Chapter 4:

*6 Months Later*

"Lucas stop looking at me like that, I'm pregnant I'm not going to break." Brooke glared before standing up and taking a deep breath, "Stop it I mean it, it's bad enough that I have Sean, Atlas and Joseph eyeing me like that I don't need you doing it to."

"Do you think maybe it's time for maternity leave?" Lucas asked with a smile, trying his hardest not to sound too concerned, he didn't want her to cry again. 'She has been so weepy the last few days,' Lucas thought to himself, 'Let's keep her calm and happy.'

Brooke sat down on their bed and rubbed her aching stomach, "It hasn't been long enough for that yet. I still have a few more weeks I think."

"Sean and I were doing the math and we estimate that you're about 8 months along, that's plenty far enough to start taking it easy. Come on Brooke think of the baby."

"You and Sean were trying to figure out my due date huh?" Brooke kinked her eyebrow and giggled, "That must have been a fun chat," Brooke pretended to adjust her collar, "Well Sean, you see Brooke and I have been going at it like rabbits so the baby could have been conceived on any of these days." Brooke turned and started again, "Oh I see Lucas, I'm a stuffy know it all surgeon I know that sperm met egg and boom there was a baby on this date. So Brooke is exactly 8 months along." Brooke rolled her eyes, "Is there really nothing better to do?"

Lucas sat down beside her touched her bump, trying to ignore her sarcastic and jeering demonstration, "Did you think anymore about names?"

"Like it matters, it's not going to have a birth certificate until we get back home." Brooke began to sob, "If we get back home."

Lucas wrapped his arms around her, she was laughing only moments before, Lucas would never admit it to her but he would be happy when the baby was born, Brooke's mood swings were making him crazy, "Hey pretty girl none of that. We are going to get rescued, there's no chance they stopped looking, There is no way that Nathan and Haley stopped looking for us. We aren't in the middle of a Stephen King novel, airplanes don't just disappear into another dimension."

"I LOVE The Langoliers it's not really dimensions though, it was a rip in time." Brooke smiles before wiping away all signs of the tears that were falling a few moments before, "It sure feels like there's two of them in there sometimes."

She brought Lucas's hand to her stomach, he flinched when it started to kick. "See I told you, we should bring that up again to Joseph at my next appointment." Lucas smiled, "I remember when Auggie was born, Isobel was a basket-case, screaming and cursing at everyone. One of the nurses threatened to sedate her if she didn't calm down." He frowned and let out a sigh, "I miss him Brooke. I really miss my son."

"Of course you do Lucas, you would be full of shit if you tried to pretend you didn't." She leaned in and kissed his cheek, "Where do you think he is right now?"

"God willing he's with my mom," Lucas started laughing uncontrollably, "I am positive Isobel would have had me declared dead as soon as she could have to collect the insurance money." Lucas coughed, "My son is eleven, that's such a great age and I missed it. I wonder if he found my copy of The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, all of my books were in my study. Thinking of him sitting in my room reading my books brings me peace."

"Do you think he's going to like me?" Brooke asked, noting how incredibly selfish that sounded. "I'm sorry, this isn't about me."

"He's going to love you." Lucas grinned, "I never spoke of you because it made Isobel snap but he knows you were someone special to me once." Lucas stood up and kissed her nose, "I'm going to go finish up our chores, I know we're having a bonfire tonight, can you believe we've been on the island for a year?" Brooke stretched her arms over her head and stood up. Lucas noticed the alarmed look on her face, "What is it pretty girl? Is it that baby?"

"Lucas, I think my water just broke." Brooke touched her stomach, "There's something wrong, this is too soon. It has to be too soon."

"Wait here, I'm going to get Joseph." Lucas kissed a newly sobbing Brooke, "Everything is going to be alright, I'm not going to let anything happen to you, do you understand me." Lucas couldn't tell Brooke he was afraid, she needed him to be strong and that was exactly what he was going to be. "I love you, we're having a baby today."

"We're having a baby today," Brooke choked as Lucas hurried out of the room.

Haley heard a knock at the door, "Will one of you grab that please, I need to get the cake out of the oven."

Jamie spoke first, "I got it mom, it's probably just Lilly and Grandma Karen." Jamie jogged to the door and opened it. "You're not my Grandma Karen," he blurted out staring at the gangly man with curly brown hair standing in front of him.

"Ummm... No I'm not your grandma kid," He looked down at a piece of paper, "I'm looking for Nathan or Haley Scott."

