I just wanted to address one thing before I started the next chapter. Brooke and Lucas weren't at odds, she was just putting space in-between herself and Lucas. I guess it may have come across a different way.

I'm fast-forwarding a little bit because I wanted this story to be more when Lucas started college but I needed background first. So without anymore rambling….

Brooke sat rocking her son in the rocking chair. Today had been an emotional day and it felt good to kick back and spend time with Alex. Lucas had left a few hours ago and it was an emotional goodbye for both of them. She had moved into an apartment after he was born and Lucas spent most of his time with her and his son. Her parents had gotten her the apartment after they came to visit when the fell in love with her son. It was strange because they were never very attentive with her, but they doted on her son. They had bought her everything she needed for him.

She let Lucas practically move in so he could spend as much time with Alex as possible, but she didn't let their relationship go beyond the few occasional kisses. He had gotten a small apartment in Boston for when he started school and he begged Brooke to move with him. He wanted them with him, but she wanted to finish her senior year in Tree Hill and everyone else who was her life was here. Nathan was taking a year off before he started school so he offered to help with Alex while she was in school. Haley was excited because she'd be able to watch him when Nathan couldn't because their schedules were conflicting. At first Lucas put up a fight but he couldn't force her to live his dream. He knew his son would be safe with her and his brother and best friend. Plus she had Peyton to finish senior year with. They had worked out a schedule so that they would alternate months of visiting at least once per month so Luke could spend time with Alex.

Brooke ran her fingers gently across Alex's face. He was perfect in every sense of the word. He had dark blonde hair with little curls, bright blue eyes, and a hint of dimples. He was absolutely the best of both of his parents. He already seemed to have his father's broody behavior and his mother's social skills when people would visit. She could still remember the day he was born.

Brooke had gone to the Rivercourt after calling all of her friends because if not she was going to kill Lucas. Ever since the night she let him feel the baby kick he had been obsessed with being with her. At first she loved it because he waited on her hand and foot, but it started to get annoying. Since she was now three days past her due date he was even more protective. She had decided that today would be a good day for her to hang out with the girls and Lucas with the guys. He had refused to go anywhere unless she was there so she had given in and said the girls would stay at the Rivercourt while they played basketball.

It had been fun at first, but soon the girls had gotten board just sitting around. Brooke was getting pains in her back and decided sitting on a bench wasn't helping. She stood up, stretched and walked over to the boys.

"Okay boys, we are board so how about we play boys on girls," she asked with her famous smirk and eyebrow kink. Lucas had almost blown a gasket, but Nathan calmed him down and told him they would all be careful. It was Brooke who finally convinced him with a breathtaking, heated kiss. He was putty in her hands after that.

They had played for thirty minutes and the girls were actually tied with the boys. They only took it easy when Brooke had the ball, but she didn't score more than one so it didn't make much of a difference. Nathan had the ball and was surrounded by Peyton and Haley so he threw the ball at Jake. Jake didn't see Brooke behind him so when he jumped to grab the ball he fell into Brooke and She hit the ground pretty hard.

Lucas was at her side within seconds and Jake was by her side apologizing profusely. She felt her water break, but no one had noticed yet. She put her hand up to high five Jake and he looked at her like she was insane. She laughed at him, ignoring Lucas checking her for anything wrong. "High five me Jake. You just helped me break my water." Lucas started panicking at those words and she had to yell at him to get him to calm down.

She was in labor for over four hours. She yelled, screamed, and even kicked Lucas when the pain got unbearable. It was all worth it the moment the nurse laid Alex in her arms. She had never felt so many emotions in her entire life at that moment. She knew that no matter what happened she would never love anyone with the kind of love she had for the child in her arms. Lucas had, had an emotional breakdown and cried for twenty minutes when he held his son. They were all tears of joy and he didn't leave her side for the remainder of her two hospital days.

