"Where is she? How is she?" I scream while walking into the Hospital Waiting Room. I look around to see sad dejected faces all around that make me burst into tears immediately.

"Somebody please tell me what is going on?" I whisper. Jake and Jenny look towards me and their eyes look dead.

"Mom is in surgery. There is no guarantee whether she and the baby will survive," Jenny tells me and that sends Jake into a hysterical meltdown.

I look at Lucas in hopes for some comfort but his expression was so pained. "How did this happen? She was fine when I left," I whispered.

"We don't know. The Doctor mentioned something about her placenta but I could not understand it," Haley answered me. "I was with her this morning. We were discussing music. I went to her place so that I knew that she was resting and we were just listening to what we had put together so far and having a good time. Now I don't know if she'll make it!"

"She has to make it! She will. It's Peyton," I said, although I wasn't too sure whether I was reassuring my friends or myself.

I looked at Jake who kept fidgeting with his wedding ring. The atmosphere was so tense. After another hour, the Doctor walked out. "Congratulations, you have a beautiful baby girl," he said to us. "We are getting her cleaned up. You will be able to see her in a bit."

"What about mom?" Jenny asked the doctor before either of us could.

"She is still in surgery. There are still internal bleeds that we are trying to find and repair. I'm sorry but that is the only update I have to give," he said remorsefully.

"Will she be alright?" I couldn't help but ask.

"Unfortunately, there are no guarantees in these kinds of things," he said. "A nurse will come and get you when you can see your daughter. You can tell them the name if you have picked one out."

Jake stood up and walked out of the waiting room at that minute. My heart ached for the boy. He had to take care of Jenny all alone and now there was a chance that he would have to be a single dad once again to Anna. At least he had Peyton to help with Jenny.

When the nurses called Jake to go meet his new baby, he said, "I want to see her with Peyton. I-I… I can't without Peyton!"

Everyone circled around the broken man. "Jake come on, it's your baby! I will be there with you. Don't worry."

I pulled at his arm to get him to stand as the nurses began guiding us to the room where all the new shiny babies were napping.

They got our hands sanitised and took us in. I lay my eyes on that little baby and gasped. She was so adorable. Her face was red and scrunched up as she slept peacefully. I could see blonde fuzzy hair emerging although she was more on the bald side. She was perfect in every single way though.

"Dad, do you want to hold her?" she asked and I looked at Jake who looked mesmerised. He nodded his head as the nurse guided him to a chair and placed baby Anna in his arms. He cooed at the little baby in his arms as he rocked her extremely gently. Jake didn't say anything. He was too stunned for words. I watched the two while I kept wiping the tears that were stubbornly falling from my eyes.

"Mr. Jagielski, we need you to fill out a couple of forms if that is okay. Did you and your wife pick out a name earlier?" a nurse asked after giving them two a moment.

"Yeah, her name is Anna Brooke Jagielski," he said looking at me while he continued to rock the little baby. "Brooke, will you hold her while I sort the forms?"

Suddenly, I became an emotional wreck as he passed the baby Anna to me. I looked at her and couldn't help but feel an overwhelming surge of love. This baby was Peyton's. Peyton, who was my sister!

"Hi, little one. Welcome to the world Anna Brooke Jagielski. Your mom loves you so much, okay? And so does your godmother, by the way. I am always going to be here for you, alright? You have got me wrapped around that little baby pinky," I said to my goddaughter. Next came my tears. As her godmother, it was my job to take care of her if anything bad happened but I didn't want to have to take up my role so quickly.

"Come on P! This child needs you. You know how traumatised you were after your mom passed. You cannot do this to her! You better make it through surgery," I whispered to nobody before focusing my attention on the sleeping baby.

"Hey, Jake! Peyton is out of surgery!" Haley said when she came to get us. Jake had just submitted all the forms and now he was running towards where his wife was supposed to be.

Haley guided him in as he saw her there, lying unconscious. Jenny was holding her hand and silently crying. We waited for her to wake up. She never did. The Doctor came back later and confirmed that Peyton had slipped into a coma.

Everybody left the hospital that night except me and Jake. Jake sat with Peyton while I tended to baby Anna and Jake. My kids coaxed Jenny to stay with them. Day one became day two and there was no change.

Jake got a little worse for wear with each passing hour with the stress and fear. "Peyton, you got to wake up because you know who else will be here when you wake up? Oh God, our beautiful daughter. She's uh… you should see her. She's amazing, Peyton, but she needs you and so do I. Come on, wake up! You promised me that you would be okay!"

