Authors note: I own nothing, forgot to mention that last chapter, but you already know that the characters aren't mine. This chapter picks up at the end of the last one and fast forwards throughout. Hope you enjoy.


Brooke stood in the doorway watching Clay stand alone on the beach. The clouds rolling in, the waves crashing in around his feet. She loved this man so much, and she was so grateful he was her husband. She pulled his hoodie up around her shoulders as she opened the door.

"Hey handsome," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around him from behind.

"Hey yourself, gorgeous," he said as he placed his hand over his on his chest.

"I don't want you to be mad," she said softly.

"I'm not," he said as he pulled her hand up kissing it softly. They stood in silence for a few minutes watching the lightning out on the horizon, "it feels like rain," he said as he turned to face her, still holding her hand, "we should get inside."

"Clay," she said not moving her feet; he stopped to look at her.

"Brooke, I'm not mad," he said with a slight smile, "I promise."

"You're not happy either," she said matter of factly. They had been together two years; even if they had only been married two and a half months she knew how to read him. "I want this, Clay, this is part of my dream," she said as he held her hand, "you, me, babies, all of this Clay, this is what I wished for."

"You know what I wished for," he asked softly, "you. Brooke, I wished for you, for the way you make me feel, the way you make me a better person," he said shaking his head, "I don't want to lose you."

"You are not going to lose me," she said as she pulled him close to her, wrapping her arms around him, "Clay I am not going anywhere, you're not going to lose me. Yeah, there are risks, but everything worth having has risks." He kissed the top of her head as he wrapped his arms around her, "Clay, this is what I dreamed of."

"I love you," he said, "I just can't stand the thought of losing you Brooke."

"You won't, Clay" she said as she looked up at him, "you won't lose me, and we will have two amazing tiny little babies in our lives, we will be parents."

"I'm scared," he whispered as he pushed her hair from her face, his blue eyes filled with fear. She could tell this was as vulnerable as he had been since that night after telling everyone about Sara.

"I know," she said, "I know." The rain started pouring down on them as they stood wrapped in each other's arms on the beach, "but you don't have to be, Clay, because I am here. I am not going anywhere."

"Except inside," he said as he lifted her in his arms bridal style, she laughed as he carried her in their home, "are you ok?"

"Yeah," she smiled shaking her head, "I am fine," she said pulling the wet hoodie off.

"You're beautiful," he said watching her shake her damp hair, "I am so lucky to have you Brooke, and our kids are lucky to have you too." She wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him into a kiss, "I love you."

"I love you too Clay Evans," she said feeling the happiest she had felt in a very long time. She was getting her wish, her dream, she married the man she loved and they were having a baby, well two babies. Things couldn't get much better for Brooke Davis.


"So," Haley smiled as Brooke walked into what was Clothes Over Bro's Tree Hill location, "do you hate me?"

"No," Brooke nearly whispered looking around at what her best friend had done with her empty store, tears streaming her face.

"Well, with you and Clay leaving for New York in two days," Haley said looking around, "and Luke in New York, I just need something for me."

"It's amazing Hales," Brooke said taking everything in, "it really is amazing."

"So, you'd be ok with me using the space," Haley asked.

"I mean I would be honored to have you open up the café again," Brooke said wiping her eyes, "on one condition."

"Yeah, what's that," Haley asked.

"Let me be your partner," Brooke said.

"Brooke, of course," Haley said as she hugged her brunette best friend, "I mean of course, it's your space, I just thought with you in New York and all. I never thought to ask, I'm sorry."

"Hales," Brooke smiled, "Clay and I are not going to New York."

"Oh, honey, did something happen?"

"I guess you could say that," Brooke smiled; Haley looked at her with confusion, "we decided that we didn't want to raise our children in New York."

"I thought you two decided not to adopt yet," Haley asked even more confused.

"We did," Brooke smiled, "we're not adopting, Haley, I'm pregnant."

"Brooke," she screeched pulling her into a hug, "congratulations honey, oh I am so happy for you guys," she smiled, "wait. You said children?"

"Yeah," Brooke smiled, "twins."

"Twins," Haley said wiping her eyes. She was truly happy for her best friend, and the selfish part of her was happy for herself too, keeping Brooke and Clay in Tree Hill.

"Yep, and we don't want them raised in New York," she said looking around, "this is home."

"There's only one Tree Hill," Haley said as she and Brooke stood together in what was now going to be their café.


"Hey gorgeous," Clay said as he sat on the edge of the couch where Brooke was curled up napping.

"Hey handsome," she smiled groggily up at him as she pulled her blanket up around her, "what time is it," she asked.

"Late," he said looking at his watch, "let's get you to bed," he said.

