-1Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own characters!

Lucas's words had hit her like a ton of bricks. Brooke couldn't stop the tears that were pouring down her face. She couldn't even catch her breath. Lucas didn't look much better, but at least he wasn't near hyperventilation. She finally got calmed down enough to speak.

"Please don't do this Lucas. I can try harder, I promise I will. I'll do anything, I swear." Brooke pleaded. She knew she probably looked and sounded pathetic.

"Please Broody." Brooke added, using her childhood nickname for him.

He gave her a small smile but shook his head sadly.

"I wish it were that easy, Cheery. You know we just aren't good together, who knows if we ever were. We don't want the same things. I'm the one who should be sorry Brooke. I should never have tried to force you to be something I knew you weren't. I knew that all you wanted in life was to love me and be a famous designer. I'm the one who wanted a family and for you to stay home and raise our family while I became a best-selling author. And you did try for me. I can only imagine how hard it must have been for you. I'm sorry." Lucas apologized.

"If you really want to make it up to me, then don't do this!" Brooke exclaimed. She couldn't believe how quickly her world had come crashing down around her.

"I have to. Its what's best for all of us. It might hurt like hell now, but it's what we need and you know it." Lucas said sadly.

"I'm going to stay with my Mom for a couple weeks until I find an apartment. You and Charity can stay here. I don't want to have to uproot her again so quickly." Lucas told her.

"Oh no. You are not leaving a very pissed off Charity with me. It's not happening. No, here's what's going to happen. I'm going to go upstairs and grab my things. I'm going to go back to Paris and finish the show. If you still want this when I get back in two weeks then I'll find a place to stay and you and Charity can stay here." Brooke said evenly. She was praying fervently that he would change his mind while she was gone.

"Fine. I won't change my mind though Brooke." He said, not meeting her eyes.

Brooke didn't answer him. She simply went to the phone and called for yet another taxi. With one last look at Lucas she slowly went up the stairs to get her bags and repack the few things she had taken out. When she reached her room she couldn't hold it in any longer. She shut the door behind her and let out a sob. She could hardly believe that he wanted to throw away so many years of their lives. She knew their marriage hadn't been easy but she wasn't ready to give up. She loved him too much to give up on him. The thought struck her then. What if he didn't love her anymore? What if she had been so rotten to him that he had fallen out of love with her? She could feel a part of her dying at the thought.

She realized that she felt more anger than sadness and she knew that was not a good thing. When she was hurt and angry she tended to do stupid things. She knew that she couldn't afford to do anything stupid right now, not when her marriage depended on it. Gathering her things she hauled them back downstairs.

"Lucas? The taxi will be here any minute." She called. She wanted to at least say goodbye to him. He walked out of his study and just looked at her. He looked at her like he was trying to memorize every feature on her face. She couldn't stop herself. She ran to him and threw her arms around him. She tilted her head back and looked up at him. She was willing him to kiss her. He was leaning down towards her. Their lips were nearly touching when the taxi started honking out front. He whipped his head up quickly. Brooke was not going to let the moment pass, though. She pulled him down to her and kissed him with all the passion she could muster. He returned the kiss, pushing her back against the wall. Finally he broke the kiss off.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that." Lucas said softly.

"Of course you should have. I'm your wife." Brooke told him, fixing him in her gaze.

"For better or worse, Lucas. I AM your wife." She added. She grabbed her suitcases and began to walk out the door.

"I'm sorry Brooke." Lucas called out to her.

He had no idea if she heard him or not.