I think this chapter is aptly names because it is what i'm asking for. I suck I know. Hey you guys may not even like this story anymore, hell no one may even be reading but if you are...

Chapter 21

Forgiveness

The sounds of that damn beeping were annoying the shit out of her. She tried to crack her eyes open but they seemed so heavy. Her body hurt and all she could make out were voices. She attempted to lift her hand to her head but found that her body wasn't exactly cooperating. It wasn't till then that the events that led her there, not being able to move, came back to her

The doorbell rang and broke Brooke from her thoughts. She had been rubbing her stomach and humming to her baby saying daddy would be back soon. She figured he probably had his hands full with the food so she rushed down to open the door. When she flung it open and was met with the sight of wild blonde curls she tried to slam the door shut but Peyton was faster and rammed her shoulder into the door and knocked Brooke back. She hit the floor and the back of her head collided with the wood and Peyton was on her. She had straddled her and wrapped her hands around her neck and tried to squeeze but Brooke managed to wrench her hands away and punched her as hard as she could. She then kicked Peyton and ran towards the back door. She had to get out fast. Unfortunately Peyton was on her again and tackling her from behind and she landed face first on the floor. They went sliding into the couch and Brooke was knocked out. She went over to the living room to turn on the radio full blast so no one would hear her screaming. Peyton had a hold of her hair and dragged her up the stairs. Brooke had been in a daze and not sure of what was happening till she felt the foreign feel of metal piece her side. Her first thought was of her baby. She mustered enough courage to scream but Peyton was still over her and straddling her.

"You see what you did. You could've just left us all alone. You couldn't leave Lucas alone to me and now look what you made me do."

Peyton shoved the knife deeper and muffled Brooke's cries of pain with her palm. Brooke managed to scrap her way from under Peyton and went to get up but felt the rush of blood. She turned around and Peyton saw the look of fear go over her.

"Peyton. How could yo..."

Her words drifted into nothing towards the end as she collapsed to the floor. Peyton leaned over the side of the bed and saw Brooke had fallen to the floor. The blood from her wound was seeping past her clothing and she had already started to have a small pool around her. Peyton crawled to the edge of the bed and studied the knife in her hands. The blood was so memorizing. This is what she had wanted. She wanted Brooke out of the way and now she had finally done it. She decided now was as good a time as any to get all the things off her chest.

"You brought this on yourself Brooke. He was mine. He belonged with me. You never even gave him the time of day. You were always draped all over Nathan and smiling in Dan's face. I hated you when you came between us. Lucas used to call me and talk to me and we'd sit in his room for hours just listening to music or talking. Then you had to come around and but into our relationship. You had my mom, my family, my house, and then you wanted Lucas."

Peyton looked over at her once vibrant friend to see she was still out and the blood pool was getting bigger.

"He only wanted you because you made it so easy. Who wouldn't want to fuck you if you put it out there like that. I mean I told him you and Nathan had to have fucked but then the two of you had to go and lie. I knew Nathan loved you but I didn't think he hated Lucas enough to push his whore of a best friend onto him. The only reason I stayed friends with you after you STOLE him from me was so I could make sure you didn't hurt him. He deserved better than you. I deserved him!"

Peyton flew from the bed about to stab her again but stopped.

"I use to love you once. I used to be so envious of you. He loved you more than anything. He wanted to be with you and you would find ways to push him away. That's why he slept with me. You were too busy trying to be a famous fashion designer that you forgot all about him. Your long trips, late nights and Lucas was the one that suffered. I went after him and he gave in to me. I loved him more than anything and even after I gave myself to him, after he made love to me in your bed he still wouldn't let you go! The stupid fool."

Peyton calmed down and went to sit at the edge of the bed once more and studied the knife once more.

"He'll be happy with me. You'll see. Well you won't see but just know he will. So if you can still hear me...Brooke I want you to know I hate you. I hate you made me into this. I hate you turned me into this crazy bitch that had to stab her best friend to keep her away from the man I love. We'll be better off without you. He'll see. He'll be happy with me and you...you can rot in hell."