Day two became Day three. Nothing changed with Peyton. Anna kept me and the nurses on our toes while Jake's hope started crumbling. I was losing my mind and myself too, but I hid it from everybody. They needed somebody to be strong. Jenny refused to step foot out there. She couldn't take seeing her mom unconscious and her dad that broken. They soon discharged Anna from the hospital and Jake took her home. I, on the other hand, stayed. Jake returned to the hospital with her the next day and handed her car seat to me.

Anna started crying immediately and she seemed to be hungry. I had made Jake formula milk to feed Anna for the night but he hadn't made any more so I went to the nurses to ask for some. I returned to the room once I had fed and burped the baby to see Jake talking to my comatose best friend.

"You know, I'm a little in over my head here. I took her home and uh, I'm doing what I can but she needs her mom. I need her mom. We were supposed to do this together. I can't do this without you. I'm… I'm afraid that we're going to lose you and then it's just going to be the two of us since Jenny will go back to college," he cried, making me cry as well.

Losing Peyton was a thought that was too heavy to bear for me. I asked Jake to take the baby from me and walked outside the hospital. I sat on a bench there, the same bench that not too long ago reporters were sitting at to wait and click pictures of me for their gossip magazines.

"You need to go home, Brooke. You've been awake for the better part of the last four days and it's not healthy," Lucas said to me while walking towards the hospital to check on us. He placed a large bag on the bench beside me making me look at it with confusion.

"I need to be here when she wakes up," I said, having made up my mind that I would only leave with Peyton. "What is that?"

"Mom's lasagne; a Mocha double latte, extra foam; a fresh pair of clothes and every fashion magazine I could find," Lucas said.

I was shocked, "but you just said -"

"Yeah, but I knew when I said that you needed to go home that you would say you needed to be here when Peyton woke up because you're stubborn Brooke Davis," he replied, cutting me off mid-sentence.

"Hey, you don't know me," I argued for the sake of arguing.

"I think I do, Fiance," he replied but there was no smile on either of our faces on hearing that word.

"She needs to wake up," I said instead, voicing my thoughts out loud. I got up and walked back into the hospital. Lucas followed behind with my bag in his hand.

"Please can you take Jake and get him to have the lasagne and coffee? Between Peyton and Anna, he has had no time to eat and take care of his health. Jenny keeps calling for an update and it's taking a toll on him," I requested Lucas.

"You do realise that you're in the same state, right?" he asked me worriedly as he grabbed both my hands and leaned in to kiss my temple.

"I'm fine. I just, I really need my best friend back. Just please feed him," I implored.

Lucas sighed but he knew that my stubbornness would shut down all and any argument. Lucas convinced him to go as they left me in the room with my sister and goddaughter. Anna was asleep in her car seat. So I sighed and walked to the chair that Jake had vacated.

"Peyton, come on. Enough with this. Wake up, or I swear to God, I will disown you. You are not allowed to leave me without my explicit permission and you don't have it. I mean it, I will not hesitate to disown you, so you better wake up, right now!" I cried. I took her hand in mine as I buried my head in the mattress to muffle my screams and tears of agony.

"You'll really disown me?" I heard somebody say hoarsely to me. My head shot up like a canon had been fired. Peyton was looking at me weakly.

"Yeah, I really will!" I cried as I hugged her. "Oh P, let me get Jake and the doctor!"

"No, I want to see my baby. Is she okay?" she asked weakly.

"Yes, she is beautiful. Just like you told me 16 years ago, P Sawyer. I'm about to be your second-best girl when you meet your new one!" I cried.

I walked over and gently lifted Anna from her car seat. Peyton struggled to get herself up, she was so weak. So I put the baby back down and helped her up. Then I finally placed her precious child in her arms. Once Peyton was balancing her head, I searched for my phone to call the boys.

"She's awake! Guys, she woke up! Get up here and get the doctor too!" I cried on the phone.

"What!" they both screeched. I could hear some shuffling before the line went dead. I didn't have to wait too long. Within minutes, the boys were panting beside me.

"Hi, Jake!" Peyton said weakly as she caressed her baby's palm.

"We should go give them a moment," Lucas said to me. I nodded and walked out with him.

Lucas went to inform the doctor about Peyton waking up and I quickly got on the phone to call our family. Jenny heaved and sobbed as Jamie told me that they were heading over to see their Aunt. Nathan and Haley said the same thing.

