A/N: I know it's been a couple of days after the 20th, but I haven't been able to get this right! But here it is! Enjoy. Also, semi-credit to DIANEHERMANS, I'm using her suggestion, but only partially. I'm going to tie it in with something else. It'll all make sense in the end. Hopefully I'll include the secret in this one!

Brooke didn't realize that she'd been tapping her fingers on the table, and maybe hat's what had woken Lucas up. Or maybe it was the fact that Brooke wasn't in bed. He probably rolled over and his arm, instead of finding Brooke, found an empty right side of the bed. He walked out in a pair of pajama pants, but honestly, Brooke hadn't even seen him. She didn't even hear him stumble out of the bedroom. He walked over to the table and sat down across from Brooke. She was clearly deep in thought because she didn't even register that he was there.

"Brooke." Lucas said, reaching over and stopping the tapping of her hand. She looked up, realizing he was there. "Are you okay? You don't look too good."

"Uhm. Yeah." She looked down at their hands touching, and afraid that her lies would somehow manage to put a wedge between the two of them, she shook her head 'no.'

He cocked his head, "What is it?" Lucas knew Brooke was battling things in her head. She was lost and confused. She looked up at him, into his eyes. She was having an out-of-body experience, it was like she was overhead, watching the scene play out.

"I have to tell you something. A secret. Uhm. I've never told anyone, not even Peyton. It's... it's kind of serious." Brooke was fighting tears. She didn't know how to tell Lucas. She didn't really know how to get the words out, period. Lucas just watched her carefully, fearing that an interruption would prevent her from ever confessing.

Lucas's thoughts were fearing the worst. Well, not the WORST, but the worst when it came to couple things: cheating, an abortion, regrets, lies. He was trying not to expect anything serious, but when the girl you're in love with says 'it's kind of serious,' you can't help but worry. Brooke looked him in the eyes and grasped both of his hands. It pained her to be in this situation, to have to admit something like this to Lucas, but the truth was that the seriousness of it effected her more than anything, and she just couldn't tell him if they were going nowhere. And maybe that was selfish of her, but think about it. Think about your biggest fear, or your biggest secret, something that you haven't told anyone, or maybe just your best friend, something so serious you don't really know how to put it into words. Now, would you want to tell someone that secret, have them know about it, and then end that friendship or relationship or what have you, but keep the knowledge of them knowing? Now, if that makes Brooke or anyone selfish, then yes, she was.

"Luke. I know you care about me, you might even still love me, but... I need to know that this is long-term. I mean, I'm sorry to have to say that, but I just... I can't be let down again. I'm sorry." Brooke felt like she was setting herself up for rejection, but she knew Lucas wasn't like that, but it didn't change the way she felt.

"I know the past speaks for itself, but I want this. I want us," He looked her deep in the eyes, searching for her to pull away, but Brooke was the strongest person he knew, she wouldn't be saying any of this if she wasn't completely dedicated to them being together again. "Brooke. The only person who is going to end this is you. I'm in it for the long-haul. No more Peyton. No more Lindsay. Just you."

Brooke took a deep breath, and showed a relieved smile. It wasn't one of her award-winning smiles, because of all the stress weighing down on her, but she still managed to look good, semi-happy, like the world wasn't going to end. She now knew, more so than ever before, that Lucas truly, deeply loved her, he would do anything for her.

Brooke took another deep breath, she needed to be as calm as possible for what she had to tell him. Lucas was normally able to keep his temper, but Brooke knew tonight would be different.

"Okay, here goes..."

A/N: Sorry for the cliff-hanger. All good authors do it, hahah, and I can dream, so I figured I actually left it at a good one, with plenty of detail involved beforehand, so I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I have already begun Chapter 7!

Good title? Look forward to your reviews!

xoxoxo