This chapter wasn't easy to write. In fact I've been sitting here for about a month on and off trying to figure out how I wanted to end it. 99 of you guys, my reviewers want Brooke and Lucas to get Ella, while the other 1 feels like my writing is stupid and completely un-realistic. Haha. Even though it was only a whole 2 reviews, it made me think, and make it that much harder to write. It made me think "Wow, is my writing really that bad? So un-realistic that no one wants to read it?" So, I sat back and did what I always do when I need inspiration. I watched One Tree Hill. As I was watching Nathan and Haley, two 16 year olds getting married, or Dan and Karen running for Mayor, or all these 17 year olds with no parental supervision whatsoever, or more of the zillion other completely un-realistic things that happen on our favorite show, it hit me. That'sWHY I watch it. Not because it's all-true and could happen. If I want real and true I can walk outside. I watch it because it gets me away from the REAL world for that one hour and lets me live in sort of a fantasyland. Which is the same reason I write. I write for FUN, and the hope that you guys can enjoy it while you read. I never said my stories were going to be completely realistic or true. And for that 99 of you who have read this story and reviewed, THANK YOU SO MUCH. You guys are so awesome and you give me inspiration to write! I love you! Haha. And that other 1, I'm sorry you don't like my writing, but you don't have to read it.
And of course, the biggest thanks EVER goes to Kaela! Without her, there seriously would be no story because she saved me from some of the WORST writers blocks ever, and helped come up with almost every idea in this story! So without her, this story would just be sad and depressing and not good! So THANK YOU KAELA! I couldn't write without you!
Its been a good 27 chapters! I never planned on taking this story this long, or having what happened in it happen, haha but I hope you all enjoyed it. Its kind of been my rebound story after S&S. I'm now going to write the last chapter and end it the way I think it should be ended. Not end it the "Realistic way". Thank you so much! My new story "Shake" will be up soon! I'm actually heading to LA for about 10 days (Leaving Friday) and so updating may be kind of crazy and off... but I'll do my best!
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul.
And sings the tune
Without the words,
and never stops at all.
Emily Dickinson
Lucas Scott had always believed in hope. Ever since he could remember his mother had told him to hold tight to his hopes and dreams. Of course, they had changed many times over the years. One time he had hoped and dreamed of becoming a dog so he wouldn't have to go to school, and could play around the house all day with his mom. That hope had died quickly after his dog Rocket had been hit by a car. Then when he was older, he had hoped to be one of the popular kids in high school. To have a beautiful girlfriend, and a ton of guy friends to hang out with. Of course this dream hadn't come true until about 3 years after he had wanted it. But he guessed that didn't matter, what counted was that it had happened at some point.
For a while, things had been going so well for so long, he hadn't had to hope or dream for anything. He had everything he wanted, a beautiful fiancé, a baby on the way, and was in the process of adopting Ella. At least until 5 months ago, when everything had been turned completely upside down. Now they waited everyday for any kind of news about Ella. Still clinging to hope that somehow everything would work out right for once and they could have her.
With all of this, on top of the fact that Brooke a good 8 and ½ month's pregnant, and completely miserable, tensions were running high. Mostly because everything was so un-sure, there was no certainty about anything. For all Brooke and Lucas knew they could come and take Ella at any minute and they'd never see her again. This truth had made the past 5 months extra hard. Both Brooke and Lucas had tried to face the reality of the situation and tried as hard as possible not to get too attached to the way things were. But the longer they had Ella with them, and the longer Richard and Carina just left her there, the easier it was to forget about the "What could happen" and focus on the "What they wanted to happen"
Nathan and Haley were over helping Lucas with some last minute things for the babies room, while Brooke laid on the couch listening to Haley's constant chatter about her future perfect family. Ever since she had finally forgiven Nathan for the whole getting Peyton pregnant thing, she'd been on some rampage talking planning out her future with Nathan. Not that Brooke could blame her, she might be a little crazy too if Lucas had another kid somewhere, but at least both Haley and Nathan were trying, and knowing them they'd be just fine. After all they were Naley.
