Staring into the dark room her heart wouldn't stop racing. And she hated it wasn't a good race. For once it wasn't because of the boy beside her, it wasn't because she spent the night having him make love to her and tell her all she meant to him. For once it wasn't because of how happy it was.

It was because she was scared.

Carter always had this way of making her so insecure. Even if he wasn't around, the mention of his name would just make her feel weak. She hated feeling weak.

"Stop…" she heard the rough voice behind her as a strong arm came around her waist pulling her into him. "Go to sleep…"

"How'd you know I wasn't' asleep and you just woke me up?" she stroked his arm that rested around her but kept her focus on the wall.

"Because I can't sleep with all that thinking you are doing," he said and pressed a kiss to her shoulder. "Everything is ok Pretty Girl…I have you…"

"I know you do…" tightness built in her throat and she hated when she released her breath it was a loud broken sob.

"Brooke…" he flipped her over hating the look on her face. "Stop it…" he begged, taking his finger to knock a tear that crept out. "Nothing is going to happen…"

"How do you know that?" she pulled into a few quick breathes trying to catch her. "Luke, you don't know Carter. You don't know him like I do. He is manipulative and a liar and…and without a doubt the worst human being in this world. And he is the father of my child," she shrugged and her eyes closed. "How was I so stupid to do that?"

"I love Easton, Brooke, you know that," he told her first, knowing what he was about to say could be taken the wrong way. "But…but it was an accident. You didn't make this consensus decision to have him. You didn't wake up and roll over and think I want this boy to have my children. It just happened," he told her, curling his finger around her chin and making sure she was looking at him. "It just happened…"

"I knew having sex had the risk of children…"

"Everyone knows that, but it doesn't change the fact tons of people still go out and date people just to date them and have enormous amounts of one night stands. You think I would want half the women I've slept with to be the mother of my children? No! I was…I was honestly just stupidly drunk and she was cute…not anything I'm proud of, but it happens."

"Were you a bit of a run around, Play Boy?" she kinked a brow and he chuckled some.

"I was twenty two living the bachelor life…I've grown up a lot," he defended and she nodded. "And so have you…"

"Sometimes I roll over at night and think…" she pulled in a breath and bit hard on her lip to stop it from trembling. "Why didn't I wait for him?"

"Brooke…"

"He's perfect…he accepts me for everything I am and all the errors I've made and he loves me for it. All I had to do was wait a couple years… I would have met you…I know I would have…"

"How? How do you know that?"

"Because you're my meant to be," she shrugged and he gave a slight grin. "I'm supposed to end up with you and if I just would have waited. If the first time Carter touched me if I just walked away everything would be different. Easton might have been yours and we could have been married and happy and I…and Will would be here…" she broke out a sob and buried her face in his chest. "If I walked away Will would be here with me and he would make all this better."

"You don't know that Brooke…god stop doing that…" he pulled her back to rest his head against hers. "Pretty Girl please stop… I hate you doing this. I hate you keep blaming yourself for things that aren't in your control…"

"I'm just…I'm scared that Carter is going to try and take him…" pressure builds tighter in her eyes. "He already took one Easton away from me; I won't be able to handle him taking another."

"He won't," he rushed to tell her, brushing her hair back from her face. "Brooke, he won't take Easton from you. There is no way that could happen."

"How? How do you know that because there is really no way to prove I'm a better parent than him…"

"There are a million things Brooke. He…he put his hands on you, he completely disappeared and he is an alcoholic. No one even knows where he lives…if he has a house and…and-"

"And I'm a stripper who lives in a rundown apartment who struggles to keep the power on each month," she pointed out. "On paper neither of us look like great parents…"

"You're turning things around, Brooke. You are working with one of the top designers in the country, you don't do that anymore," he mumbled not liking how that was worded. To him Brooke was never that, to him Brooke…Brooke was different than other girls who did that. "And you are getting some nice cash…which isn't going to kick in for a few weeks, maybe months but it's coming and…and we are getting a house…" he grinned and loved the light that washed over her. "A house with a fireplace in the master bedroom…"

"I really love that fireplace…"

"I know you do…" he shifted his weight on top of her and curled his fingers through her hair. "So you're right…maybe on paper your past doesn't look…amazing…but your present…your future… it's perfect. And anyone will side with the fact you are an amazing mother… Plus if he tries to take Easton…well," he turned his head and drug his finger along her jaw. "Well they are going to have to find him first…how do you feel about Costa Rica? Easton I'm sure will love the beach…" he teased, but wanting her to know he was completely serious with that fact. Plus him loving the grin that traced across her perfect lips as she leaned up and caught his mouth on hers.

