Brooke awoke with an arm across her face. She removed it standing up and smiling at her daughter. Watching her small chest rise up and down. They hadn't had a sleepover in so long, Emma dubbing she was way too old to be sleeping with her mom. But after last nights talk, it was warranted.

Brooke had taken a shower after dinner. And she cried, and cried, and cried some more as the warm water hit her skin. Tonight had been such a blur, yet the whole situation had been so clear. After 10 years, Lucas was back and he knew about Emma. She walked back into her room quickly getting changed. There was a light knock on her door and opened before she was able to speak, "Mom," Emma said hesitantly and ran over to the bed crushing her mom with a hug.

Brooke stroked her head with her hand. "I'm so sorry baby.I'm so sorry.I should have tried harder for you." Emma looked up with water in her eyes. "Mom, I'm sorry. I should have never went up to him without you. Mom you should never apologize. You are the best and have never denied me of anything when it came to him." Brooke moved towards the bed and Emma laid her head on her lap.

"Baby, what do you want now that he's back?" Brooke asked. Emma sat silent. She didn't know what the correct answer was. She didn't want to upset her mom. Brooke could sense the hesitation and spoke, "I won't be upset if you want to meet him and get to know him. I want that for you. You deserve that."

"But mom, I'm not just going to hurt you. I'd be hurting Aunt Haley, Uncle Nathan, and Grandma. Would they be upset with me if I wanted a relationship with my dad?" Brooke had been touched by her daughter. "No one will be upset with you baby. Go to sleep, we can talk tomorrow." In 5 minutes, Brooke could hear the deep breathing coming from her daughter. The pit in her stomach hadn't gone away. She would never deny her daughter getting to know her father. But everything would change. Everything.

Brooke arrived at the cafe as she did every Monday morning. She called out too Haley who was at the counter cleaning. She snapped her fingers, "Tutor girl!" Haley looked up. "Hey, I was calling your name. You're going to clean a hole into the counter if you keep circling on the same spot," Brooke laughed at her sitting at a bar stool.

"Sorry Tigger, you know it's been a really confusing few nights for us all.I've just been really distracted." Brooke nodded her head knowing just how much Lucas's arrival was impacting them all. "He came here last night," Haley said. Brooke looked up listening to Haley continue about the night.

"So you literally didn't say anything when you walked out?" Brooke said popping a grape in her mouth. Haley shook her head yes and wiped down the counter. Brooke swiveled around and nodded towards Karen. "Did she say anything to you about how it went?" Keith had mentioned Lucas was going to come see Karen, but didn't say when. He didn't want her to blindsided and feel like he was going around her back with the situation. Haley shook her head no."Hmm, they did get home pretty late. You ask her what happened," Brooke popped another grape in her mouth. She was still as curious as ever like she was in high school.

"Oh no Brooke you ask her," Haley said.

Brooke raised her eyebrow, "Nope you're practically her kid you ask her."

"Brooke you call her mom and birthed their grandchild," Haley countered laughing.

Brooke rolled her eyes. "Fine I'll ask Karen."

"Ask me what," came out of Karen startling Brooke and Haley. "Jesus Karen," emphasizing Karen and looking at Haley," you gave me a heart attack."

Karen chucked. "Any who," Brooke smoothed out her shirt and stood tall. "Karen, our dear friend Haley here," Brooke pointed to Haley, "might have mentioned to me a certain someone dropped in last night and we both are wondering how it went." Karen thought about the interaction last night. It was a difficult one. One she had prayed would happen for years and crushed when year after year it never happened.

"Why Lucas, why?" Karen cried.

"Mom.." Karen cut him off, "No Lucas, why. Why did it take you 10 years to come back home. Why haven't you called, visited, anything in 10 years."

He dropped his head down. Embarrassment. Shame. He knew whatever answer came out of his mouth wouldn't take away the past 10 years of pain he caused everyone. "Mom there are no words to explain how sorry I am. I was a coward. I thought I just had to prove to everyone the decision I made was the best and I would come back after proving that to everyone. But, time passed, and god mom, I, I," Lucas had a hard time as the tears went down his face. He wiped them and stood tall. Reaffirming the truth he spoke with a purpose, "Mom, I'm not leaving. I am back for good and I know its not going to be easy, but I am going to prove to everyone that they can forgive me."

Karen didn't know what to say. Lucas took that as his cue and moved towards his mother embracing her with a hug.

Karen wasn't going to reveal all the information Lucas had revealed. Information she felt he deserved to tell everyone. She shrugged her shoulders, "Oh, you know that he doesn't plan on leaving. He is here for good and that he is going to do whatever he needs to do to gain everyone's trust back." The three ladies sat in silence mulling over the information. Brooke cleared her throat and hesitated, "Emma wants to meet him. Get to know him." She paused looking at Karen and Haley. A tear slipping down her cheek. "You know I would never deny her. I want this for her.I've always dreamed of this for her." Karen walked around the counter putting her arms around Brooke. "With her birthday coming up next month, I just, I just don't know how to be around him Karen. I don't know how to be strong anymore with all of this." A comfortable silence was around. The bell over the door rang indicating someone came in. All three looked to see someone else they hadn't seen in a very long time.