ok, so i know i'm usually better at updating, but it's gonna get better now. promise :) . i'm thinking about starting a new story (don't worry i'll still work on this one too). i'll post the title later. anyways, thanks for all the AWESOME reviews, they keep me going, and i've gotten some help for ideas from some... so thanks!

Chapter Twelve

Brooke sat nervously on the couch on the couch snuggled tightly into Lucas' side. He pulled her tighter and kissed her forehead.

"Brooke, why are you so nervous? It's going to be great!" Lucas said, trying get some excitement into her.

"Ok, if you were going to be on tv in like" she looked at the clock on the wall " twenty minutes, wouldn't you be nervous?"

"If I looked as gorgeous as you do, hell no?" he smiled at her.

"Seriously, I forgot how cheesy you two were." Nathan said from the other end of the couch, where he had a secure arm around his wife, who also was cuddling close to him. The entire gang had come to watch the debut of Nathan and Brooke's commercial on ESPN.

"No, you and Haley are cheesy." Peyton scoffed, Jenny in her lap.

"Yeah! We're just affectionate." Brooke said, kissing Lucas softly.

"Don't even get me started on you two."

"As guard of the New York Knicks, I Nate..."

"Oh my god! Is that it? Oh I can't watch!" She buried her head into Lucas' chest.

"Calm down Brooke, it's Nate Robinson's commerical. We still got like fifteen minutes." Nathan said.

"Ok." she peeked her eyes at the tv. "Phew that was close!"

"Brooke, you know you'e excited about this! You haven't had this much tv attention, since your topless debut on the time capsule." Haley joked.

"God, someone put me back into a coma." She rolled her eyes, and dug herself deeper into Lucas' arms.

They all laughed at this, but they were all relieved to hear she was finally at a place where she accepted what had happened.

Ten minutes later, the commercial came on. Brooke hid her eyes with her hands, but opened them enough to peek through her fingers.

"Guys that was awesome!" Haley exclaimed at the end of the commercial.

"Definitely, it was definitely the best one we've seen so far." Jake said.

"Really?" Brooke asked with a smile.

"Yeah, it was actually personal. Everyone else tried to pick a topic that would make him look like a hero. AIDS, cancer, stuff like that. But you could tell they didn't actually care about the cause." Jake explained.

"Plus, you looked beautiful." Lucas said, giving her a soft kiss.

"Yeah man, now you get to deal with the entire country thinking your girl's hot!" Nathan teased.

"Doesn't that make it even more special that she's mine?"

"Aww! I love my Broody!"

"Well, I love my Cheery."

"Ok, now that's cheesy!" Jake laughed, followed by everyone else.

- - - - -

Two days later was Nathan's charity game, and Brooke spent the first half of the day trying on dozens of different outfits. Lucas, obliged to give his oppinions, just laid on the bed flipping through a magazine, and would comment everytime she came out in a different ensemble.

"Lucas..." she whined at him. "There's nothing in there for me wear!"

"Ok, Brooke. Listen to me. I've seen you come out in party wear and formal wear. 'Casual' wear that we both know wasn't casual, dress wear, business wear. Practically every kind of wear possible. And you looked beautiful in them all."

"Ok, but that doesn't help me Lucas!" she whined again.

"Ok, I guess here's what I'm trying to say. We're not going to a party, or anything formal. This is isn't a business trip, and it definitely isn't fancy. So why don't you just have fun. Put on a tight little Knicks jersey, support Nathan and the game, and look cute as hell while doing it?"

"Lucas, that's a great idea!" She excalimed. "But..."

"But what?"

"I don't have any of that stuff." she said softly, kind of disappointed.

"Well, then I guess I get to take you shopping." he said smiling.

"Yay!" she squealed and clapper her hands.

- - - - -

"Nathan, what does the wife of an NBA star wear to his game?"

"Haley, you've been to lots of my games, and you've looked great at every one."

"Ok," she said nervously. "What does the pregnant wife of an NBA star wear to his games?"

"What?" he asked.

"Nathan, I'm uh.. pregnant." He looked down and sat on the couch, a gesture Haley wasn't really hoping for. She had been terrified to tell him the news, but it had been three weeks since she found out, and knew that it had to be now.