"I love you…" she whispered along his lips and threaded her fingers through his hair. "I love you so much, Luke…"

"I love you too," he whispered back. "But you need to sleep Pretty Girl. You won't be anything tomorrow if you don't sleep."

"I know…" she agreed. "Just can't stop worrying…"

"I know…" he frowned, pausing a moment as he thought. "I'll be right back," he rolled off the bed and her brows creased confused. Sitting up a bit on the bed she listened as he boyfriend shuffled around quietly in the apartment before him appearing back in the doorway.

"Luke…" a hint of a smile flashed over her as he moved slowly toward the bed and slowly eased the small child beside her. Her favorite little blue eyes blonde snuggling into the warm sheets; not at all waking from his sleep.

"There you go," he crawled up beside her and tugged the sheet slowly up around them. "He's right next to you now…you can see him. No one is going to take him away, he's safe."

"We both are," she reached behind her and brought his strong arm around her so he held her close. "Thank you," she kissed his hand as she reached up to brush a curl off Easton's face. "I got my whole world right here…" she smiled as she snuggled in close. "When Carter first left Easton had the worst time sleeping. For the longest time he would only sleep if he was in my bed. Took me months to get him to kick that habit…" she told him and he watched she reached her hand up and Easton's little hand cured around her finger. "And after he started to sleep in his own bed I was sad because I couldn't stand the sleeping alone part."

"He spoils you with attention, you know?" he teased and was so thankful when he heard her laugh.

"I know…" she grinned, biting on her bottom lip. "But it goes both ways…" she shrugged and felt him brush a kiss to her shoulder. "I can sleep now…"

"You can, huh?" he rested his head against hers and nodded.

"I have both my boys with me, I'm good," she told him and loved the kiss he pressed to her cheek.

"Night baby girl," he snuggled beside her and swore five minutes didn't pass before he heard her breathes even out and she drifted to sleep.

Hitting the button on the elevator he bounced on the balls of his feet as he waited to reach the top. He hadn't been to his office in so long that he was starting to get used to it. He was starting to enjoy working from home. However he knew sooner or later he would have to return and being as Brooke had the meeting with Adrian he knew he would have to return.

Wasn't happy about it, but returned.

"Claire," he nodded at the blonde whose eyes widened as her gum popped.

"Lucas…I mean, Mr. Scott," she straightened up in her chair to look at him. "You're here…"

"Last time I checked it was still my office," he reached down to pick up a pile of papers from the desk. "Still my team…"

"I…I know but…I mean, I heard," she leaned on the desk looking at him. "About Felix…about Brooke…"

"And what did you hear Claire?" he tossed the papers down; honestly wondering what all had been spreading through the building.

"That…that she was cheating on you with him…" she mumbled quietly like one might hear. "That's why you got so mad. And that she is a former stripper he used to see and she might be pregnant with his baby," she whispered really low and his eyes narrowed.

"She's not…" he told her. "And you can pass that message to everyone…also send a mass email out that if I hear one word of Brooke or whatever went on with Felix and me they will be fired immediately, because that story is so far off…Nip it in the bud Claire because everyone is replaceable," he lifted his eyes over her and she curled into herself and nodded.

"Yes sir…"

"Thank you…and let me know when Adrian leaves…" he called over his shoulder before walking into his office, shutting the door with a loud thud behind him.

"These are good Brooke," Adrian flipped her jet black hair over her shoulder and announced. "Which isn't shocking to me…Mr. Scott does have great taste," she flicked her eyes over at the brunette who nodded.

