Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill.

Chapter 9

Lucas lay awake in bed, staring up at the ceiling. He listened as the cool breeze gently hit against the window and as Peyton snored lightly next to him. After Brooke walked away from them at her store opening, Peyton had downed a few glasses of wine. It was the first time she had seen her ex-best friend in four years and she wouldn't even talk to her. And Victoria was making her feel and look bad. Lucas saw how distraught Peyton looked and he decided to take her home.

They went back to her house. As soon as they opened the door, Peyton began to kiss Lucas wildly and snatch his clothes off. The alcohol was taking affect and she began to give in to her needs and desires. He was going to stop her but he felt like he had been neglecting her lately, so he let her continue to undress him. To Lucas, sex was the most passionate way of showing love and affection. Tonight, sex with Peyton only felt like a chore. It was something that he had to do. He felt obligated to please her; to give in to her needs and desires; and to ignore his heart and his head.

He looked around her room. It still looked the same as it did when they were still in high school. One drawing on the wall caught his eye. It was a drawing of him, Peyton and Brooke shooting at a heart that was going up in flames. He figured that it was his heart because his basketball jersey number 3 was in the middle. He had seen this drawing numerous of times, but now it was starting to have meaning. Had he really made Brooke and Peyton compete for his love?

Peyton rolled over and her arm lightly slapped Lucas on his chest. He looked over and smiled at her. She never really competed for his love. He was always saving her. After she began snoring again, he looked back at the drawing. Brooke on the other hand, she had always been competing for his love since day one. Lucas smiled when he thought back to before they started dating.

…Flashback…

Lucas had just finished basketball practice when he ran into Brooke in the hall.

"Hey Brooke, I got something for ya." He said as he handed her a book.

"I know you do gorgeous." She flashed him a smile and looked down at the book. It was "The Winter of Our Discontent" by John Steinbeck.

"It's that book I was telling you about. Thought you might wanna check it out." He gave her a flirty look.

"Oh, I definitely wanna check it out." She gave him a flirtatious smile and which he returned. "I suppose I could read the book too. But what are you gonna do for me?" She asked.

"What do you mean?"

"If I read the book…" She touched his chest. "you do something for me."

"Like what?" He asked, liking where this conversation was going.

"I don't know; something fun. Deal?"

"Okay. Deal."

"Should we shake on it? Or just make out now?"

Lucas smiled wildly and walked off. Brooke looked at the book again. "Who knew reading could be so much fun." She said excitedly.

…

Lucas was walking when Brooke ran and caught up with him.

"All finished." She said, as she handed him the book. "Now it's my turn."

"Hey, hey, hey, not so fast. Did you like it?" He asked.

"Did I like it? Or did I read?" She kinked her eyebrows at what he was implying. "The book is about how a guy loses his integrity and gives in to temptation. Which is exactly what I see you doing tonight with me."

Lucas laughed. "Right. Well, a deal is a deal, right?"

"That's right baby. A deal is a deal." Brooke smiled.

…End of Flashback…

Lucas laughed lightly, careful not to wake Peyton, as he thought about how on their first date Brooke took him to a bar, beat him in a few games of pool, got him drunk, and got a tattoo. He pulled his shirt sleeve up and there in black ink, was the ever so present reminder of the fun he had with Brooke Davis.

He was beginning to get sleepy. He turned over on his side so that his back was to Peyton. He closed his eyes and had another flashback.

…Flashback…

Lucas and Brooke sat in study hall, doing their work.

"Ugh! I don't understand any of this." Brooke whined.

Lucas laughed. "What are you reading?"

"Shakespeare." She showed him the book.

"Ah, Julius Caesar. There is a tide in the affairs of men." Lucas quoted.

"Luke, you sound just like them." She lightly smacked his chest. "Why do they talk like this? If I have to read another thee, thy, or thou, I am going to kill thyself."

Lucas laughed at his girlfriend. "This is great literature, Brooke. These guys, Caesar and Brutus, died for what they believed in. Some people even considered them to be martyrs."

"Are you really going to make me learn in study hall?" Brooke pouted.

Lucas laughed again. "It's really interesting. Take this book for instance." He showed her the book that he was reading. "It's about Saint Sebastian. He was a Christian saint and 3rd century martyr." Lucas began telling Brooke about the history of Saint Sebastian and she found herself becoming more intrigued.

"Throughout all of the oppositions, even standing in the face of persecution, Saint Sebastian stayed true to himself and what he believed in." Lucas finished explaining

"He sounds like someone I know." Brooke said. Lucas looked at her confused. "I'm talking about the way that you are about Dan."

His face fell when she mentioned his father. Brooke noticed and she tilted his chin so that he could look at her.