Brooke's eyes shot open. Her body still couldn't move well but she could see in the dark that there were two or three figures in the room. She went to speak and nothing came out. Her hand slowly drifted from her side and up to her belly. The tears started to fall. She felt the knife wound and the numbing pain behind the bandages and all she could do was cry. Her baby was dead. She knew it. Peyton may not have managed to kill her but she had managed to take away something that was so precious to her. Her baby. Karen was the one to hear the quiet sobs and looked over at Haley who was on the couch with Nathan. She assumed they were from her but when she saw Haley fast asleep her eyes darted to Brooke who was now awake.

"Oh honey, Brooke you're awake."

Brooke continued to cry as Karen stroked her hair and held her hand over Brooke's that was laying on her stomach.

"Brooke are you in pain?"

"I ...my...baby?"

Was all she could get out. Karen looked from her tear filled eyes to their hands and realized that Brooke thought her baby wasn't there.

"No honey. Brooke listen to me. My grandbaby is still in here" she said patting her stomach gently, " and he or she is fighting to stay there. The doctors said that the knife got close but the baby was unharmed. They're worried about your recovery and how the baby will affect you but the baby is fine honey, I promise."

Brooke let out a huge sigh. "Lucas?"

"He'll be here as soon as he can."

That situation may take longer Karen thought. Brooke had been out for a few days and in that time Peyton had been found, the police were still treating Lucas like a suspect and unless Peyton confessed the D.A was considering the go ahead with attempted murder charges. Now with Brooke awake there was hope because now she could tell the police how Peyton and not Lucas was the one who tried to kill her.

Detective Larro had been the one to keep his bets on Lucas being the attacker while Detective Morris listened to Nathan's information about the bridge incident and went to investigate and found that Peyton was a more likely suspect. She had now gone into a catatonic state and was being held at the psych ward at Tree Hill Memorial under heavy guard. They hadn't found the knife yet but Det. Morris was confident he'd be able to get Peyton to confess, he just hadn't had to the go ahead yet since Peyton was in such a fragile emotional state. The Detectives were happy to get the call from the hospital that Brooke was awake and were on their way.

"You feelin' a little lucky there Morris?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Cause I got a hundred bucks that says when we get there she tells us it was him."

"Larro you are a sad man. Haven't you been paying attention to anything I was saying the past few days. This Sawyer woman is a lock. She did it."

"You want to think she did it."

"And why don't you?"

"Because that tip just didn't come from out of nowhere. You saw the way they acted when I brought up the affair."

"Yeah they acted like they were pissed you'd bring that up while they were waiting on news on their friend. I gotta say that was a little fucked up, even for you."

"Hey they protest because they were caught. I bet that baby is the brothers and that if it wasn't the brother that did it then the wife did."

"Jeez man you need to switch jobs because you are way too cynical."

"I like my job just fine. Come on let's get going so I can collect my hundred bucks."

"You're on."

Karen stayed by Brooke's side and would remain there till her son could take her place. Karen had hired the best lawyers she could. Even if Dan was a shitty father his parents werent. At least thought to leave money for her son in the event something happened to them and Dan didn't step up so she could afford whatever her son needed. When the Detectives came in Karen got on the defensive.

"What are you two doing here she's sleeping."

"We came to get Ms. Davis' statement. If your son was innocent I'd think you want us to talk to her."

"She is pregnant and recovering from evasive surgery and as much as I want my son's name cleared, I want my future daughter in law and grandchild to stay as calm
as possible."

"Mrs. Scott I'm sorry to bother you but this is important. The D.A. is going ahead with the charges. We need Brooke's statement."

"My statement for what?" Brooke said groggily as she came to from the hushed yelling she heard from Karen, Whoever was aggravating Karen like that would need to answer to Brooke, or at least suffer a mild bitch out since she wasn't at a hundred percent yet.

"Ms. Davis it's nice of you to come back. Now I'm detective Larro-"

"Shut up. Karen do we want to talk to these people?"

"Ms. Davis-"

"I said shut up. Karen?"

"Honey you do need to speak with the detectives. They think that Lucas was the one who did this to you."

"WHAT!"

"Stay calm, remember you gotta stay calm for the baby."

"Yes Ms. Davis think of your baby. Are you and Nathan Scott having an aff-"

"Larro" Det. Morris interrupted and drug his partner out.

