Hello Lovely Readers!

I know it's been a while! I wanted to take the time to make this chapter the best it could be, as it is the last for this story . But I assure you, that you won't be disappointed with the ending!

I just wanted to say a big thank you to absolutely every one of you who reads this story, and leaves such amazing and nice reviews. It really means the world to me!

When I started writing this story I didn't imagine it becoming such a big part of my life, I found myself thinking of new storylines as I walked through the grocery store, or as I dozed off in class. Haha! I really didn't see it becoming as big as it is. To all of you who took the time to write a review on each chapter I thank you from the bottom of my heart, this story was extremely meaningful to me and hearing all of your kind words really gave me a confidence boost in my writing and also inspired me to write more stories in the near future!

This has been an amazing journey we have had through "A Hand to Hold at Last" and I can't wait for more to come! I really hope you loved this story as much as I have, and I hope I did the last chapter justice! To me I think it's the ending we all wanted!

So enough rambling- Haha!

Here is the final chapter.

Chapter 25: The Story Goes On

It had been several weeks since the special dinner at the Davis/Baker household in which they had asked Cooper if he would like to be adopted.

Since Lena had already gotten the paper work going the week before, the process had moved along quite quickly. They had their final adoption court appearance last week and things had gone perfectly. Cooper had officially been adopted into the family. They were overjoyed and spent the night celebrating with close family and friends. Even Victoria had flown in from New York to celebrate the adoption which Brooke was surprised at but happy with.

Things were just getting back to normal with the family and they had finally adjusted to their new life together.

That same week Julian had hired one of his local set painters and designers to design Coopers new bedroom. The following week, his room had been completed and was a dream bedroom for the six-year old.

His walls were filled with spider-man murals and his furniture had been painted a bright red colour to match. His bed was filled with spider-man pillows and stuffed toys.

Brooke and Julian happily watched as their son had opened the door to his new found bedroom and had the biggest smile on his face.

"THIS IS SO AWESOME!" He screamed running inside to see all of the murals and new toys.

Sam had her room re-painted and decorated as well but something much simpler of course. She opted for her classic dark purple, skater theme but to Brooke's surprise it did have some 'Brooke Davis Like' touches. She had black furniture, with a grey and silver bedspread, a new desk for her writing and some sheek decor items matching the theme. Both Sam and Cooper were happy with their newly decorated rooms.

It was another hectic morning in the Davis/Baker household as Brooke attempted to cook breakfast for the family, and get the kids off to school before heading off to one of her Clothes over Bro's business meetings.

Brooke was feeling a bit off today. She thought she might be coming down with some sort of stomach flu, so it had been an especially rushed morning as she had slightly slept in.

Julian had left early that morning as he also had a business meeting regarding another movie pitch. So this left Brooke to do it all that morning. But she was more than capable and enjoyed being a busy Mom. It was something she had always wanted. And now she had it.

"Alright! You sleepy heads' better be up and at this table in two minutes or else!" Brooke yelled in the direction of the bedroom doors.

Growns could be heard from both bedrooms, as Brooke smiled. How was it possible that she had now managed to have not one, but two non-morning person children, she thought to herself rolling her eyes.

A few moments later both Sam and Cooper were up and at the table, both with their infamous bedheads.

Brooke laughed as she placed two plates of French toast in front of them and continued to clean up the kitchen.

"Okay." Brooke said looking at her watch. "The taxi leaves in 20 minutes! If you're not in it, it will be leaving without you!" Brooke joked ruffling Coopers hair and rushing them both out of the kitchen.

Sam nodded and attempted to walk into the bathroom before almost being knocked over by Cooper running in, slamming the door.

"ME FIRST!" He laughed through the bathroom door.

"COOPER!" Sam yelled in annoyance, as she stopped her foot and huffed.

"Snooze you lose!" Cooper laughed from the other side of the door.

Sam rolled her eyes and sighed. "Moooom..." Sam moaned.

Brooke laughed slightly under her breath before addressing her daughter. "Oh Sam. Leave him alone. He's just playing." She laughed.

"He's always just playing..." She huffed. "You always take his side!" She whined.

Brooke raised her eyebrow with a smirk. That was not true, but she knew that this was a case of classic sibling rivalry had finally set in and she couldn't help but think it was adorable. Of course, she wouldn't let Sam know that.

"It's cause I'm cuter!" Cooper yelled from inside the bathroom door.

Brooke hid her laughter when Sam yelled "SEE!" pointing towards the door dramatically. "Please deal with your devil spawn." She said seriously.

"Oh Sam..." Brooke sighed with a laugh before addressing Cooper.

