Running the blush across her cheek, she examined her reflection in the long mirror and smiled. She actually smiled. Though things weren't spot on amazing, they were pretty damn close and for once she didn't feel like the rug was going to be yanked out from under her. They felt like they were going to be fine.

"Almost ready?" she looked up over her shoulder to see the tall blonde leaning against the door frame with his arms crossed.

"Yeah, can you zip me?" she lifted her hair to hang over her shoulder as she waited for him to move over toward her. "You look nice."

"You look gorgeous," he informed her and she grinned even bigger, swearing he made her feel like a young school girl every time they were around each other. His soft lips pressing a gentle kiss at the base of her neck, her eyes fluttered shut as she fell back into him.

"What are you thinking?" she carefully read his face as his strong arms slid around her waist, them almost feeling heavy as she spun to face him. "What you thinking, Broody?"

"Nothing," his head shook. "But we should probably get going. Dan's always very punctual," he chuckled almost bitterly, turning his body to step away from her, but her hands tightened on him pulling him back.

"Hey," her voice light and soft as her small hands framed his face. "Hey," she repeated with that gentle smile that always got him.

"Hey…"

"Talk to me," she asked again causing him to inhale deep and watch her. "You can always talk to me."

"I know, Pretty Girl," his smile didn't reach his eyes and her head tilted. "I just," he stepped back and tossed a hand up moving over to their bed and easing down. "This is nuts," he bitterly laughed and shook his head, looking up at her.

"What-what is?" she nervously fiddled with the ring on her finger and felt as her heart started to race.

"No!" his eyes widened, diving from the bed and grabbed her shaky hands. "No, baby, not this," he rushed to say when he watched the fear strike her. He should have worded that way better. "Not this, this is perfect," he pulled her hands to place on his chest and smiled, "perfect."

"That was bad wording," she laughed nervously and he grinned kissing her. "Really bad, Boyfriend."

"Fiancé," he held his finger up to correct and he swore he never saw such a big smile.

"Fiancé," she repeated, him kissing her ring finger and she bit her lip. "Then what's nuts?" she completely relaxed walking them over to sit on their bed. "What?"

"Going to meet Dan…" he explained and she frowned. "Totally insane. We talk but we aren't going to dinner talk. That's Nate's thing, not mine."

"Luke we promised we would," she toyed with his hair and he scuffed.

"There's tons of things he promised that he never came through on, so why should I?"

"Because you're a better man," instantly tumbled out of her mouth. "And a better father," she gave a light shrug, placing her hand on his, his head snapping up to lock eyes on hers and she smiled. "Way better."

"Yeah…"

"And you keep your word and if we are honest I would have left that party that night if I hadn't spoken to him. I was so caught up in what you could do better; who was better for you and his words really calmed me."

"My words should have calmed you, Brooke," his tone rose and she inhaled deep. "I told you over and over again everything he said that night."

"I know you did. I just think I needed to hear it from an outside person to really believe it. We were dating, Lucas. You had blinders on and swore the sun shined out of my ass."

"I still do," he teased knocking his nose into hers and she laughed.

"Yes, but I just needed an outsider to confirm it. Don't be nervous, Luke," she whispered, his brows pulling to what she thought he was so nervous about. "You don't have jack shit to prove to him," she joked and he laughed a little. "We will walk in, you will order you a nice big steak," she teased again causing a laugh, "I'll order the nicest glass of wine and we will enjoy a free meal and if he really started to drive you nuts we'll get Easton to cause a huge scene and leave."

"Have I told you how much I love you lately?" Lucas rested his forehead against hers, Brooke trapping her tongue between her teeth as she grinned at him. "Because I do."

"And I do too," she gave a lit kiss and bounced up. "Now come on. Let's go get our little boy and stuff our faces."

"Let's," he clamped his hand in hers, moving from the bed, his arms wrapped her body and playfully nipped at her neck causing her to squeal.

Walking up the steps of the restaurant, Brooke trapped a stubborn curl behind her ear as it blew in the wind. Arm wrapped tight around the baby on her hip she released the curl to lace her fingers through the nervous man on her side.