"Are you crazy! You could send that girl back into the emergency room with that shit. How about this you stay out here-"

"How bout you stay out here. I am your superior. I will question the witness any way I see fit."

"And if you want to leave the department open for a lawsuit go ahead. That's the Scott family in there you're messing with."

"So what Big bad Dan Scott ain't around to push anybody around and if I remember correctly he turned out to be a murderer too so I guess the apple didn't fall to far from the tree."

Upon hearing this Nathan came barreling around the corner ready to go to war.

"What the hell did you just say about my family!"

Haley was close behind and trying to calm her husband down.

"Ah perfect Mr. Scott you can join us when Ms. Davis spills the beans. I'd fess up now so this pretty little wife of yours don't get embar-"

Nathan wasn't the kind of guy to punch a cop but this guy was asking for it.

"That's it, you're going down for assaulting a police officer!" The detective yelled.

"Not unless you want to join him for harassing a witness" Karen said as she appeared from inside Brooke's room. Larro straightened up at the matriarch's threat, knowing she was serious. "Good. Now Detective Morris Brooke is asking to speak with you since you've shown sensitivity in the matter and is demanding that she speak with Detective Larro's superior."

"I apologize Mrs. Scott, please go back inside and tell Ms. Davis I will be in in just a second. Please take Mr. and Mrs. Scott with you."

"That punk isn't going anywhere-"

"Shut up Larro. You guys go ahead."

The group entered the room leaving the two detectives outside.

"Now if you go back in that room I will not lift a finger to help you out of this mess. Your choice is to either go in and let Ms. Davis nail you to the wall or leave and let me handle this."

"And where the hell am I supposed to go?"

"Go back to the station and get my paperwork ready for Mr. Scott's exoneration."

Det. Larro scoffed and left. When Det. Morris went in he got the confirmation he had been wanting. Brooke had recounted how she and Peyton fought and how Peyton maliciously stabbed her and dug the knife in and her intent being to kill her. The others in the room sat in shock. Peyton had always been close to each of them and even though they knew she was off they had no idea she could be so evil. The recounts of that horrible night had been enough to make every last one of them turn their back on Peyton for good. All except one.

Lucas was stewing in his anger by now. No one had told him anything about Brooke or his baby. Karen had been too worried that the police were watching so until she had good news she hadn't called. He sat with the cordless phone in his hand and starred at it waiting for it to ring. Lily had woken up an hour ago and now he felt terrible because the little girl was pouting and whimpering that she was hungry. He thought maybe focusing on her would take his mind off things because at the rate he was going he'd have a heart attack picturing the absolute worst. They now sat on they now at on the couch with Lily sitting next to him as she eat her bowl of cherrios happily. He would give anything to be as carefree as she was at the moment. The way her eyes danced cheerfully.

"Lucas why do you look so sad. Is Brookie asleesp again?"

"I don't know Lils."

"Can we watch some cartoons, they always make me happy, I want you to be happy too Lukie."

Lucas smiled at his little sister knowing that as sweet as she was, it wasn't helping. He almost jumped out of his skin when the phone in his hand started to ring. He looked and saw the called ID said Tree Hill Memorial and he rushed to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Lucas honey Brooke and the baby are okay." Karen rushed to say that first before saying anything else knowing her son had been going crazy. She heard him exhale a sigh of relief.

"Mom-" He managed to choke out."

"It's okay honey. They have her out of the room for some tests but she will be back soon and you can talk to her yourself.

"And you're sure the baby is okay?"

"Yes. Is Lily awake?"

"Yeah she's up."

"Take her to the neighbors and ask if they'll watch her and I'll be by to come get you."

"Okay and Mom?"

"Yes my boy?"

"Tell Brooke I love her and the baby more than anything for me."

"I will."

By the time Karen made it to the house Lucas was climbing the walls. Karen walked in and Lucas could tell by the look on her face that things weren't as good as he thought.

"Mom what is that look for?"

"Lucas honey sit down."

"No, I'll stand."

"Lucas-"

"No mom just say it."

Karen paused looking for the best way to explain it.

