A/N: Hello all! Sorry it's been a while. I went on vacation & intended to post a chapter before I left but things got hectic at work and stuff was piled when I got back so I've been mostly concentrating on that. Anyways, so glad there's so much interest in this fic. Hope this new chapter and the one I plan on putting up late tomorrow make up for it a little. Again, thanks for the reviews. No I'll stop talking & let you read, hope you enjoy. :)

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The Everyday Miracle Of Life

~ For what has happened? A miracle. (William MacNeile Dixon)

It had been over two hours since Rachel, Owen, Haley, and Jamie has rushed to the hospital to check on Brooke. Nathan had meet them there and a half an hour later Skills showed up to take his godson; his parents thinking it would be better for their young son to wait at home. Now the four of them sat anxiously, silently awaiting any type of news.

"We spend way too much time in the hospital lately," Nathan's voice was a bit gruff from lack of use.

Haley nodded as she reached over to take his hand, intertwining her fingers with his. "After your mom has the baby, if we never step inside another hospital I'd be completely fine with that." Her eyes turned towards the clock on the wall. "Lucas has been gone almost half an hour."

"Maybe that's a good thing," Owen suggested with a shrug. "Maybe she woke up after he got to sit with her and they're talking or went to see their son."

"I still can't believe their little girl stopped breathing," Haley shook her head sadly. "I know they got her back but with all of this, I don't even know how Luke is functioning right now."

"He's on autopilot." Owen took a breath before continuing, "He's functioning because that's the only thing he can do; it's what he has to do for Brooke and his kids."

"Did anyone tell Peyton what was going on?" Nathan had completely forgotten about their blonde friend with all that was happening. "I know she has a lot on her plate with Jake but still, it's Brooke."

"Lucas updated her before you got here," Haley answered. "I just wish there was something else to go tell her but…" she trailed off with a shake of her head.

"I can't take this anymore!" Rachel suddenly blurted out as she stood up. "I can't stand this-this sitting around," she ran a frustrated hand through her hair as tears began to fill her eyes. "This isn't fair! Hasn't Brooke been through enough; haven't we all?!"

"Rachel," Owen pulled her into his arms.

"Brooke is going to be okay," Haley spoke resolutely even though she had her own doubts. "They are all going to be fine."

"She's right Rach," Owen said as he rubbed her back comfortingly.

"You don't know that," the red head pulled back from his embrace, wiping at her eyes.

"Rachel," Haley said sadly as she reached a hand towards her. She had never seen the woman in front of her so emotional.

"No," Rachel shook her head. "I have to do something; I need to get out of here." She turned to walk away but felt a hand grip her arm.

"Hey," Owen waited till her eyes meet his. "I'll go with you."

"No," she shook her head adamantly. "Can you just… I just need to be alone." Her eyes looked into his pleadingly before he finally let her go. "Thanks Morello," she said before she walked down the hallway and disappeared from sight.

"Hey," Haley said as she placed a hand on the olive-toned man's shoulder. "She just needs some time to process all this. Everything is going to be fine," Haley repeated as her other hand found her husband's and squeezed it. It has to be.

Lucas stood out in the corridor, waiting for the doctor to come out of Brooke's room. He'd been sitting by her bedside a little over half an hour when the brunette showed signs of waking up, just as the doctor booted him out to check his wife out. He breathed out deeply, rubbing the back of his neck nervously as he leaned against the wall, unsure if he could hold his own body up without the added support.

"Lucas," the blonde doctor spoke as she exited the room.

"How is she?" his blue eyes looked up at her, bloodshot and red rimmed from the tears he hadn't allowed to fall.

"She's awake. Her vitals are low but steady," she answered. "As you know she had quite a lot of bleeding after the emergency c-section. Luckily we did not have to perform a hysterectomy but your wife has developed DIC."

"What is that?" he squinted at the doctor inquiringly.

"Basically, her blood won't clot which means all the damage from the emergency c-section can't heal," Dr. Sinclair explained. "Right now the transfusions are keeping her alive despite the fact that she keeps bleeding but we can't transfuse indefinitely."

"Are you saying my wife could die?" he felt like he'd been hit by a truck.

"Yes," she answered solemnly. "The longer the DIC lasts, the greater the chance her condition will become fatal."