It was hard for her to let him go tonight. She wanted to be with him as more than a friend all summer but she wanted him to have the full college experience. If she had let him leave to Boston as her boyfriend, heartbreak would probably ensue. She couldn't take that kind of heartbreak. She had a child that had to come first in her life. If she hadn't of been pregnant and had a baby, she would have been in Boston with him.

It had been two weeks of hell. Lucas loved Boston and the college experience, but he was loaded with homework and basketball practice. He had promised Brooke that they would talk every night, but lately he hasn't been home till all hours of the night. In three weeks he had only talked to her four times and he missed her so much. He was dreading the next call because he had to cancel his trip home for the following weekend because he got the schedules confused for the games. Now all of the trips they had scheduled had to be reworked. He threw his bag on the table at the campus library and tried to cram in a little while of homework.

He got a decent amount of studying done before he was ready to head out. He wasn't looking where he was going and bumped into someone.

"Sorry, excuse me," Lucas said steadying the girls shoulders so he didn't knock her over. She sure was pretty. She had dark blonde hair and pretty blue eyes.

"No problem," she said as she looked at the perfect man in front of her. She reached out her hand. "Lindsey," she said with a smile.

"Lucas. Sorry about that. I wasn't looking where I was going."

"Like I said not a problem. Look I know this may sound forward, but would you like to grab a cup of coffee," she asked with a sweet smile.

He knew he should say no and go home. He should call Brooke and check in with his son, but he was in college and she told him to have fun and enjoy the experience. "Sure," he said as he walked out the door with her.

Brooke was tired and beyond irritated. Alex had a fever, Lucas hadn't called, and he hadn't shown up yet either. He was supposed to back in Tree Hill last night but he didn't show up. At first she panicked, but when Nathan got a hold of him she calmed down. And then she grew furious. It had been two months and they hadn't spoken much or seen each other. She was barely sleeping because of school work and Alex being up all night. Her friends were helping out the best they could, but they had lives of their own. She knew things would be tough but not this tough. She had no social life at all and her whole life had changed. It was midnight and she hadn't slept in two days and all she wanted to do was sleep. She crawled under the cover and was just about to fall asleep when the wailing over the baby monitor snapped her out of it.

"Hey baby, mommy's here. Can't you just sleep hunny," she whispered as she picked up Alex. He was screaming and wouldn't stop. She was crying because she didn't know what he wanted. He wouldn't eat for her and he was burning up. She picked up her phone and dialed the all too familiar number.

Of course it would go to voicemail. She couldn't stop the tears. "Luke…you promised and you keep letting me down. I know you said we should arrange times to go visit each other but I'm done Luke. I don't want to see you and I can't do this crap for the rest of my life. Good luck with basketball and school. I'll email you pictures and," she was cut off by screaming again.

"Please baby, stop crying. I don't know what you need," she said before she realized the phone was still on. She clapped it shut and grabbed Alex and her keys. She went to the emergency room and got Alex checked out. He was dehydrated and had the flu so they gave he medicine and told her to give him plenty of fluids. At least she didn't have school the following morning. She laid Alex in the basinet and passed out next to him on the couch.

Lucas was going to take a few days off from school to go home until he got her message. He knew things were hard on her and he wanted to help, but he felt like his hands were tied He didn't want to show up and upset her because she had a lot on her plate. He also felt a little guilty because he had kind of started dating Lindsey. This was what Brooke wanted, she told him so when he left. He wasn't blowing Brooke or his son off but Brooke wasn't really talking to him either. He tried to talk to her, but when he called she didn't answer and when he emailed her, she only sent him pictures and told him about Alex. He couldn't believe how fast his son was growing. He was so cute and Brooke had refused to cut his curls. He couldn't believe how much he looked like himself as a baby. They were like a spitting image, aside from the dimples. Those all came from his beautiful mother. He had pictures all over his apartment. He wouldn't lie about his son. He was proud of him. It was awkward when Lindsey came over for the night the first time. She was a bit nervous getting involved with someone with a kid, but they talked it through.