"The doctors said that Brooke and the baby are fine for now but their worry is what kind of toll the pregnancy will take on her body. The knife didn't rupture anything but there is a chance something could still go wrong. Their concern is Placentia abruption. If the Placentia detaches both she or the baby could die."
Lucas stood trying his best to hide the fear that run rampant across his face. He took it all in and tried his best to keep himself steady.

"Does Brooke know?"

"Yes. She's scared but I think she's staying optimistic. Lucas you need to stay strong for her. The reason I told you here was so you could make sure you have it together when you see her. I know this is hard baby but Brooke is strong...and so is my grandbaby."

Lucas tried his best to smile but somehow fell short.

Brooke sat in the hospital bed gazing down at the ultrasound. Her baby was still small but she couldn't help but feel like what she held in her hands was the biggest thing in the world. She smiled down at the photo and couldn't wait to find out the sex of her baby. She had some weeks to go for that but she didn't care, as long as the baby stayed healthy she would be fine either way. Her attention was drawn to the door when she felt a pair of eyes watching her. She was happy to see her brooding boy that was MIA for a while. She made sure to hold the picture up in front of her face. Lucas made his way over to her and sat down slowly taking the picture from her hand. He looked at it trying to make out any features he could but sadly he couldn't.

"I'm sorry I wasn't here."

He was still holding it together as best as he could and Brooke smiled warmly at him.

"Lucas baby...you didn't have a choice."

He looked from the ultrasound photo to Brooke and he rose up to hold her in his arms. He climbed up on the hospital bed and held on to her for dear life. The warmth from her was something his senses were glad to feel. The last time he had seen her he was convinced he'd never see her alive again.

"It almost killed me to lose you Pretty Girl."

"Yeah well, next time I'll let you be knife sharpener."

"That's not funny Brooke." Lucas said pulling away to look in her beautiful eyes.

"It isn't. I'm sorry."

"So how are you?"

His eyes drifted from hers down to her belly. Without thinking his hand reached out and gently laid on it. He was so scared he'd hurt her and the baby.

"As good as a person can be after the doctors tell you that carrying your baby to term could kill you."

"Baby I am so sorry I left you. I'm never leaving you again."

"Lucas you didn't know she'd come back."

"Yes I did. Peyton was crazy and I should've known better than to leave you with her still out there."

"Lucas this is not your fault."

"Yes it is! If I hadn't slept with her in the first place none of this would've happened."

Lucas was a broken man. He had single handedly brought damnation down on his life simply by giving in to temptation. He was to blame and he knew it. Peyton didn't just all of a sudden latch on to him. He had known she was in love with him and because he was selfish and felt like he was losing Brooke he went for it.

"How can you ever forgive me for that, for any of it?"

Brooke took a moment to think. Had she really forgiven him or was she just over looking it so she could have what she wanted? She wanted to think she had forgiven him for most of the bad stuff that went down between them. She was just going to have to truly let it all go.

"Lucas…what you did with Peyton…what you did afterwards that night…at first I thought it was unforgiveable. I thought that not even the love I still felt for you was enough to help me get over this but…the day I found out I was pregnant was when I decided that the past was the past. I loved you, I love you now and even with all the problems we had real love just can't be overshadowed by that. We are stronger than that. I have to believe that you want me, want this and want our baby in order for this to move forward and I do. I believe you hate yourself for the mistakes you made in the past but that's where we have to leave it. In the past. I love you now. You love me now. We are going to have a family now. Nothing else matters."
Lucas was in awe of this woman in front of him. Here she was, only days ago knocking on deaths door because of his affair and her supposed ex-best friends jealousy, and she was as forgiving as anyone he had ever know. He was proud to know this was the woman that was carrying his child.

"I love you Pretty Girl. Don't ever leave me."

"We should be more concerned about you and that heart condition of yours. I think my trips to the hospital from now on may be a lot less fatal from here on out."

"So tell how you are really doing with all this."

"I'm happy. I'm nervous, I'm scared, I'm restless and from what the doctors told me I'm pretty much on bed rest till my next checkup."

"Yep, no strenuous activities."

"So Karen told you no sex I assume."

"Yep."

"Damn, I was going to leave that part out."

"No such luck baby. As long as you and baby Lucas in there are-"

"Excuse me, baby Lucas?"

