"No Peyton, you have to go," Haley said begging the blonde.
"I can't," Peyton whimpered.
"Yes you can, it's senior retreat…"
"Haley," Peyton sighed. "She was on the committee,"
"I know, and so was I and so were you!"
Peyton shook her head. "Only for her,"
"Well then get your butt up and pack your bag… for her…"
Peyton bit down on her teeth.
"It's okay, we're all gonna be there,"
Peyton nodded. "Okay,"
Haley smiled and wrapped her arm around Peyton. "You're gonna be okay Sawyer,"
"I hope so,"
For most seniors, that day at school went by slow, but for Peyton, who was dreading going to retreat, it went by in the blink of an eye.
"You ready to go?" Lucas asked Peyton at the end of the day.
She looked up at him and scoffed. "No,"
"Yeah, me either,"
"I know she she'd want us to go, she worked hard on this Luke… but… I don't know,"
Lucas wrapped his arm around Peyton. "I think we'll be okay,"
"Seniors! Please go to your cars and head straight towards T-R! We will know if you don't show up and their will be consequences if you decide to take that route!" The announcement said.
"Here we go," Lucas said.
"Alright Peyton, we're rooming together with Bevin," Haley said.
"Isn't there 4 to a room?" Peyton asked.
"Yeah… she changed our room assignments,"
Peyton collapsed on the bed. "God this is gonna suck," She sighed.
"Guys! Come on! Bonfire's almost ready," Bevin announced.
"I'm not gonna go,"
"What? Why?"
"You got me here Hales… that's the best I can do right now,"
Haley nodded. "Okay…"
"Go Haley, go be with your husband,"
"You sure?"
Peyton nodded. "Yeah, go I'm just gonna go to sleep,"
"Okay, I love you Peyton,"
"I love you too tutor-girl,"
Haley smiled at her old nickname and left.
About half an hour later there was a knock on the door.
"It's open," Peyton informed the stranger.
Lucas opened the door. "Yeah, that's not dangerous,"
Peyton sat up. "Why aren't you at the bonfire?"
"Why aren't you?"
"I just couldn't,"
Lucas nodded. "I actually came up here to come get you,"
"Why?"
"They're doing head counts,"
"Ugh," Peyton sighed. "Tell them I'm sick,"
"Oh yeah, you and the 2 dozen other horny seniors… that'll go over well…"
"I really don't care how well it will go over," Peyton said, tears in her eyes, sounding a little rude. "Sorry…" She apologized. "I just… Lucas, I don't know what to do. I miss her so much it just feels like the walls are closing in sometimes and I can't get out,"
I
Brooke sat Indian style on Peyton's bed. "I don't like this wall…" She said glaring at the wall with the mural on it.
"I'm sorry," Peyton said from in her closet, where she was drawing.
"It's creeping me out a little bit Peyton,"
"At the risk of sounding redundant… I'm sorry,"
Brooke shut her eyes.
Peyton looked over at her. "What are you doing?" She asked.
"It feels like they're closing in on me… ugh! I've got to get out of here!" Brooke said getting up.
"Wait! Brooke,"
Brooke turned around, a few tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"It's like I can't escape it Peyton!"
"My room…?"
"No! Just everything. I'm scared! I want to go to prom and I want to turn 18 and go to retreat, but I know I won't an there's nothing I can do about it and it feels like everything is closing in on me!"
Peyton pulled Brooke into a hug. "Brooke,"
"Do you think I gave up…?"
Peyton looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"I didn't fight this Peyton. Are you disappointed in me?"
"Brooke, I am so not disappointed in you,"
"But do you think I gave up?"
"I mean for very selfish reasons in the back of my mind sometimes, but I know you wanted to do it this way… so I'm okay with that…"
Brooke nodded, a few tears in her eyes.
"Buddy,"
"I'm okay," Brooke laughed slightly.
Peyton looked at her not convinced.
"Lucas and I kinda got into it on the way over here, but," Brooke put her forehead up against Peyton's. "I'm okay," She reassured her.
End I
Lucas grabbed Peyton's hand. "You're okay… let's just go down there,"
Peyton simply nodded.
"Hey you two," Haley said as Lucas and Peyton sat by then at the bonfire.
Peyton laid her head on Haley's shoulder.
Haley rubbed Peyton's head. "It's okay to be happy Peyton,"
"But I'm not…"
"I know… but she would want you to be,"
Peyton nodded. "Yeah,"
"You too Luke," Nathan told him.
"What? Me, no, I'm okay,"
Haley stared at the fire. "I want a s'more…" She decided.
Peyton laughed. "Well go fix you one,"
Haley nodded, "Think I will," she said.
"So you ready for this baby?" Peyton asked Nathan.
