"Oh my God Brooke, these photos look amazing!" Peyton exclaims looking at the professional shoots of her daughter showing off Brooke's new line.
"The clothes, the photos… the pretty girl wearing them, I love it all!" Peyton says with a sly wink.
"Really?!" Brooke asks, pleased with the response she was getting from her best friend.
"The line is going to be a major hit!" Peyton confirms. "This is incredible!"
"Thanks P Scott. I really appreciate it. And thank you to you Little Sawyer-Brooke for helping me!" Brooke says turning her attention to the two year old who currently is running whirlwind around her store. Hearing her name, she snaps her head up and smiles at her 'Aunt' Brooke.
"Can we do it again?!" Sawyer asks.
Both Brooke and Peyton laugh.
"Maybe one day little Sawyer-Brooke. But right now I don't think your parents will be too impressed if I steal you away for more photo shoots, even if you will steal the hearts of many."
Peyton laughs and says to her daughter "I don't think your daddy will be very impressed if we made this a regular occurrence sweetie!"
"It was fun!" Sawyer says, before climbing into Brooke's lap for a cuddle. Having gotten over her initial shyness arriving at Tree Hill, Sawyer was now in her element and adored by everyone. She loved her parents' friends who doted on her and always had time and attention for her. Her favourite of all was her Aunt Brooke though. She was in constant awe of her name-sake who, in the little two year olds eyes was constantly surrounded by pretty things, glitz and glamour. Luckily the feeling was mutual, and Brooke adored Sawyer as much as the little girl adored her.
Peyton laughed again "I can see you two have struck up quite a friendship! You should see her at home Brooke! Ever since the photo shoot she's obsessed with people taking her picture and striking up poses. She always wants to dress up in pretty clothes and 'wants to be just like Aunt Brooke' or so she says! She's had an absolute blast! Even all over her dolls are now named 'Brooke' after her aunt"
Both of them burst into laughter with Brooke evidently enjoying the new found obsession that her 'niece' has for her.
'Oh my GOD I am sooo over this whole pregnancy thing! I want this alien out of me already!" Haley exclaims as she enters Brooke's store, before quickly seeking out a seat and flopping down into it.
The girls laugh, but not without a tinge of individual longing. Brooke, who still wants children one day of her own, but is waiting until Julian is ready for that sort of commitment, and Peyton, whose recent talk with Lucas is still a little raw.
"I remember the feeling!" Peyton says, agreeing with Haley.
"I want my life back!" Haley moans. "I mean I can barely hold my guitar anymore, and forget about playing the piano! This is also the first time I've had to deal with press and pregnancy too! Everyone is making me out to be some sort of footballers wife or something!"
"Just think – it will all be over soon" Peyton consoles. "But I don't know about the whole 'getting your life back' part!"
Millicent walking through from the back of the store, catches a glimpse of the chatter and decides to join. "Ok Ladies, what are we talking about. Seeing as it seems I'm the only one who seems to be working hard, I figure that my boss won't mind if I take 10" she says with a sly smile at Brooke.
"Photos!" Sawyer exclaims and proudly hands over the proofs from the photo shoot to Haley.
"Oh right, Photos! Thanks Sawyer" Haley says as she grabs the pictures that were thrust at her.
"Evidently we aren't getting enough attention and need it drawn back to ourselves" Peyton jokes about her daughters outburst.
"Like I always say… there's more to a namesake than we think" Haley teases. "Oh these are amazing Brooke! This whole line is going to be such a huge hit!" Haley exclaims, clearly impressed with her friends clean, fresh talent.
"Thanks guys!" Brooks says, pleased with her friends responses.
"And you miss!" Haley says turning her attention to her niece. "Don't you just look as pretty as a picture!"
Sawyer, evidently pleased with the attention giggles and smiles sweetly at her aunt.
"So! I feel like I've totally been out of the loop lately!" Haley exclaims. "With Nathan's schedule and this darned pregnancy I feel like I haven't spoken to your girls in ages! So I'm hear for a pow wow. What is going on in all of your lives?!"
All the girls laugh, yet none really come forward with information, unsure of where to start.
"Aw, c'mon girls!" Haley says. "Millie, how are things with Mouth?!"
Millie pauses for a bit before responding. "Things with Marvin are…. Good…. I think"
"You think?!"
"Well… things are good…. They're great… but it seems like Marvin wants more than perhaps I'm ready for…" Millie pauses before going on.
"So by that you mean...?"
Millie stops again. She isn't sure how to phrase what she wants to say without offending someone…
"Well…. I think he wants to get married…."
"And you're not ready for that?" Brooke asks
"Well it's not that I'm not ready more than I don't believe in it. I'm sorry girls! I know that you guys do… but I'm not a marriage kind of girl! Commitment yes, but marriage? I just…. Don't think that I can get married!"
"Hey, just because we believe in it doesn't mean that you have to!" Peyton exclaims. "Have you talked to Mouth about it?!"
"Well… it's never really come up. I don't know how to broach the subject… I mean it's not exactly the greatest dinner conversation is it. Hey Mouth, I love you but lets never get married!"
At which point all the girls burst into laughter.
"Well since we are all on the hot and heavy topics… I spoke to Lucas about the topic the other night" Peyton leads.
All of the girls snap their attention to Peyton, who pauses before continuing.
"How did it go!?" Haley implores.
"Well – not bad….. but not great. Short story is that I don't think we'll be having any more kids" Peyton admits close to tears.
The three girls rush over and give her a big hug
"Oh my God Peyt, I'm so sorry. What did he say?!" Haley consoles.
"Basically as I expected I guess. While we would both want more kids, Lucas isn't willing to go through with the stress and worry again on the chance that the PP will happen again. I guess because by the time we find out whether it has/ hasn't occurred again, it will be too late and we both know that we can't/ couldn't terminate a pregnancy."
Peyton's mind flashes back to that long ago talk about terminating her pregnancy with Sawyer… then once more to the talk they had the other night.
"You guys should have seen his face! I've never seen him look so scared or worried before!"
By now Peyton is crying. "I just wish… it wasn't all so final. But after seeing how tortured Lucas was about the whole ordeal, I can't put him through that either… not now…"
The girls continued to console Peyton, knowing now that her dreams of a big family with Lucas were now shattered.
"I don't know what to say….." Haley commented. The others perked up agreeing with her in their own sympathetic way.
"Thanks guys. Just having you here is enough." Peyton responded, once again, thanking her lucky stars to have such amazing and understanding friends.