I watched from outside as Jake and Peyton watched their child together.

"The doctor said he will check on her in a few moments," Lucas said to me when he stood beside me. "You helped them so much, B."

"I didn't do anything really," I said, really feeling the same.

"Come on. You single-handedly took care of Jake and Anna while worrying about Peyton. You never left the hospital, I doubt you slept at all," he said.

"It's Peyton and Peyton's kid. I'm that girl's godmother. She is named Anna Brooke. It's part of my job description to look after her, to look after all our friend's kids. Jude, Lydia, Anna; they're our responsibility too."

"It still baffles me that they all trusted us so much to make us godparents for them all," Lucas remarked.

"I guess it was just because they had seen us do it for two earlier at sixteen and they survived," I shrugged.

"Babe, it's your heart and your heart's infinite capacity to love. You would naturally be their Godmother. You love those kids so much. You can ask them, you're their favourite Aunt. Don't you remember how they waited for you at every birthday party and how they had to open Aunt Brooke's presents first? It's me that is shocking. Nate is great with our kids. He has always been the best uncle. I kinda think that our twins like him more than they like me. Jake could pick him for Anna and so is Jake with Jenny for Jude and Lydia," he explained. I flicked the back of his head before shaking mine in disbelief.

"You're the best dad, okay?" I said, leaning into his chest to snuggle. "You raised our two all on your own and they are so wonderful and yes they have had to deal with some shit, but they aren't doing crazy shit like us. All that is only thanks to you." Luke wrapped his arms around me as we hugged each other tightly.

"Hey! Mom, dad, this is a hospital. Please not here!" Jamie rolled his eyes as they walked toward us.

Jenny didn't wait for pleasantries as she ran in directly towards her mom and dad. I saw her sit on the bed by Peyton who handed Anna to Jake and hugged her crying older daughter.

"I'm so glad Aunt Peyton woke up. You really can't say that Jenny is not her kid. Look at them," Sophia said as we all peered through the door.

"Blood and genetics never make a family, Soph. It's showing up for people that does. I am not related by blood to either one of these people here and yet they are my family. I would run through rains of fire for them. Jenny is really lucky that Peyton never let her feel the absence of a mom, unlike you who had to feel it your whole life. I'm so sorry, honey!" I felt so shitty at that moment. Peyton hadn't left Jenny for even a moment. Nikki had abandoned her. I saw their love and their bond and I felt like the shittiest mother in the world. Peyton had replaced Nikki. Lucas could have so easily replaced me too and I had signed away my custodial rights so I had nothing to fight for if it would have come to that. I began admiring Lucas and his parenting so much at that moment. He had given up so much. He cancelled book tours and dates and so many other things to keep our kids happy.

"You're here now," she said to me, giving me a hug. "By the way, we missed having you over! You went straight from New York to the hospital. Grandma Karen is worried about you too," Sophia continued to inform me.

"Yeah, I'm sorry Princess, but somebody needed to take care of Anna," I sighed. "You know what's strange, I kind of already miss having her and holding that little squishy baby! My body wants to go and get her back from Peyton!"

"But Brooke, I gotta say, you are so much more sure about taking care of babies than you were at sixteen. You seem like an expert and a natural despite having done this 16 years ago. I mean you were a child yourself back then," Lucas said to me.

"Yeah, I don't know. There's just something about their innocence. Their pure hearts and their little cute faces," I admired.

"God, this baby talk is boring me. Look, there's Uncle Nate! Soph, coming?" Jamie said, rolling his eyes. Sophia nodded and the two went to talk to their favourite cool uncle.

"Brooke Davis with a baby is so very sexy," Lucas whispered in my ear, making me bite my lip and close my eyes. I felt electric jolts go up and down my spine as that one simple whisper made my brain grow foggy.

"Let's have another," I said to him, looking at him sharply. My eyes had turned dark.

"Huh? What? I thought you wanted to wait until we got married again and then we would think about whether we wanted more," he reminded me of the conversation we had had.

"No I want another baby with you now, Lucas Scott!" I said stubbornly while keeping my voice low to avoid being overheard by our kids and friends.

Lucas' eyes grew wide. He couldn't fathom what I was telling him, "So' what are you saying?" he asked. He didn't want to assume what I was saying.

"I'm saying we lose the protection and just see," I suggested, making a goofy grin spread wide on his face.

