So I borrowed a surgical storyline from Grey's Anatomy from this chapter. It's a funny one put also kind of horrible so fair warning!

A few of your have been asking for some Lucas POV - and we get a little bit of it in this chapter, so I hope you enjoy finding out where his head as been at for the past while!

Julian has an important question for Brooke, the Davis' get emotional and Karen makes Lucas have some doubts… enjoy!

Chapter Fifteen - Any Last Words?

Brooke woke up the following morning and had the weirdest feeling in the pit of her stomach. She couldn't quite work out what it was, but it was strange none the less. She got up, freshened up and made her way into the kitchen and saw that Julian had been cooking pancakes.

"Hey, you're up!" he said with a smile as he piled the pancakes onto a plate. "They're strawberry, do you want some?" he asked.

The thought of pancakes immediately made her mind float to her family. She wondered what they were doing right now. Maybe they were eating pancakes too. The Davis' always had a thing for banana pancakes. It was a staple in their house growing up and they only saved them for special occasions. Before Brooke could reply, Harrison, who had been staying with Brooke while aiding Ted with his complicated surgery, came into the kitchen looking about as lost as Brooke did.

"Uh... we're actually going to run to my dad's house really quick." Brooke said. She had a funny feeling that Harrison was feeling as uneasy as her.

"You ok?" he asked, wondering why she felt this urgent need to go see her dad.

"Yeah, yeah I just... fancy paying him a visit." she said as she lifted her keys and left with Harrison behind her.

"Mom called… she made chocolate chip pancakes this morning and I don't know, I just had this weird feeling that I needed to be at dad's right now." Harrison said as he got into the passenger seat of Brooke's car."

"I know exactly how you feel..." Brooke said quietly as she turned the ignition on and drove away. It didn't take long to get to Ted's house. When the stepped onto the porch, they both froze and looked at each other. "Do you smell that?" Brooke said as the two Davis' peered in the window of the house. They spotted Ted, Kate and Matty all sitting in the kitchen eating.

"Banana pancakes." they both said as they quickly opened the door.

"Wow, you sensed the pancakes huh?" Ted said with a snigger as his two eldest children descended into the kitchen.

"I can't believe you didn't call us and tell us you were having banana pancakes, thank God we're here" Brooke said as she quickly took a plate and sat down beside Matty.

"I am out right offended that you would even consider eating these pancakes without us." Harrison said as he took his pancakes and sat down beside Brooke.

"You guys are weird, did you seriously just come over here to eat pancakes?" Matty asked. He was so young when they used to eat them altogether, just the 5 of them, so he probably couldn't remember just how special it felt to do so.

"Not just any pancakes Matty, the best pancakes on the entire planet." Harrison reminded him.

"Well yeah that's true but you could have just made them at your own home" he suggested.

"There's just something special about eating them with you." Brooke said as she kissed his cheek and he pushed her away. He didn't really do affectionate sibling kisses.

"Why are these pancakes so special anyway? You're always talking about them." Kate asked. The Davis' loved their banana pancakes, but in all the years she had been a part of their family, Kate had never discovered why.

"Well," Ted began; "my dad used to make them for me and my sisters and now I like to make them for you guys as a way of saying no matter what bad things happen, no matter how sad you feel, or no matter how much you are all fighting with each other, you will always have banana pancakes."

"People always claim that chocolate chip pancakes are the best, but it's total nonsense." Harrison said as if it was obviously the case.

"No nutritional value whatsoever." Brooke confirmed as she shook her head, deadly serious. She knew banana pancakes were really no better, but she liked to trick herself into thinking otherwise.

"You guys are like wild animals when it comes to these pancakes." Kate said with a laugh as she watched them devour them in front of her.

"It's the opportunity to bond over pancakes that makes us so happy." Matty said semi-sarcastically. He did love the way his family came together over something as simple as pancakes, but he would never admit that.

Ted smiled at his kids all sitting in a line together, chatting and nibbling away. It just felt so, very right.

"I better get going, I have a plane to catch." Ted said as he took one last bite of pancake.

"Heading to New York?" Harrison asked.

"Yeah, it's my last day of handing over all the research information to the new guy. Wish me luck" Ted said with a little laugh as he lifted his brief case and his coat. Ted turned to Matty who had never really been an emotional soul.

"Why do you look sad?" Matty asked as he scrunched up his nose.

"I don't know I just – I hate saying goodbye to you. I feel like I do it too often" Ted said as he rested his hand on Matty's shoulder.