But them being Naley didn't make Brooke any less bored. Even Ella wasn't very entertaining today. Nathan and Haley had brought her some kind of Dora the Explorer paint set, and she was perfectly content with painting her pictures at the kitchen table, leaving Brooke to work on some sketches. She guessed she could go help out with the babies room, but since that was more of a Lucas project she figured she'd just get in the way. At least that was her excuse so she didn't have to help paint.
"Brooke, don't you want to help?" Haley asked joining Brooke on the couch. Brooke knew this was a question that had a set answer. No. Lucas had made it very clear that the room was a surprise and until it was finished she couldn't have anything to do with it. Not that it bothered her, she needed to work anyway.
"Nope"
"Why not? This is your baby's room! It's a big part of having a baby, you should be a part of it"
"I'm giving birth to this baby, I think I'm doing my fair share" Brooke laughed, and then cringed at the thought. She'd so much rather be painting a room then lying here trying to balance pencils on her stomach.
"Whatever you say"
"Besides, I will not watch as Lucas paints that room purples and yellows and greens, and sexually confuses our baby. Why cant we just wait until we know if it's a boy or a girl?"
"Yellows, greens, purples, all reasonable colors for a boy or a girl" Haley sighed rolling her eyes at Brooke. She was putting way to much thought into all of this.
"The baby won't understand what it is its whole life and will be sexually confused. I will not sit back and watch you confuse our child like this"
"You've been on this couch way too long"
"Maybe" Brooke let out a long sigh and laid her sketches on the table. There was no point in trying to work with Haley whining in her ear.
"Have you at least thought of baby names?"
"Tristan if it's a boy, Gabrielle if it's a girl. Lucas can just smile and deal with it"
"And way too much Desperate Housewives" Haley laughed, knowing good and well Lucas had his own names picked out. She couldn't wait to see this fight.
"I've gotta do something in my spare time. So how are things with you and Nathan?"
"Better everyday, I mean its gonna take a while to get back to the way we were but we're working on it"
"That's my Naley" Brooke laughed sarcastically. She was glad they were working things out though, and that Nathan was also finding time to be there for his baby too.
"Mommy lwook!" Ella interrupted the conversation walking in with her hands and arms almost completely covered with blue paint.
"Ella, you look, um beautiful"
"I knew it was a bad idea to leave her in there with 2 guys, Nathan probably told her to do it"
"Daddy did" Ella giggled wiping her cheek, leaving a huge paint streak across her cheek.
"Did he?"
"Uh huh, its Bwlue"
"I see that" Brooke laughed shaking her head at the little girl. They paint had even made its way into her long hair.
"Take a picture!" Brooke heard Lucas yell from the back bedroom.
"Its not as cute when you tell her to do it"
"Smile Ella. He's been making me take pictures through the whole process"
"Let me see" Brooke whined trying to snatch the digital camera from Haley. She didn't like the fact that there was blue paint in the bedroom when they still had no idea if it were a boy or girl. Unless Lucas knew something she didn't.
"Nope, he says you can't see until it's all finished"
"Fine, leave me here. I'm gonna go do something useful and give someone a bath" Brooke smiled sticking her tongue out at Ella.
"With pwink bwubbles?" Ella asked spreading more paint across her chin and cheeks as she got excited.
"Yes, pink bubbles"
"I'm gonna go help the guys, you two have fun"
"Fun? Have you ever tried giving a 3 year old a bath?" Brooke laughed taking Ella's paint covered hand in hers. Giving Ella a bath was always an adventure.
"You love it"
Back in the bedroom Lucas and Nathan were waiting for Haley to let them know if they're plan had worked. Sending Ella out with blue paint on her hands would definitely throw Brooke off. Little did she know Lucas had done a little re-search of his own, calling the doctor and convincing him that they had changed their mind, and did want to know the sex of the baby. Brooke Davis may have just met her match on this one. Now they all just had to keep it a secret from Brooke.