"Cooper... Knock it off. Just because you got to the bathroom first, doesn't mean you have to gloat about it. You know better. Quit bugging Sam." She said in a motherly tone.

Cooper then opened the bathroom door and casually trailed into his bedroom, smiling up slyly at Sam.

"I know. It's just fun to bug her." He said continuing into his room.

Sam rolled her eyes dramatically before huffing and walking into the bathroom.

Brooke simply laughed before turning back around and collecting her things for the day. "Kids.." She laughed.

A short while later Brooke had her things in the car and Cooper buckled into his booster seat, all that was missing was Sam. As usual. Brooke thought while rolling her eyes and looking down at the clock.

BEEP! BEEP!

"Sam! Let's go!" Brooke yelled from her open window towards the house.

Cooper chuckled in the back seat.

"Let's leave without her Mama." He said jokingly.

Her heart melted slightly for a moment. 'Mama' it sounded so perfect and she melted every time Cooper had called her that. After the adoption had been processed it took no time at all for Cooper to begin calling Brooke, Mom and Julian, Dad. He was younger so it was an easier adjustment for him to make than it had been for Sam.

She then snapped out of her trance, looking back to her son.

Brooke shook her head turning back to Cooper, with a her finger pointed in his direction.

"That's enough out of you mister!" She said reaching back and tickling him.

"Ha! Okay! Haha! Okay!" He laughed as Brooke continued before Sam hopped into the car.

"God. I'm here. Where's the fire..." Sam said sarcastically.

"Oh Samantha. Lovely of you to join us. Buckle up." She did simply before starting the car and heading towards Coopers school for the first drop off of the day.

*****One Tree Hill*****

Brooke had completed her morning meetings and had arranged to have lunch with her girls, Peyton and Haley.

The three met at a local cafe in Tree Hill not too far from Clothes over Bro's.

As the three friends had their lunch and caught up, they asked Brooke how things were going with Cooper.

"So how is the little guy adjusting?" Peyton asked.

Brooke smiled, "he's doing really well, he seems to be really happy." She said proudly.

"That's great Brooke. I know that Jamie is thrilled to have a new friend. They are getting along really well." Haley smiled.

"How does Sam like having him around?" Peyton laughed.

Brooke laughed. "Well. She loves him. Deep down."

The three friends laughed.

"No but seriously they get along, she's a great big sister to him. It's just interesting to see Sam like this. Almost child-like, when they are fighting like a real brother and sister would." She smiled.

"She finally feels comfortable letting go and being a kid. That's great Brooke! Her tough guy act couldn't last too long." Haley laughed.

"Yeah she's really come so far..." Brooke said honestly.

"Well she had a great Mother along the way." Peyton said reaching over and placing her hand on Brooke's.

"Thanks P. Sawyer." she smiled.

"As for great Mothers, how my Baby Sawyer doing?" Brooke asked.

"Oh. She's great. Growing more and more everyday. I can't believe she's almost 1.. Well. I left her with Lucas. So hopefully she lasts that long." She sighed jokingly.

All three friends laughed.

"Oh Peyton.. Lucas is a great father. Not to worry. If Nathan can do it, so can Lucas." Haley said.

"Well last night I caught him out in the driveway with her strapped onto the front of him in her baby carrier shooting hoops at 2:00am, because we couldn't get her down." She smiled. "He's already starting her with the basketball... God help us all." She laughed.

"That's so sweet." Brooke said but then reached down to her stomach and slightly groaned.

"You alright Brooke?" Peyton asked.

"Oh yeah. I'm fine. I just haven't been feeling all that well the past few days. I think I have some stomach bug or something." She waved off casually.

"Oh that's too bad." Haley said.

"Yeah. I'll be fine." She said.

The three friends continued to catch up over their lunch.

*****One Tree Hill*****

It was just before 3:30 and Julian was scheduled for school pickups as Brooke had done the drop off.

"Hey Buddy. How was school?" Julian asked as Cooper jumped into the back of the car.

"It was good." He smiled and slipped his seatbelt on.

"Just good? That's all I get?" He laughed. "What did you do today, did you make many new friends?" He asked.

"Well kinda.." Cooper smiled.

"Kinda hmm?" Julian laughed.

"Yeah. I have a girlfriend." Cooper said casually as if it was normal for every six year old to have a girlfriend.

Julian's eyes shot back. "A girlfriend?" He asked.

"Yep. Her name is Emma. She's really cute and so I asked her today to be my girlfriend, and she said yes. Then she even shared her cookies with me at lunch." He gloated.

"Oh.." Julian laughed. "Alright ladies man, how about we go and pick up Sam, then we can have a family night? I mean if you can pencil that into your busy schedule with your new girlfriend of course.." He laughed.

