It had been two and a half short months since they had said their vows, and Brooke Evans couldn't imagine being any happier. She held her cell phone in her hand, still in shock over the phone call. The offer. The one thing that could make her a little happier. Clothes Over Bro's. I mean it wasn't an ownership stake. It wasn't running the company. But, it was an opportunity to get back to the company she had built. Back to designing. And even if it was just that, designing, it was a company she had built.
"Hey gorgeous," Clay smiled as he walked in their beach house, he placed a kiss on her lips, smiling. He couldn't help but smile around her, his wife.
"Hey handsome," she said with a dimpled grin, "how was your day?"
"It was," he paused, "intense."
"Intense, huh," she said as he sat on the couch beside her, she began rubbing his shoulders, "what was so intense at Fortitude today?"
"Just contracts. So much negotiating for Danny," he said relaxing, "how was your day?"
"My day," she said with a genuine smile, "was surprising."
"Surprising," he asked.
"Yeah," she said sitting beside him, "I got a call on a job."
"Oh yeah," he said genuinely happy for her. Brooke had not been content just being at home, and he knew that. Losing the company like she did, being forced to give it away, it took its toll on her, "what kind of offer?"
"Well," she said softly, "Clothes Over Bro's actually," she said trying to gauge his reaction, "they are interested in me coming in as a design consultant initially. Working on developing new ideas and new lines for the company."
"Wow," he said, "that's great Brooke."
"But, they are based in New York."
"New York."
"I told them that I would talk with you about things," she said, "Clay, can we at least talk about it?"
"Brooke, of course," he smiled holding her hand, "I want you to be happy, I love you. You know that I will do anything for you, so yeah, we can talk about this. I mean how soon do they want you there?"
"I love you," she said wrapping her arms around him, "so much Clay Evans."
"I love you," he said as they kissed.
"I have no idea when," she smiled, "I didn't want to get into any of that until I talked to you. I mean this is huge, and it isn't just about me. It's about us, you and me."
"Well. I mean Nathan is here. My business can be done anywhere, I mean I travel so much now," he said trying to rationalize a move to New York for them.
"Clay," she said, "I am not asking you to give up on Fortitude."
"And I am not going to ask you to give up on this Brooke," he said softly, "this is your dream. That company was yours, you built it, and the chance to get back to it, Brooke, that is a once in a lifetime opportunity."
"Yeah," she smiled with tears in her eyes, "it is, but the only way I want this is if you don't have to sacrifice for it, I can't ask that of you."
"Ok, first of all, you can, Brooke, I am your husband," he said pushing her hair from her face, "and second, I am not sacrificing. The thing that matters most to me in this world is you. So if this makes you happy, I'm happy."
"God, I love you," she said as she wiped her eyes.
"So we're moving to New York," he smiled.
It was a beautiful ceremony. The christening of Lydia Bob Scott, who was just eight weeks old. The precious baby girl had brought everyone together. Brooke sat on the patio watching the kids in the pool, Jamie and Sawyer splashing with Jenny. She would miss this, and as joyous as this day was, she couldn't help but be sad. She and Clay hadn't told anyone about their decision yet. Granted, they had made the decision a mere two days ago, but the move was a week away.
"So," Lucas said as he sat beside the brooding brunette, "they are a crazy bunch huh?"
"Yeah," she smiled, "they are something."
"You have three of them now," he said referring to her god-children. James Lucas Scott was the first, they share joint responsibility on that one. Sawyer Brooke Scott, who she shared the responsibility with Nathan, and then Lydia. She shared that responsibility with her husband.
"I know," she smiled, "it's a good thing I love spoiling them."
"Are you ok," he asked, he could tell something was off with her.
"Yeah," she said softly. She wanted to tell someone, to share the news, "Luke, can I tell you something, that you won't share?"
"Of course Brooke," he said genuinely, "you can tell me anything, always."
"Clay and I are moving to New York. In a week."
"Wow," he said. Surprise in his tone, he had never imagined Brooke Davis leaving Tree Hill after the first time she returned home from New York. But then again she wasn't Brooke Davis, she was Brooke Evans now, and he realized in that moment how much he didn't know about her anymore.
"You don't think we should?"
"Brooke," he sighed, "I can't make a call on that. I mean, I never imagined me living there, but I do. I mean Lindsey and I are happy there."
"How hard is it," she said, "missing all of this?"
