Reasons that reason cannot know

Chapter 18

It was a beautiful May Saturday morning. One of those when everything seemed so perfect. Brooke was walking with Anna into the cemetery. She found the place she was looking for almost immediately. She smiled a little when she stood in front of the tombstone. Then she started speaking.

"Hey, Keith. It's me, Brooke. I'm sorry I haven't been here for so long. But today, I want you to meet someone. Keith, that's Anna. My little girl."

"Momma, who you talking to?"

Brooke hugged her daughter and tried to explain it in a way it would be the best for her.

"Honey, I'm talking to someone very special. His name is Keith and he's Lucas and Nathan's uncle."

"But where is he? I don't see him."

"He's in heaven, sweety. You know, he was so kind-hearted and good that they needed him there. But even though we know he is in a better place, we miss him and that's why we come here – to feel close to him again."

Anna looked a bit confused, then she asked.

"So he's angel now?"

Brooke smiled through tears. Even though she has never been so close to Keith, she missed him. He was the closest thing to father she had. And what Anna said fitted so perfectly his personality: he was like their guardian angel.

"Yes, he is, honey. And he looks after all of us: Lucas, you, Nathan, Haley, Jamie, Peyton, me. And whenever you feel afraid, just remember Keith is watching over you."

Lucas watched Brooke and Anna on Keith's grave. He came to talk a bit to his uncle, and then he saw Brooke and Anna. He felt so much love for Brooke for what she said. He knew how much she cared about Keith and that she missed him. And he remembered how supportive she was after his death. And now this… He felt so grateful for having her in his life. He approached them.

"Hey."

Brooke turned around and saw him. She smiled. Lately they always ended up on the same places. But she was happy they did. When Anna saw him, she smiled and run to jump into his arms.

"Lucas!"

He hugged her, kissed her forehead, and smiled. This little girl has stolen completely his heart. He loved her so much. And he couldn't help but be happy when she was around.

"Hey, Anna. I missed you."

"But you were with me last night."

Brooke and Lucas both laughed.

"yes, but I did miss you today. Didn't you miss me?"

She hugged him and said.

"Yes."

Brooke and Lucas looked at each other and smiled and many things were said without words. Lucas then put Anna back on ground and sat, right next to Brooke. The little girl spoke again.

"Momma tell me about Keith."
Lucas looked at Brooke thankfully and started talking.

"I heard and I'm glad she did."

"You miss him?"

"I do, baby girl. Every day. You know, I didn't have a dad, but I had Keith and he was like a father to me. He looked after me and was always by my side. I thought of him as my dad."

"Like you to me?"

Brooke felt so guilty again. She knew Lucas wasn't supposed to be just a father figure in Anna's life. He was her father and they were both supposed to know that and have a normal father-daughter life. But the more time passed, the hardest she was finding a way and a moment to tell them.

Lucas stayed silent for a while. He wanted nothing more than to be to Anna what Keith was to him. But he wasn't sure if he was going to be able to make it – to be good enough to take this important role in Anna's life. He looked at Brooke, then back at Anna and he knew that whatever it would take him to do it, he would.

"Yes, princess. I would always love you and protect you."

Anna hugged him again and he felt genuinely happy. He looked at Brooke to understand if this was ok with her. She read the question in his eyes and slowly mouthed "Thank you". Anna suddenly pulled away and looked worried.

"Will they take you in heaven too? Cause I don't want you to. I want you here."

Lucas smiled.

"I won't go anywhere. I promise."

*-*-*

Brooke and Lucas went into the park with Anna after the cemetery. She was now on the playground and the two adults were watching her.

"She seems so carefree and happy."

"Yeah, she does. Seeing her like this, it makes it all worth it. I try to give her the best life she can have."

"And you are doing a great job, Brooke. You are an amazing mom and Anna is lucky to have you."

She smiled at him.

"Thank you for being here for us since we came here, especially the last two months after the whole mess happened. I don't know what we would do without you."

"Thank you for letting me. I don't know what I would do otherwise."

And he meant it. After the Lindsey/Peyton fiasco two months ago, Lucas didn't know what he would do if Brooke and Anna weren't in his life.

It's been two months since the mess happened. Lindsey went to New York two days after she moved out from Lucas' and one month later Peyton left with Mia on her tour. And those past two months brought Brooke and Lucas closer to each other. They've been spending a lot of time together and somewhere along the way they became each other's rock. Lucas felt more comfortable and shared more with her than with Nathan or Haley, his family. For Brooke, Lucas was not only the man she loved and the father of her child, but now her best friend. They both had never felt such a bond with anyone before.

Lucas broke the short comfortable silence.

"So, are you coming to the game tonight?"

"Like I would miss it. Your team is on state finale. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Lucas looked at her. He was nervous about this game, it meant so much to him. And the fact that Brooke was going to be there made him feel better and be a bit more sure in the win.