"Yeah. As long as you and baby Lucas are in any danger I am going to be the perfect gentleman."

Brooke pouted knowing full well he'd stick to his word.

"Well where's the fun in that?"

"Plenty fun when you safely deliver my boy."

"What makes you think it's a boy, it could be a pretty girl with my dimples and your blonde hair."

"Well if it is a girl you might as well get used to seeing the broody face because if we do have a girl I will be watching her like a hawk."

"She's going to be my daughter you might want to."

"I know, you may have been sweet but you had your own sneaky side."

"Lucas Scott are you accusing me of-"

"Senior year thanks to you and your bright idea to break into the schools gym so you could act out your locker room fantasy-"

"For the record you are the reason we got caught with all that noise you were making."

"You were the one making all the noise sweetheart."

"Fine but it was still your fault for making me make all that noise."

"Dear god, our daughter is so going to be trouble."

"What makes you think a boy will be any different. I plan to corrupt my child by any means necessary."

"Well in that case kid you are grounded till your twenty one, no matter what you are and you can thank your mom for that one." Lucas said leaning down to Brooke's belly.

"Mom...god that sounds so strange."

"Well it's kind of too late to take it back now Mrs. Soon to be Scott."

Brooke smiled. She had so much to be thankful for. Her life was spared yet again, her baby was fine for now, she was going to marry the man she loved and her best friends were happily re married and there was no more Peyton lurking around to ruin it. Sure she knew she had a hard time ahead because the baby and she were not out of danger but she had a feeling things were going to be just fine. Ever since she woke up in the hospital with Jake by her side she had always felt like there was some evil force out there pulling at her, but now...she felt happy.

Just like the doctors had said Brooke was the good little patient and they were letting her out of the hospital but before she left she needed to do one last thing. She had sent Lucas home to get things ready for her to come home and made sure neither Nathan, Haley or Karen would show up. She walked up to the glass doors and looked up at the red print that glowed overhead that read Psychiatric Ward. She made her way to the desk and asked to see a patient.

"Um excuse me?"

"Yes miss" the woman answered back.

"I was wondering if it would be possible to see Peyton Sawyer."

"I'll check."

The woman spun around to her computer and tapped away as Brooke looked around at the sterile environment. The woman made a disapproving sound that drew Brooke's attention.

"I'm sorry hon but police orders are she isn't to speak to anyone till she has been evaluated again."

"Look I know this is going to sound strange but she's...she used to be my sister. I wanted to say good bye before it was too late. It may already be but...I wanted her to know that I was going to be okay."

Brooke was near tears. She looked at the woman pleadingly and the woman smiled back softly.

"I'm not sure you know how bad she is sweet heart. She hasn't spoken the entire time she's been here. She won't even acknowledge anyone's presence."

"Could I at least try?"

"I'll ask the doctor."

The woman got up and went in search of the doctor leaving Brooke with her thoughts once again. Her mind went to her baby first. Her hand stroked her still somewhat flat belly and she felt like this was the right thing to do. She had gone from loving, hating and now pitying the girl she once looked at like family. So much had gone wrong for Peyton Sawyer. Brooke had been briefed on her condition and how mentally Peyton wasn't all there but Brooke knew she needed to get her closure, otherwise she'd regret it. The woman had convinced the doctor to let Brooke see Peyton and Brooke was led to a cell where two men stood guard inside with them to make sure nothing happened. Brooke made her way towards Peyton who was rocking and looking vacantly out into the wall in front of her. Brooke thought her words carefully because she was sure these would be the last she would ever say to Peyton.