"I mean for me," he said looking at his daughter, "it's rough not seeing Sawyer every single day. But, it's what works for Lindsey's career, and mine. I mean we come back, I come back a lot."
"I am so scared," she said, "of leaving them," she chuckled. "I mean I missed so much with Jamie for four years, and I just hate that, knowing I am going to miss out on Lydia being that small and watching her grow. But, Clothes Over Bro's, I mean I miss it."
"Wow, so it's back to your company?"
"As a design consultant. I mean it isn't my dream," she said, "but it's something. I mean I built it, I worked my ass off, and to get back in to that, it seems surreal. But," she said, "leaving here, that's surreal too."
"What's Haley say," he asked, assuming she had talked to their mutual best friend.
"Ugh," she sighed, "we have not had this conversation with anyone yet, Luke."
"What conversation is that," Nathan asked as he and Clay joined the duo.
"The conversation about how they are going to spoil Miss Lydia Scott," Lucas said with a smile, Brooke thankful for his answer.
"I mean, you couldn't have expected any less," Brooke smiled.
"From you Brooke Davis," Nathan smiled, "wouldn't expect any less."
"Evans," Clay said as he sat beside his wife, "Brooke Evans." She smiled as held her hand, she knew that even though their decision was going to be tough to tell everyone about, that it was right for them. They would make it work.
"Looks like you're the last two," Haley said as she walked back into the kitchen where Brooke and Clay sat with Nathan, "Luke just left so he wouldn't miss his flight."
"It's been one long day," Nathan said as he pulled Haley onto his lap.
"But, it's been an amazing day," she said as they kissed. Brooke couldn't help but tear up as she looked at Clay, she was going to miss this. Haley and Nathan, their family, their friendship.
"Ok," Nathan said as he saw Brooke wipe her eyes and Clay reached for her hand, kissing the top of her head, "what's up with you two?"
"Nothing," Brooke smiled wiping her eyes. They had agreed that they would not share their news today.
"Brooke Davis, I have known you far too long to buy that," Haley smiled, noticing Clay was about to say something, "Evans, Brooke Evans, sorry Clay," she chuckled.
"It's been two months, that's all I am saying," he said with a smile.
"An amazing two and a half months," Brooke said emphasizing the and a half part.
"So," Nathan said, "what's up for real guys? I mean you two have been all up in your feelings all day."
"It was your daughter's christening today," Clay said, "and we are her god-parents."
"Yeah," Nathan said, "but I have known you both long enough to know that there's something."
"Brooke," Clay smiled at her as he held her hand.
"Yeah," she asked looking at him, he nodded. They needed to say it. To let Nathan and Haley know, I mean in a week they would be gone and they needed time to process and accept that their lives were all about to change.
"What's up," Haley asked looking between the newly weds.
"I," Brooke hesitated, "we," she said softly, "are moving to New York." She waited for a response from her best friend, but nothing, "next week. I got a job opportunity with Clothes Over Bro's."
"It's a great opportunity for her," Clay said trying to gauge what was going through either Nathan or Haley's head, "and we're moving in a week."
"A week," Haley asked tears in her eyes.
"Hales," Brooke said wiping her own eyes, "don't cry, ok, we will visit all the time, I promise, it won't be like before."
"And Fortitude," Nathan asked.
"Fortitude is half yours man," Clay said, "our office is here, it stays here, Nate, you've built that with me. This decision is for us, for me and Brooke, Fortitude stays in Tree Hill. I travel, I commute, your part doesn't change."
"We just don't work together," Nathan stated.
"Nate," Clay said not even knowing what to say. Neither he nor Brooke knew how hard Nathan and Haley would take their move, but seeing it, he felt like he'd been punched in the stomach.
"We're happy for you," Haley said as she wrapped her arms around Brooke, "I know how much that company meant to you, what it took for you to build it."
"Thank you," Brooke said wiping her eyes, "you were there with me Haley, you were my biggest cheerleader."
"I will always be," she said wiping her own eyes, "I'm gonna miss you so much."
"I know," Brooke said, "but we don't leave for a week, and I will be back all the time. I promise, I have a little girl I have to spoil."
"You do, both of you," Haley said as she hugged Clay.
"And I intend to," Clay smiled.
"Not too much," Nathan said, "just because you are running off to New York doesn't mean you get to spoil her anymore than Jamie or Sawyer."
"Nate," Brooke said hugging him, "I'm gonna miss you so much," she wiped her eyes.