"… I'm not moving to Raleigh if that's what this guilt trip is about." Matty made clear. He was a New York kid through and through.

Ted chuckled, "I would never expect you to leave your beloved New York, but then again, Brookie did"

"Brookie will come running back one day, mark my words…" Matty commented as Brooke rolled her eyes. She reckoned she was pretty settled in Raleigh for now.

"I'll not embarrass you with a kiss, kid" Ted said as Matty stood from his chair with a laugh.

"I'll take a hug though?" Matty said as Ted smiled in a surprised manner as he hugged his son. "Have a safe trip dad, I love you."

"Love you too. Behave - don't let the pranking league get out of hand." Ted warned.

"He's got nothing on me dad, don't worry." Harrison said as he briefly hugged his father. When Harrison was a teenager, he and his friends started a pranking league than ran all through summer. Somehow, Harrison always ended up as King of the Pranks—but now, Matty was giving him a run for his money. Ted felt he had to give Matty a special warning as one year, Harrison tied one of his friends to the gate around the Statue of Liberty - butt naked - and left him there over night. Ted was determined that Matty wouldn't take it that far. The worst that had happened over the years was Matty dropping a water balloon on Nana Davis' head one Christmas.

"Yeah we'll see about that." Matty said shoving Harrison slightly.

Ted turned to Brooke who had a little smile on her face; "well you might just be the prettiest girl I've ever seen." he said as she laughed.

"It's all you." she joked, despite knowing how much she resembled Victoria. "Bye daddy" she said giving him a hug. "I love you"

"I love you too honey."

"Why does this feel like a last goodbye?" Kate joked awkwardly as they walked away from the other three for a more private goodbye. They never got this emotional about things. Maybe it was because he had all three of his kids there at the same time, which was a rare occurrence.

"I'll be back before you know it. Then I am taking you on a romantic weekend away..." she said holding her closer.

"Oh really? That sounds amazing..."

"You bet it does" he said giving her a kiss.

They were interrupted by Matty's voice shouting across the room; "whatever inappropriate behaviour that is going on over there can stop now!" he said.

Kate and Ted chuckled as they broke apart." You better get going or you're going to miss your flight."

"Ok. I love you all." He said as he walked towards the door. He He turned around before he opened the door and took one last look at his family. It really did feel like the last goodbye; "bye" he simply said as he closed the door and left them in an eerie silence.

"Well that was weirdly emotional." Brooke commented. "And we're out of pancakes."

"Your dad is always prepared for these moments, there's more batter in the fridge." Kate said as Matty immediately jumped up to make them.

"You ok Kate?" Brooke asked as she saw she looked a little down.

"Yeah... everything's always ok when there's banana pancakes."

After finishing her pancakes, Brooke went home to get Julian before they went to the hospital. He looked just as confused as he had when Brooke left about an hour ago, but he knew better than to question the intricate and dysfunctional workings of the Davis clan. If Brooke felt she needed to be there, then she needed to be there. Little did Brooke know, Julian was also on edge about a big question he was preparing to ask her. He had a plan, but knowing him it would probably fall apart at the last hurdle. He was miserable at keeping things quiet, but he knew he only had to go a little while and hope Brooke didn't get too suspicious.

As they walked towards the entrance of the hospital a short while later, Brooke could tell that something was off with Julian. He was fidgety and nervous and not saying much.

"Are you ok?" she asked as she looked at him with furrowed eyebrows.

"What? Yeah... yeah I'm ok." He said with an awkward nod, continually looking at his feet.

"You look like you've just seen a ghost" she said with a laugh.

"I uh... I just have some big surgeries today. That's all" he lied.

"Oh, ok." She replied, not sure if she bought his excuse.

They made their way into the surgical lobby where Haley and Nathan were standing. As soon as Haley saw them, she rushed over.

"Congratulations!" Haley exclaimed as Julian's eyes widened as if to tell her no, stop.

Brooke laughed "Congratulations for what?" she asked.

It clicked with Haley that Julian hadn't actually proposed yet and she quickly quietened down. "Oh um… congratulations to… Julian! For his surgical streak this week… Nathan told me about it, isn't that right Nathan?" she said nudging him in the stomach to stop his silent laughter.

Nathan cleared with throat "Uh yeah. Really good work Julian."

Brooke looked at them all as if they were a little crazy. "Ok... well I better go. I will see you guys later"

When Brooke was out of sight Julian quickly turned to Haley. "What was that?!"

"I'm sorry!" she whined as Nathan laughed. "I thought you would have asked..."