"Did she fall for it?" Lucas asked as soon as Haley came back into the room. His little hints to throw her off hadn't been working like he'd wanted lately and it was time to get drastic.
"I don't think she even really noticed it was blue"
"Its ok, I told Ella it was a boy"
"Lucas! You're going to make that poor little girl think she's getting a brother" Haley laughed, almost shocked at how devious Lucas was being about this. Ever since he'd found out the baby was a girl he'd done everything possible to trick Brooke into thinking it was a boy. Sadly, Haley didn't think Brooke was falling for it.
"She's 3, I don't think there's much of a difference in her mind"
"Whatever you say, but seriously you two. Barney themed? Brooke's going to kill you both"
"Babies like Barney" Lucas smiled finishing the last bit of pink on the 3rd wall.
"Like she's going to wait that long"
"That's why we lock the door"
"We're hoping she'll like the baby so much she won't care what its room looks like" Nathan laughed. Haley knew she shouldn't have left those two up to their own devices and planning.
"You realize for this one you're definitely going to have to let her name the baby right?"
"It's a girl so that means no Tristan" Lucas smiled just thankful for that small detail.
"What does she want to name a girl?"
"Gabby. But hey, anything's better than Tristan. I even told her if it were a boy she could name it, and she's so sure it is she agreed. And if it's a girl I get to name her. See my plan?"
"Damn it Lucas! Your child is going to kill me!" Brooke shrieked banging on the bedroom door, which Haley had locked on her way in. Lucas wasn't sure who she was talking about. Ella was his child when she did something Brooke didn't feel like dealing with, but when the baby kicked so much she couldn't sleep, or something like that. It was his child too.
"What's wrong?"
"Pain" Brooke whined, grabbing her lower back as Lucas came out. Carefully shutting the door so she couldn't see in.
"Bad pain?"
"Yes"
"Where?" Lucas asked as Brooke whined into his chest. It actually wasn't that bad, but it was seriously uncomfortable.
"My back"
"Brooke what's wrong?" Haley asked meeting them in the den.
"I, nevermind"
"Nevermind?"
"It went away" Brooke said, kind of puzzled. Maybe it was something she'd eaten.
"It went away?"
"Mommy I'm cwold!" Ella whined from the bathroom in her towel.
"I'm coming baby"
"No you're not"
"What?" Brooke asked as Haley sat her down on the couch. Haley wasn't as stupid as Brooke apparently was.
"Brooke, I think you're in labor"
"No I'm not, I still have 2 weeks"
"That doesn't matter" Haley laughed, not believing Brooke was this dim when it came to this sort of thing. Anyone and everyone knew the basic rules of having a baby. You have contractions on and off and that's the first sign. Apparently Brooke had skipped health class one too many times.
"Yes it does"
"Did Lyric wait?"
"No but she's a pain in the ass baby" Brooke whined throwing her head against the back couch cushion. This couldn't happen now. She'd spent months getting herself all prepared for the due date. Not 2 weeks before.
"Lucas talk some sense into her!"
"We still have 2 weeks"
"You two shouldn't be aloud to have kids, Brooke at least let us take you to get checked out" Haley sighed hoping that maybe they'd both be better with a baby once they brought it home.
"Why? I"
"Brooke?"
"Pain, son of a bitch" Brooke cried, slapping Lucas's arm until the pain was gone.
"That's it, lets go"
"No"
"Brooke do you really want to pull a Peyton and have this baby on the floor?" Haley asked hoping maybe that would knock some sense into Brooke.
"Lucas get my jacket"
"Nathan I'll drive them, you stay here with Ella until we find out anything"
"I don't do kids" Nathan whined. He didn't know what to do with a 3 year old, much less a girl 3 year old who wanted to play Barbie's, dolls, and Dora.