"Yeah," he said, "I'm gonna miss you too Brooke."
"Ok," Haley said as she started gathering the last dishes from the counter, "enough tears."
"You want to shoot some hoops," Nathan asked Clay as he picked up the ball.
"Yeah," Clay smiled, he kissed Brooke on the cheek as he and Nathan walked outside.
"He's not good at emotional good bye's," Haley said as she and Brooke were left alone.
"How's Jamie with good bye's," Brooke asked realizing for the first time that she and Clay would have to have the same conversation with the eight year old.
"Hey," Haley said grabbing Brooke's arm, "are you ok?"
"Yeah," she said sitting back down, "I just got a little dizzy, I don't know what's going on lately."
"What do you mean, has this been happening," Haley asked concerned.
"Not really," she said, "I mean once or twice. I have my annual checkup tomorrow, so. I am sure it is nothing. Probably just all of the stress lately."
"Yeah, a wedding and now a move to New York."
"Yeah," Brooke smiled with an uncertainty in her heart.
"Brooke," Clay said as he made his way into the waiting room of Brooke's doctor, "hey are you ok?"
"Yeah," she said as she kissed him, "I am."
"What's going on, why did you need me here?"
"Clay," she said with a smile, "I have something to tell you."
"Ok," he said, his face filled with confusion.
"I used to work in New York," she said, "and there was this building I could see from my office. And I used to watch these kids playing on the roof. They had this tall fence around the top, and they played on this rooftop. Not on the grass, not in the park," she said as she smiled, "and I just keep thinking how I don't want that for our child. I want out child to grow up here, in Tree Hill."
"Brooke," he said looking into her hazel eyes, "what are you saying?"
"I'm saying I don't want us to move to New York Clay, I want us to stay here. To raise this baby here."
"Baby," he asked.
"Yeah," she said wiping her eyes, "baby. You're going to be a dad Clay Evans."
"Brooke Evans," the nurse called.
"Come on," Brooke said grabbing his hand.
"Right this way," the nurse said leading them back to the room, if you want to have a seat here the doctor will be in shortly."
"Brooke," Clay said his voice filled with concern.
"Clay," she said, "we're having a baby."
"Brooke," the doctor said knocking on the door, "are you ready?"
"We are," she said as she smiled at Clay.
"Ok," the doctor said as Brooke raised her shirt, "this will be cold," she said as she placed the jelly on Brooke's stomach, "let's get a look at this little one."
"Oh my god," Brooke whispered as the screen came up, she wasn't even sure what she was seeing, but she knew there was a baby, their baby in there somewhere. She squeezed Clay's hand, she could tell he was still in shock.
"Ok," the doctor said moving around, "well, it looks like right here," she said pointing to the screen, "we have two heartbeats."
"Two?"
"Brooke, it looks like you are having twins," the doctor said as she snapped the picture on the machine, "here and here."
"Twins," Brooke said tears falling.
"Everything looks good. I'll let you get cleaned up and we will set your follow up appointment on the way out."
"Thank you doctor," Brooke smiled as she and Clay were left alone.
"Brooke," Clay finally spoke.
"I'm thirteen weeks," she said.
"Brooke, I thought the doctors said that you couldn't get pregnant."
"They didn't think I could."
"I mean Brooke, what are the risks if you go through with this," he asked, his face expressionless, "I mean for you, Brooke, what are the risks?"
"Clay, there is no if I go through with this," she said as she placed her hand on his cheek, "we are having twins. We are going to be parents."
"I can't," he said, tears streaming his face, "I cannot lose you Brooke. I can't."
"Hey," she said, "look at me, Clay, you are not losing me, ok, not ever."
"The risks Brooke, complications, we can't…"
"Clay Evans," she said wiping her eyes, "life is full of risks, ok. But, this is our miracle, Clay, this is our miracle and I am not giving up on this. We are having these babies, we are going to be parents."
"I am not going to lose you, Brooke," he said, "and if that means," he paused.
"No," she said kneeling in front of him, "that is not an option, ok. I love you so much, Clay, I am in love with you more every day, and you won't lose me."
"You can't be certain."
"I am," she said as she wiped her eyes, "I am certain. Clay, I just need you to have a little faith in me, in us," she said as she placed his hand over her stomach, "I love you so much, and this is part of my dream Clay, so please, just have a little faith in me."
"I do," he said as he kissed her, "I do Brooke."