"Who are you?" Jamie quizzed.

The man stuck the piece of paper back into his pocket, "I'm Julian Baker, they both will know who I am, are they home?"

"Okay, yeah." Jamie gripped the door trying to place where he knew that name, "I'll be right back wait here." Jamie closed the door and walked back into the house.

"Who was at the door Jamie," Haley called out from the kitchen.

Jamie rubbed his hair and heard his father heading down the stairs, "Some guy named Julian Baker, he said he needed to see either you or dad."

Haley froze, "Lydi come in here a second please, the cake has another five minutes. Be a dear and take it out for me when it's finished." Haley took off her apron and her and Nathan hurried outside.

Auggie came in from outside, "What's up guys? Who died?"

Lydia pulled the cake out of the oven, "Come on let's go see who this Julian guy is."

Jamie got to the door first and swung it open, he saw his mother hugging the stranger, "Mom what's going on? Lydi is adopted isn't she, I knew it."

The adults headed back to the house, "Your sister isn't adopted Jamie," Nathan answered, "This is Julian... He's Auntie Brooke's boyfriend from California."

Jamie wasn't sure what came over him but he ran up to Julian and slugged him in the face, "It's your fault she's gone."

"James Lucas Scott you apologize right this instant," Haley demanded, "Julian I'm so sorry, the kids haven't taken the news of the crash very well, not having any closure this past year has only made it worse."

"I'm an adult and I didn't take it well either," Julian said massaging his jaw, "You have a hell of left hook Jamie, have you even considered boxing?" Julian sat down on the steps, "I loved your Aunt Brooke very much. She talked about you and your sister all the time."

Jamie folded his arms across his chest, "Whatever. Why are you here?"

"James," Nathan said in a stern voice, "Apologize now."

"I'm sorry for hitting you," Jamie conceded, "Now answer my question."

"You're like a dog with a bone kid," Julian replied still rubbing his face. "I recently decided it was time for me to move on, the FAA has suspended the survivor search. My own private investigators haven't found anything either. So as much as it pains me to say I have to move on with my life, Brooke would have wanted me to."

Jamie scoffed, "I'm sure it sucks bro, what's her name?"

Haley squeezed his arm, "Enough Jamie, what has gotten into you?"

"Brooke wouldn't want me withering away," Julian looked away, "I packed up her bungalow in LA and shipped most of her belongings to her parents. There were a few boxes I thought you might like to have."

"Thank you Julian we appreciate it, even if some of us are acting like savages," Haley smiled, trying her best to ignore Jamie's glare, "Would you like to stay for dinner?"

"No, I couldn't. I don't want to intrude," Julian looked to Nathan, "Can you give me a hand, the boxes are in the trunk."

"Yeah," Nathan followed Julian towards the car, "Jamie get your ass over here." Nathan put his hand on Julian's shoulder, "I am sorry again for his behavior, we're all just trying to find ourselves in this midst of tragedy."

Jamie came over to the car and interrupted the private moment, "So what is all of this stuff?"

"I didn't know this side of her but I guess Brooke was a prolific picture taker. I thought you guys might like her scrapbooks. There's also a box of journals, a box containing her wedding dress and these." Julian patted his jacket pocket and pulled out a small ring box, "I know Brooke would have wanted Haley to have these. It's her wedding bands, engagement ring and a pair of sapphire earrings."

Nathan suddenly felt ill, staring into the trunk at Brooke's possessions made him relive the crash all over again, "She's really gone isn't she."

Jamie hugged his dad, "You have been the lone hope holdout dad you aren't giving up now are you?"

"No son," Nathan said trying to shake the chill that was creeping up his spine, "Let's get this stuff in the house so Julian here can be on his way."

"I need drugs!" Brooke screamed.

"Brooke sweetie I need you to pay attention to me alright?" Joseph said, "There aren't any drugs, you knew this already. We only have minimal antibiotics to prevention your risks for infection after the birth. We have spent months making this room the cleanest we can, no one is touching you unless they are scrubbed is that understood."

"Joseph I'm so tired, is something wrong with my baby?" Brooke cried.

Joseph looked down at his watch, "Laboring for 12 to 24 hours in perfectly normal for the first child. You're tired because your body hasn't gotten any rest. I'm going to check to see how far you're dilated, Brooke this baby cannot come out unless we're at 10."

"Please God let us be at a 10," Brooke buckled in pain as she felt another contraction.