"You mean that? You want us to have more children?" he clarified.

"I asked my gynac when I went to get birth control pills. He said that I was healthy enough to carry another pregnancy," I confessed.

"Are we really serious about this or is this too fast again?" he hit the brakes.

"I don't know. We could just see," I suggested.

"Babe, you have been around Anna for days taking care of her. You have baby fever. Let's continue with our birth control for another week and then we talk about this again," Lucas opined.

"Lucas Scott, let me have your baby!" I stomped my foot childishly as I whispered my rage. Lucas burst out hysterically as he cupped my face and kissed my cheek.

"Let's get married first. I want to do this the right way," he said to me. I gave him a wide smile. "But really, are we really going to be having more kids in the future?"

"Yes! Look at us planning weddings and kids. Who would've thought we would do it all over again with each other? Honestly, I thought after we split, especially after I said no to Julian that I would never get married again or have any more children."

"Come on, you need sleep! Also, Millie called. She is flying in tomorrow with the developers for turning Karen's Cafe into your Clothes over Bro's office," Luke reminded me.

"Oh thank God Millie is coming here. I'll get her to supervise the whole renovation so that I can spend all that time with you and Peyton and baby Anna Brooke!" I chuckled.

"God, I missed you, woman! You were away from me for too long. I don't like my bed cold and empty like that!" he complained.

"Once Peyton gets discharged and she and Jake are settled, I will be by your side every night," I promised.

"Damn, so not tonight?" he tried.

"Sorry! My baby fever needs me to go free my best friend so that she can rest!" I said before knocking on the door and entering Peyton's room.


"Brooke, step away from the baby and go to your family!" Peyton said to me when everyone but Jake, Jenny and Anna had left. Jake and Jenny had both fallen asleep on the couch in her room. I was changing Anna's diaper for her.

"You're family too, Pey," I said to her.

"Can I tell you a secret? I want your honest opinion," I said, carrying the clean baby in my arms and rocking her back to sleep.

"Spill. What's on your mind?" she asked. "Also, when did you plan on telling me about your engagement?"

"Oh shit! I am so sorry! I completely forgot that we never announced it. We were going to once I was back and then all of this happened. Wow, I'm surprised nobody else noticed. Haley is sharp about these things," I voiced my thought out loud.

"You're really engaged again?" she asked more emotionally.

"Yes! I am," I replied, feeling heat spread in the pit of my stomach as I said it.

"How did he do it this time? Was it as good as the Disney World one? I'm mad! We all got to witness the Disney one! I wanted to be there for this one too," she complained.

"This one was a little complicated. Well, remember the night when Xavier Daniels got arrested?" I asked her.

"Yeah, that rapist! Was it someone from your office?" she asked me. "No, I saw your press conference. He hadn't begun working there, right?"

"Peyton, it was me. I slept with him when I was 15, here in Tree Hill. Please don't make me explain myself, I don't have the strength to revisit that," I said. I saw Peyton's demeanour change. Her body grew stiff and her mind was racing with questions, questions I really did not want to answer. Her eyes shifted all over me as if she was looking for war wounds. I felt small and really embarrassed in front of her so I averted my gaze to focus all my attention on Anna as I continued my story. "Anyway, he threatened me for the shares to the Company or he would expose me. Lucas got a confession out of him and got him thrown in jail. My lawyer got an NDA signed by him in exchange for a reduced sentence." Peyton's eyes got so wide with surprise, they were bulging out.

"Yeah. Please don't tell anyone. It's scary and embarrassing. Anyway, that night after he did that, I felt so safe and so secure that I asked Lucas to marry me. I was so emotional and everything had been so scary. Having to see him and do a Board Meeting with him staring at me, knowing that he was looking at me immorally and then his threat to expose it and what would I tell the kids? I couldn't. Sorry, but yeah, Lucas saved me and I knew I wanted that feeling forever. I needed him by my side forever. So I asked Lucas and he walked into our bedroom. Then he came back with this ring. He said that he had carried it because he felt like he should and that he has had it for even longer. It's my old engagement ring which he added more detailing to," I explained. "He gave this beautiful heartfelt speech and got down on one knee. Now, we're engaged!"

"Wow! I'm happy for you!" she said to me. "Also, if the engagement slipped your mind, what is it that you wanted my opinion on?"