"Cold?" Brooke glanced up at him, her eyes sparkling with a joke as he sent her a playful glare.

"I'm breaking up with you and taking Easton," he muttered, pulling the door open to allow her in, with a loud laugh that caused the entire room to look. Not too much of a shock though, Lucas swore any room Brooke walked into she owned. Without even trying people just took notice to her, she was breath taking, she was beautiful and as she moved toward the hostess stand he swore she glided.

"Hi," Brooke beamed, bouncing Easton on her hip and flashed a bright smile. "We are meeting someone, Scott."

"Oh yes, Mr. Scott is already here," the bubbly hostess with way too much make up on for Lucas's opinion spun on her feet and back through the crowd.

"Of course he is," Lucas muttered, Brooke hushing him as she laced their fingers and tugged him to follow her. Lucas scanning the restaurant he watched the couples around him and the meals and shook his head. He was almost positive nothing here Easton would enjoy and wondered why Dan didn't just suggest a pizza shop or hell something, anything where the cheapest meal wasn't over thirty bucks.

"There he is," Brooke spotted him quickly, taking note he almost looked sad and honestly as nervous as Lucas. Like father like son, she thought, releasing Lucas' hand as they reached the table. "Hey, Dan."

"Brooke," he greeted with a bright smile as he stood up. "It's so great to see you again."

"You as well," she went for a small hug, making sure not to squish Easton as she did.

"And who is this?" Dan smiled at Easton who turned his head and buried it into his mother's shoulder.

"Uh, this is Easton. East can you say hi?" Brooke asked, nervously biting her lip as Easton just remained silent.

"He doesn't like new people," Lucas finally spoke, taking the small boy for his mom's arms and bouncing him up. "I don't either little man," he told Easton. "Dan…" he barely greeted, easing around the chairs and into his seat. Brooke offering Dan an apologetic smile, who tried to give him one back and he just shook his head.

"Can I have a coke?" Easton whispered in Lucas' ear who chuckled.

"Of course, kiddo," Easton flipped through the menu, wondering what he was going to eat.

"So Dan," Brooke cleared her throat. "How have you been? I haven't seen you in a while."

"I've been good. Busy working, trying to prep for next season."

"Lucas seems to think it's going to be a great one," she started small talk and he shrugged. Glancing over at the boys in her life to see them laughing at something on Lucas's phone. "Boys," she snipped, grabbing the phone from Lucas's hand and both heads snapped up.

"Momma we win," Easton pouted and her brow kinked in a way he knew she didn't want an argument and instantly both their mouths snapped shut.

"So like we were saying, work, how's it going?" she leaned on the table as Dan gave her a smile and waved the waitress over to order.

"Are you serious?" Brooke held a napkin to her mouth as she let out a loud laugh. Her eyes sparking with humor as she looks over at her blushing boy. Dan just sharing an extremely embarrassing story of Lucas as a child. One that made Lucas wish he was anywhere but there at that moment. "That's adorable Luke."

"I was four," he muttered, not getting why the one story Dan knew of his childhood had to be shared. Yeah, he would admit he was having a good time. Brooke made the conversation flow naturally and after his second glass of scotch he definitely started to relax more. Yet, he knew with Dan the relationship wouldn't go further than what it was. Yes, he helped him with Carter, but one time helping didn't make up for twenty seven years of failing as a parent.

"It's ok, babe," Brooke grabbed his hand, lacing their fingers together and placing their laced fingers on her leg. "I think it is cute," she turned her attention to the little boy fiddling with a chicken tender. "That good, baby?"

"Yup," he smiled bright pushing a piece in his mouth. "Dank you for my coke," he sucked his straw and she laughed.

"You're welcome, baby," she ran her hand through his hair and smiled.

"He's a great little boy, Brooke," Dan spoke, his eyes watching the little boy and was shocked how much he almost looked like Lucas. Even not truly father and son they had so many similar mannerisms the outside eye would think they were blood. Plus, the blue eyes, the blonde hair, he was sure no one would question Lucas if he was his real father. "I'm truly amazing."