Lucas stood by her side and held a cool cloth to her face, "You're doing so well pretty girl. It will all be over soon I promise."

"Shut up Lucas." Brooke moaned, "Lying to a woman in labor is just plain cruel."

Joseph looked into Brooke's eyes, "Alright take a deep breath Brooke." Brooke inhaled, "Very good, we are at 10. I'm going to go get the rest of my team and we're going to get this baby delivered, how does that sound."

"Fantastic," Brooke whined, "Please hurry, or I'm going to start without you."

A few minutes later Joseph returned with Sean, Atlas and Carys. "An OB, a surgeon, a nurse and a podiatrist all walk into a bar," Lucas began.

"Why are you torturing me?" Brooke grabbed at Lucas's shirt, "One more peep out of you and you'll have to wait outside."

Lucas smiled and kissed Brooke's forehead, "I love you pretty girl, we're about to have a baby."

Joseph looked at his very limited table of supplies and said a quick prayer, "Alright Brooke, everyone in this room has a job, the most important job however is yours. We're going to get through this together."

Carys put her stethoscope to Brooke's swollen abdomen, "I can still hear the heartbeat, 155 beats per minute."

"Thank you Carys." Joseph looked at Brooke, "Your next contraction I want you to push Brooke."

Sean was standing next to Lucas, "Her abdomen is constricting."

"Great, they're coming closer now. Alright Brooke, I need you to push now." Joseph said in a stern tone.

Brooke cried out and started pushing, "Is anything happening Lucas?"

"Keep pushing pretty girl," Lucas said, he was trying to control his own heart rate, the last thing he wanted to do was faint, Brooke would never let him live that down if he did.

"The head is out Brooke," Joseph said, "Sean how's she looking?"

"The abdomen is tightening again." Sean said looking down at his watch, "The contractions are coming every 45 seconds or so."

Carys let out a deep breath, "There's a second heart beat Joseph."

"What!" Brooke squawked.

"Brooke, I need you to concentrate on the baby belonging to the head alright, we'll figure out the second heart beat in a moment." Joseph was focused. "Push Brooke." Brooke screamed, "Congratulations kids you have a daughter." He looked at Carys, "Can you still find the second heart beat?"

Joseph handed Atlas the baby before Carys answered, "Yes, 148 beats per minute."

"Brooke let's start pushing again," Joseph said. "In a few minutes you're going to become a mother again."

"I just became a mother like ten seconds ago," Brooke moaned, "Let's do this."

"Push Brooke," Joseph said, "Keep pushing." The room filled with cries, "It's a boy, you have a son."

"Are they alright?" Brooke asked, "Can I see them?"

"Just a minute love," Atlas called, "Cleaning them up for you. Luke you wanna give me a hand mate."

"Yes," Lucas kissed Brooke then headed over to the table where Atlas was now standing with his children.

Brooke leaned back and closed her eyes, the crying brought her more joy than she ever thought possible, "Are they okay Lucas?"

"They're better than okay pretty girl, they're perfect." Lucas smiled with tears in his eyes.

Auggie couldn't sleep, he went downstairs and saw Haley and Nathan, he noted that his Aunt Haley looked like she was crying, "Sorry, I'll go back upstairs."

"What do you need Auggie?" Nathan asked with a small smile.

"I couldn't sleep," Auggie answered, "I was just going to get a glass of water."

Haley sighed, "How about some hot coco?"

Auggie nodded and sat down next to Nathan, "Are those Brooke's wedding rings?"

"Yep, Julian wanted to give them back to their rightful owners." Nathan frowned, "Her engagement ring belonged to your Grandma Karen. One of the wedding bands had belonged to your great grandmother, the other was Aunt Haley's."

"Why did Brooke have your wedding band?" Auggie asked, furrowing his brow and squinting into the light from the kitchen.

Haley put down three mugs in front of them, noticing that when Auggie made that face he looked just like his father, "When your dad proposed to Brooke I was on tour promoting my music. Uncle Nathan and I decided to renew our vows after I came home. Brooke was in charge of the rings, so naturally she gave them to your father for safe keeping. Brooke wasn't the best with intense responsibility." Haley spun the ring in her hand, "Your dad wanted to propose to Brooke before our ceremony and he was so nervous that when he proposed he used my new wedding band by mistake. We all decided it would be bad luck to switch them back, so I ended up with Brooke's understated white gold band, which I love." She reached for Nathan's hand, "And Brooke got to keep the diamond eternity band."