"Well, umm…. spending all this time the last few days taking care of Anna, kinda made me want to have more. Uhh, Lucas told me earlier in New York that watching me with Lilly, he wanted to have more too, and that he wouldn't be against the idea of us having more. I'm just terrified that this is all moving so fast. Lucas and I began dating what, a week ago? Now we are already engaged and talking about more kids before we even have a wedding date. I told him today that we should ditch our birth control. Am I losing it?"

"Oh wow! You two really don't know slow!" she said her unfiltered thoughts.

"Yeah," I rolled my eyes at myself. "We should wait, right? I mean, what's another year? We can get married, get settled and then plan another baby. I mean…" I started to say but my eyes trailed to the tiny human I has holding in my arms.

"Brooke Davis, step away from the baby!" she joked, making me chuckle.

"She is so perfect, Peyton! She is an extension of my best friend. She is part you, it's so magical," I praised. "I kinda love her more than you!" A devil grin spread across my face.

"You're nuts, Brooke Davis!" she laughed and shook her head.

"But you do think that we should wait, right?" I asked her to be sure.

"Well, from one point of view, I'm like, come on guys, come up and catch a breath. Date, enjoy or plan a wedding since that is done! However, another part of me is so screaming have a baby! Our kids can grow up together and it's the two of you. You live big quick lives," she said.

"Ugh! I am going to wait. I am being nuts. I told him I wanted to go slow and then I propose and then spring kids on him. Poor guy is being so civil, swaying to my whims. I'm going to tell him to ask me in a year after we are married," I made up my mind. "But Pey, look at me talking about marriage and babies! I thought that once I failed at both, I would be done!"

"You deserve this, Brookie," she smiled.


"Hi Brooke, you're finally home," Karen said to me once I trudged into our kitchen.

"Hey, mom," I said sleepily as I sat on a kitchen barstool. Within seconds Karen had placed a plate of food in front of me, making me smile. She was such a lovely mother and grandmother. "You're too good for us, ma'am!"

"How are Peyton and the baby? Eat up! You look so frail. I haven't seen you in weeks. It was great of you to send Jenny over to stay with us. She would be worried and alone cooped in the hospital," she worried.

"They are good. Peyton got discharged right now. I left with them. They dropped me home," I answered, letting out a yawn.

"Aw baby, you look so tired. Why don't you go to bed?" she coaxed.

"The twins went to school?" I asked as I lay my head on the table.

"Yeah. They are doing quite well. They are getting home later every day. The initial few days they would come home as soon as school was out. Now they stick around for basketball and cheerleading. They are going to the pier today evening. Since Sophia is grounded, I said that she could go only if she took Lilly with her. So you might catch them after school," she informed.

"You always have the best ideas to keep teens in check," I mumbled.

"Okay baby, off to bed you go," she commanded.

"Unfortunately I can't. Millicent, my assistant, is flying in today. We begin renovations at Karen's Cafe to make it our office. Someone from legal will be here too to get signatures and other information. You'll get the rent in your account soon," I sighed.

"But Brooke," she said, touching my hand. "Oh no, you're burning up."

"Huh?" I asked.

"Brooke, you seem to have a fever. Come on, upstairs to your bedroom. I will bring you some soup and medicines," her voice was so soft and soothing, yet stern and undeterred.

"No, Karen I'll be fine. I'm just - It's just - God, it's too much. Where's Lucas?" I asked.

"He took Lilly to the Rivercourt," she said. "Come on, up to bed."

As she said that, the doorbell rang. She opened it and in walked some of my employees.

"Hey Brooke," Millie greeted. "Hello, Mrs. Hargrove."

"Hey everyone," I said as I rubbed my face to try to shake out the fatigue. "Sorry, I'm not dressed for work. So where are we regarding the office? Last we checked in New York, you were drawing up the Contracts and they were going to get back to me with the rent of the area."

"Brooke, I told you, it's family property. You don't have to pay me," Karen insisted.

"Oh mom, if we pay rent, it increases our expenses and helps us reduce our taxes," I winked.

"You really do have a business brain," she shrugged. "But, you need to reschedule. I'm sure these people have a fine hotel stay -"

"Mom, please. I'll be fine. Millicent, the update," I said as I drank my coffee.

None of my employees had seen me this way. I was Victoria's protege when it came to business Brooke. I never had anybody show authority over me, my decisions were final, and I was always dressed for business and not in days-old clothes with baby Anna's vomit on it. My employees kept looking at me uneasily, unsure of what to do. It was weird for me too to have business at home. Only Millie and Victoria had ever been up to the penthouse.

