Author Note: Hey Guys!! Here is the chapter 24. Thanks for the nice reviews they really mean the world to me. I know you're longing for the Brucas chat and don't worry i didn't forget about it. It's going to be in next chapter. Take care :-)

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"So…how's Nate doing?" Asked Brooke with a bright smile looking at Haley. "Gosh…. I really didn't expect to see you here."

"Yeah…" Said Haley with discomfort. "I didn't expect to see you either." She said with a smile. She knew what Brooke meant to Lucas and that she was the main reason why he decided to follow her. He was finally happy and Haley was scared that seeing Brooke would drive Stephanie away. "As for Nathan he's doing okay," she added with some relief in her voice. "He woke up this morning."

"Yeah? Oh I'm so pleased but maybe it's a bit too soon to visit." Tried Brooke. "It's probably family only for now" said Brooke finally looking at Stephanie.

"Oh sorry…" Said Haley not really sincere. She hoped that she would be able to skip the presentations.

"This is Stephanie Frederickson, She's…" Haley stopped for a second, she didn't know how to present her….Lucas' girlfriend... The Dallas maverick Lawyer…What?! Thought Haley.

Stephanie could see the uncertainty in Haley's eyes and she didn't interpret it correctly. She decided to step in. "I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself" she said with a pretend smile. "Where are my manners! I'm the Mavericks Lawyer and I came to check on Nathan." She said trying to sound detached. "You know I'm…how can I say…The voice of the team." She added finally looking at Haley.

"I…" Started Haley wanting to mention the whole Lucas relationship

"You know what?!" Said Stephanie cutting Haley off on purpose. "You stay here and catch up. I won't stay up for long anyway . Let me send Lucas down". She added nonchalantly. "I'm sure you want to catch up with your two friends." She added smiling at Brooke.

"Oh yeah!" Said Brooke with excitment. "Thank you so much! You're really nice." She added sincerely.

"I'm trying" said Stephanie when the only thing she wanted to do is shout to back off and that Lucas was hers now.

She now had the uncontrollable fear of losing Lucas. Never get close to someone and you won't get hurt and You knew that!! She thought angry against herself.

She finally made it to the room. As soon as she walked in Lucas gave her a bright smile, which made her heart tighten in her chest.

"Hey guys!" She said pretending to sound cheerful. She walked to Nathan "I'm so happy to see you awake Nate." She said honestly. "We missed you, you know." She added sincerely.

"So I've been told "said Nathan chuckling. "How are you doing ?" He asked instinctively.

"You ask how I'm doing?!" Asked Stephanie surprised. "That's pretty funny. It doesn't really matter now but…I'm fine thanks" she added squeezing his hand.

"I'm altruist you know." Said Nathan with humor.

"Uh huh…Joking already?!" She said still keeping her eyes on Nathan. She didn't know why but she was trying to avoid Lucas a little longer. "You're even feeling better than I thought!" She added laughing. She took a deep breath and finally looked at Lucas. "Can I see you outside for a minute." She asked trying to sound as detached as she could. She didn't want to worry Nathan and she didn't want to show Lucas that her meeting with Brooke shook her deep down. Damn Pride! She added to herself.

Lucas frowned. "Yeah…is everything okay?" He asked standing up.

"Yeah…Don't worry," she said with a small laugh. "I'll be back in a minute" she told Nathan.

Once they were outside the room Lucas tried to kiss her but she put her hands on each side of his chest in order to stop him.

"I knew something was wrong!" Said Lucas gently rubbing her cheek." What did I do?" He asked playfully.

"You didn't do anything." She said sincerely giving him a quick kiss. "Nothing is wrong Luke I promise but there's someone here. "

Lucas looked at her confused. "Someone?"

"Yeah…Brooke Davis is here and she's with Haley downstairs. She wants to see you Lucas and she's waiting for you." She added with a sad smile.

"Ohhh I see…" Said Lucas understanding why she was being so distant. "You know I haven't seen Brooke for more than 5 years now. She's nothing for me anymore. You shouldn't worry."

"I'm not worried." She said shaking her head "but ….You didn't get closure, you just disappeared leaving things unspoken and it was not right. You need to talk her and see where you stand and…"

"I know where I stand. I want to be with you!" Said Lucas sure of himself.

"Well…" She took his hands. "You need to talk to her…Get closure and if you see that you're not sure of what you want to do anymore then…" She saw that Lucas was about to interrupt her. "Please let me finish." She said on a pleading tone. "If there is only a tiny part of you who doubts don't hesitate to tell me because I'll understand I swear." She said sincerely. She just didn't add that it would break her heart.

Lucas sighted loudly. He knew there was no point arguing with her. She was a lawyer for god sakes! She always had the last word.

He just nodded, kissed her forehead and walked down to meet with Haley and Brooke.

Stephanie stayed in the corridor for about a minute or two, she needed to put her good face up again.

"Okay…" .She finally said out loud walking into the room.

"So Nathan longing to go back on the court?" She said sitting beside him.

"You didn't talk with Haley that much yet huh?" He asked nicely.

"No why?!" She asked curiously.

"I won't be on the court anytime soon". He said with a smile hoping to show her that he was fine with it.

Stephanie frowned.

Haley who left Lucas and Brooke alone for a private chat was about to enter the room when she heard Stephanie talk.

"What do you mean?! Well…I figure you'll need rehab and all but the team is going to wait for you Nathan." She added nicely.

Haley knew it was wrong to listen to their conversation but she wanted to know about Nathan's true feelings about losing basketball.

"I won't come back Steph I…I won't play basketball again." Finally admitted Nathan. "There's no need to wait for me I can't and won't come back."

Stephanie just stayed there frozen. She could have mentioned that! She though a bit angry against Haley.

"I…I don't know what to say Nathan." Said Stephanie really saddened by the news. A part of her wanted to kill the shooter. "I'm really sorry."

"I'm fine really" he said with a smile taking her hand. "Actually I take it as a sign from the higher power." He added sincerely.

"What?" She asked confused.

"Yeah… don't you think it's a bit weird that Haley found out about her pregnancy just in time that I find out about the permanent injury. Basketball took everything important from me." He shook his head. "I've put things in perspective a long time ago and if you need to ask me what's the best thing that ever happened to me that answer is clearly my family. I've got a chance to start fresh again and a part of me is glad not to have basketball to worry about."

"Really?" asked Stephanie her voice full of doubts.

Good question…Thought Haley with curiosity.

"Really!" Said Nathan with such a voice that it didn't leave any place for doubts. "I'll still find a way to have basketball in my life and as long as I have my family with me I don't really care."

"I'm pleased for you Nathan really…" Said Stephanie with a smile. "As long as life brings you what you really long for…That's perfect." She frowned. "Wait a minute…What did you say? Haley's pregnant?!" She asked finally realizing the big news.

Nathan laughed." It took you long enough!" He said jokingly.

It sure did!! Thought Haley smiling and finally walking into the room.

"Hey, I came back because it seems that Lucas and Brooke needed to talk for a while" Said Haley realizing too late that saying that could hurt Stephanie.

"I'll know where to stand pretty soon and it's priceless." Said Stephanie with a smile. "I prefer to find out now than to look back 5 or 10 years from now and see that we were never meant to be." She wanted to change subjects now before breaking down. "So anyway congratulation on your pregnancy. I'm so happy for you." She said standing up and hugging Haley.

In next chapter...The Brucas heated conversation ;-)