"That's weird." Auggie sighed, "Were you and Brooke close?" Auggie noticed the scrapbook next to him.

Haley caught his eye and picked up the book and put it back in the box and replaced the lid, "Brooke is my best friend in the entire world."

"We all were close kiddo." Nathan smiled a sad smile.

Auggie huffed, "Why did they get divorced then? How did my dad end up with Isobel?"

"Coco's done," Haley said, changing the subject. "Those are questions best reserved for your father." Auggie rolled his eyes, he was so tired of people telling him he needed to ask his father about what happened, what if he never saw his father again, was he destined to never find out the truth?

Brooke heard a knock on the door, "Come in."

Joseph came in, "How is everyone this morning?"

"Tired, but good." Brooke sighed, "I can't believe they're a week old already."

"How is the name game going? Any closer to ones that are going to stick?" Joseph took out his stethoscope and started checking heart rates and lung function.

"Iona Penelope Scott," Brooke smiled, "Iona after Atlas's girlfriend in Ireland and Easton Davis Scott. Easton is for one of Lucas's favorite authors."

"Bret Easton Ellis?" He questioned, Brooke nodded, "That's an odd choice. I like it though. All of you look good, I'm impressed. You delivered twins naturally on an island with limited medical resources and you all appear to be in excellent health."

Brooke shook her head, "What I lacked in gizmos and modern comforts I made up for in doctors and one kick ass nurse."

Lucas came in, "Hey, what's up doc?"

"I was just leaving, Brooke told me the good news. We'll announce the names tonight at the bonfire." Joseph patted Lucas on the shoulder on his way out, "Get some rest Brooke, you aren't out of the woods yet."

After the door was closed Lucas sat down on the bed, "Hi pretty girl."

"Hello broody, where have you been all day?" Brooke asked with a tired smile.

"I've been working on a present for you and the kids." Lucas picked up his sleeping son, "This all still feels so surreal."

"You're telling me." Brooke laughed, "I'm a mother and YOU'RE the father. If you had told me at Peyton's wedding this would be my life in a year I would have laughed in your face."

"I know what you mean," Lucas paused, "I had always hoped we would find our way back to each other but I never envisioned this."

Brooke kinked her eyebrow, "I knew it... I knew it was you that brought the plane down. Your injuries were all an elaborate rouse to get me to fall in love with you again."

Lucas cackled, "You got me Brooke. I planed this whole thing, complete with other survivors to really sell the story."

Brooke crinkled her nose, "I love you Lucas."

"I love you too pretty girl." Lucas bent over and kissed her gently, he paused and looking at his two sleeping children, they had squishy red flesh and sounded like baby sheep when they cried, "I wouldn't change a thing about our story, because it's ours. No sane person would even believe it."

"I know, we sound delusional." Brooke giggled, then let out a yawn, "What I wouldn't give though for a hot shower. I miss my high thread count sheets too."

"I've been working on a few things with the guys," Lucas kissed her hand, "We're going to get off this island Brooke. It's time to go home."

*Eleven Months Later*

"So Augs what are we doing for your birthday this year?" Lydia asked.

"Nothing," Auggie said, "We're doing it. We would have never found these boxes had Aunt Haley not asked you and Jamie to clean the garage. There has to be something in these boxes, I've read all the letters several times. They loved each other, what happened to them? Why would he have married Isobel?"

Jamie pulled one of the boxes down from the rafters, "If Uncle Luke hadn't married Isobel you wouldn't have been born."

"Not true, I was born BEFORE they were married." Auggie reached for the box and handed it to Lydia, "They had to have cared for each other or he wouldn't have kept all that stuff. I mean there were pictures of Brooke in the pages of at least a dozen of the books from his study. If he didn't still love her why would he have kept them?"

"All I can see are the boxes of scrapbooks, the box with her journals must be someplace else." Jamie said with a sneeze, "Let's bring these into the house, mom and dad won't be home for a few hours."

After they went in the house Jamie, Lydia and Auggie huddled around the coffee table and stared at the three dust covered boxes, "Where do we start?" Auggie wondered.

"Pick one," Lydia motioned.

They decided to start with the box in the middle, Jamie opened the first book, "Look Lydi there's mom and dad."

Lydia took the book from her brother and smiled at the picture of her parents, "They are so young, mom's hair is blonde and she has bangs." She flipped the page, "Look Jamie there's the scary poncho mom hides in the back of her closet."