"We checked the rent of the area and surcharged it by 10% for Mrs. Hargrove. So we are paying the maximum in the area. We called the records office here in Tree Hill and verified that the land is in fact in her name and we cross-checked the area. Multiplied, we have reached a monthly rent rate. Basis the same, standard rent contracts have been drawn up, similar to all our other office spaces and boutiques. We have them here with us," Ethan from my legal team informed me. "Here you go, Mrs. Hargrove." He handed Karen the envelope full of documents.

"That's great. I am sure we have a scan of the same. Why don't you read over it and send it to Andy to verify? Then if everything is to your satisfaction, you can sign it," I suggested. "Actually, let me go over it too. Guys, why don't we head to the formal dining room? We can work out from there for now. Millie, when are the contractors coming?"

"They will meet us at the location in one hour. I figured it was better to get here and get final approval from Mrs. Hargrove first," she said.

"Yes, hey Jacinda. I'm glad it's you who came to oversee the interiors. Make it good, this might just become headquarters but leave the terrace untouched," I smiled at her.

"I have to say, this house is so cool Brooke. It's got such an old-timey elegant vibe!" she said, looking around.

"Go, take a tour. Really! This was my childhood home. My grandfather left it to me. We're living here while our actual house gets remodelled. Mills, Jacinda, while you guys are here, we should go check that house's progress too. Orie has been texting me to get there and approve some things and I don't want to delay that project. Put it on my calendar and remind me to ask my family to come with me for that since it's the family house," I was soon forgetting my fatigue.

Mom walked in with coffee and baked goods for everybody at that moment. "Oh my God, Mrs. Hargrove. These are the best cookies I have ever eaten!" Ethan moaned as he bit into the chocolatey goodness.

I smiled as I sat with a pencil to read through the Lease Deed for Karen's Cafe.

"Mom!" Lilly yelled as she ran into the house. "Lukie taught me how to dunk a basketball!"

Everybody in the dining room looked up as my eyes grew wide. "Sorry, that's my uh, it's complicated. But now you know why I need that office ready quickly," I joked.

"Lilly, quiet. Brooke is working!" Karen reprimanded.

"Wait, Brooke's here!" Lilly screamed even more loudly. I could hear the thud of heavy footsteps before the little girl entered the dining room.

"Brookie!" she screamed, flinging herself into my arms, completely ignoring the executives who did not know whether to look at the spectacle in front of them or avert their gaze.

"Hi Lilly Pad," I greeted, not finding any fault in the child.

"Oh, you're finally here! I missed you way too much. Promise me that you won't go away anymore while we are here and if you do, you will take me with you! Also, when are you and Lukie getting married again? I asked Lukie but he won't tell me. Can you play dolls with me after work?" that child rambled away. All my colleagues had quit working. They had seen me get frazzled by Victoria and no one else, and here was a five-year-old who had me wrapped around her tiny pinky. I loved children. They were so innocent and pure. I could never be mad at them.

Lilly had crawled onto my lap to give me a firm hug as she settled herself there curious at the laptops and papers lying on the table.

"Lilly Pad, I'm unwell today. I don't want you to catch a fever," I said, trying to get the littlest member of our family down from my lap.

"No!" she protested, hugging me even tighter.

"Wait, Brooke, you have a fever?" Millie asked, concerned.

"I feel fine," I said while trying to get Lilly to let go of me.

"Oh, Lilly! Sorry Brooke," Lucas said, entering the room and stopping at the door as he looked at our guests.

"Hey, sorry. I was supposed to start the renovations of Karen's Cafe today. With the hospital, I pretty much forgot all about it. Lilly, I really don't want you to catch a fever or your mom will kill us both!" I tried to coax her. I was so exhausted.

"Oh my God, he looks even hotter in person!" Jacinda whispered to Millie regarding Lucas who gave her a scornful look of disdain.

"You have a fever?" he asked me equally worried. "Is Anna okay and Peyton? Did they get discharged from the hospital?"

"Okay, guys. Please give me a few. I just need to take care of all of this then I will join you," I said, feeling exasperated.

"Uh, Brooke, Contractors are going to be at the site soon," she reminded me.