"No," he shook his head, his chest starting to hurt. "No…"

"She is still fighting," Dr. Sinclair said as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "I promise you I am going to do everything possible to keep her here with us, okay. " She watched the young man nod. "Now go in there and see your wife; I know she wants to see you."

"Thank you," Lucas nodded before wiping his eyes of the stray tears that had escaped and walking inside his wife's hospital room. She looked so small and vulnerable lying there with tubes in her nose and in her arm but still, she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. "Hey Pretty Girl."

"Hey husband," she smiled softly, her voice slightly raspier and quieter than usual. "How are the babies?"

"Holding their own just like their mom," he said as he sat in the chair next to the bed, reaching over to take her hand.

"I didn't even hear how much they weighed," Brooke said sadly.

"Keith was five pounds, two ounces," Lucas answered. "And our little girl was…"

"Kayla," she interrupted. "If it's okay with you, I'd like to name her Kayla."

"I think that's beautiful," Lucas replied. "I think it fits her. Wait till you see her too; she's smaller than Keith, four pounds and three ounces but a fighter. She swallowed some fluid when she was born and she stopped breathing but she's fine now."

"Oh my God," Brooke said as her eyes began to swell with tears.

"I promise that she's okay now," he looked deeply into her hazel green eyes. "They have her on a ventilator and she'll be on antibiotics for about a week but she should be okay. They haven't given her a bath yet because they are waiting for her temperature to stabilize but I think it's going to happen soon. And Keith is in an incubator too but he's breathing room air. They are both being tube fed but their vitals are strong. And, they already tested for HCM and they seem to have beaten the odds. I'm going to take all three of your home soon."

"I know you'll take them home soon," Brooke replied, looking at him lovingly. "You are going to be such an amazing dad. You'll teach them all about literature and basketball and love," she smiled.

"You'll teach them too Pretty Girl," he said as he stroked her hair.

"I'm really tired Luke," she replied softly. "You'll-you'll tell them I love them?"

"You'll tell them," he said firmly.

She smiled, her dimples sinking in only part of the way. "I love you so much Broody. I want you to remember that."

"Don't," he shook his head. "Don't you dare say goodbye to me Brooke Scott."

"I'm tired Luke," she said softly as her head lulled against the pillow and her eyes closed.

Lucas' heart dropped momentarily as he looked up at the monitors, noticing the numbers hadn't changed so at least she was holding on, for now; the weight on his chest lessening but still not completely dissipating. "Please don't give up Cheery," he said softly as he chocked back tears, resting his head against her chest and listening to the steady strum of her heartbeat. "We need you," his thumb stroked over the faded blue heart with their initials on the inside of her wrist. "I won't be able to make it without you."

Deb stepped outside of the hospital, seeing the man she was looking for hunched over on a bench as he seemingly stared at the grass. She'd gotten tired of waiting for news at home and wanted to lend support to the one person she knew would be facing this alone. With a kick to her stomach she deemed as encouragement, Deb rubbed her belly before making her way over to the distraught man, holding out a cardboard cup.

"Coffee?" she suggested with a tilt of her head as he looked up at her. "You look like you could use it."

"Thanks," Richard said as he took the cup she was offering. "Any word?"

"Nathan tells me she's still the same but they let Lucas in," Deb said as she eased down beside him. "I was…I just thought you could use some company," she paused briefly. "How are you holding up?"

"Quite honestly," he ran his free hand through his silver hair. "I really don't know how to feel." He shook his head. "I know she wanted this so bad, to be a mother and now that she is…" he trailed off as he felt himself getting chocked up. "To think she could lose it; that we could all lose her." He let out a shuttering breath as the cup fell from his hand, a deep sob escaping him.

"Hey," Deb snapped, "that daughter of yours in there is a fighter. She wouldn't give up on you so don't you dare give up on her."

"I…" he trailed off, suddenly feeling ashamed. "You know, it's sad that you seem to know my daughter better than I do."

"You know her Richard," Deb reached out for his hand, squeezing it in comfort as she waited for his eyes to meet hers. "You know her and you love her so you'll fight for her."

He nodded as a silent beat passed between the two of them. "I'm glad you came back; and as much as I hate not being there for my daughter, I'm glad you were here to watch over her when I didn't realize work wasn't as important as my kid."

