I apologize for the extremely slow update! Things got crazy in my personal life and then I hit writer's block, but I'm hoping to be more consistent in my weeks leading up to going to college! So here we go, another chapter!

Chance's little face was screwed up in concentration as she, Lucas, and Brooke perused the wig store. She studied the smallest ones with scrutiny, deeming each one not quite right. Her bottom lip quivered as she turned to her companions.

"I hate all of these," she sniffled. "I just want to be pretty!"

"Honey," Brooke soothed, kneeling beside her, "hair isn't what makes you pretty. What makes you pretty is what's in here." She placed a hand on Chance's heart, giving her a supportive smile.

"Yeah," Lucas said with a smirk, "you think I fell in love with this one's looks?"

Chance giggled at that but still protested. "That's funny but Brooke is beautiful! I want beautiful hair like Brooke's."

"You're a very cute little thing," Lucas insisted, lifting her up. "I promise. Why don't we just find you something that looks okay until your hair grows back? It will, ya know."

"Yeah," Chance said grudgingly. "I'm scared for cutting off the rest of it."

"There's barely any left, babe," Brooke said sympathetically, running her hand over Chance's nearly smooth head. "How about this one?"

Brooke was holding up a light brown little wig, but received a vehement shake of the head in response. Brooke sighed before suddenly glancing out of the window with a twinkle in her eyes.

"I have an idea."

Lucas furrowed his brow in confusion but grabbed Chance's hand and followed his girlfriend out of the store and across the street into a beauty salon.

"Hi, I'm a walk-in," Brooke said to the receptionist. "It won't take long. I want it all shaved off."

"Brooke!" Lucas and Chance both gasped. She turned to them with a confident grin.

"Chance can have it," she shrugged.

"I can't take your hair!" Chance exclaimed, obviously shocked.

"Yes you can, and you will. You won't be the only baldie, baby girl."

"Well, looks like I'm getting shaved down, too," Lucas said with a wink.

Chance looked between them, eyes wide as saucers. She still looked just as shocked as Brooke was assigned a chair and stylist. The brunette finally showed some fear as the clippers turned on. She grimaced as they began to shave off her trademark chocolate locks. She looked at Lucas wearily.

"You promised to love me if I went bald."

"That promise still holds," he grinned, still holding Chance in his lap as another stylist started in on his hair. "I hope you feel the same."

"Your hair was getting gross anyway," Brooke shot back. Lucas stuck his tongue out at her, causing Chance to giggle.

Twenty minutes later, Brooke was leaving the salon, holding hands with Chance. Lucas was attached to the little girl on the other side, and all three were sporting shining bald heads.

"Peyton's going to have a heart attack," Lucas grinned. "You know how jealous she is of your hair."

"Well, it's my favorite girl's now," Brooke smiled, squeezing the little girl's hand. "Your wig will be done in a couple of days."

Chance suddenly threw herself at Brooke's legs, locking her arms around her knees.

"Thank you, Brooke. Thank you so much!"

"Of course, honey," Brooke smiled. "Anything for you."

"That's my line," Lucas teased.

Brooke smiled softly at the memory. "Now let's go get me a wig. Hot as I am, even I can't rock this."

Lucas gave her a sweet kiss. "I beg to differ."

"Ew," Chance said simply, grabbing each of their hands. "Stop sucking face and let's shop!"

"Who taught her that expression?" Lucas laughed.

"Haley," Chance piped up, causing Lucas and Brooke to share incredulous looks before bursting into laughter.

BoxUpAllTheButterflies

"I can't believe you cut your hair off," Peyton said to Brooke as they watched Chance push Jenny's stroller ahead of them. They had finally made their trip to the aquarium. Brooke laughed at Peyton's shock.

"You should have seen Chance's face."

"You know, Brooke, you've come a long way."

"What do you mean?" Brooke asked, wrinkling her brow.

"A year ago, I never thought that Brooke Davis would shave her head to make a little girl happy. And I knew you better than anyone. Maybe Luke knows you better now, but back then, I was really the only one who knew what was underneath all the clothes-"

"I think half the basketball team would beg to differ," Brooke teased.

Peyton laughed and nudged her gently. "In all seriousness, I'm just really impressed with you. I'm lucky to have such a kickass best friend."