"Thank you…" she felt her leg shake as she waited for the woman in front of her to speak again.

"But explain to me something," she pulled her dark rimmed glasses off and leaned on the desk before her. "You're a young girl, no college degree, high school marks aren't…amazing," she stated and Brooke glanced down. "And you're a mother of a two year old…" she stated and Brooke's head snapped up. "I make sure to do all my research on people before I let them into my business."

"Oh…" Brooke awkwardly shifted not sure where this was going, but hoping it wasn't where she thought.

"And your dating Lucas Scott," she leaned back in her chair looking at her. "That's how you got this interview the first time…isn't it? Dating the boss…"

"Yeah," she let out a dry laugh, straightening up her posture and shaking her head. "In all due respect Adrian I might have gotten the interview because of Lucas but I worked my ass off to prove I deserve it. I'm good at what I do and you're right I don't have a college degree to tell you that or a long list of experience to show why you should pick my work…but life is all about good timing and great opportunities. Lucas was my great timing, he was my big opportunity and he…he got me that interview, not because I'm his girlfriend, but because he believed in me. Because he is an amazing business man who just wouldn't put his reputation at risk…" she told her and the woman before her didn't break, just held this unreadable look. "Everyone knows we are together…it's not some big secret…but we aren't together to boost my career. Success happens when a few things line up perfectly. I just happened to fall in love with my big opportunity."

"Mmhmm…" she twisted in her chair as she fiddled with her pen. "Luke tell you I've known him since he was about nineteen," she told her and Brooke shook her head. "I may not look it and I will lie to anyone who asks but I'm closer to forty than I like to admit," she told her and Brooke's eyes widened. "He is in a sense like my little brother…I've seen a few girls do him dirty…been a couple models who loved his title, a few girls who saw him as a ticket to a better career."

"Adrian…"

"But he is different with you," she leaned on the desk looking at her. "But you have a long list of baggage I've heard about… I won't sit back and allow him to get screwed over again, because from what I keep seeing, keeping hearing…he is falling in deep."

"Lucas… Lucas is so important to me. There is only one thing I love more than him and that is my son and I get you nervous for him. I get you worried, especially with this," she waved her hand at all the paper work and contracts waiting to be signed. "But I'm not going anywhere…don't sign me, do sign me, band me from your building…or Lucas's building or whatever the heck it is, but know…I plan on spending the rest of my life with that boy," she had the light of a smile flash over her. "I'm going to spend the rest of my life with him…nothing is going to change that," she told her honestly that something she would never budge on. The older woman before her studying her a moment before slowly nodding.

"Well here are the agreements to the contract," she placed a stack of paper before her. "This says we have the right to your designs, this one says you get a percentage of them. Plus there are talks of making a line for the team. We are thinking about really trying to pull more woman and girls to the team. Everyone is always talking about guys and sports but girls enjoy sports also. So this contract is for two years," she stated and Brooke bit her lip. "So that's at least two years of working with me…in this building…under Lucas."

"Favorite place to be," she shrugged and eyes widened when she realized that wasn't in her head. "I…umm…" she stuttered out and the woman let out the first laugh Brooke ever heard from her. "So clearly I'll sign…" she awkwardly scribbled her name and rose when the woman rose before her. "Thank you Adrian…"

"Don't thank me yet, I can be a real bitch. Just be careful with…everything…"

"I will…" she promised giving her a hand a shake and before she embarrassed herself more, darted out of the door.

"I'm carrying Felix's love child!" his head snapped up to see the fuming brunette at the door. "Are you shitting me?"

"People will stop talking about it…unless I impregnate you now and cause the rumors to continue…that could be fun," he teased trying to make her not get upset about it all. He had it handled; he knew that once that email was sent out everyone would snap their mouth shut. No one wants to lose their job…he paid them all too well and he had way too much pull with other companies.

"I'd rather them know I was a poor stripper than that rumor," she dropped against the door. "Funny, I'm a terrible stripper. Don't even make enough to not be considered poor."