"Nathan, please say something." she pleaded.

"I'm going to be a dad?" he looked up with a smile.

"You're going to be a dad."

"I'm going to be a dad!" He opened his arms for a hug, which she graciously accepted. He picked her up and swung her around, kissing her as he put her back on the ground.

"I'm going to be a dad." He repeated once more.

- - - - -

Lucas laid on Brooke's bed waiting her to come out of her bathroom, and show him the final outfit. They had found a girl's Knicks jersey, and surprisingly one with Nathan's name and number on it. He even picked her out a pair of blue Nike's with an orange swoosh, and a blue and orange polka dotted hair band.

"So have you thought about what you're going to say tonight?" Lucas asked curious about her speech. Both her and Nathan had to stand out on the court before the game to speak about the organization. The whole point of the commericals and speeches, and other forms of advertising was to get companies and wealthy families to pledge to the cause. Lucas' newspaper had already pledged to it, and he knew there were other companies that had as well.

"Yeah, a little bit. I'll probably just improv it all." She said, peeking her head out of her bathroom door. She didn't want him to see her until she was completely ready.

Lucas laughed at this, knowing that this was just how she worked. He also knew that even if she had it planned out, she wouldn't tell him anyways.

"Ok, you ready?" she called out.

"Yep, let's have a look at ya."

She stepped out. Her jersey fit amazingly well, fitting tightly but pulling off the jersey effect. She wore a dark pair of jeans, her new Nike's, and completed the look with the polka dot head band. Her hair fell down in curls on her shoulders, and her make up was done lighlty. On her cheek was a blue '23.'

Lucas was amazed at how she looked. She looked amazing, and it was a look he had never seen her in. Sure, she had the cheerleaderish fake tattoo on her cheek, but he had actually never seen her wear a jersey, or a pair of tennis shoes (besides her cheer shoes), in all the years he had known her. As different as it was to him, she still looked amazing, and she had this glow about her that attracted him even more.

"Brooke, you look great."

"Great?" she questioned stepping towards him.

"Amazing."

"Hmmm." she said taking his hands.

"Perfect" he said as she kissed him. "You look perfect."

- - - - -

The game started at seven, so they decided to meet at six. Nathan had to be there earlier, of course, and Brooke had to meet him at twenty after six. Nathan had reserved court side seats for Haley, Lucas, Brooke, Peyton, and Jake. He also had seats arranged beside and behind the four for some of the people from Lucas' work, after Lucas told him about the donation.

Lucas, Haley, Peyton and Jake took their seats as Brooke met up with Nathan outside the locker rooms.

"How was Brooke holding up?" Haley asked, smiling. Lucas noticed that she had been smiling non stop since they had picked her up.

"Well, she threw up twice before we left, but I think she's calmed down a bit."

"Nathan was a bit nervous too. He's never really had to do much public speaking before."

"Yeah, that's true." Lucas agreed. He noticed Ashley and Renee walking over to them.

"Hey, guys." he standing up to give each of them a hug. "I'm so glad you came, this really means a lot to me and my friends."

"We're happy to be here Luke. It's a great cause." Ashley said to him.

"So, uh, Luke," Renee said, a little too nicely by Haley's standards, "I noticed there's a seat open next to you. Mind if i sit next to you?"

"Actually, this is Brooke's seat."

"I don't see her around." she said again, even more skankily than before.

"Yeah, she's back with Nathan, she has to give a speech or something. But the seats behind me are reserved, you guys should totally sit there." Lucas said, not being phased by any of this.

"Sure, Luke. We'd love to." Ashley said grabbing Renee's arms.

"Yeah. Whatever." Renee said rather coldly before being dragged away by her best friend.

"Lucas! She was totally hitting on you." Haley exclaimed, keeping an eye on the two girls that were now on the stairs, stepping up to the second level.

"No, she wasn't Haley. I've worked with her almost a year, and she's never even made a pass at me."

"Ok, Lucas - when have you ever been one to know when girl's were hitting on you? Not all girls are like Brooke and take their clothes off in the back seat of your car."

