a/n: luvdegrassi12345-yes I know that would make him Brooke's cousin. However I was doing it from her mom's point of view. She had no idea that Lizzie died b/c Gordo never met with them. For all she knows, Gordo could be a first name and McGuire could be his last name. So yeah, I guess to forget that explanation. Thank you for reviewing my story though!!

Thank you all for reviewing!! Keep it up!! Kinda know where this going…unsure of the ending yet though. If anyone has some ideas, please let them be known!! -Nic

Ch 2- Uncanny Resemblance

David opened his eyes and groaned. It was seven a.m. on a Saturday, why the hell was he awake? He stretched as he looked around, his gaze falling on the redhead beside him. He smiled softly as he looked at her and brushed her hair lightly with his fingers. She woke up as well and looked at him sleepily.

"What time is it?"

"Too early, go back to sleep," he answered her. She nodded and fell back asleep. They had been together for ten months and he thought this one might actually be the one. He had met Caroline Andrews in his music shop one slow night. They had talked a little bit in the store and then ended up at a 55 Diner a few blocks away and ended up getting no sleep that night. Since that day they had been together and he loved her. He knew that, he told her that. However, he couldn't give his heart to Caroline. No, a pretty blonde that had been gone sixteen years stole it. Liz passed away sixteen years ago, he eventually came to terms with it, but he still felt as though he was missing a part of himself some days. He kept in touch with the McGuires from time to time, mostly on holidays, and he felt as though Jo never quite got over the whole adoption thing. He was nineteen!! He didn't know anything about bringing up a baby!! Plus, it was a girl and he named it after Lizzie…he just could not have that baby around. Sure he felt guilty for a few weeks after it, but he got over that too. Now that little baby only entered his mind once in a while. Caroline knew nothing about Brooke or Lizzie though. She thought he was just a single man out looking for a women. In actuality, David Gordon, still wasn't looking for a girlfriend. She just sorta popped up…and there they were. He lied back down in bed and stared at the ceiling going back to the previous question about why he was up so early. The store doesn't open until ten…he had nothing to do…then it hit him as he looked at his calendar. Lizzie. Today was the day, sixteen years ago, that he found her floating in the tub, dead. It was the anniversary of her suicide. It had been sixteen years, but he still took it off from work every year and went into a funk. His daughter will be seventeen today, where ever she is. He couldn't believe he almost forgot…after all, that image is kinda hard to forget. He had still had some rare nightmares from it at thirty five years old. Well not today. It had been sixteen years of grieving too long. He was done. This year would be just like a normal day for him. He was going to go the store and run it and not break down. Nope, no replays of previous years for him. Hopefully.

"Where are you going?"

"I told you, it's Brooke's birthday today!" Adam called out impatiently to his father.

"How old is she?" he asked offhand.

"Seventeen…can I go now?"

Matt nodded his head and the boy flew out the door. It had been a couple of weeks since he met that girl and he could not get her out of his mind. They talked on the phone every night and hung out a lot, but she said she wasn't ready to go out just yet. Hopefully today would be different.

"Oh my God, Andrew, where did you get this?" the brunette gasped in wonder. Her cousin just smiled at her and told her, "That's not important. What is, is that you like it."

"I love it!! Oh my Lord it's gorgeous," she sighed as she slid the ring on her finger. The ruby and diamond caught the light and she smiled. "Thank you so much!!" she exclaimed as she jumped up to hug him.

"Hey Brooke," a familiar voice came from behind.

"Adam!! You came!" she squealed and hugged him next.

"Who are you?" her brother asked protectively. This was just some guy showing up at her birthday…the family birthday, none the less. After Bryan, who Jake had successfully kicked the shit out of, he was much more protective of her with guys. And this guy looked a little…shady to him.

"I'm Adam McGuire; I live down the street."

"How come we've never seen you before?"

"Well I only met Brooke about three weeks ago at a party. We've gotten to be pretty close friends though," he added looking at her with a smile.

She nodded back at him. "Ok? So Jake, Andrew, fly away now. I'm fine!"

The two boys looked at each other and sized Adam up one more time. "If you hurt her…"

"I know. Trust me…I know. I saw Bryan last week."

"Good," Jake smiled as he hugged his sister and then left the room, cousin in tow.

"Sorry. They're a little…protective."

