Brooke put the last of the dishes away when the five year old ran in shouting happily.

"Lyric, you need to settle down, it's almost bed time." Brooke smiled as he bounced around her.

He looked a lot like her, and maybe it was her guilt, but sometimes if she looked long enough she could she the truth staring back at her: in his smile, how he was left-handed just like Jenny.

He ignored her, "Mom! Mom! I won, I beat Daddy at basketball! And Daddy is really really really good…And I beat him. Mommy! I beat daddy!"

She picked the boy up, forgetting how big he was getting, "Well I think because you won, Daddy owes you an extra special bed time story…"

"Why do I gotta to sleep?"

Lucas came up the hallway, "Because you have to have a lot of sleep so you won't fall asleep on your first day of school."

"Yeah," Brooke chimed in, "You want to be awake in school so you'll be extra smart…like daddy."

"Okay." The boy nodded, and climbed down to race off up the stairs.

Lucas smiled, "Pre…"

"Daddy! Hurry up! Didn't you hear Mommy….she said it's bed time…Daddy! Hurry! I gotta sleep…I'm gonna be smart just like you."

"You're being beckoned." Brooke laughed.

Lucas followed the shouting up the stairs, and Brooke continued her tradition by waiting before following herself. She stood out side her son's door and listen.

"Daddy, are Ben and Lily going to school too?"

"Yep, you and Ben have the same teacher."

"Daddy, why is Aunt Haley stomach so big?"

Brooke held in a laugh waiting for Lucas' answer, "Because inside her stomach is Ben's little brother and little sister."

"He's getting both?" The five year old asked as if it were magic.

"Yep."

"Am I getting both too?"

"Whoa now buddy, your mommy isn't having any babies…not yet…but maybe one day you'll have a brother or sister. Would you like that?"

"Yep."

"You wanna story now or you wanna ask more questions?"

The boy pondered a little bit, "Questions."

Lucas laughed, "One more question."

"Will I be just like you one day?"

"Maybe. Okay let's get you tucked in…here go."

"Dad?"

"Yeah."

"I love you."

"I love you, too, Jamie, buddy." Lucas appeared in the hallway. His eyes caught Brooke standing there, "Stalk much?"

"If that's…"

"Actually, the news is my stalker is one very pretty girl." He wrapped his arms around her, and she ignore the burning in her stomach as she had for the last five years.

"Did you here the rest of the news?"

"What is that?"

"Apparently soon-to-be NBA hot shot, Lucas Scott, lost a basketball game to a five year old."

"What can I say? He's got one hell of a basketball player."

"Like all the Scott men."

He smiled and pulled her down the hall to their room, "Our little man breaks the mold, though, he's a natural rebounder…him and his cousin will make a good team."

"uh-hmm." Brooke mumbled, sensing what he was trying to do.

"And speaking of good teams, Brooke, I was wondering…we've been living together for five years now…And we love each other, right? So, let's make it official. Brooke Davis, you wanna marry me?" He whispered in her ear.

Brooke froze, he had been hinting at this for a while now, but she had managed avoiding it. Just like she avoided every time he tried bringing up have another baby. She felt guilty enough she didn't want to hurt him more than he didn't know she already had.

"Luke…I dunno…I think where fine like we are…give me some time to think about it okay?"

Lucas nodded, trying to hide the hurt he felt, but he understood. He was willing to take the time for her, whatever she needed. He watched her walk to the bedroom, hanging her head. She had been like this since she told him she was pregnant, like there was something bothering her…and he just wanted her to tell him what it was. But for her he'd give anything.

So, Here's the second chapter…same day…odd I know. But I have a slight dilemma…I have several roads for this story to go down. And I wanted to bounce a the top ones in my head off you guys to see what you think. Just leave a review if you have any thoughts or ideals.

The Options (in a nutshell)

1. Something happens to Lyric

2. Something happens to Brooke

3. Jake moves into town.

4. Lucas and Jake end up on the same NBA team

5. Other

Thanks in advance!