"I'll make an acceptation." He said seriously before cracking a smile.

Julian laughed and headed to Tree Hill High.

*****One Tree Hill*****

"Hello!" Brooke greeted as her family walked through the door.

She kissed Cooper as he walked by and put his backpack on his hook in the entry way.

"Hello Mama." He said.

Brooke smiled and ruffled his hair.

Sam walked into the house following Cooper.

"Hey sweetheart." Brooke smiled as Sam walked in.

"Hey Mom." She said throwing her stuff into her room before plopping on the couch and texting Jack.

"There's my handsome husband." Brooke said walking up to Julian and giving him a kiss.

"Ew. Can we like keep it P.G in here please.." Sam huffed watching her parents kiss over the screen of her phone.

Brooke smiled. "Alright. Alright." She said walking into the kitchen.

"What do you want to do for dinner?" Julian asked taking a seat at the breakfast bar.

"I'm not sure Babe, whatever you want." She shrugged. Friday nights were usually casual dinner nights, they would usually just end up making a quick meal or picking something up.

"Pizza!" Sam said from the couch not looking away from her phone.

"Woah! There's a shocker." Brooke said sarcastically.

"Well. You asked." Sam shrugged.

"Pizza?" Brooke asked Julian.

"Sure." He laughed.

"Okay I can go pick it up." Brooke said walking over to Sam. "And I'll take this one with me.." She said quickly snatching Sam's phone from behind and placing it in her purse.

"Hey!" Sam whined. "Give me my phone." She insisted.

"Well. I guess you'll just have to come with me." Brooke smiled walking out of the door.

Sam rolled her eyes, following Brooke out of the door as Julian laughed.

Sam hopped into the passenger seat and buckled in her seatbelt.

"There. Can I have my phone back now please you thief." Sam said dramatically.

"Um. Sam. Who pays for the phone?" Brooke smiled slyly.

Sam rolled her eyes. "You."

"Exactly. So technically it's mine, and I want to spend some time with you, and I don't want to do that when there's a phone in your face." Brooke said simply.

"Well played." Sam said.

Brooke nodded. "Thanks." And smiled before starting the car.

"So how was school?" Brooke asked.

"It was alright." Sam responded robotically as most teenagers do when asked this question.

"You want to elaborate on that?" Brooke asked through a laugh.

Sam rolled her eyes.

"Well. I got my grades back for the midterm paper." Sam began. She had wanted to tell Brooke about it, but didn't know how to bring it up. Maybe it was good that she had asked she laughed to herself.

"Oh did you, how did you do?" Brooke asked.

"You really wanna know.." Sam sighed.

"Of course I want to know Sam." Brooke said.

"Well.. I just don't want you to be upset.." Sam said while trying to hide her laughter. In all reality Sam had done extremely well, but any opportunity to mess with Brooke she gladly took.

"Sam. I would never be upset. I saw how hard you worked on that paper, and I know you did your best. The grade on a paper does not define who you are. The work you put into it does. Haven't I always told you that?" Brooke asked softy.

"I know but... It's just.." Sam hesitated. Still trying to hold a straight face.

"Sam you can tell me.. What was your grade?" Brooke asked a little more seriously. Enough with the lead up. She thought.

"I got a 98%.." Sam said quickly breaking the tension.

Brooke hesitated for a moment, what? "You little..." She began but quickly snapped out of it.

"A 98%!" Brooke shrieked.

"Yeah.." Sam laughed.

"Sam! I am so proud of you!" Brooke said in a motherly tone.

"Thank you.." She said honestly.

"Why do you always mess with me like that! You had me scared for a minute!" Brooke said.

"Because it's fun." Sam laughed.

"A 98... Sam... I am so incredibly proud of you." Brooke said emotionally.

"I know. You already said that.." Sam laughed.

"It's not just about the grade Sam." Brooke began.

Two years ago you wouldn't have even turned in that assignment. Now look at you. Do you know how far you've come?" Brooke asked with tears in her eyes as they pulled into the parking lot of the Pizza Place.

"I always want you to know how much I love you, and the amount of pride I hold in you. These past few weeks you have really stepped up with Cooper, and you have become a wonderful big sister to him, and now this.." Brooke said reaching over and holding her daughter's cheek lightly. "I am so proud of you, and I love you so much." She said honestly.

"I love you too Mom." Sam said. "I know I don't say it enough..." Sam said quietly."

"Hmm?" Brooke said with confusion.