"Yeah, he's pretty great," she beamed, loving getting compliments about her child. "Now don't mistaken that smile for him not having his moments."

"Because he does," Lucas spoke against his glass. "Just like his mother," he teased and Brooke's mouth dropped as the two older men laughed.

"You are an astronaut," she told him and Lucas let out a loud laugh knowing what astronaut meant. That was Brooke's way of calling him an asshole without Easton catching on. "Full blown astronaut."

"Love you too, Pretty Girl."

"Daddy," Easton's voice broke through their laughter and Dan's eyes widened at the word that tumbled out the small boy's mouth. "Can we go do dat?" he pointed to a building beside the restaurant that showed almost an arcade.

"Baby, think we should finish dinner first," Brooke told him, pulling his plate closer to him.

"But momma, dare football," he pointed his small hand at the game where you throw the ball through a small hole.

"There is football, momma," Lucas looked at her pleading and her eyes rolled.

"Five minutes."

"Yes!" Both boys cheered as Easton stood up in his chair and before Brooke had a chance to get onto him for it he was in Lucas's arms.

"Five minutes!" Brooke called after them, but knew her words were lost in the crowd as they disappeared out the front door. "I'll never know what to do with those two."

"Oh they seem to get along great," Dan spoke, pointing at another drink for himself. "Lucas is great with him."

"Yeah," Brooke looked over her shoulder to see if she could see them from her spot but lost them as soon as they entered the arcade. "I honestly swear I fell in love with him the first time I saw him with Easton. He's perfect with him."

"Well all his parenting he learned from Keith," Dan said and Brooke's eyes lingered on his seeing a pain strike his features. "And his mother of course."

"He does want your approval, Dan," she said to him after a long moment. "You may not believe it, but he really does want you to be proud of him."

"Oh I was proud of him the moment he was born," he told her honestly and gave a light shrug. "And I definitely gained a hell a lot of more respect for him when he told me to piss off. Smartest thing he ever did."

"We all make mistakes Dan," Brooke told him. "Trust me my list is extremely long."

"You didn't make a mistake, Brooke," Dan told her and this time she looked at him confused. "You fell in love with the wrong person, Brooke. You can't spend your entire life trying to make up for one bad mistake."

"Same could say that about you, Dan."

"No," he shook his head quickly and took a long sip of his scotch. "Karen is the one who made the one mistake. I could have gone back, I could have been with her but I wasn't. I made many mistakes; she was perfect in everything she did. Wasn't her fault she fell for me. If I could go back and stop her from doing it I would in a heartbeat."

"I'm glad you can't," Brooke shrugged and took a sip of her water. "Because then I wouldn't have my happy life right now," her hand came up to reveal her ring and Dan released a very genuine smile.

"That you wouldn't," he studied the ring and nodded. "I guess I just wish I never put her in pain. I wish I didn't wait until six years ago to actually be a parent…well at least try."

"You have two amazing sons, Dan. Two amazing sons who are building great lives and I'll tell you something that took me a long time to realize," she leaned forward as if to share an amazing secret and he copied her move. "You can't become a good parent until you realize the past is in the past and there is nothing you can do to change it. You just…you wake up, you do the best you can and hope it left a lasting memory in their minds," she told him and he slowly nodded. "You helped Lucas, you helped him find someone I wish he never had to meet and he does respect you and thank you for that."

"He is crazy about you, Brooke and I'd do anything to make sure he was happy. I'm just so sorry you had to go through…" he trailed off and her eyes drifted down. "You never deserved that. You're a great mother and one strong woman."

"Easton made every day worth fighting for," she gave a tight lipped smile and squeezed his hand. "Just find a reason to keep fighting and those dark days have a little bright light somewhere."

"Mommy!" two small arms wrapped around her neck and she pulled back from Dan to look over her shoulder. Lucas' eyes lingering where their hands had been holding and slowly eased back down in his chair. "Look what I got!"