"How did you even know?" Julian asked. He hadn't told anybody other than Ted about his plans.

"Well everyone knew you wanted to speak with Ted about something, so it didn't take a genius to work it out..." Haley reasoned.

"So you're really going to do it? You're really going to propose?" Nathan asked.

"Yeah... yeah I am. I hope you're guys are cool with it" Julian said. Nathan was like family to Brooke and Haley was quickly becoming family too. He knew it meant a lot to her that her friends liked and approved of him.

"Yeah we're cool with it. You're a good guy Julian and she deserves someone who treats her the way you do." Nathan replied shaking Julian's hand.

Rachel cleared her throat as she approached the group "And as her very best friend, I too, give you my blessing" she said in a joking manner.

"Thank you, Gatina, that really means the world" He replied back sarcastically.

"It better, because there are so many people around here that would beat your ass if you messed up. Me the worst." Rachel warned. She was already having to restrain herself from beating Lucas' ass.

Despite Rachel voicing her approval, she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy about the whole thing. She just had a feeling that this relationship just wasn't right for Brooke. She knew it seemed ridiculous – Julian was so good to her – but there was a spark missing from behind Brooke's eyes. A spark she hadn't seen since Lucas.

"I don't doubt that for a second." Julian said with a laugh, breaking Rachel out of her unease. She didn't know what would happen, but she had to trust that Brooke would make the right choice for herself.

While the others had been talking to Julian, Brooke walked towards the resident's lounge with a spring in her step. She put it down to the banana pancakes – they always made her day better. As she turned a corner, she almost ran straight into none other than Karen Scott. Brooke hadn't seen her since their first meeting, so to say this was a little awkward was an understatement.

"Brooke… it's nice to see you" Karen said politely as Brooke gave her a tight-lipped smile.

"You too Dr. Scott" she replied, unsure what else to really say to the woman. She was looking at her the way everybody looked at her when things first ended with Lucas. She was looking at her with a whole lot of pity and she hated it. She was desperate to get her to look at her in any other way.

"Uh – how long are you visiting for?" Brooke asked, opting for a little bit of small talk.

"Just a few days. Convenient timing though, I just got a page down to the ER. A man came in – his wife just cut off his penis with a butcher's knife after she found him cheating on her." Karen said as Brooke's eyes widened.

"Oh my god, that's… horrible." Brooke said, not really sure how to react.

"Horrible, yes… excellent for you because I need someone in the surgery with me. What do you say Dr. Davis? Could you help me reattach this man's penis?" Karen asked as Brooke looked at her surprised.

"You're—you're not just giving this to me because you feel sorry for me right? Cause honestly, it's in the past, Lucas and I are fine—" Brooke rambled, not wanting to be pitied by anyone, especially by Karen.

"No, Brooke, I'm asking you because I know talent when I see it, I don't really do pity, it's a waste of time." Karen said as Brooke smiled, thankful that at least one person wasn't looking at her like she was broken. "Come on, let's go."

After the surgery, Brooke walked through the hospital with an even bigger spring in her step. She knew those banana pancakes were a good idea. The surgery had gone well thanks to Karen and she even complimented Brooke's work. She was quite simply on cloud nine. As she walked through the hallway, she accidentally bumped into Lucas.

"Oh, hi, sorry" she happily apologised as Lucas eyed her curiously.

"You ok?" he asked with a little chuckle, surprised to see her in such a good mood.

"Yeah, I'm—I'm actually awesome. I'm on a little bit a high and I don't really know why. Probably because I had banana pancakes this morning, they set me up for a good day." She said with a smile.

Lucas knew how obsessed the Davis' were with their banana pancakes, so it certainly explained her good mood.

"You do love your banana pancakes" he said in agreement.

"And your mother complimented my work. She said it was above average." Brooke told him proudly.

Lucas laughed; "that's about the highest compliment she can give"

"I know!" Brooke said giddily; "Best day ever!" she admired Karen a whole lot, so to be complimented by her went a long way.

"I'm glad you're happy." Lucas told her sincerely.

"Me too." She replied. Brooke looked as Lucas as he smiled at her. She had enjoyed actually being pleasant with him for the past little while. She actually felt like she could consider him a friend. "You know- we were friends before everything that happened." She said, recalling his own words to her.

Lucas nodded; "Yeah. We were."

"I don't see why we couldn't get that place again. Starting now." She told him.

Lucas chuckled; "Wow, those pancakes have done you good, you've finally given in friend. Next thing we know you'll be joining me in plastics." He teased as he nudged her.