"Funny coming from someone who has a baby girl"
"Fine"
Haley drove Lucas and Brooke to the hospital since neither of them were in any condition to drive. If anything Lucas looked worse than Brooke. So much so that Brooke was the one holding his hand as they walked into the ER. It didn't take them long to send Brooke upstairs and get her a room, which she wasn't too happy about. In her mind she still had 2 weeks, and even though the pain was getting worse and worse every time, she really just wanted to go home.
"Ow…I want pain meds" Brooke whined squeezing Lucas's hand as hard as she could. She wanted to make sure to cause him as much pain as she was in.
"You don't want to do it natural?"
"I do if you'll let me strangle you"
"Didn't you two talk about any of this?" Haley asked, again surprised at how un-prepared both Brooke and Lucas really were for this.
"You're getting fixed after this"
"Brooke, you don't tolerate pain well do you?"
"No, why?" Brooke whined trying to get comfortable in the horrible bed.
"Because if they just started, they shouldn't be that bad yet"
"Yet?"
"They get stonger" Haley laughed, then stopped seeing the look on Brooke's face. Maybe all those times she'd said she wasn't meant to have children, she hadn't been lying.
"Lucas I want to slap you so bad right now"
"Ok you two, looks like you're going to have a baby today" The doctor smiled walking into Brooke's room, looking over her chart. Hearing this would make most soon to be parents thrilled, but not Brooke, it just made her more pist at Lucas.
"Cant you just knock me out, or shoot me?" Brooke begged, everyone laughed but she wasn't completely sure she was kidding.
"You're about 3 centimeters, you've gotta get to 10"
"And?"
"If we start the pain medicine now it might wear off by the time you really really need it" The doctor sympathized. Brooke just rolled her eyes. It wasn't worth the energy to argue.
"What did I ever do to deserve this?"
Hours passed like minutes. After trying to deal with Ella, for an hour Nathan had given up and just brought her to the hospital so he could wait with Haley in the waiting room. Every once in a while they'd come check in and let Ella visit while Brooke was feeling ok, but once it had hit 10:00 they'd all fallen asleep. Without Ella to entertain her and take her mind off the pain, Brooke had learned to look past her pain and focus on how amusing it was to watch Lucas squint and look so nervous. She'd known he wasn't going to do well with this, but she hadn't expected him to be this bad. Even she was starting to cope with it a little better.
"What are you thinking about?" Brooke asked deciding she'd let him brood for too long.
"The first time we met"
"In your backseat?"
"That wasn't the first time" Lucas laughed remembering Brooke in the backseat. He'd almost forgotten all about that somehow.
"Really?"
"No, it was 7th grade at Peyton's 13th birthday"
"I forgot about that night" Brooke smiled. Probably because she and Peyton had found Larry's Vodka stash for the first time that night.
"You were wearing that purple sparkly shirt that showed your belly button, and I'm pretty sure Haley said you stuffed your bra"
"What whore? Did you slap her?"
"Actually I think I had a crush on Hales, 7th grade Brooke wasn't very nice" Lucas laughed remembering all the things Brooke used to do to his friends.
"Neither was 7th grade Lucas, when I asked you to dance you turned me down"
"Believe me, I wanted to so bad. But Haley kind of hated you and Mouth threatened to beat me up if I did"
"God if we have a boy he's gonna be a wimp isn't he?" Brooke whined trying to imagine Mouth threatening Lucas.
"You're still not very nice"
"Neither are you"
"We're even then" Lucas smiled.
"Ow, you think they can give me drugs yet?"
"I can go ask"
"Hurry or I might have to look through Peyton's purse for some good pills" Brooke cried, trying to find something other than Lucas to hit or break.