"I'm only the way I am because of you. For years I dreamed of what it would be like to have a Mom, to have someone to love me, someone to be proud of me, and someone to be there when I need them, and now I don't have to dream. I just open my eyes and there you are. Whenever I need you. You are an amazing Mom. And I love you very much. As does Cooper." Sam said honestly. She didn't express how she felt often, but when she did it always made Brooke's heart burst with love. Although she knew how her daughter felt about her, even with all of the eye rolling she chuckled to herself.

"You did it Sam. I was just there to guide you, and pick you up if you fell down. That's what Mothers do Honey. I am honoured to be yours. Thank you." She said leaning over and kissing her daughter's forehead.

"How about we go get some Pizza?" Sam said.

"Sure thing." Brooke smiled.

The two headed into the parlour and picked up the pizza.

"Are you alright?" Sam asked Brooke as she held her stomach slightly and rubbed her nose.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. It's just the smell is making me a bit sick." Brooke said waving it off.

"The smell?" Sam asked.

"Yeah I've had a stomach thing going on, nothing to worry about, I'm fine." Brooke said.

"Okay.." Sam said.

"Order 120!" A man called holding a pizza box. Sam walked over and collected their order and headed for the car with Brooke.

As they drove home Brooke wasn't feeling much better but tried to keep her mind on something else.

"Do you need me to drive?" Sam asked looking over at her pale mother with concern. "Cause you kinda look like you're gonna hurl.." Sam said.

"No it's okay. I'm fine. It's just that smell." She said looking over her shoulder at the pizza box in the back seat.

"That glorious smell?" Sam laughed. "It's pizza." She said.

"I know, I just haven't been feeling all that well.." Brooke said until something dawned on her.

Instantly her eyes grew as she turned the corner to head back towards the pharmacy.

"Uh. What's going on?" Sam asked at Brooke's dramatic turn.

"Nothing. Everything's fine.." Brooke said in a panicked tone.

"Okay..." Sam questioned.

"Just going to stop at the pharmacy. I forgot I had to pick up something." Brooke said.

"Okay." Sam said.

They pulled into the pharmacy as Brooke hopped out of the car. "I'll just be a minute, stay here!" Brooke said closing the door.

Sam watched as her mother walked into the pharmacy but shrugged her confusion off, she reached over and took her phone from Brooke's purse and began texting Jack.

Moments later Brooke had appeared back in the car and they were on their way home.

*****One Tree Hill*****

Once they had returned. Brooke had said a quick hello before heading into her bedroom closing the door behind her.

"What's with Mom?" Cooper asked Sam as she walked in carrying the pizza.

Sam shrugged as she handed the box off to Julian to dish out as she took her place at the table.

*****One Tree Hill*****

Brooke looked down at the pregnancy test on the counter and paced back and forth anxiously.

This wasn't happening. It wasn't possible. She thought to herself biting her nails and waiting for the lines to appear.

After a few moments of anxious pacing the test was beginning to show the results.

Brooke snatched it off the counter in a panic and watched as the lines began to form.

A few seconds later it was clear. Two pink lines were revealed. Pregnant.

Brooke dropped the test in the sink in shock and looked into the mirror.

"Pregnant..." Brooke said in shock looking down to her stomach in the mirror as she placed her hands in the centre of her stomach.

She looked back up into the mirror in shock.

"Brooke, is everything okay, your pizza is getting..." Julian as he opened their en suite bathroom door revealing Brooke standing looking at herself in the mirror.

Julian quickly looked over and saw the box from the pregnancy test and the stick that had fallen into the sink moments before.

"...Brooke.. What's. What's going on?" He asked.

Brooke quickly snapped out of her trance and picked the test up from the sink handing it to Julian softly.

"We're pregnant..." Brooke said with tear filled eyes.

"What! That's impossible. We.. We had so many appointments, all of the doctors said... they said it was a 1 in a million chance..." Julian said in a shocked tone.

"Well. Then I guess we better start buying lottery tickets... Because we're one in a million." Brooke smiled letting her tears fall before Julian wrapped his arms tightly around his wife.

"We're pregnant..." He said also letting some tears fall.

"We're pregnant!" Brooke confirmed with happy tears flowing freely.

*****One Tree Hill*****

Epilogue:

"Honey, can you take him for a minute.." Brooke said handing Davis to Cooper sitting beside her in the row of chairs. "There you go. Go and sit with your big brother for a minute." Brooke cooed to her son.

"I want to have my camera ready." She said pulling it out of her purse as Jude began to fuss in Julian's arms as he bounced their other son.

"Jude. Shh. It's okay." She whispered to her 1-year-old.

"And now announcing the Tree Hill High's Class of 2015 Valedictorian, Samantha Davis."