"Momma, Lucas! Ice cream, please!"

They laughed. Brooke took Anna in her arms and kissed her nose.

"You ate one, missy. You'll get another one tonight, when you are with Nanny Deb."

"But momma, please…"
"Nope."

"Lucas…"

Even though it was hard for him to resist her sweet voice, her beautiful pleading blue eyes, Lucas knew Brooke was right.

"You heard your mom. No ice cream for now."

Anna made an angry face and before she went back to the playground, she said:

"Adults."

And she said it such a sweet angry voice that both Brooke and Lucas laughed.

"She's something, isn't she?"

"Of course she is."

Then, Lucas' cell rang. He saw Haley's number and picked up.

"Hey, Haley. What's up?"

"Hey, Luke. Excited about the big game?"
"Yeah. But I have a good feeling about it. What's going on?"

"Two things. First, did you hear about the class reunion?"
"Yeah, I heard something about it. It's in two weeks, isn't it?"

"Yep. You're coming, right?"
"Of course. I want to see everybody. You and Nathan are coming too, right?"

"We wouldn't miss it for the world. Ok, task one completed. Task two – it's about Jamie's birthday party. I want to know if it would ok with you and Brooke if I invite Lindsey and Peyton."

Lucas knew that it wasn't the best idea to see Lindsey for the first time after all this time on the party, he wasn't sure how would it turn out. And Peyton… he just hoped he was not mad anymore. But Jamie loved both of them. And so did Nathan and Haley.

"Yeah, no problem with me."
"What about Brooke, is she with you?"
"Yeah, she is. I'm gonna ask her and call you back, ok?"

"Ok, bye, Luke."

They hung up. Brooke saw that Lucas' face was a bit worried and she couldn't understand what it could be this time.

"Luke, what is it?"

"Well, hales wants to invite Lindsey and Peyton to Jamie's party. And she wants to know if we are ok with it."

Brooke wasn't sure. First, Lindsey and Peyton in the same room after this whole book mess – bad idea. Second, Peyton was probably still mad at her and Lucas. So there were reasons to say it was not ok, but she knew that both women loved Jamie and Naley and they loved them back. And that was probably her only chance to talk to Peyton for months on.

"I think it would be great if they come."

Lucas nodded and called Haley and told her they were both ok with it and they hung up.

Lucas saw Brooke's worry. He was worried himself, but he knew that if they faced it together, then it would be ok. He hugged her and whispered.

"It's all gonna be ok, Pretty Girl."

They both trembled just like the first time those two words slipped two months ago. Brooke's heart started beating like crazy like every time she heard his voice calling her like that. The nickname he used for her when he loved her, when he thought he did at least.

Lucas felt strange again. He once again didn't plan to call her Pretty Girl, even though it suited her so much. The memories started spinning in his head. From the beginning until the end. And he hugged Brooke tighter. That was what his whole being told him to do.

They stood in the soft embrace for a while. When they pulled away, Lucas decided to change the subject.

"So, Haley mentioned the class reunion."
"Oh, I forgot about that. I can't believe it's been 5 years."

"Yeah, it seems like it was yesterday, doesn't it?

"Yep."

They stayed silent for a few moments, then Lucas decided to ask Brooke something he wasn't sure how she would take.

"Hey, I was thinking about something. Do you want to go with me to the reunion?"

Brooke looked t him. Of course she wanted to, but…

"Do you think it's appropriate? I mean, Peyton will probably be there…"

"Stop thinking about that. It's a class reunion, to see our old classmates, to catch up. It's not about Peyton. And if we go there together, it's about you and me and no one else. So, Brooke Davis, would you want to go with me to the reunion party?"

He hoped she would say yes. There was no one else he wanted to go with than her.

Looking at him, hearing his tender voice, she couldn't resist.

"Of course, Lucas Scott. I would love to."

They smiled at each other and hugged.

*-*-*

It was almost the end of the game, there were only 10 seconds left. The Ravens were down by one. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… Then Quentin shot, just before the final signal. It seemed like everything was going in slow motion. It felt like ages till the ball went in. But it did. Tree Hill Ravens were once again State Champions. Everyone went crazy. The players hugged each other, the cheerleaders screamed from joy, the whole team hugged Lucas. He felt so happy. It was perfect. It was another dream that came true. And then he saw her. Brooke. She was there, in the crowd, but he could see her so clear. She was smiling at him, running to reach him. And in a second, there she was, hugging him and congratulating him. And when she was in his arms, Lucas had a flashback of 5 years ago.

"So who is standing next to you?"

5 years ago, Brooke asked him this question to send him to Peyton. Now, he asked himself and he realized he had already had the one he wanted this time in his arms.

"Imagine a future moment in your life when all your dreams come true. It's the greatest moment in your life. And you get to experience it with one person. Who is standing next to you? It can be anybody – your mom, Haley…Who is it gonna be?"

"Brooke."