"Not nice"
After sending the nurse in to check on Brooke, Lucas walked to the waiting room where Nathan and Haley were fast asleep, and Ella was sitting alone watching whatever Cartoon was on the waiting room TV. Lucas could have shot Nathan and Haley for falling asleep on the job, when Ella could have wondered off anywhere. But it was getting late and he didn't really have the time to worry about that right now.
"Hey baby girl, whatcha watching?" Lucas whispered pulling Ella up into his arms
"Shh, they are slweeping daddy"
"Aren't you sleepy?"
"Nowa, I'm big" Ella yawned leaning her head on Lucas's shoulder, clearly tired. Lucas wasn't sure how much longer she was going to last out here in the waiting room.
"Are you hungry?"
"Nowa"
"You want some ice cream?" Lucas whispered grabbing his wallet out of his back pocket. He wasn't sure when she'd eaten last, and from the looks of things Nathan and Haley had been asleep for a while.
"Banillwa?"
"Whatever kind you want, we'll go check on mommy and then go get some ok?"
"Does she have the baby ywet?" Ella whined clearly annoyed with the whole situation. Lucas didn't blame her, he kinda wished things would start moving a little faster too.
"Not yet"
"What is twaking its so long?"
"Lucas" Lucas heard a voice behind him. He knew exactly who it was before he even turned around.
"Marshall?"
"I need to talk to you, I called your mom and she said you were here"
"Mr. Scott? We need you… now" A nurse said coming out of Brooke's room and basically pulling Lucas in.
"Can you watch her for a sec?"
"Brooke, push!"
"No damn it! I want pain medicine" Brooke screamed ignoring everything the doctor was saying. This was not how this was supposed to go. There was supposed to be pain medicine and time and warning before she actually had to do any of this.
"What's going on?"
She's ready, Brooke if you just push you can have this baby in minutes" The doctor said, obviously getting frustrated with Brooke and her lack of effort.
"Or you can give me something"
"One, two… Brooke!"
"Do I look like a two year old? Oww" Brooke whined gripping Lucas's hand with a death grip.
"Brooke, just do what she says"
"You know I can't reach her to slap her but you're close enough"
"You can't just give her a little something?" Lucas asked, almost being. For his sake more than Brooke's.
"I don't think we're going to have too, Brooke you're half way there"
"You can do it ok?"
"Don't talk to me like a damn lifetime movie! You did this to me, and I swear to god I am going to hurt you after this baby is born" Brooke yelled. She was completely serious at that very moment. So much so she was already planning the method of which to would cause him the most pain.
Ten minutes later, after Brooke had successfully planned Lucas's torture method and was then contemplating on just killing him, it was all over.
"And it's a boy" The doctor said and Brooke listened to her baby cry. Most new mothers would feel a since of satisfaction knowing they had brought a new life into the world, and Brooke did feel satisfied. Only for a completely different reason as she watched Lucas's face turn into complete shock that the baby was a boy.
"What?"
"It's a little boy"
"Wait what?" Lucas asked still not quite understanding what the doctor was saying.
"Hi Tristan" Brooke smiled waving to the tiny baby as they wrapped him in a blanket.
"I called and you said"
"Lets hope he's smarter than you, I called like 3 weeks before you did"
"You knew the whole time?" Lucas asked, now in disbelief that Brooke had beat him to the punch.
"Did you really think I was going to risk us having a girl and you naming her Margaret or something? Besides we both knew you wanted a boy"
"And here's your baby"
"He's so tiny" Brooke whispered taking the baby from the doctor. She was almost scared she was going to drop him he was so tiny.
"Damn it"
"What?"
"He even looks like Tristan" Lucas sighed looking down at the baby. Not that he really cared anymore what they named him. His mom had been right about one thing. When it came to a baby it was love at first sight. Suddenly things like names and such didn't matter so much anymore.
"Of course he does. You know you've caused me a lot of pain the past few months. I'm sure you'll understand if I choose not to breastfeed, and just go home and drink a big big drink" Brooke smiled, talking to the baby like he was an adult.