Jamie laughed, "So I think this is high school." Jamie pulled out a second scrapbook, "I think this entire box is their time at Tree Hill High School."

Auggie picked up another book and flipped around, smiling at pictures of his father with his family. The picture that caught his eye was at a photo from a Ravens' game, "Is this from the Championship game?" He asked as he ran his fingers over his father's face, "He really loved her," the picture showcased Lucas and Brooke, Lucas had cupped Brooke's cheeks and was kissing her.

"Yeah, dad talks about that day," Jamie flipped the pages, "Look this is graduation, I was born the next day." Jamie stopped on a page with Lucas hugging Brooke and Brooke had her hand in the forefront, "Hey Augs this is from when they got engaged. I've heard my parents talk about it before, Auntie Brooke was going to school on the west coast and Uncle Lucas was staying in North Carolina to go to Duke with my parents. He proposed to her the day before she left."

Lydia opened another box, "Jackpot."

Jamie and Auggie looked at her, "What did you find Lydi?"

"Wedding photos," Lydia handed the scrapbook to Auggie, "That baby is me."

Auggie stared at the pictures of Brooke in an ivory off the shoulder dress with a trumpet skirt, his dad was wearing a gray suit, "Can you guys tell me about Brooke?" He turned the page and saw a picture of Brooke cradling an infant Lydia while a toddler version of Jamie clung to her leg. The photographer had caught her mid laugh, she looked like an angel.

"There isn't much we haven't already told you," Jamie frowned. "She's wonderful. She has a big heart and she loves us all. She sends presents for no reason and calls just to say good night. My mom hasn't been the same since the plane crash, my dad is broken and not just because Uncle Luke is missing. When they don't think we're watching they share a look and mom always cries afterward." Jamie wiped at his face, "Auntie Brooke caught a red eye to be home for my basketball playoffs, she mailed handmade Halloween costumes..." He trailed off, "Lydi..."

"She came home once for a ballet recital, she hadn't liked our outfits so she made everyone a new tutu, there were ten of us and she made us new tutus in less than 24 hours." Lydia laughed, "She loves scary movies, popcorn and cherry coke." Lydia closed her eyes, "She calls your dad broody, not sure what that means."

Auggie shrugged, "I'm going to have to talk to Aunt Haley, Uncle Nathan and Grandma Karen. I need to know more about her."

"More about who?" Nathan said as he entered the living room. "Shit." he said at the sight in front of him.

"What's wrong Nathan?" Haley called from the hallway. She entered the living room and gasped, "Where did those come from?"

"The garage," Jamie volunteered.

"No, I know they were in the garage, why are they in my living room?" Haley asked.

"I wanted to know who she was." Auggie said, averting eye contact.

Haley blinked back tears, every memory of her best friend flashed before her eyes, "It isn't our place to say Auggie. You can ask your father-"

"I can't ask him anything!" Auggie shouted, "He's gone! He's probably dead. He's gone and I don't have any clue who one of the most important people in his life was. You all exchange sad looks and cry over the sad twist of fate that brought them together in the end. You cling to the fact that wherever they are at least they're together. But why is that significant? And none of you will give me any answers, you all talk in a weird cryptic circle. I know they loved each other, I know they were together all throughout high school, I've read the letters."

"Where did you find the letters?" Nathan wondered.

Auggie ignored his question, "I've seen the pictures! I know they were married, but WHY did they get divorced if they loved each other so much. I keep hearing about what an incredible person she was and I feel like the missing link. Like me being born destroyed them." Auggie put his head in hands and started to sob.

Haley crossed the living room and sat down next to him, "You didn't destroy them Auggie, your father did. Brooke IS an amazing person, she loves your dad more than he will ever know. She's my best friend," Haley rubbed her tear stained cheeks. She went to speak again, when her phone rang, "It's your grandma, we'll continue this in a minute." Haley answered the phone, "Hi Karen." A few seconds later her eyes widened, "Okay we'll turn the news on right now." Haley put down the phone and as if in a trance turned on the television.

"If you just joining us, we have found the wreckage of Flight 7729. I repeat we have found the wreckage of Flight 7729." The reporter pressed her ear piece, "Wait I have some breaking news, they have found survivors. We will bring you up to date information as it is released to us. So if you are just joining us the FAA has announced they found the wreckage of Flight 7729 and I can now confirm that they have found survivors."

Two updates in under an hour... Woo-Hoo!

Review, review, review!

Thanks to you all!

Krystal