"Mom! Dad!" Chance called out. "He's doing it again!"

Lucas laughed, coming outside to rescue his eleven year old. His eight month old son was gnawing pathetically at her ankle like a puppy, and the brunette girl was dragging him along with an exasperated expression.

Peyton had been wrong; Social Services had stepped in after Chance's botched surgery, and when it was proven that Mrs. Heatherly had done nothing to accomadate her daughter's illness in her own home, she had been placed in foster care. Charlotte had immediately taken her for legality purposes, but Chance spent most of her time with Brooke and Lucas. When Chance turned eight, the two legally adopted her. No one had seen Mrs. Heatherly since the court hearing in which she had been declared an unfit mother. The woman had seemed more ashamed of ruining her reputation than anything else, and hadn't shed a tear, much to Brooke's disgust.

"Come here, buddy," he laughed, prying Davis off of Chance's leg. "Sorry, sweetie. You know he's cutting teeth."

"But he slobbers on me! And he shouldn't bite!"

"He doesn't mean any harm," Brooke said, swatting the pre-teen with her dish towel, two year old Jude propped on her hip. "Help me carry the appetizers out here, would ya?"

"Hey family!" Haley's happy voice announced as she came through the backyard fence, holding the hand of a six year old boy, who immediately went sprinting after Chance. "Fine, fine, go see your girlfriend then!"

Brooke smiled, cooing at the two year old in Haley's arms. "Hello Lydia! Who's the prettiest girl?"

Nathan beamed, putting his arm around his wife. "Found her."

Brooke stuck out her tongue. "Ugh, six years later and you're still a total cheese ball."

"But with a championship ring," he declared with pride.

"Jesus!" Brooke gasped. 'That thing is huge!"

"That's what she said," drawled Peyton, patting Jenny on the back to let her know she could go find the other kids. She held a car seat in one arm and a toddler's hand in the other.

"Hi Anna," Brooke smiled gently, lifting up the little mousy brunette. She immediately hid her face in her hands.

"Still shy I see."

"You have no idea," Jake complained.

"She'll grow out of it!" Haley insisted.

The monthly family barebeque commenced, and the six friends caught up while watching their children play in Brooke and Lucas's fairly large yard.

Two years in to college at UNC, Lucas had received a call from a publisher making an offer on the book he had written during his senior year. The bulk of it was about Brooke and her illness, with generous heapings of Chance, and the sentimental, moving story was an instant hit. He had written two more books since, which had all been successful as well.

Brooke happily ran a small boutique in town, selling her own designs. She hadn't attended college, having been short of graduation. While her friends were all enrolled as freshmen, she was still completing her independent study work as a high school senior.

Haley had become an elementary school teacher working with special needs children, and she found her job extremely fulfilling. It took up just enough time to distract her from her husband's frequent absences, but gave her enough free time to raise her children.

Nathan was drafted into the NBA, where he was wildly successful on the Charlotte Bobcats, leading them to a championship his first year. He loved his job, but resented the travelling, as it meant being away from his wife and children.

Peyton had opened her own record label, Red Bedroom Records. It was small but mighty, with all of its artists prospering with her guidance. She was proud of her studio above Tric, right across from Brooke's boutique. The two remained as close as ever, and just as close with Haley.

Jake had gone a completely unexpected direction and gone into social work. After his experiences with Nikki and watching the drama unfold between Brooke, Lucas, and Mrs. Heatherly, he had decided that that was where his passion was.

At twenty four years old, the six of them had done very well for themselves, with beautiful families and successful careers. Most importantly, though, they had stayed together.

"Excuse the mess," Brooke blushed as they sat in the living room later that night. "It's hard with the boys so young."

"Please, Brooke," Peyton scoffed. "We're family."

Well there it is, guys! The very end of it all! Again, thanks for sticking with me, and I hope you're all satisfied with my happy, albeit unrealistic, ending