"I don't wanna get up," she pouted, "lay with me here."

"You are lucky that I love you so much," he said with a genuine smile as he took his jacket and tie off laying them on the end table, "come here," he said as he pulled her against him, wrapping the blanket over her ever growing baby bump.

"I am lucky," she said softly as he placed his hands over her belly, "so lucky to have you husband. I love you Clay Evans."

"I love you Brooke Evans," he said kissing the top of her head as she leaned against him. "So, are we ever going to come up with names for these two," he asked rubbing her belly, "they will be here in 8 short weeks."

"Actually," she said with a smile, "I was thinking Davis, for the first one born."

"Davis Evans," Clay smiled, he'd secretly hoped she would want to name one of their babies Davis, following with Jamie and Sawyer.

"Davis Nathan Evans," she said as she held his hand, "I mean I think it is perfect."

"Me too," Clay smiled. Nathan was after all his best friend, and he liked naming their child after someone who was such an important part of both of their lives.

"So, now it's your turn mister," she said, "what have you come up with?"

"Well. I know that we can't name a boy after Haley," he chuckled, "but what about Hayden?"

"Hayden Evans," she said with a smile, "I think I love it."

"Hayden Scott Evans," Clay asked. Brooke smiled, wiped her eyes and shook her head. "Ok," Clay said as they sat together in contentment. This was what he'd wanted. A wife, babies, a life together of happiness and joy. But a part of him still felt like one shoe was about to drop, like he had to hold on with both hands or risk losing it.

"I love you," she said as she laid her head against his chest closing her eyes.

"I love you too," he said softly.


Clay Evans had never been more scared. Ever. He had never actually been so terrified of anything. But in that moment, walking through the doors to the hospital he was petrified. He rushed past the registration desk to the maternity ward. As the elevator doors opened he saw Nathan and Haley standing, wrapped in each other's arms.

"Nate," he said panicked.

"Clay," Haley said wiping her eyes, she wrapped her arms around him.

"Man," Nathan said, "she's in surgery now, they wouldn't let any of us in there since we're not family."

"She's going to be ok," Haley said.

"They all are," Lucas said as he walked around the corner to the trio.

"How the hell did this happen," Clay asked frustrated.

"We were at the café," Lucas said nervously running his hands through his hair, "she went to grab something from the back and there was a loud crash."

"You were with her," Clay asked reaching and grabbing Lucas' shirt, "you were there and let this happen to my wife?"

"Clay," Nathan said trying to pull Clay off of his brother.

"You piece of shit, how are you going to let this happen," he asked as his fist landed on Lucas' jaw.

"Clay," Haley yelled, "stop this," she pleaded.

"Look, I didn't let this happen," Lucas said, "and where the hell were you? Her husband, huh," Lucas demanded, "your wife is pregnant, and where were you?"

"Stop," Nathan yelled, "both of you stop or get out. This is the last thing Brooke would want or need. You both know that."

"I'm sorry," Lucas said looking at his brother, he shook his head, knowing that Brooke would be scolding him and Clay both for this outburst; he walked away, Haley following him.

"Clay," Nathan said shaking his head. "She is going to be fine, Clay, they all will."

"I can't lose her, Nathan," Clay said with tears streaming his face, Nathan pulled him into a hug, "I can't."

"She's gonna be fine man," Nathan said trying to not only convince Clay but himself too.

"Are you here for Brooke Evans," the doctor asked as he walked towards Lucas and Haley.

"I am," Clay said, "I'm her husband."

"Mr. Evans," the doctor said, "your wife is in surgery, her body sustained some serious trauma during the fall. There is still a lot of pressure on her brain that we are working to reduce. We have the best neurosurgeons working on her. We are still hopeful for a full recovery."

"Hopeful," Clay asked wiping his eyes.

"Mr. Evans," the doctor said, "your wife took a very nasty fall, her head injuries were significant, but her wishes were always for the babies, that was our first priority, ensuring a safe delivery and getting them stabilized."

"Is she going to be ok," he pleaded.

"At this time, we just don't know, I'm sorry I can't give you the answers you want."

"And the babies," Haley asked.

"They are in the NICU. They are nearly eight weeks premature, but we have the very best neonatal unit in the area," the doctor continued, "and both babies are doing very well so far. Obviously they are not as developed as we'd like, but they are both strong little boys. Do you want to see them?"

"I want to see my wife," Clay said angrily.

"Someone from neuro will be out once they have something to tell you," the doctor said as he walked away.

"Clay," Haley said as she tried to stop him from walking away, "Clay."

"Let him go, Hales," Nathan said wrapping his arms around her, "let him go."