"I'm not here to rub your face in failing P. Sawyer. I'm too good for that. I just wanted to come here and get a few things off my chest like you did while I was lying there bleeding to death on my floor." Brooke paused for a moment because she could feel the anger rising and the bitterness about to take over and that's not what she wanted. She meant for this to be her letting it all go and she was damn sure that's what she was going to do. "I miss the old P. Sawyer who said she wanted nothing but for me to be happy because that's what I am. I don't know if she ever existed but I like to think so. I'd like to think that the bitter jealous bitch that tried to kill me twice was just the product of a mental illness and that somewhere in there is my best friend. I really want you to know that I did love you once and that because I choose to believe you loved me once too I will love you, but I will never forgive you. If you want me to be honest maybe I won't love you forever because I plan to walk out of here and never let you or your jealousy touch my life again. When I walk out that door just know that I am going to be happy with Lucas and we will raise our baby and be the happy family I never had. I'm sorry you always felt I was taking yours and I'm sorry if I ever made you feel inferior but make no mistake, I feel absolutely no guilt on my part. I loved you. I would have done almost anything for you. I would've always had your back." Brooke chocked up on the last part knowing full well that if Peyton hadn't went after Lucas and tried to kill her they may still be close but it hurt her to think all of it had been a lie for Peyton. "I only pity that you felt so unloved when you were nothing but. P. Sawyer I hope one day you can come back from this. I really do. But just so we're clear if you come near my family again I will not hesitate to put you down like a rabid dog. Goodbye Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer. I hope you find your way back from this, just not to me."

Brooke got up and looked one last time at the curly headed blonde who had once held a place in her heart. She took in one last breath and let it out slowly and turned to walk away. The men let her out and just as the doors shut Peyton blinked her eyes and a tear made it's way down her expressionless face. It was the first she would cry while she stayed caged up in the psych ward. She had lost the last person she called a friend. It hurt a lot more than she thought it would.

Brooke made her way back to her room and was almost scared shitless when she beheld a honey blonde sitting on her bed with her arms crossed and a frown on her face.

"Haley...what are you doing-"

"Brooke Davis where were you?"

"Uhh last time I checked I was able to walk around the hospital if I wanted to."

"Do you have any idea how worried we were?"

Uh oh. When Haley used the word 'we' she knew she was in trouble. There was no way she was going to talk her way out of having a damn body guard now.

"We?"

"Yes we! Lucas, Nathan and I get here to take you home and you are nowhere and the nurses had no idea where you disappeared to and-"

Haley cut herself off when she crossed the room and hugged Brooke tight.

"Easy on the hug Haley. You'll crush me and the baby."

"I'm sorry." She said letting go. "God you almost had us about to shut this hospital down."

"Sorry. I just had something I needed to do."

Haley looked Brooke over and could tell from the second her eyes darted away where she had been.

"You went to see Peyton didn't you?"

"WHAT?" Nathan practically yelled as he entered the room.

"Easy hotshot. I just went to talk and I had big muscly guards with me the whole time so-"

"Dammit Brooke do you realize you almost gave me and Luke a heart attack. Speaking of which where is he?"

Nathan barely got a chance to finish his statement when Brooke felt a strong pair of arms engulf her. The feeling instantly registering that Lucas had pulled her into his arms and was now letting out a shaky breath. She could tell he had been scared.

"Where were you?"

"I-"

"Nevermind. You are not allowed to ditch us and go off and do your own damn thing anymore while you're carrying around my kid do you understand?"
Brooke frowned not at all liking the tone in his voice.

"Excuse me but I-"

"Do we understand each other?"

She couldn't believe he just did that and in front of Naley no less. She was about to explode when she realized he was only acting like this because he was afraid something had happened to her. She was going to have to get used to the babysitters club because she had a feeling that as long as she was preggers they were going to be smothering her. Damn Peyton.

"I understand. I'm sorry." She figured pulling out the pout may let her smooth right on over where she had been. She noticed Naley were waving their hands to suggest her not tell him about the impromtu Peyton visit.

"Hey Lucas why don't we get mommy here back to my house. I'm sure Jamie and Lily are chomping at the bit to see her."

"Fine with me, come on Broody, Hot shot and Tutor wife. I'm starving and since I'm eating for two I demand a cheeseburger, fries and a milkshake."

"Whatever you want Pretty Girl."

Lucas led his family out of the hospital and they all piled into Haley's SUV and headed home where Brooke was almost knocked over with hugs. You'd think it was the kids but oddly enough it had been Karen. The family sat around, ate, laughed and enjoyed the time they had because each of them knew just how precious it was. They were all finally happy.

Bam! All done. Well not not really got one more really lomg last chapter to this story and it is donezo. So this is a mass apology to all of you that stuck with me this far. Stick with me a little longer and hopefully everyone will think this story was good. So one more people. one more.