"He tries to break you because he can see how strong you are. You are strong, brave, loving, and caring and he hates that. He tries to take that away. But you fight. You fight every day to be the man that he didn't raise you to be. And that's why I love you. That's why I'm in love with you." She stared deeply into his eyes.

Lucas was speechless. If he wasn't sure then, he was definitely sure now that he was madly in love with Brooke Davis. He caressed her face and kissed her passionately.

"Mr. Scott and Ms. Davis! What on earth are you doing?!" The study hall teacher asked as she looked at the students.

Brooke and Lucas looked embarrassed as their teacher and classmates stared at them.

"They were about to get it on. And you just stopped their groove!" Tim said.

"Mr. Smith! Mind your business!" The teacher scolded him.

"Don't be like that baby. We can get it on too." Tim said.

"You will be getting it on by yourself in detention!"

Lucas and Brooke were somewhat grateful for Tim's idiotic and highly inappropriate discussion with the teacher because all of the attention was off them.

…End of Flashback…

Few Days Later

"…And because free religious expression was against the rules of the Roman Empire, the emperor ordered for Saint Sebastian to be shot with arrows." Haley told her class. She was giving a lecture on the unorthodox methods of the Roman Empire.

"But, he didn't die. The failed attempt of death only strengthened Sebastian's faith. He went to the emperor and proclaimed his beliefs even stronger than before. Then the emperor had him beaten to death. Because Sebastian had been thought to have been killed by the arrows, and yet was not, and then later was killed by the same emperor who had ordered him shot, he is sometimes known as the saint who was martyred twice." Haley finished explaining.

"I wish somebody could kill me twice so I don't have to listen to this." Someone mumbled from the back of the room. The class erupted in laughs and giggles.

"Who said that?" Haley asked as she looked around the class. No one said a word but everyone turned to look at the new student.

"Samantha, did you have something you wanted to contribute to the lesson?" Haley asked.

"Yeah. It's Sam, don't call me Samantha." She responded in a smart tone.

The entire class laughed again as the last bell rang. Haley shook her head. She could already tell that Sam was going to be a problem.

When the students left, Jamie ran in to the classroom. "Hey mama!" He said excitedly as he ran to her desk.

"Hey baby boy." Haley said as she picked him up and hugged him tight. "What are you doing here?"

"Me and daddy came to pick you up so we can go out to dinner!"

"Aww Jamie, you spoiled the surprise." Nathan said as he walked into the classroom.

"Sorry." He said as he began to play on the chalkboard.

"These are for you." Nathan said as he kissed Haley and handed her a bouquet of roses.

"Thanks, this is just what I needed." She smiled.

"Hey dad, can Sebastian and Aunt Brooke go with us?" Jamie asked.

"I don't know buddy. We'll have to wait and see." Nathan told him. "Speaking of Brooke, have you heard from her lately, since she moved out?" He asked his wife.

"I spoke with her a few times, but she's been so busy with the store. And Victoria is being such a bit-" Haley glanced over at Jamie. He was drawing on the chalkboard, but she knew he was listening.

"a bad person." She finished politely. "I'll call her now and see if she wants to go." Haley got her cell phone out of her purse and dialed Brooke's number. When she didn't answer, Haley hung up and she, Nathan, and Jamie went to dinner.

Meanwhile at Brooke's House

Brooke had just put Sebastian to bed. She went into the bathroom and ran a nice hot bath. It had been a long day and she needed to relax. Work had been hectic since she fired Victoria. Her phone began to ring. When she retrieved it from the kitchen counter, she saw that she had a missed call from Haley and Victoria was calling.

She sighed and answered the phone. "What do you want Victoria?"

"Why is another investor trying to invest in your ill-fated clothing line?" Victoria asked.

"That is none of your business. As a matter of fact, none of my actual business is any of your business because I fired you!"

"I am your mother!"

"No, you were my mother. I fired you from that job too!" Brooke yelled. The doorbell rang. "Look I have to go, someone is at the door. And don't bother calling me back. Just talk to my lawyer. I have nothing left to say to you." She ended the call. "Bitch!" She said, as she opened the door and Victoria was standing there.

"Well, I have a few things to say to you." She said as she let herself in.

"Unbelievable" Brooke shouted.

"I can't understand why you've become such a hurtful spiteful little snot to me. But it is what it is, I can take it. Our company however, cannot." Victoria said.

"Our company? I'm sorry; I believe it's my company because you were fired. And I do not recall inviting you in, you botoxed vampire."

"You see, this is what I'm talking about. You're such a child, and a very stupid one at that. It doesn't matter that you fired me. I'm your legal partner missy."

"It's my company. I'm the designer."

"No, it's our company, 50/50. At least it is for now."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Designers come and go. It's the brand that matters, and I grow the brand. And the board knows that and they can fire you." Victoria informed her.