"You bet you are," Brooke said with a flip of her wig. "And I'm lucky to have a best friend whose boyfriend can give me bone marrow!"

"We're both lucky on that one."

"How are you two?" Brooke asked tentatively.

Peyton sighed, running a hand through her blonde curls. "We're not quite where we were, ya know? We were really perfect before. I kind of screwed that up. But we're working on it, I guess. There's less and less awkward silence."

"I'm sorry," Brooke said sympathetically. "He really loves you, . It's all gonna work out."

Peyton bit her lip. "I'm the one that's sorry, Brooke. How are you and Luke?"

Brooke smiled unconsciously. "Things are great. He's practically moved in. I guess Andy came back from New Zealand to see Karen and Lucas is trying to give them some space. Which is very convenient for me."

"Look guys!" Chance screeched. She was enthusiastically pointing at some jellyfish. Brooke and Peyton ooh-ed and awed for a while before continuing their conversation.

"Rumor has it he asked you to marry him," Peyton said suddenly.

Brooke groaned. "Not so much asked. More like demanded."

"You're joking."

"Nope, he went all macho and was like, 'I can't let you die Brooke Davis, you have to die Brooke Scott, blah blah blah'. And here I am thinking, well thanks bud, bury me all ready why don't you?"

Peyton laughed. "You know he didn't mean it that way."

"I know," Brooke grumbled. "But God, way to take a girl off guard."

"Why do you keep saying no?" Peyton asked. "I've seen you doodle Brooke Davis-Scott in your notebooks enough to know that you'd really like to marry him."

Brooke took in a deep breath. "There's no guarantee that this surgery is going to work, Peyt. I can't marry him and then die. I'm not going to make him a widower at eighteen."

"He just wants to marry you," Peyton said simply. "He knows the risks. You have nothing to lose but a hell of a lot to gain. Trust me, take it from a girl who was close to having it all. Don't wait."

Brooke fell silent, watching Chance giggle as she tried to get Jenny's attention. Would she ever watch her and Lucas's own child play like that? Could she really put enough faith in her own health to marry him? Could she really put enough faith in their love to think that they could make it through?

She sighed and shook herself, following her best friend to their girls. She would think later. Now was her time to spend with Chance, Peyton, and Jenny. The rest of the world would have to wait.

When she arrived home, Lucas was laying face down on the floor in the living room.

"What are you doing?" she laughed.

"Training sucks," he groaned pitifully.

"Oh no, is my baby worn out?" Brooke teased, walking over and straddling his back. She slid his shirt up and began to massage him. With every touch he groaned, causing her to giggle and drop a kiss to his damp skin.

"God, Brooke, you're good at that."

"I get good reviews," she teased.

Lucas rolled over underneath her, causing her to elicit a squeal. "Those reviews better all be from Lucas Scott."

Brooke laughed at his pout, kissing his lips seductively. "You bet they are, Broody."

"That's what I like to hear," he murmured, flipping them over once again, suddenly not feeling so worn out.

After their little tryst, Brooke ordered some Chinese take out, content to sit on the living room couch with an Audrey Hepburn movie and her boyfriend.

"So how was the aquarium?"

"Really fun!" Brooke said enthusiastically. "The girls had a great time."

"I'm glad," Lucas said with a soft smile. "How did Chance seem?"

"She was okay," Brooke said assuringly. "I think she'll be fine until after State."

"Thank God."

"I can't believe State is next week," Brooke marveled. "So much has happened in five weeks."

Lucas snorted. "Yeah, you could say that."

"What do you say we head to bed?" Brooke smiled. "I'm pretty tired."

"Tired?" Lucas asked with a kinked eyebrow.

"Come find out," Brooke winked, dashing up the stairs. Lucas let out a playful growl, leaving dinner forgotten as he went after his girlfriend. When he reached the bedroom, she was laying in bed under the covers. "Sorry babe, I meant tired."

Lucas chuckled, kissing her softly and crawling in beside her. "Get some sleep, pretty girl."

"I love you, Lucas Scott."

"I love you, too, Brooke Scott."

"Luke."

"Brooke."

Silence.

"Okay."

"What?"

"Okay. I'll marry you."

Silence.

"Woah! Lucas! Oh my God, Luke-oh!"

Brooke Davis and Lucas Scott didn't get much sleep that night.