"Aw thank you, baby," she looked at the large stuffed doggy with floppy ears. "Look how cute," she pulled him into her lap and wiggled the dog's ears. "What we going to name him?"

"Cooper!" he cheered and the adults laughed.

"Buddy I don't think you can name all your pets Cooper," Lucas explained, his little brows pulling to why that was wrong. "How will they know which one you are talking too?" he tried to explain and slowly the little boy nodded it clicking.

"Umm…Blue," Easton shrugged, pausing a moment before nodding that that was indeed the name he wanted.

"Think that's an awesome name," Dan spoke and Easton gave a proud nod, also agreeing with him.

"Well, it's getting late," Lucas finally said and pushed his chair back, with perfect timing Easton let out a yawn and mentally he high fived the small boy. "And it's almost Easton's bed time."

"Oh," Dan stood a little disappointed and buttoned his jacket. "Guess it is getting pretty late. Brooke it was so great seeing you again," he moved around the chair and pulled her into a hug.

"You too Dan, it was delicious. I'm so full, probably packed on twenty pounds with this one meal," she rubbed her small belly and instantly both men's eyes rolled and Brooke laughed a little at how much in that moment they looked alike.

"She's the tiniest person ever," Lucas told him, bouncing Easton up on his hip. "I'm so done with you."

"Oh I'm sure," Brooke shook her head, pushing up on her toes and giving him a lit kiss. "But Dan let's do this again soon, yeah?"

"Oh yeah anytime. I'm always free," he grinned big, cutting his eyes at Lucas. "Just call me," he spoke more to Lucas and his son nodded.

"Maybe next week or something," Lucas offered and Dan felt almost a weight lift.

"One day at a time," Brooke smiled up at Dan who nodded. "Welp, let's go, East, say bye."

"Bye, Dan," Easton waved his small hand and snuggled into Lucas's shoulder as they started to walk out of the restaurant. Dan watching them go and head hung a minute as he inhaled a long breath before releasing it.

Turning back to the table, he picked up his phone and wallet, before feeling a small tug on his pant leg. Spinning back to be greeted with crystal blue eyes staring up at him.

"What's up, kiddo?" Dan eased down to get eye level, looking up over his head to see Brooke smiling as she leaned into Lucas. Easton looked back at his mother who nodded at him then he turned back to Dan.

"Here," Easton pushed the puppy into Dan's hand and Dan felt his throat grow tight. "I want yew to hab it."

"Yeah?" Dan cleared his throat staring at the small dog and let out a small laugh.

"I hab one," he shrugged and nervously chewed on his small finger.

"Thank you," Dan smiled and heart exploded when Easton gave him a tight hug. "Thank you."

"You come see Cooper soon?" Easton asked pulling back and Dan started to nod.

"Anytime."

"Cool," he flashed a large smile, spinning back on his small feet and running back to his mother. "He said yes," Dan heard him cheer and Brooke grinned big sending Dan a wink. Lucas waving goodbye and both walked out the restaurant into the dark night.

"One day at a time," he turned and started to head out. "One day at a time."

"Are you awake?" Lucas whispered in the dark room, a loud boom shaking the house with thunder.

"Yeah," Brooke answered, feeling his hand slid up her under her shirt and drift slowly back down.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Anything," her hair flipped back and she rested on her stomach and pushed up on her arms to look at him. "You know that."

"Earlier, at dinner," he spoke and she rested content waiting for him. The blonde questioning a moment if he wanted to erase her happiness with fear or pain. "Earlier…"

"Earlier," she mocked with a cracked smile, it dropping when his barely cracked upward. "Hey, what's up?" her hand stroked across his cheek and he pressed a kiss to her palm.

"I love how you opened up to me," he said and she nodded. "I love you trust me so well, but earlier, with Dan, it felt like ya'll had a moment."

"A moment?"

"Like you both have been in a dark place that no one knew about, but you both seemed to understand it," he said and her eyes dropped downward. "I just wish you could explain it to me. Maybe then I could protect you from it all," he told her and a look washed over her as he swallowed hard and her gaze lifted to stare at the back of the wall.