"Without my designs, you have nothing. I know it, you know it, and as soon as the board sees my unbelievable new line, they'll know it. And you'll be the one that's out on her nip and tucked ass!"

"We'll see about that."

"Get out of my house." Brooke said.

When her mother left, Brooke ran some more bath water because it had gotten cold. She went to Sebastian's room to check on him. He was still asleep, so she went to take her bath. Brooke lay her head back and closed her eyes as the warm water washed away the stress of the day.

…Flashback…

Brooke sat at the table with her head in her hands. She was having a bad day. First of all, she was supposed to be writing a report that her tutor could grade for her homeschooling. Victoria was getting on her nerves again. Peyton had just called to apologize about everything, but Brooke didn't want to hear it. She was so over their friendship. The thing that hurt the most was that Lucas still hadn't called. And to top it all off, it was raining.

Her cell phone began ringing. She rolled her eyes, thinking that it was Peyton calling again. After the 7th ring, Brooke decided to answer.

"What do you want?" She said in a mean tone.

"Well hello to you too." Haley said sarcastically.

"Oh, sorry Hales. I thought you were someone else."

"Nope, I'm just tutor girl." Haley joked.

Brooke laughed. "I miss calling you that."

"I would say I miss that nickname too, but I really don't." Haley laughed. "So, how's New York?"

"New York is New York. It's the big apple and the city that never sleeps." Brooke said unenthusiastically. "So, what's happening in Tree Hill?"

"Everyone is getting ready for prom. I really wish you could be here."

Brooke sighed. She wished that she could be there too. "So, what dress are you going to wear?"

Haley sent her a picture of the dress. "It's the best one that I could find. Maternity doesn't make the best prom dresses."

"It's cute, but I could've made you a better one." Brooke bragged.

"Okay, come back to Tree Hill and make me a better one."

"Hales, I can't." Brooke began rubbing her pregnant belly when she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. She had been feeling that pain all week.

"Just come and visit us. We really miss you." Haley tried to persuade her best friend.

"Now is not a good time."

"Brooke?" Victoria called out to her as she walked into the apartment.

"Haley, I have to go. You and Nathan have a nice prom."

"Okay, talk to you later." Haley said as she hung up.

"Brooke, what are you still doing here?" Victoria asked.

"What?"

"Why aren't you at your doctor's appointment?"

"What doctor's appointment?"

"Oh, I didn't tell you? You have a doctor's appointment today." Victoria smirked.

Brooke rolled her eyes. She would've argued with her mother, but she just didn't have the strength today. And she was in pain. She quickly got dressed and headed to her appointment, hoping she wasn't too late.

…

"Ms. Davis, have you been feeling any pain?" The doctor asked.

"More than you know." Brooke said, meaning that physically and emotionally.

"You said you've been having sharp pains?"

"Yes."

"Have you been bleeding at all?"

"No."

"Okay, well I'm going to give you medication that should soothe the pain you're experiencing."

"Okay. Why am I feeling the sharpness?" Brooke asked nervously.

"I don't know. It could be stress, or it could be something more serious. It's hard to tell, that's why I'm going to make your appointments once every week, so we can continue to monitor what's going on. If the pain gets worse, or if you start bleeding, come back immediately!" The doctor said in a very serious tone.

…

It had been a few days since Brooke began taking the medicine the doctor prescribed. The pain wasn't getting worse, it just stayed the same. Brooke sat up to get out of bed when a sharp pain shot through her whole body. She tried to shake it off, but the pain only intensified. All of a sudden, her body went numb. She tried to get out of bed again, when more sharpness pierced through her. Brooke held her stomach and screamed. The pain was excruciating. Unable to sit up any longer, she laid back down. She felt wetness between her legs and when she lifted the cover, blood was on the sheets. Brooke began to panic, trying to figure out who she could call. Victoria was out of town and she didn't have any friends in New York. After laying there for almost an hour, Brooke finally called her homeschool tutor. Her tutor came and took her to the hospital.

After a two week stay in the hospital, Brooke was feeling better and the baby's health was increasing.

…End of Flashback…

The water was getting cold again. Brooke finished her bath and went to bed. An hour later, she heard a knock on her bedroom door.

"Come in."

Sebastian stood in the doorway, sucking his thumb. Brooke smiled at him. He was still her baby.

"Another bad dream?" She asked.

"Yes."

Brooke wondered why he was having nightmares. She figured that he wasn't familiar with the new house yet.

"Do you want to sleep in here?" She asked. He nodded his head and climbed into the bed. Brooke held him to her chest as he closed his eyes. She was so blessed to have him.

"Goodnight buddy." She said, as she kissed the top of his head.

Sebastian yawned. "Goodnight mommy."

Please Review. Next Chapter Coming Soon.