"We'll see…" she replied. As she was about to leave, there was a scream coming from a patient's room. She and Lucas ran in to find it was Karen and Brooke's penis patient.

"She cut it off! My girlfriend she cut it off!" he exclaimed.

"Not your wife?!"

"NO! MY GIRLFRIEND!" he screamed as the blood poured out over the bed.

"Oh my god" Brooke grumbled as she ran out the door and after the girlfriend. "Come back with that penis!" she shouted as Lucas tried to stop the bleeding, while being slightly amused by Brooke's determination to get that penis back.

Eventually, Brooke had chased her into the bathroom and stopped her from flushing it down the toilet—she was the talk of the entire hospital afterwards. She had saved a man's penis twice.

"You are a warrior Brooke. A woman of determination and skill. You saw our work take by the hands of a thief and ran to retrieve it. You charged forward, you conquered, you were victorious! This man can live to pee again." Karen dramatically complimented as she watched Brooke irrigate the penis so they could reattach it again. When she heard what Brooke did, she wasn't the least bit surprised. She knew she was a strong woman and would fight tooth and nail for her patients. She was the sort of doctor Karen was desperate to see in the world.

"Thank you…" Brooke said cautiously, not expecting such fervour Karen regarding her work.

"You are exactly the kind of surgeon I need in Boston. Bold, fearless, and when you're looking at specialities, I hope that you will consider a urology fellowship with me."

Brooke's eyes widened; "Wow, that's—that's wow."

"You deserve it Brooke and you really should give yourself more credit for your abilities. You finish up here and I'll go check on our patient in pre-op." Karen said as she left the room and ran straight into Lucas.

"Hey, I can't believe Brooke went charging into a bathroom after a penis—that sounds weird when I say it out loud." Lucas said, squirming a little.

"That girl is passionate to her core. I hope you don't regret letting her slip away." Karen said quietly to her son as she walked on.

Lucas watched Brooke through the window as she worked on the penis. Like he had what ifs with Peyton, he also had what ifs with Brooke too. He quickly shook those thoughts from his head. He couldn't have those thoughts, it wasn't fair to anybody. He felt like such a fool for his confusion. He kept trying to remind himself that nobody was perfect and people made mistakes - but he couldn't help but feel like nobody would be stupid enough to let Brooke Davis slip away from them. He knew Peyton felt his confusion too. They were together, but barely. It was difficult to call what they had a loving relationship. Lucas made a choice in the heat of the moment - a choice that was really taken away from him when Brooke left - but he didn't really think it through. He let lack of closure take over and now he was in a position he wasn't sure he could ever come back from. He dipped his head and walked away, wondering if even a friendship with Brooke really was possible, especially when he felt the way he did. He figured the only thing he could do was keep trying with Peyton. Maybe something will change, but who was he to determine what his future held. Plans have a funny way of biting people in the ass after all.

That night, Brooke walked out of the hospital and straight over to Julian, excited to tell him about her day.

"Hey, I had the most amazing day—" she began, but Julian cut her off.

"Can I talk?" he asked as Brooke's smile fell and she nodded, a little disappointed that he cut her off like that, but also curious as to where this was going.

"I had this big elaborate plan in my head but we just haven't had the time to do it so I just want to do it now, here is perfect, here is where it was meant to happen—" he said with a smile. He'd been thinking about it all day and when he'd heard what Brooke did today, he wanted to make the day just that little bit more special.

Brooke furrowed her eyebrows in complete confusion; "Julian, what are you—"

Julian grabbed Brooke's hands and looked at her; "You once told me how you sometimes have zero faith in love and all that comes with it, but I have complete faith in our love and all that comes with it. I knew from the moment that I kissed you at Tric, that you were it for me. I love you, so much, more than I ever thought possible and I would like you to do me the honour… of becoming my wife."

Brooke's eyes widened, and her face fell as Julian got down on one knee and lifted out a ring. She felt frozen in time. He had confidence in their love? She hadn't even told him she loved him! How could he be asking her to marry him? She really felt that they weren't on the same page right now, she had no clue what to do and all she could mutter was:

"Oh my god—"

"Brooke Penelope Davis. Will you marry me?"

Brooke gulped. Was this really happening? It certainly didn't feel real. She felt like she was in a bubble. Before she could even think about answering, a seriously distressed Harrison rushed over, not even caring, or noticing, that he had just interrupted a proposal.

"Brooke, we gotta go, now!" he exclaimed as a confused Brooke took off running after him.

What's happened?! Let me know your guesses in the reviews...