"It's cool. My dad would be the same way with his sister if she was still around."

"What?"

"My Aunt Liz. She died before I was born and she was older than him, but he would go to hell and back for her."

"I'm sorry…" Brooke said awkwardly.

"Don't be. I didn't even know her."
"Right. So…what did you wanna do today?"

"Your birthday. You decide."

"Ok," she smirked. "I want to finally meet your family."
"Now?" he asked as he coughed on his Coke.

She nodded her head affirmatively. He sighed and then got up, grabbed her hand and then pulled her out of the house with him.

"Um…hey Brooke?" he asked nervously as they got about half way down the street.

"Yeah?"

"I know you said you didn't want to…but …well…"

"Yes."

"Yes?"
"I'd love to go out with you Adam," she smiled.

"I hoped so," he said and then stopped as they neared his house and kissed her.

"What was that for?" she asked confused.

"Well, it is your birthday and plus…I wanted to do that ever since I saw you at the party." She smiled at him and then looked up at the house. "Hope your ready for this. My family's…special…"

"Oh please and mine isn't?"

"Hey Dad!" Adam yelled out as he entered.

"In here," Matt replied as he tore his stare away from the TV.

"I want you to meet someone," he said as he entered the den with Brooke holding his hand.

"Do I finally get to meet the famous Brooke you keep telling me so much about?" he inquired.

"Yeah you do. And added bonus, now you get to meet my girlfriend too…two with one stone."

"Finally asked her out huh son?"

Adam just nodded happily as he pulled the girl into the room with him.

"Lizzie!!??" Matt gasped as he saw the girl.

"I'm sorry?" Brooke said confused.

"I'm sorry. You look almost exactly like my sister did…strangely alike…" he trailed off in thought. Gordo did give his daughter up for adoption…and her name was Brooke. In fact, that girl looked like a perfect mix between Lizzie and Gordo.

"Dad?" his son's voice cut through his thoughts.

"Huh?" Matt shook his head and looked back at the couple.

"Are you ok? You really spaced out there for a second!"

"Right. Sorry Brooke…didn't mean to…'space out' on you."

"It's ok," she said good naturedly, but he could see the confusion reigning behind her eyes.

"Is Mom home?"

"No…she went out with your aunt," he said referring to Miranda.

"Cool. Is it ok if me and Brooke just hang out until they get back?"

Matt nodded his head and turned his attention back to the old Adam Sandler movie "The Wedding Singer".

"Babe, I'm telling you, you need to come home."

"Matt!! Miranda and I are busy!"

"Listen, it's important and it's about Adam and his little girlfriend. Bring Miranda too."

"Wait, when did Adam get a girlfriend?" Melina asked tilting her head to one side.

"Today! Only I don't think she's just a girlfriend…"

"What else could they be? They're too young to elope…"

"Just get home," was the last thing he said before he hung up on his wife.

"Ok, what's the big deal?" Miranda asked Matt as they walked in. Miranda had stayed in touch with the McGuires through the years after Lizzie. At first it was painful, but it was also helpful for both of them. Miranda developed a special relationship with Matt and it ensued a slew of late night phone calls in college about the baby and what not.

"Remember Brooke?"

"Who?" she demanded.

"Lizzie's daughter Brooke!"

"Matt…" Miranda said. She hated talking about her old friend. It was really painful and not pleasant on the mind.

"No, when was her birthday?"

"Why?"

"Just tell me!"

"Today. Same day Lizzie…"

"Died," Melina threw in for the first time. She loved Lizzie, yes, but wasn't afraid to talk about her like everyone else was.

"Yeah. That," Miranda nodded pointing her finger at her friend and nodding.

"Shit," Matt said raking his hands through his hair.

"What's going on?" both of the women asked.

"Mom? Is that you?" Adam called down the stairs.

"Yeah!"

All the sudden two pairs of feet sounded coming down the stairs.

"Get ready," Matt muttered to them.

"For what?" Miranda asked still confused.

"Mom, Aunt Miranda, this is my girlfriend Brooke," the young man said as Brooke stepped out from behind him.

"Holy shit!" Melina whispered. Miranda just fell back against the table and stared. Talk about eerie!! This girl had Lizzie's bone structure and figure and hair with Gordo's eyes and hair color. If she didn't know any better she could've swore she was looking at her two old friends daughter.

"For that," Matt said.