"Me too," the blonde nodded with a smile, "Although I never really reached out to her the way I should have when she was a teen." She shook her head in regret. "I was hardly there for Nathan until he was already becoming a father."

"You were a good mother to Nathan," he retorted. "And besides you were there when my daughter needed someone, after her a-attack," he stumbled over the word. "I can never thank you for that," Richard squeezed her hand gently. "I should have come back here a long time ago."

"We've all made a lot of mistakes we'd take back if we could," Deb mused. "And you're here for your daughter now, that's what's important; you being here and motivating Brooke to beat this."

"These are some of the only times I wish Victoria were here," he shook his head as he let out an ironic laugh. "One visit from her mother and Brooke would probably beat this just to spite her mother." Richard's eyes brightened at the thought.

"She probably would," Deb agreed as he stood up. "Where-are you going to see Brooke?"

"No but I think I just thought of a way to help my daughter," Richard beamed. "Thank for… thanks for all of this." He watched the blonde give him a reassuring smile before rushing off, his cell phone already pressed to his ear as he made his way to the parking lot. "Yes, Cammy… tell Judge Aldrich I'm ready to collect on that favor."

"Hey," Haley said as she stepped up behind her husband, placing a comforting hand on his back. "He's beautiful. Isn't he?" She smiled softly as she gazed through the glass at the room full of babies, her eyes flittering to one in particular.

"Yeah," Nathan nodded as his eyes flickered to her before returning to his newly born nephew. "He looks so much like Jamie did when he was born; just smaller."

"Yeah," Haley mused, her smile widening.

"I remember how worried I was when you were pregnant with Jamie," he shook his head with a sigh, "after the accident with Dante…" Nathan let out a shaky breath as the memory washed over him. "I felt so helpless and I just kept thinking I couldn't lose you."

"Hey," she reached up to touch his face, turning his head so her warm chestnut eyes looked up into his ocean of blue. "Everything turned out alright then and everything will turn out alright now too."

He turned back to look at the baby in the incubator. "He spent all that time in there with his sister," Nathan sighed ruefully. "Do you think he misses her already?"

"I think he knows she's okay," Haley replied. "She may be in a different part on NICU but I think he knows she's close. Besides that she's a Scott and we all know how stubborn you Scott's can be," she nudged him with her hip. "And don't forget she is Brooke Davis' daughter which means she's got strength in spades; they both do."

He nodded contently, already feeling some of the anxiousness leave his body form his wife's comforting words. "Thank you," he wrapped an arm around her to pull her closer before placing a soft kiss in her hair. "You always know the right thing to say."

Haley offered him one of her warm smiles. "Years of practice," he stood on her tip-toes to place a chaste kiss on his lips before both their gazes once again fell upon their tiny nephew.

Karen stood with her son outside of Brooke's hospital room. The doctors were checking her once again but it still looked as if she weren't getting any better and Lucas was afraid his wife was giving up.

"Lucas," Karen said softly as she moved closer to her son. "You can't lose faith honey; you can't let her see you losing it or she will."

"She already is," his red rimmed eyes looked up at her. "She keeps telling me about all the things I'm going to teach them like she's not going to be there and the doctors say if her DIC continues to show no improvement then they'll have to end the transfusions," he ran a hand over his buzzed hair. "I don't know what to do Ma."

"You stay strong for Brooke and for your children," she said firmly as she grasped his face between her hands. "To these doctors she is just another patient but they don't know her, we do. We have seen her face impossible odds and come out on top."

"Because she is that one in a million," he whispered softly, remembering the story she'd told him about the social worker before Angie arrived.

Karen nodded. "She will beat the odds again."

"Yes she will," a female voice came from behind them.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Lucas' jaw tightened at the sight of the newcomer before his eyes shifted to the silver-haired man. "How could you bring her here? Why are there police here?"

"Always with the dramatics," Victoria waved a hand in the air. "Obviously I'm here to see my daughter."

"I don't think so," Lucas spoke through clenched teeth, the low edge in his voice leaving little room for discussion. "There's no way you're going near Broke after what you did."

"I am her mother," her retort rolled off her tongue indignantly.

"And she is my wife," there was no missing the possessiveness in his voice.

"That's enough from both of you," Richard raised his voice slightly. "It's about doing what is best for Brooke here and I think seeing Victoria could help her."