December

"Hey Brooke can we talk," Peyton asked her best friend.

"Sure P. Scott. Let me just get this little guy in his pj's and put to bed," Brooke said cleaning up Alex.

Peyton was proud of her friend. She was a great mother and for being a senior in high school she was taking on so much and doing it all so well. She remembers the first month after Lucas left that Brooke was crying everyday because she was overwhelmed. It was even harder the next month when Brooke found out that Lucas had a girlfriend. She tried to put on a brave face, but Peyton knew it killed her. Brooke had also started to date. She had been seeing Dylan for about a month and he seemed great with Alex. She was happy her friend was happy.

"That boy is a bundle of energy," Brooke laughed as she plopped down on the couch. "Now I see why Nathan is so tired everyday when he leaves here. So what's up Scott?"

"So you know Christmas is coming up," she started not sure how to start this conversation. Brooke nodded and she continued, "and my parents wanted to make sure you were still going to be coming," Peyton said almost in a questioning way.

"I think so, unless my parents actually show up. You know how they always say they will and then just send gifts," Brooke said with a laugh. "And I wouldn't want to spend Christmas without my Peyton and Nathan Scott. You guys are family."

"That's the thing Brooke. I just want you to be okay since Luke will be home," Peyton said nervously. She watched her friends composure fall and then struggled to hide her feelings. This was going to be the hardest part. "He's bringing Lindsey too," Peyton said apologetically.

To say that Brooke was crushed was not even the definition. She tried not to let her face fall when she heard this. Sure she knew he was dating and so was she. She just didn't think it was serious enough for him to bring her home to meet his family, her son. She was dating herself, but nothing serious. She had hoped that at Christmas Lucas would spend time at her place and they could work things out. She missed him and wanted to have the family he wanted before. She felt the tears almost forming and luckily Alex screams broke her chain of thought. She told Peyton they could talk another time and Peyton nodded understandingly.

"Lindsey just relax. My family is going to love you," Lucas said as he grabbed her hand in his own and gave it a squeeze. He really did like her. She was different than anyone he had ever met. He enjoyed spending time with her and he had grown attached to her quite quick. Maybe it was because he didn't have anyone else around, but he didn't want to think it was that.

"I'm just nervous Luke. I'm meeting your family for the first time on Christmas Eve of all nights. I just want them to like me because I lov…. because I really like you," she said and smiled.

He was so happy she stopped herself from saying it. He knew he liked her, but he wasn't sure if it was love. As they entered the house and saw everyone he felt right at home. His chest tightened a little when he saw Brooke. Even from behind she was beautiful. No one had noticed them enter and he couldn't take his eyes off of her. But wait. Who was the guy kissing Brooke? No one told him that Brooke was seeing someone. He felt jealousy and he wasn't sure why. He thought he was over her and it got even worse when he saw the guy holding his son. He cleared his throat and everyone finally took notice.

Dinner was tense and awkward. The conversation was sparse and Brooke and Lucas avoided each other. He smiled deeply when his seven-month-old son made a mess and called for mama. She really was doing a good job with him and he was very glad. It kind of made him long to quit school and send every second with him. When he tried to hold him Alex freaked out. Brooke tried to stand close to calm him, but that just made him want to go to her more.

When Nathan came over Alex seemed to calm down. However his brother's presence pissed him off more than anything when his son reached for Nathan and uttered the words that broke Lucas's heart.

"Da-da."

Silence overcame the entire room and everyone stopped to look at the threesome in the middle of the room.

Okay so I know I'm jumping around a bit with this story, but I have so many ideas floating through my brain. Lol. Also thanks to the three of you who reviewed! I really appreciate it and I wrote this for you guys. I'll update when I get a decent amount of reviews for this chapter, and not until then. It's only fair! So review and let me know what you think!