"What do we do," Haley asked wiping her eyes, "she's going to be fine Nathan, she is. She has to."

"I know," he said holding his wife. Both of them knew that there was a chance things were not going to end the way they wanted, the way that Clay needed them to end.


"I'm sorry man," Clay said as Lucas walked into the chapel where he sat alone.

"It's alright," Lucas said sitting in the row behind Clay. "I've been there, scared of losing her, not being able to help her," he said honestly.

"It's killing me," Clay said.

"She's Brooke Davis," Lucas said, "fiercely independent. Brilliant, beautiful and brave." She was all of those things, and Lucas Scott hated that this was happening, that she was in surgery. That they could actually lose her, "she's going to be fine, Clay, she has to."

"She has to be ok," he said, "I can't live without her. Brooke is my world, you know. My everything. If I lose her," he said tears streaming his face.

"You're not going to lose her," Haley said as she and Nathan joined them, Haley sitting beside Clay, "you are not going to lose her, not ever."

"I hope you're right," he said as he put an arm around Haley, "it's just so familiar, feeling so helpless watching someone you love slip away."

"It's not the same," Haley said, "you're not losing her, ok."

"Ok," he said softly.

"You know what she'd want Clay, what she would want you to do right now," Haley asked, "she'd want you to go see your boys, she'd want you in there with them Clay. She's in surgery, and there is nothing you can do for her but be with your boys."

"I'm scared Haley," he said wiping his eyes, "I can't lose her; I can't do this without her."

"Clay," she said softly, "she is going to be fine, and as soon as she wakes up after surgery she's gonna want you to tell her every detail about those babies," she smiled, "so you need to go, be with them while you wait."

"Ok," he smiled at her, "ok. For her," he said as he kissed the top of Haley's head, "come get me if the doctor's have anything, ok."

"I will," she said as she hugged him, "promise."

"Thanks," he said as he left the chapel. He knew she was right, of all the places he could be, he knew where he needed to be, where his wife would want him to be. As he was directed to NICU he put on the gown and gloves, all the precautions for their safety and wellbeing. As he sat in the chair placed between the two basinets, he couldn't help but tear up. They were so small, tiny little babies. His babies. And he knew that if something were to happen, if Brooke didn't make it, that this was his life, right there in that room. But, she would make it. She had to. She was Brooke Davis; he thought to himself, she had to make it. "Hey guys," he said softly placing a hand on each one of the basinets, "I'm your dad. And right now your mom is pretty sick. So right now, we've gotta hope and pray that she's gonna be ok. Your mom is the most amazing beautiful, talented woman. And your mom loves you," he said tears streaming his face, "she loves you two so much. I do too, I love you both so much, and we're gonna be fine, all of us, your mom too. We just gotta have a little faith in her."

"Mr. Evans," the nurse said as she opened the door, "Dr. Morgan from neurology is here to speak with you."


Haley and Nathan had made him eat. He didn't want to. He didn't want to leave her alone in the ICU. But he had, for a few minutes. Four days had passed and she hadn't woken up. The doctors told him it could be any time, or maybe never, they were not sure. Her brain activity was evident on the scans, so all signs pointed to her making a full recovery, but she hadn't woken up. Everyone had taken turns staying with him, forcing him to eat and drink, to spend time in the nursery when he was with Brooke. They'd all been there for him, it humbled him.

"Clay, it's getting late," Haley said as she glanced at her watch, it was nearly nine and he had not slept for any length of time in four days.

"I'm fine Haley," he said with a forced smile.

"Ok," she said hugging him, "I'm going to head home. Promise me you will get some sleep," she said.

"I will try."

"I mean it Clay, you need some sleep," she said, "and go see those boys of yours too. I love you guys," she said walking towards the door.

"We love you," he smiled as he took his seat beside Brooke's bed. He wouldn't leave her, he couldn't. He laid his head on the edge of her bed as he held her hand. She looked so pale and weak. He hated seeing her like this. "I love you," he said kissing her hand.

Clay groggily opened his eyes. It was starting to get light outside, he looked at his watch and it was almost five in the morning. He had actually fallen asleep, for the first time in five days he'd actually slept. He wiped his eyes as he glanced towards Brook's bed, "oh my god," he smiled as he saw her hazel eyes looking at him, "Brooke."

"Hey handsome," she said in a very raspy tone.

"You came back to me," he said kissing her forehead, "you came back."

"Clay," she said panicked, "the babies, Clay," she asked.

"They are perfect," he smiled as tears streamed his face, "they are absolutely perfect Brooke, everything is perfect now."

"I knew it would be," she said softly, "you just needed a little faith," she said wiping her eyes.