"Richard seems to think," Victoria's eyes cut at her estranged husband before returning to the blonde and his unusually quiet mother, "that Brooke would fight to beat this even more, just to spite me."

"Sounds like my girl," Lucas said softly before squinting in thought. "Fine Victoria, you have five minutes."

"We'll be waiting right outside this door Mrs. Davis," one of the police guards spoke. "Don't try anything."

"As if I'm going to make a run for it," she said haughtily with a roll of her eyes before stepping inside the hospital room where she was immediately greeted with the sounds of machines buzzing and beeping, and the sight of her pale daughter. Victoria stilled herself for a moment before letting her presence be known. "What is it with you and all these hospital visits."

"Victoria," Brooke whispered softly, stunned. "What-what are you doing here?" The confusion on the young brunette's face was obvious. "They let you out?"

"Only on special occasions," she gave a shrug before stepping closer. "I hope its okay that I'm here."

"It's okay," Brooke nodded, watching as her mother came even closer. "I guess you know then… that I'm dying."

"Darling if there's anything you aren't doing, it's dying." She shook her head, her posture regal. "All this time we were building your company you whined and whined about Lucas being the one boy you would've given up your celebrity lifestyle for and how much you wanted more… a family, and now that you have it, you're just going to die." She shook her head. "I am very disappointed in you my dear; these babies haven't even been here a day and you already want to give them up."

"That's not what I'm doing," Brooke shook her head vehemently, tears building in her eyes. "I love my children so much; I would never want to leave them and Lucas."

"Then don't," Victoria sat next to her, grasping her daughter's face fiercely between her hands so she could stare into her eyes. "You are my daughter; not only do you have the stubbornness of those Davis' in you but you have the strength of the Covington woman flowing through you. You finally have it all my darling daughter… a company, a family, love; don't you dare let that all slip away, even if it is just to prove me wrong all these years."

"Mom…" the tears flowed down her cheeks.

"You fight for those kids the way I never fought for you," Victoria swallowed back the tears she could feel all the way in her throat. "Being a mother can be a miracle Brooke; you be the mother I couldn't be."

"Mrs. Davis," the female officer called from the doorway. "It's time…"

Victoria nodded without turning around. "Davis' don't give up," her eyes bored into her daughter's. "Despite all that I've done, I do love you."

"I know," Brooke nodded, and for the first time she actually believed it. "I know you do. I love you too." She closed her eyes as Victoria kissed her on the forehead before standing up and heading to the door. "Victoria…" she called.

"Yes," she turned around, all previous emotion completely erased from her face.

"I'll send you pictures of the twins once I'm better," she said through a watery smile.

"I'd like that," the older brunette gave her a quick nod before she was escorted away by the officers.

Rachel stood into the chapel, looking around at the room as she slowly stepped forward towards the altar. She had wandered there after she left the waiting room, unsure at how long she sat silently wishing. Her eyes stared off into the direction of the rows of candles that were lit, wondering if God really could possible hear everyone's request for a miracle. Shaking away the pessimism, she moved to the altar and bowed in front of it.

"I'm not really sure how to do this," the red head spoke into the air, looking upwards. "I don't really do the whole praying thing but when I was in the hospital and almost died, Owen said he prayed for me so I'm hoping it works now for Brooke and her kids." She paused briefly. "I know I'm not the best person; I'm bossy and snarky and I say awful things to people but I'm a much better person than I used to be and that all started with Brooke. She is a good person, the best, and she's been through hell this past year." She bit her bottom lip as her eyes darted to the side. "I don't even know if I'm supposed to be saying that in here but it's in the bible so…" she shook her head as she trailed off. "Here's the deal; Brooke's suffered a lot and she's used it to help people, to save them like she helped save me from myself and that made it possible for me to be a mother so I'm asking you God to let her children be okay, let her be okay because if anyone deserves to be a mother it's Brooke." She shrugged. "I guess that's it, thank y-oh, um, Amen." Rachel stood up.

"That was beautiful Rach," a familiar male voice spoke from behind her. "Sorry if I was listening in."

"It's okay Mouth," she smiled slightly as she turned around and stepped closer to embrace him. "Did you hear anything yet?" she asked as she pulled back form him.