"Surprisingly not bothered by the fact of that," he mumbled shaking his head. "Come here," Lucas reached out his hand and her brows creased. "Don't give me that look, just come here," he repeated and she slowly pushed off the door, taking his hand over his desk as she walked around it.

"What?" she pushed out her bottom lip as he pulled her up into his lap.

"I don't know…just don't like you on the other side of the room," he shrugged and she laughed rolling her eyes. "I'm sorry people are talking but no one will be soon. I promise."

"It's just annoying…" she grumbled, toying with a piece of his hair. "I mean, I don't want people thinking I'd cheat on you. I already know they think I'm not good enough for you, that just adds to it."

"I don't care what people think Brooke. I know the truth, you know the truth. Anyone who matters knows the truth. Anyone else is unimportant to me anyway…"

"Still doesn't mean I like it. I mean, everyone thinks I'm a slut…" she pointed out and he frowned. "Who wants that reputation?"

"I know Pretty Girl," he tucked a curl behind her ear. "I wish I could do something. I know this is my fault. If I didn't haul off and hit Felix no one would think anything."

"Kinda glad you did," she shrugged. "If you didn't show up that night to see him, I might not have seen you and I may not have you now."

"No…" he shook his head. "I had already decided I'd get you back, even if it took my whole life doing it. I'd get you back."

"Well, you did come over and fix my sink," she reminded him and he chuckled.

"Yeah…sorry I know that was…creepy," he mumbled and she giggled. "I was just kinda nervous by the fact you might have thought I was just lying about everything. Letting you down on things I said I'd do and that made me panic. I didn't know how to fix us so just figured I'd fix other things."

"It wasn't creepy," she told him, sinking into his warm body and letting her fingers lightly touch his jaw line. "It was…sweet. Kinda realized then I was going to get my Broody back."

"Then I guess we both knew the outcome of all this," he smiled and she loved that smile as it came down to capture hers.

"Plus…I was running out of things to tell Easton. He asked about you every day," she let out a dry laugh, hating the feeling in her chest when she pictured her little boy's face.

"Yeah, I wasn't doing too well without him," he admitted, pulling on his drawer and sticking his hand inside. "Stepped on this one morning," he tugged out the little black car out to show her. "Hurt like hell…for many reasons," he flipped it around in his hand with a frown.

"He's been looking for that everywhere," she laughed a bit and ran her finger over the top of it. "You stealing children's toys, Mr. Scott?"

"It was like all I had left of you two," he shrugged and she smiled. "Kept it in my pocket, toyed with it at work. I wasn't doing too well there for a while."

"I'm sorry," she cupped his cheek and rested her head against his. "Didn't mean to hurt you so much."

"I'm a big boy," he shrugged and she let out a small laugh. "Nothing to be sorry about."

"So many things to be sorry about," she mumbled and he just shrugged, lifting her chin and hooking her lips on his.

"But we're forgetting it all now," he mumbled against her lips and felt her nod. "Because we are perfect," he stood and sat her up on his desk.

"Luke…" she giggled curling her shoulder up when he trailed his lips down her neck. "We're in your office…"

"True…" he pondered the thought and she curled her hand around his tie pulling him down so she could kiss his neck. "Very true," he reached over to grab his phone and hit pound two and brought it to his ear. "Uhh, Claire," he swallowed the lump in his throat as he gripped his hand in her chocolate locks. "I'm kinda busy so cancel anything that comes up for the next half…"

"Whole…" she nipped his earlobe and he chuckled.

"Hour… don't bother me for an hour," he said, hearing some responds he didn't half listen to before clicking the phone off. "An hour, huh?" he lifted her up in his arms as she giggled.

"At least," she teased as he shuffled his feet over and pushed the lock on the door. Carrying her over and dropping down on his black leather couch.

"You're going to be the death of me Brooke Davis…"

"Least you'll die having fun," she giggled and he let out a chuckle before hooking his mouth back on hers. Swearing the sweet sound she released was the best noise he heard in a long time.

Just a light little chapter before some stuff goes down. Nothing too bad, no Brucas break ups or anything! But I hope you all enjoy!

Please review!