"Ok, whatever Hales. What does it matter? It's not like I flirted back."

"I'm just saying be careful. We both know how insecure Brooke gets." She said trying to say it quietly as the girls sat behind them.

Unluckily for Haley, Renee heard every word, and knew she could use that last bit of information to her advantage.

- - - - -

Twenty minutes later, they all watched as all the players walked out with their guests. Nathan and Brooke walked out arm in arm, both of them laughing at something that had been said.

"She looks really great doesn't she Hales?"

They both heard a scoff behind them, and Haley shot Lucas an "I told you so." look.

"Yeah, she looks beauitful, but he looks even better." She giggled pointing to Nathan.

"By the way, she told me you took her shopping." Haley said, over articulating the last words so Renee would hear loud and clear. "And you have to tell me where you got that jersey, cuz I totally want one." she smiled.

They sat and listened to the announcer, and the other players speak with their guests. Finally they heard the announcer introduce Nathan and Brooke, and briefly spoke about the foundation. He then handed the microphone to Nathan.

Nathan took a deep breath before starting his speech. "I honestly had no idea what I was going to say until about three hours ago. You see, just as I was getting ready to leave and come here, my wife, Haley, told me she was pregnant." Lucas glanced over at Haley who was smiling with tears welling up in her eyes. "And I cannot tell you how happy it made me. But driving over here it made realize about what was ahead. All the nights I would wait up worrying, or days I would pray my child was ok. It scared me to think about what would ever happen if something bad happened to either of them. But then I thought of Brooke." He said taking her hand. "And how scared we all were that she would never come back to us. We all prayed for two years for something to happen. I watched my brother sit and know there was nothing he could do to help the love of his life. And I admit, I started lose hope. But then one day, she woke up. It was probably one of the best days of my life, because I learned that I would never give up that hope again. That's why I chose to support this foundation, to give that same hope to thousands of other people." He hugged Brooke, and gave her the microphone.

Brooke had already started to cry and didn't know if she could give this speech. "Great. Now I have to follow that." She said into the microphone, and heard people through the entire arena laugh. Her hands were trembling, and she could feel her throat clamming up. Nathan put his arm around her shoulder for support.

Peyton could sense what was happening to Brooke, and knew she had to lighten up the situation for her.

"Show us your tit-" She screamed before Jake silenced her by putting his hand over her mouth. They group laughed, but more importantly, Brooke laughed.

"Thanks, P. Sawyer." She laughed. "Ok, so you have all heard about this amazing foundation, and you've heard Nathan already speak about how amazing it is to give back that hope to people. I can't tell you how hard it is to lose two years of your life. I lost so many important things in my life. So many important milestones were missed. My senior prom and high school graduation. I missed my first year of college, and I missed the birth of someone who is practically my family. I lost two years with my best friends and loved ones. But I know that I can't dwell on that, because I'm here and I'm alive. But I know that there are others out there who are lying, right now, in hospital beds who are also missing milestones. Maybe it's a birthday or the birth of a child. Maybe they, like me, have someone waiting for them." She looked up at Lucas and smiled. "And I want to do everything in my power to give them and their families that hope." She paused for a second. "I have to thank my friends. Especially Nathan, for bringing so much attention to this foundation. I hate to say it but, it's definitely not as popular as some of the other foundations we've heard about today, but I believe it's one of the most important. I guess congratulations are in order to him, and his beautiful wife. I'm so glad that I won't miss the moment I become an aunt. P. Sawyer and J. Jagielski, I'm glad you guys found each other, and are here in my life again. And Lucas, I probably wouldn't even be alive right now if it weren't for you, so I guess I get to spend the rest of my life thanking you. Go Knicks!" she laughed as she handed the microphone to the announcer, hugged Nathan, slapped him in the ass, and then walked back over to her seat.

"You know I love you right?" he said pulling her close to kiss her.

"But I love you more." she said inbetween kisses.

"I honestly don't think that's possible." He said as he pulled her close, turning to watch the game.

-

-

-

The scene in front of her made Renee want to gag. Obviously, her last scheme with the address hadn't worked.

'I guess I'll have to think of something more drastic.' she thought to herself.