A/N: 5 chapters left of Part 2 and then I'm going on a small hiatus from I Need You Now, but don't fret, I will be back with a Part 3 and hopefully I will be ahead enough to where I can post the story.

I know I'm going to be hated for this chapter, but I promise things will work out in the end. You just have to have a little faith.

October

Part 2 Ch. 21: Baby Brooke

I follow the signs so clearly,
and still I've fallen
the quicksand's pulling me down.
I know you can feel me rising,
And I'm on fire
if you keep on pulling me up.

Look at my life, and look at my face,
look where I've come to get to this place with you.
Being here to sit and lay at your feet and rest in your arms
And listen to your heart beat.

Peyton stopped the music with a smile. It had taken a month for Haley to write a couple of songs for her new album, but she did and Peyton was excited, just about as excited as Haley was herself.

"How does it sound?" Haley asks through the microphone.

"Amazing, now get in here," Peyton says with a bright smile.

It didn't take long for Haley to walk into the room where Peyton was sitting.

"Not bad for a Saturday, huh?" Haley says with a grin.

Peyton wipes her face with her hands and then grins widely at Haley.

"I'm really excited about all of this. I mean last month I thought that I would have to give up my dream, but then you saved me from failing."

Haley places a hand on her friend's knee.

"Peyton, you helped me keep my dream going. Getting married so early in life, I missed out on experiencing my dreams. I started my family at eighteen. I let Nathan live out his, but I missed mine and now I can officially say that I haven't and that's thanks to you."

"I know what you mean. Brooke has always been the successful one. I was just a teacher and we were just married. My life was plain. I had the successful wife that I loved. I love her even more now. Now we're both successful and we have two beautiful children and one that's going to college next fall. I just want to provide for my family."

"That's what everyone wants Peyton."

~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~

"These are amazing Brooke. Did you really come up with all of these?" Brianna asks as she flips through Brooke's sketchbook.

"I appreciate the comments Brianna. I actually started sketching those when I was pregnant with Evan. I just think now is the time to actually promote it. Evan is 10 months and Peyton is working on Haley's record. You are a senior. I just think it's time. Plus, we need more money."

Brianna looks at Brooke with a small amount of guilt.

"I could get a job."

Brooke drops her sketchbook on the table and let's Brianna cuddle into her.

"You are the child and I'm the adult. You don't have to worry about money, sweetheart. Peyton and I are supposed to take care of you, not the other way around."

Brianna nods her head as she pulls away from Brooke.

"I know that, but if I hadn't been adopted I would have been saving money. I would have gotten a job earlier. I can't help, but think of money."

"I understand I guess."

"Okay, now on another whole different topic, have you thought about what you want to do for college?"

Brianna puts the bottom of her lip in hesitation as she straightens out her pant leg.

"Not really and I know that sounds bad, but I think I'd just figure it all out as I go. I should come up with a decision by spring."

Brooke smiles gently.

"I was just curious is all," Evan's cries through the baby monitor made Brooke look at it and smile. "I should get Evan up from his nap. If you go anywhere please be home by dinner, okay?"

"I will," Brianna says in reassurance.

~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~

"Thanks for meeting me here," Mark says as he gets up from the bench in the local park.

Brianna nods her head and puts her hands in her pockets.

"I don't really understand why."

Mark ignores Brianna's statement.

"I was actually surprised that you came. I just figured that you would be spending time with your girlfriend."

Brianna rolls her eyes.

"One, she's not my girlfriend and two, you said it was important so tell me what you want to tell me. I have to get home soon."

"I haven't been the kind of guy that I want to be lately. Coming to Tree Hill and seeing you again had brought out feelings that I had buried a long time ago." Mark steps closer to Brianna who brings her hands out of her pockets. "I like you Brianna, hell I love you and I know you still are trying to figure things out with Skye, but I don't see her going to you and pleading a case. I just want another shot. I want to give us another try."

"Mark, you are putting me into a really bad situation."

"I'm sorry for that, but with Skye hanging around Julia all the time, I figured you could use somebody to talk to. And maybe, just maybe I could get you to like me again."

Brianna looks at Mark with a surprise look on her face.

"I do like you Mark, but I don't love you and I can't honestly say that I would ever love you."

Mark steps closer to Brianna.

"Could you at least try?"

~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~/~~~

"Are you surprised at Brianna's announcement from dinner tonight?" Peyton asks as she settles into bed next to her wife.

"I figured it was either going to be Skye or Mark. I had hoped it would be Skye."

"Same here," Peyton says with a sigh. "If this is what Brianna wants then we aren't going to force her hand."

"Of course not," Brooke says before kissing Peyton fully on the lips. When she pulls away, Peyton has a dopey grin on her face. "How was Haley today?"

"She was amazing. She's even better then in high school. I think this is going to be a really great record. I'm not even kidding."

"You sound really happy."

"I am really happy, but I'm even happier with the fact that you are going to be starting a new line. That's amazing baby."

"I think I'm going to call it Baby Brooke."

"It's perfect."