"There was this one night," she spoke before pausing and he wiggled closer to listen. "And it had been a terrible day. It was a few nights after Carter came back, when he showed up at Easton's birthday," she turned to face him and his brows creased. "And I had a nightmare. It was one of many at the time and I remember I woke up with tears running down my face. You were asleep, completely asleep and I was so afraid I would wake you so I crawled from the bed, went to see my baby, then made me some tea and after composing myself I returned to bed to find you hadn't moved at all. I curled back in and closed my eyes, but every time I closed my eyes I saw his face and then I'd start to shake and my heart raced and then before the tears started your arm came around me and pulled me in close and I swear no one has ever held me like that," she cleared her throat and he reached up to knock a tear on her cheek. "And you just whispered, I got you, Pretty Girl, I got you."

"Brooke…"

"And I felt safe. I felt something explode in me and I knew in that moment I never loved anyone like I did you. I never felt so safe and so amazing before," her hand came to his cheek and she wiggled closer to him. "Lucas, I don't like thinking of that dark place because I'm not there anymore. I have my boys. I have my world and I love you so much. Sometimes I can remember it, the feelings, the loneness and fear, but most days…most days I have to almost force myself to think of it. I don't like forcing myself to think about it. I'd much rather just enjoy being in this with you. Together."

"Together…"

"Yeah," she tipped her chin up to place a gentle kiss on his parted lips. "You already saved me from it all, Broody. And I thank God for many things, my life, my child, my big brother," her voice cracked and a look of peace washed over her as she looked in his eyes. "But I thank God every day for you because I really don't know what the hell I did right to get you."

"I'm just really glad I like terrible food," he teased and she laughed leaning forward and kissing him. "I love you," he ran his hand across her cheek, resting his forehead against hers. "I love you," he breathed out and she bit her lower lip.

"I love you too…" she lifted her chin for a kiss, again thunder cracking and she cringed a little at the noise. The thunder not even finished cracking before the door to their room cracked open.

"Mommy…" she heard his soft voice and the jingle of Cooper's collar by his side.

"Baby, how did you get out of bed?" Brooke rose from the bed and quickly over to her small boy. The lightening now going off and she watched her baby's eyes widen and body shake. "Oh baby."

"What's wrong?" Lucas sat up, watching Brooke lift the small boy and move back to the bed.

"He doesn't like storms. Go on baby," she placed him on the bed and the small boy dove toward Lucas right when the thunder and lightning both cracked.

"It's so loud," Easton locked his hands over his ears and fell into Lucas's chest. "Cooper?"

"He's right here," Brooke picked up the small dog and placed it on their bed, it instantly moving over to Easton and trying to wiggle between Easton and Lucas.

"Thought we weren't sleeping in bed," Lucas teased about Cooper and Brooke's eyes rolled as she crawled back into bed.

"You going to tell him no?" she challenged, Easton slowly running his hand over Cooper's head as he rested comfortably between his parents. "Thought so," Brooke snuggled back into the bed and tugged the sheet up.

Lucas sliding as close as he could to her without smashing Easton between them. Brooke looking at her little boy who laid with his arm around the small puppy, both suddenly sound asleep.

"Did you ever think this would be your life?" Brooke asked, running her hand over Cooper's ear. "Twenty seven, engaged to a girl with a baby and a puppy in your bed?"

"No," Lucas told her honestly and looked at the small boy. "A day before meeting you I never thought this would be what my life was. However, its way better than anything I ever thought possible."

"Yeah," her voice soft as his arm came around to rest on her hip. "Me too," she laced her fingers through his and both started to drift to sleep.

Hello my loves! I hope you enjoy the new chapter! I know I suck at updating, but I think I have my grove back! Let me know what you think!

Also you all should check out crazziielylmeg14 story called When It Isn't Like It Should Be. Really great and know you all would like it! So check it out!

But hope you all enjoyed loves!

Review!