"Brooke"
"You think I'm kidding?"
"Hey you two, look who I brought in" Marshall said, giving the door a quiet knock with his free arm.
"Hey baby girl, did you just wake up?"
"Uh huh"
"Come here and see your brother" Brooke whispered handing Tristan so Lucas so she could show Ella.
"I wish today wasn't the day I had to give you the bad news"
"Bad news?"
"I'm sorry, I did everything I could. But there are some things, that aren't fair in life and don't always work out" Marshall sighed sitting Ella on the bed beside Brooke as he spoke. Brooke didn't want to hear what he was saying, especially not today of all days.
"What?"
"They left her for 6 months!"
"Like I said, things aren't always fair. You should have planned for this" Marshall continued but Brooke wasn't listening. She looked down at Ella and then at Tristan. She didn't want to do this if she didn't have both of them. She didn't care what Karen or anyone else said.
"How long do we have?"
"About 15 years"
"What?" Brooke and Lucas both asked in unison.
"Until you've gotta start paying those college tuitions, I know its not fair. Education in this country sucks but like I said you should have planned ahead. Well then, maybe she wont want to go to college"
"What are you talking about?"
"They signed over custody a few hours ago" Mashall smiled handing Brooke a manila envelope filled with papers.
"What?"
"So unless you two do something completely stupid and screw up, she's yours"
"Like forever?" Brooke asked, still not sure she was hearing everything right.
"That's usually how it works"
"You hear that Tristan? You will have a big sister to turn you more gay then you'll already be with that pink Barney room of yours"
"Thank you so much" Was all Lucas could say as he watched Ella staring intently at the baby in his arms. It all seemed too good to be true. With way their lives had been going lately Lucas wasn't sure they were ever going to catch a break.
"All I have to say is good luck, you're gonna need it. I'll let you guys be alone for a while, enjoy it while you can. There are tons of people out there"
"Right"
"Ah! It moveded daddy" Ella squealed backing up from the baby as far as possible.
"Baby's tend to do that Ell"
"What dwoes he do?"
"Pretty much just lays here and looks cute" Brooke smiled playing with the tiny babies fingers.
"Aww, dwoes he bite?"
"Does he bite, how have we kept her this sheltered?" Lucas asked trying not to laugh out loud for Ella's sake.
"He doesn't bite silly, but we can play with him and dress him all cute, and make daddy change his diapers"
"I lwike him"
"What's she doing?" Brooke asked watching as Ella patted the baby's head.
"Petting his head like she does Gucci"
"Ok then"
"You realize we aren't going to sleep for the next 18 years don't you?" Lucas asked, completely serious.
"But you were right"
"About what?"
"It was all worth it" Brooke smiled looking at her family. Something she'd never had before. At least not a real one. As messed up as most people would see them, two 20 year olds, not married, still in college, with a 3 year old and a new born by choice (mostly), Brooke Davis wasn't sure she'd want it any other way. Obviously things weren't going to be easy, but what worth having ever was? She'd fought for Lucas, which had been anything but easy, but worth it obviously. Then for Ella, and for that she now had that one thing she needed, that she never even knew she even wanted. And of course there was her new baby, Tristan. Who she could already tell was going to be a serious troublemaker and heart breaker as he laid there in her arms winning over everyone with his adorable little fingers and yawn. It all seemed so perfect.
"Dwoes he bark?" Ella asked looking up at Brooke completely serious as she asked the question. It may have all been worth it, and no, Brooke wouldn't have changed a thing. But she had to agree with Lucas, when it came to the next 18 years… they were in for it.
"Taking risks is part of life, nothing good is ever handed to you, but when fate brings someone into your life, don't let people's opinions or your fear come between what your heart really wants. Its a scary thing to follow your heart and it is easier to just ignore it, but it's much scarier when you allow fear into your life because you could, miss out on everything you're meant for"