"Okay, all of you who need to go to the location, head there with Millie and start work. Ethan, you can head to the hotel and work from there. I will be back and finish going through the contract and email the final approval. Then email it to Mr. Hargrove. There is a time difference so whenever we get his approval, get signatures from Mrs. Hargrove and call Accounts to wire the funds to her account. I will finish things here and meet you on-site," I instructed before perching Lilly on my hip and asking Lucas to follow me out.

"Wow, who knew Ms. Davis had such a family life or that she was so mushy around kids?" I heard Jacinda comment on my way out.

"She has two kids of her own, Jacinda," Millie reminded her with narrowed eyes.

"Mom, please help. I'm afraid Lilly will catch a fever," I whined, having no energy anymore. I was so cranky by then. "Also, I'm really worried about Anna! Where's my phone? I need to call Peyton! Luke, give me yours."

"Brooke, you really should be in bed," he said worriedly. His eyes were roaming up and down my body as if he was afraid I would collapse in front of his eyes. He saw Lilly dangling on my body and quickly peeled her off me. He had such a broody look on his face.

I got my open palm in front of him expecting him to place his phone in them. The front door closed at the entryway making us realise that my staff had left.

"Baby, your team is more than capable to handle this," he said while acquiescing and giving me his phone. "Let them do what you pay them to do. I'm sure the contracts are fine and Andy can catch any discrepancies. You don't have to micromanage everything."

I ignored everything he said and went to his contacts to call Peyton.

"Hi, Peyton! Sorry to call! I have a fever, I'm scared about Anna!" I cried on the phone. Tears streamed down my face as I heard Peyton panic. There was shuffling in the line as I waited expectantly for Peyton to check on her newborn.

"I just felt her, she feels fine. I'll check everyone's temperatures in the house," she said once she felt her child's cool skin.

"I'm so sorry, Peyton!" I continued to cry on the phone.

"It's okay, Brooke. You rest up!" she said to me although she sounded equally fatigued.

"I hope you're resting too, Mama," I asked to ensure that she was taking things slowly.

"Yeah. Jake and Jenny are answering every cry. I'm only in charge of feeding. Let's see how long that lasts. Everyone in the house is asleep right now. I'm just worried about Jenny. She is missing college by being here!" she worried.

"You and Jake need to just be firm and talk to her. Get her a flight ticket for a few days later and remind her how much her tuition costs. That should do the trick," I formulated. "Or I will come to talk to her in a few days, once my fever is down. Also, please keep me updated about baby Anna's health. I am so sorry!"

"Brooke, I got a thermometer out while talking to you. Neither she nor I have a fever. You do, so please go to bed!" she ordered before ending the call.

Phew! Anna was fine. I looked around at the worried faces of my family. I gave Lucas and Karen a sheepish smile.

I was just about to hand Lucas' phone back to him when it dinged with a message. I didn't mean to pry. I really didn't but I just happened to look at the illuminated screen in my palms and I saw that it was Lindsey who was texting Lucas. The text read, 'I will fly in. I really have to meet you. It's important that we talk about this in person.'

"What!" I seethed. "Why is that girl texting you?"

Lucas quickly took his phone from my hands while his eyes were wide with worry. His forehead had creases and his eyes were turning grey which made me feel pangs of paranoia. "Lucas, what is happening? Why is Lindsey texting you to meet her?"

"Brooke, I don't know. She says she wants to meet me but I keep saying no," Lucas answered but I felt something drop in the pit of my stomach.

"How long have you two been communicating with each other?" I asked through the huge lump that had formed in my throat making it extremely difficult for me to get the words out while trying to stop myself from having a meltdown.

"Uhh, since the reporters caught us together in New York," he answered truthfully.

"What! Why didn't you say anything? That was almost two weeks ago!" I screamed. "What does she want? How could you have conversations with your ex and not tell me?"

I was so furious. What was wrong with him? Why would he keep this from me? What did Lindsey want? Why was she wedging herself in our lives again? Did Lucas still like her and want to be with her? Was he two-timing me like that cheater Lindsey was two-timing him? My head was swimming with scary what-ifs. I knew that it was too good to be true. The engagement, the family planning, I knew that it couldn't be that easy. How stupid was I to ask him to marry him?

I was trying so hard to keep a solid front but Lucas' answers were so unhelpful. "What was I supposed to say, Brooke? And when? After putting Xavier in jail for raping you or before Peyton woke up from a coma after childbirth?"

That was the straw that broke the camel's back. I ran out of there and locked myself in my room allowing me to let go of my emotions, the Clothes over Bro's renovation long forgotten.