

"Holy shit", Brooke whispered as she hurriedly flipped through the pages.

Her eyes scanned the article until she saw the picture of Taylor pushing a stroller. The photographer had also used a zoom lens that gave a very close shot of the little girls' face. Brooke's mouth opened wide.

"Okay, okay. Calm down, Davis", Brooke pep talked herself as she tried to breathe.

She and Lucas were in Charlotte for a visit. Nathan and Megan had gone out for a walk and she had left her boyfriend vegging on the sofa when she had driven to the market a half hour before. Folding the magazine and stuffing it down her shirt, she grabbed the bags and bolted in the house. She sat them down on the kitchen counter and hurried to find Lucas.

"Broody, where are you? We so need to talk and I mean, 911 emergency…"

She stopped short as she saw Megan and Nathan had returned early. They were sitting with Lucas and all three were staring at her.

"What's up, babe?"

"Oh, I, um…I, I, uh…I just wanted to tell you that I…I love you very, very much, Lucas Eugene Scott."

Lucas smiled.

"Okay. Well, I love you, too, Brooke Elizabeth Davis."

"Great! Now that that's been established…"

"Brooke, are you okay?" Megan asked.

"Huh?"

"Are you alright? You're all hunched over holding your chest."

"I'm fine", she lied, praying the magazine wouldn't fall to the floor.

"You sure? Your face is a little red."

"Oh. Um, actually, you see, I have this, this…this thing."

"Thing?"

"Yeah…a thing. And I uh, need help with it, like daily. It's kind of a personal, sexual thing. Lucas has to rub my chest, don't you, babe?"

"What?" Lucas asked.

Brooke narrowed her eyes.

"You know, Luke…the thing!"

"Um, okay…oh yeah, the sex, personal thing. Sorry, Brooke. Is it that time of day already?"

"It is. Don't tell me you forgot."

"I did. I'm a bad boyfriend. Sorry, honey. Nate, Meg, if you'll excuse us, um, I'm gonna go in the guest bedroom and help my girl take care of her thing."

Megan smiled at her husband.

"Go right ahead, Luke. Don't let Nathan and I stop you guys from the…thing."

Brooke grabbed Lucas' hand and they scurried off.

"Those two are so weird", Megan smiled.

"Tell me about it", Nathan rolled his eyes.

After dragging Lucas to the bedroom, Brooke shut and locked the door.

"Okay. Either you're incredibly horny or the Carolina heat is getting to you. What's up, Brooke? Are you okay? I mean, there isn't really a 'thing' is there?"

Brooke rolled her eyes. Men could be so dense.

"Broody, work with me here! Quit acting like you just hopped off the turnip truck. We have a serious problem and I couldn't tell you back there because I didn't want to say it in front of Nathan and Megan."

"Alright. What's going on?"

She wriggled and raised her top to retrieve the magazine.

"Oh hell yeah", he licked his lips. "I'm digging the 'thing' so far."

"Oh shut up", she tossed it at him. "Page 96. Read! Now!"

"You and your mags", Lucas rolled his eyes as he turned the pages. "Oh my God!"

"Yeah!"

"Haley's baby…"

"Yeah and not just the fact that she had her baby. Lucas, take a good look at the baby. Tell me what you see."

Lucas was almost speechless.

"I…I see Deb's forehead and Dan's nose and my lips and Keith's cheekbones and…"

"And Nathan's eyes or eye, whatever is up with that but exactly."

"Oh my God!"

"We've established that already, sweetie."

"Brooke, do you know what this means? Damn, I mean what other proof do we need? This…this is a smoking gun. That, it has to be Nathan's baby."

"Duh! It looks like he spit her out of his mouth."

"Why would Hales lie to me?" he asked out loud.

"Technically, she didn't. She just didn't volunteer information. It was the bison that lied to you."

"Coyote, babe. Taylor is a coyote."

"Same difference", Brooke shrugged. "Now what are we going to do?"

"Nathan needs to know. He has to see this."

"Yes, he does and the sooner the better but how can we show him this without Megan knowing? And we can't let her see it. Look what she's been through and she had a few screws loose before Yoanna so can you imagine what this will do?"

"Yeah…it'll send her over the edge."

"And can you blame her?"

"No, I can't", he sighed. "Brooke, damn. What are we gonna do?"

"We have to tell him. We have to, babe."

"How?"

She thought for a minute.

"Okay. I will distract Megan and you get him alone."

"Alright."

"Here", she said, stuffing the US down his pants.

"Ouch! Hey Brooke! What are you doing?"

"Putting it in your pants, hel-lo! You can't just go strolling out there with it in your hands! Subtly, Luke, that's the key. Gosh, have I not taught you anything?"

"Sorry, it's just that uh…I don't think there's room for anything else down there", he winked.

Brooke grinned saucily.

"Bad boy, you. You really know how to turn a girl on."

"You always turn me on", he kissed her.

"Babe, we can't right now", she pulled away. "I promise hot, steamy, passionate, mind blowing sex later."

"But you got me all hot and bothered and ready. How am I supposed to tell my not so little buddy here to go away?"

"Gee, I don't know by telling him you have to tell your brother that his ex wife just gave birth to his child?"

Lucas looked at his pants.

"Okay, that was one way to get rid of him in a hurry", he sighed. "No use in prolonging the pain, I guess."

They took deep breaths before joining Megan and Nathan again.

"Is your thing all taken care of?" Megan asked.

"What? Oh yeah. I'm as good as new", Brooke smiled nervously trying to think of an excuse to drag Meg away.

"That was quick but I'm glad you're back. I have an idea. I was thinking about maybe going out to the pool. It's such a nice day and…"

"Pool? Excellent idea, Meg! You are brilliant! Pool, I am so there!"

"Okay", Meg shrugged. "Um, let's change into our suits and I'll meet you out there."

The women put on swimsuits as the men half heartedly played a video game. Once the women were in the water, Lucas knew it was time to make his move.

"Nate, we have to talk, man."

"Okay but before you ask, I am not helping you with your 'thing' so don't even ask, brother."

"No, man, I'm serious. There is something I have to show you."

"Dude…" Nathan cringed as his brother began tugging something out of his pants.

Without further ado, he gave him the magazine already turned to the correct page.

"Read it, man and look at the pictures."

Nathan did so calmly. Then he handed it back to Lucas.

"Okay."

"Okay? Is that all you have to say?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"Dude! Come on. Look at her. Who does she look like?"

Nathan shrugged.

"Like her mother."

"Fine but who else?"

"I don't know. She looks like Haley and thank God for that one. She got lucky missing out on the Keller genes."

"Nathan…"

"What?"

Lucas closed his eyes.

"Don't do this, man. Don't act like Dad."

"What are you talking about?"

"You know what I'm talking about. Look at Haley's baby. Look at her features. She's a Scott, Nate and you know it."

Nathan nodded and smirked.

"Okay, if you say so but good luck explaining it to Brooke."

"Brooke?"

"Yeah because if she's a Scott, then she must be yours man because I know what you're getting at and trust me, it's not going down like that."

"Nate…"

"I'm going out to the pool, Luke, to be with my wife. I guess I'll see you out there."

"Nathan!"

"But if you come, don't come with your do gooder, detective bullshit. Put that magazine away and I don't want to see it anymore. You got me?"

"But…"

"You got me, Lucas?"

Lucas looked away and took a deep breath. He couldn't believe what he had seen. And he couldn't believe his little brother's reaction. And why had Taylor lied to him? Why hadn't Haley been honest? And what was he supposed to do with it all, if anything?

"Yeah, man. Sorry I brought it up. I got you."