He laughed. "No,"
"Aw Nate, you'll be fine,"
"I hope so,"
Peyton wrapped her arm around him. "You will, don't worry. So… got any names yet?"
"Haley does,"
"And they are…"
"She won't tell me," Nathan said.
"Are you serious?"
Nathan nodded.
Peyton looked over at Lucas and Haley laughing. "She would," Peyton laughed.
Nathan nodded.
The kids hung out around the fire until about midnight before going back upstairs for bed.
"Why didn't you and Nathan stay together?" Peyton asked.
"Because Brooke said we needed a night just us girls, and they won't let you switch rooms,"
Peyton nodded.
"I'm exhausted," Haley said flopping down on her bed.
"Me too," Peyton agreed, "Night," She said and clicked off the light.
Lucas laid in his bed, not able to sleep. He missed Brooke so much and he wished there was something he could have done so she'd be with him.
I
Brooke sighed and looked up at Lucas. "You don't have to come Luke,"
"I want to go with you Brooke,"
"It's not going to be pretty,"
"How do you know?" Lucas asked looking up.
"Because I know me… and it's not right,"
Lucas grabbed her hand. "Then I'm going with you,"
Brooke nodded.
The two walked into the doctor's building, Brooke clutching on to Lucas' hand with everything she had.
By the time Brooke got called back, she was exhausted and you could tell.
"Miss Davis," the doctor said.
Brooke just laid her head on Lucas' shoulder.
"Mr. Scott," He greeted.
"Dr. Alley,"
"So Brooke, how have you been feeling?"
"Like I have cancer," She whispered.
"Fatigue, nausea, dizziness?"
"All of the above," Brooke said.
"Alright, well, we're gonna do a few tests and just check up on you,"
"I can lay down right?" Brooke asked, and did just that after receiving a nod from the doctor.
About an hour and a half later they were back in Lucas' car.
Brooke had her knees pulled up to her chest, tears in her eyes.
Lucas just sat there staring forward. "This can't be right… right?"
Brooke looked at Lucas. "Luke,"
"No, Brooke, he's wrong,"
"Lucas, I'm not gonna make it to Christmas. Hell, I'm not even gonna make it to retreat… we both know that,"
"No! He said 3-4 months,"
Brooke shook her head. "I love you,"
"Stop it!"
"But you've got to let me go,"
"I can't, I won't,"
"Lucas! Damn it! You think this is easy on me?! It's not! Okay, and you doing this makes it that much harder for me… I'm gonna die, I know that, please don't make this any harder," Brooke cried. She sighed. "Will you drive me to Peyton's?" she asked.
Lucas put the car in drive and drove to Peyton's, neither of them saying a word until Lucas pulled into the driveway.
"I didn't mean to snap at you," She whispered.
"I know,"
Brooke looked at him. "I'm scared Luke," she said and paused. "I don't wanna die," She whimpered, her voice breaking.
Lucas pulled Brooke to him and held her tightly. He felt her break down into him and his heart ached with every shaky breath she took.
End I
'I don't wanna die' those words kept echoing in Lucas' head. It wasn't until after Brooke actually did die that he wondered, was she just expressing her feelings, or begging him to help her, to save her.
It was almost the end of the next day and all the seniors had spread out and read letters written to them by their parents and family memebers.
Peyton opened her envelope and quickly recognized the handwriting on a piece of paper.
'P. Sawyer,
So I'm not supposed to do this, but I figured what the hell, I won't e there when everyone gets their letters anyways so the authorities won't get me into much trouble. Alright, I wanted to tell you that I love you best friend. I know you miss me like hell right now, and I'm sure I miss you too. I just want you to know I'm okay and I know you will be too. Don't give up just yet Peyton, it will get better.
I love you so much!
B. Davis!'
Peyton wiped her eyes and re-read the letter over and over, holding onto the last thing Brooke gave her, and really her okay for Peyton to be happy again.
'Hey tutor-mom!
I am so proud of you! You are the kind of person I think most of us want to be like. Not many people can pull off first in the class, being pregnant and being almost as hot as I was.
You're going to be a great mom Haley, I mean it. Please look after Peyton for me, don't let her do anything crazy. And I may not be your baby girl's god-mother, but I sure as hell will be her guardian angel.
I love you girlie, keep up the good work!
Xoxo
-Brooke Davis'
Haley laughed through her tears, did she really sign it Brooke Davis? Haley put her hand on her stomach, knowing Brooke would look out for her little girl.
'Nathan Scott,
You ready to be a daddy? Too bad, because you're about to be. This little girl means the world to me, and I am so sorry I won't get to met her. God, you've got me crying Nathan!