Brooke stood up along with Haley and cheered loudly as Sam took the podium.

Brooke's eyes instantly filled with tears and she hadn't even started yet.

"Good evening Graduates, Teachers, Family, Friends, and Classmates. We gather today in celebration of completing our high school education, as we move forward into our new found lives of adulthood, we will never forget the memories we hold in these halls, the friendships we created, or the people that got us here. To this moment."

Sam took a deep break before continuing.

"Four years ago I would have never imagined myself in this moment, standing in front of you today, giving the valedictory speech on behalf of my graduation class, or even walking across the stage for that matter." She laughed slightly.

Brooke's tears were heavily flowing as she attempted to hold the camera straight while video taping. Sam had her speech prepared for weeks but refused to practice with Brooke or let her hear just a few verses. She wanted it to be a surprise.

"I wasn't given the easiest life. At birth, I was given up by my birth mother and put into the system. I grew up being tossed from house to house, family to family, and school to school. These are circumstances I did not choose, but they were my reality.

Sam stopped for a moment and took a breath before continuing.

I never saw myself walking across this stage, and I certainly never thought I would be the class valedictorian. And that is the whole point of why I am telling you this. I didn't see this happening for me, but it did. My journey hasn't been easy, but throughout it, I discovered that my past does not define me, it is not my destiny, but only a page in my history, I cannot rewrite it, but I can rewrite my future."

Brooke's heart was bursting and Julian's eyes were filled with tears as they watched their daughter continue in her speech.

"I did not know I would be here today, but I am. Similar to the new paths we choose to take in life, we may not see the end result but it's the unknown that makes this life so exciting."

"Over the past four years, I as well as all of you have walked these halls, and grown into the person I am today. But I didn't do it alone."

"I wouldn't be standing here today if it wasn't for my family." Sam began looking into Brooke's eyes in the crowd from a distance.

"I was adopted during my freshman year of High-School, again something I never saw happening, but it did. For the first time I didn't feel alone. I felt loved, supported and encouraged to do great things, and for the first time I really started to believe myself." Sam said clearing her throat slightly as she began to feel her emotion coming out.

"So to My Mom. Brooke. I thank her for everything she has done for me, she gave me a chance at another life, at a different ending to my story, and for that I am eternally grateful."

Sam said honestly and continued.

"To my Dad. Julian. I thank him for encouraging my writing and always being there when I need him."

"To my brothers, Cooper, Jude, and Davis, I thank you for all of the laughs and memories we share everyday. Even though you sometimes get on my nerves" Sam said shooting a look in coopers direction with a smile causing the audience to laugh.

"So in my final thoughts I want to leave you with something. We all have the ability to be great, to do great things, and to be great people, our future is in our hands and when we walk out of these doors for the last time as Tree Hill High Graduates, let us all remember who were the day we walked through them. And how far we've come. Thank you."

Sam said in closing as the entire audience rose to their feet and gave her a standing ovation. There was not a dry eye in the entire auditorium.

Sam bowed slightly as the clapping and cheering continued.

Cooper was standing up on his chair yelling over the cheering "That's my sister! That's my sister!"

As Julian looked over laughing at his sons excitement for Sam.

Brooke continued to clap with pride for her daughter. Her words were so truthful and inspiring. She had come so far from the 15 year old sleeping in the back of a car in auto-shop.

Sam made her way back to her seat, but not before walking down into the audience to hug her Mom.

She ran towards Brooke with tear filled eyes as Brooke wrapped her arms around her daughter with pride. Other family members of other graduates watched with tear filled eyes as the mother and daughter shared this meaningful moment.

"Sweetheart, I am so proud of you. That was outstanding." She said with emotion into her daughter's ear.

"I couldn't have done it without you. I love you Mom." Sam responded.

*****One Tree Hill*****

There you have it! The last chapter. What did you think? How did you like the ending? AND what about Sam's speech. Tear Jerker. I could barley finish writing it!

I decided to do the Epilogue as a jump ahead so that all of you could see that Brooke and Julian had the twins, Davis, and Jude.

As mentioned above THANK YOU so much for taking this amazing journey with me please leave a review with final thoughts, or comments on the story. I would really love to read them!

*Side Note

My upcoming stories will be:

-Glee (Rachel and Shelby)- Similar Mother/Daughter Fic!

-The Fosters (Whole Family- Callie focussed and Rita)

-One Tree Hill (Brooke and Sam)- Brooke fosters/adopts Sam at a younger age.

-One Tree Hill (A Hand to Hold at Last Part 2)

-Leave a suggested story/show if you have one

Stay Tuned!

PLEASE REVIEW GUYS!