A/N: Sorry that this wasn't up yesterday. It's important that all of you read the authors note at the end of this chapter.

Chapter Thirty-Five: A Year Later

"All of you are here for one reason and that reason is to get better. We've all had stuff happen to us. You are all here for help. Addiction is a disease and with a little help you can beat this. Before group started I received a volunteer that wanted to talk to all of you newcomers. She hasn't been part of this group, but a colleague of mine says she has a really interesting story to tell. I would like her to come up here and have her introduce herself."

In the front seat of the group, Samantha Baker stands up from the chair and walks to the podium. She had gotten used to talking in front of people. She had been doing it for the past year.

"My name is Sam."

"Hi Sam," the group responds.

"I'm 18 and I'm an addict. One year ago today I started my journey of sobriety. I was lying in a hospital bed with two gunshot wounds when I told me parents I needed help."

A Year Ago

Sam's recovery had been going well. She was still restricted to bed rest in the hospital because doctors had been worried about her heart. The detective that had been shot would be making a full recovery. Sam had gone through withdrawal and now she was going stir crazy.

Julian walked into Sam's room and sat down in the nearby chair.

"Brooke and I set a date for the wedding."

Sam looks at her dad and nods her head.

"Brooke's on her way up. She's just getting checked out by the doctor."

Sam's eyes looked everywhere, but at her father. Julian could tell something was wrong with his daughter.

"Sam, are you upset that you have to spend your 17th birthday here?"

"It's whatever."

All Sam could think of was drugs. She needed them and she knew it was wrong. Julian sighs as Brooke walks into the room with a smile.

"What are we talking about?"

Julian grins at his fiancée and kisses her softly.

"I told Sam we had settled on a date and then we went into talking about her birthday."

Sam taps her fingers against her bedspread.

"I love parties. Do you want a party Sam?"

Sam felt like her world was caving in. She knew she needed help if she was going to survive this.

"I don't want a party. I don't want anything. I need help."

"What do you need help with?" Julian asks confused.

"I was shot up with drugs against my will. I was abusing drugs before that. I'm sick, dad. I need help."

Brooke reaches for Julian's hand.

"We'll help you Samantha."

Sam nods her head.

"Happy birthday to me."

PRESENT

"My mom died in a car accident or I thought it was. Turns out she had been murdered. I didn't talk about it. I just used drugs to deal with it. I thought I had a handle on it. I really did. But I didn't. I was kidnapped by my mom's murderer. She drugged me up for a couple of days. I knew I was addicted. I got the help I needed. I had a strong support group. I went into a three month treatment program. My best friend Nicole helped me talk about things. It's been a very long and emotionally driven ride, but it got me to this point. I get to stand up and tell everyone of you that it gets better. The cravings will lessen. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Each and every one of you can beat this. You just need to find the will power to do so."

Sam steps away from the podium and takes a seat back on her chair. The man that had spoken in the start of programming stood up and dismissed group. Group members went to refreshments while Sam stayed in her chair. The man takes a seat next to Sam and smiles at her.

"I'm sorry we never got the chance to meet. My name is Brian," the brown haired man stuck out his hand. Sam shook it and smiled.

"Sam, how long have you been running this group?"

"After I got myself clean. Drug free for five years."

"That's a big accomplishment."

"So is the one year."

Sam shrugs her shoulders.

"It had to be done," Sam looks at the clock and grabs her bag. "I've got to start heading home."

"You left us hanging on the date for your dad's wedding."

Sam grins as she pulls her keys out of her pocket.

"They were married six months ago. His wife is expecting now."

-What's Left of Me-

"Are you pouting again?" Brooke asks as her husband as she takes a seat next to him on the couch.

"I'm not pouting. I just miss my daughter. I feel like we haven't seen her in a year."

"We haven't much. Sam went into rehab and then she decided to do high school online so she could tell her story to many NA groups. At least she came to the wedding. I thought she wasn't going to make it."

Julian smiles.

"Sam here, but she did. I thought I was going to get married without my best woman."

6 Months Ago

Brooke stood in front of the mirror in her wedding dress. Haley and Peyton had left the room so she could have a few moments to herself. The last six months had been rocky for her. She had been glad when she settled on today as the day for her wedding, but she had not heard a word from Sam since she had been traveling around the state. When Sam had told them that she needed help Brooke could have never been more proud then in that moment. Sam had grown up and that just made Brooke smile. However, she was sad that she was going to marry Julian without her there. It wasn't right.

A knock on the door brought Brooke out of her thoughts.

"Haley, Peyton, whoever it is. I am fine. There is no need to worry about me."

The door opens and Brooke turns around to see Sam smiling at her and in the dress that Brooke had designed for her.

"I heard there was a wedding today."

Brooke rushes forward and gathers Sam into her arms.

"I missed you Sammy."

Sam wraps her arms tighter around Brooke.

"I missed you too, but there was no way I was going to miss this wedding. Not many kids get to see that."

Brooke pulls away from Sam with a smile.

"You look good," Brooke comments.

"I am good. Now how about you? Are you ready?"

Brooke nods her head with a smile.

"I'm ready for this. He's my world."

"I'm glad. I'm just going to pop in and see him before the ceremony starts, but after I can fill you guys in on what's going on."

Sam quickly leaves Brooke's room to head to her father's. The ceremony was going to start shortly and she needed to see her father before that happened. He still had no idea she was here.

Sam walks into the room and sees her father pacing; something he did when he couldn't sit still.

"No need to be nervous. You're getting married today."

Julian's head snaps up and he smiles widely.

"I thought you were going to miss this."

Sam hugs her father before shaking her head.

"Not a chance. You're my father. I wasn't going to miss this."

PRESENT

Julian turns his head to stare at his wife. Brooke Davis now Baker was his wife. He had found his soul mate and now she was pregnant with his second child. The only thing that would make this moment even better was if his daughter showed up.

"I loved our wedding," Brooke comments. "It was traditional, yes, but our family was there and that was what was important. Sam was there. Now we are pregnant and expecting a baby. Before I met you I never saw myself here. I couldn't let myself see me here because my heart would break, but now I'm not afraid to see the future as long as you're by my side through it all."

Julian grabs Brooke's hand and places his other hand on Brooke's stomach.

"I'm here for you. I'm your husband Brooke Baker and we won't be afraid to see the future we want. This baby is living proof of that. We both wanted kids and then one night during our honeymoon it happened. We've got this. We can handle this."

Brooke leans forward and places her lips against her husband's. Julian was right, they did have this. They could do this and with Sam coming home, they were going to do just that. Handle it. Handle everything that life through at them. No matter what.

A/N: In my mind this is where I say the end of the story. Now I don't know where everyone else's head is at, but I wouldn't be opposed to writing an Epilogue of sorts answering all of your questions about what's going to happen to all these characters. Or if you wanted to see something resolved that we never got to see let me know and I will write an epilogue, otherwise this is the end.