Okay, Nate, you've really turned out to be a great guy. And I'm glad you've been there for Haley, and if you only do one thing I've ever asked you to do, it's this, don't let her go… it's harder than you think…
I love you Nate,
-Brookie'
Nathan smiled at the childhood nickname he called Brooke even though she hated it. He looked down at the bottom of the page and saw a P.S.
'P.S.
You're gonna love her name…'
Nathan looked over at Haley, her hand rubbing her stomach, he wasn't sure if he should be worried about the name her and Brooke came up with, but when Haley made eye contact with him and she smiled slightly, he wasn't scared at all.
Lucas looked at his letter, obviously from Brooke. Written all over the envelope was 'Broody' and 'Boyfriend' 'Luke' and 'Lucas'. Unlike the rest of his friends, Lucas didn't smile, he clenched his jaw, trying to keep his emotions in check.
He slowly opened his letter.
'Hi boyfriend,
I don't know what to even say to you. You know I love you and am so proud of you, but Lucas, baby, you've got to take a breath and be okay. Don't forget about me, but you can't hold on to me forever.
You're at school right now, I mean, as I am writing this, and I miss you so much! Lucas I'm so scared to leave you, and I don't know if I should tell you, because I don't want to worry you.
You're letter is the hardest for me to write. I'm trying to simply say 'goodbye' to you guys, but I'm really having a hard time telling you goodbye. So I'm not going to.
Take care of baby girl Scott, I know it's going to be hard, but be there for her, and Haley and Peyton, Nathan too if he needs you because Luke, they are all there for you, and let them be…
I love you soooo much boyfriend!
Please don't forget about me…
Love, your Pretty Girl!'
Lucas laid in his bed reading his letter from Brooke again, just like he had done every night for the past 2 months. He was jolted from his thoughts by the ringing of his phone. "Hello?"
"Lucas, get to the hospital!" A panicked Peyton said.
"I'm on my way," Lucas said and hung up. He knew it was Haley, she hadn't been feeling well the last few days, but she was barely into her 6th month, she couldn't be having the baby now.
"Peyton!" Lucas said entering the hospital.
"Her water broke,"
"What? How can…? She's barely 6 months,"
"I don't know, but Nathan said something about how they both are susceptible to infectin now and they're gonna have her today,"
"She'll be okay, right?"
Peyton shook her head. "I don't know,"
Haley was laying in the hospital bed, waiting to fine out what was going to happen next.
Nathan walked in and grabbed her hand. "Hey baby,"
"What's going on?" Haley asked.
"They're gonna have you go ahead and have her,"
"What? Why?" Haley asked teary-eyed.
Nathan explained all he knew to his young wife, trying to keep the worry from his face so not to scare Haley.
Haley closed her eyes and rubbed her stomach. "Come on Brooke, don't let me down,"
"Alright Haley, are you ready to have this baby?" Her doctor asked.
"Please keep and eye on her Tigger," Haley almost pleaded.
I
"Lucas," Nathan said rubbing his brother's back.
Lucas' eyes shot open. "Yeah? What?"
"Where's your phone?"
"I don't know, why?"
"Your wife just went into labor and couldn't get a hold of you,"
"Wait! What?!" Lucas asked panicked. "Is she okay?"
"She's at the hospital, come on,"
"Brooke," Lucas said walking into her room.
"I'm gonna kill you!"
"Oh Pretty Girl,"
"Get her out of me!" Brooke screamed in pain.
Within the next 20 minutes, Morgan Anne Scott was born and comfortably settled in her mom's arms.
Brooke looked up at Lucas. "I love you,"
"I love you too, I'm so proud of you,"
Brooke smiled and kissed her daughter.
"Hey Luke," Nathan whispered. "Lucas," He repeated.
End I
"Dude, wake up," Nathan told him.
Lucas quickly opened his eyes.
"You're an Uncle,"
Lucas sighed relived, but sorrow also filled him, knowing what he had just been thru with Brooke was merely a dream. "How's Haley?"
"Tired, but she's okay,"
Lucas nodded.
"Come on, I'll take you to them." Nathan said.
Lucas walked into Haley's room.
Haley looked up at him. "Hey Uncle Lucas,"
"She's beautiful Hales,"
Haley smiled.
"What's her name…?" Peyton asked.
"Don't hate me," Haley said looking at Lucas.
He shook his head.
"Me and Brooke picked one out, but I changed it a little, I couldn't not,"
"Okay,"
"Brooklyn Morgan Scott," Haley announced. "It was gonna be Morgan Brooklyn Scott, but… I couldn't do it,"
Lucas looked at Haley with tears in his eyes. "That's what she swore she'd name her little girl, Morgan,"
Haley smiled. "I know and I fell in love with it too. I hope that's okay,"
Lucas kissed her forehead. "Of course,"