"Not yet," he shook his head. "I guess I had the same idea as you," he said as he made his way to the altar to light four candles. "One for Brooke, Lucas, and each of the babies," he crossed himself before blowing out the flame on the stick and then turned back to face his friend. "I remember when you two were like sworn enemies…"

"And now she's my best friend," Rachel said with a soft smile as she stood beside him. "But it didn't really take us long to get to that point really; the two of you were the first people to ever really give me a chance." She looked over at him. "She'll be okay, right?"

"She's Brooke Davis," Mouth replied as if that said it all right there. "She's a fighter Rach," he bumped his shoulder against hers, "just like you."

"You too Mouth McFadden," she bumped him back. "Maybe we don't say it enough but I love you Marvin."

"Marvin," he laughed. "I don't think you've ever called me by my real name before," Mouth threw his arm around his longtime friend as he gave a chuckle. "I love you too Rachel." He hugged her closer to him as she leaned her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes.

"I never thought I'd find you two here," Haley said as she stepped inside the hospital's chapel. "Well maybe Mouth but certainly not you," she looked pointedly at the red-head as her eyes opened.

"What?" anxiety immediately began to wash over her. "Is it Brooke, did something happen with…"

"Everything's fine," Haley interrupted with a smile. "It looks like Brooke is coming around; healing and the babies are both good. They're still in incubators and Kayla's still on a ventilator but she and Keith are both good; beautiful little miracles."

"Miracles," Rachel repeated softly before looking up in the air. "Thanks a lot," she smiled before turning back to a shocked Haley and an amused Mouth. "What?" Rachel shrugged. "I pray, sometimes… and a lot more after today," she replied before exiting the chapel.

Lucas tapped on the door softly before walking in his wife's room. "Hey, I've got a visitor for you." He smiled as he walked in, their son swaddled in a blue blanket resting in his arms.

"Oh," she held her arms out in anticipation, her eyes glistening with tears of joy. "My baby boy…" Brooke looked down at the child lovingly as her husband placed him in her arms. "Hey Keith, I'm your Mommy, remember me?" She watched as he squirmed, his hand reaching out towards her. "Hi baby," she placed a kiss on his head before looking up into her husband's blue eyes. "He's so beautiful…can boys be beautiful?"

"His hair already feels like yours," Lucas stroked the dark tuff of hair before he sat down next to her. "He's got your nose."

"And your eyes," she said as the baby stared up at her in what she'd describe as an inquisitive state. "And your mind too…"

He shook his head with a laugh. "What?"

"Just look at him, looking all around and taking everything in," Brooke stroked her index finger down a tiny crease in his brow. "He's already brooding," she spoke through a watery smile. "He's perfect…" She paused briefly. "How is his sister?"

"Kayla's doing well," he answered. "I'm sorry I couldn't bring her too but she's no ready to leave the NICU yet."

"It's okay," she replied. "As soon as I'm able to I'll go to her." She looked up to see a strange look flash in his eyes. "Luke, what is it?"

"It's just good to hear you say…" Lucas trailed off as he rubbed his neck self-consciously. "I was really scared there for a while and I'm sorry I couldn't-that I didn't motivate you to fight…"

"No I'm sorry Luke," the brunette shook her head. "I'm sorry to put you through that but I'm doing better now; the doctors say it's been pretty miraculous."

"That fact that it was Victoria we owe for your recovery is a miracle in itself but I will be forever grateful to her for that," he looked down at his son who was snuggled against his mother, eyes closed. "Keith and Kayla will be too."

"She just reminded me what I had to lose," she smiled brightly at him before her eyes turned to the slumbering child in her arms. "I just can't stop looking at him…"

"Yeah," Lucas agreed. "They both definitely make you believe in miracles, in the magic of the world."

"Miracle and Magic," she said ruefully. "Do you think it would be too weird to make those their middle names?"

"Kayla Miracle and Keith Magic," he sounded it out for a moment as his mind went over it and then shrugged. "I like it and besides if celebrities can name their kids Cocoa, Apple and Pilot Inspektor, I think we can get away with Miracle and Magic."

Brooke nodded with a smile before looking down at her son, whose eyes were now wide open. "Keith Magic Scott, welcome to the world."

William MacNeile Dixon wrote, "Birth is the sudden opening of a window, through which you look out upon a stupendous prospect. For what has happened? A miracle. You have exchanged nothing for the possibility of everything."