Last apology (and chapter) ever! I'm so, so sorry that this took an extra long forever but as ever, I hope you enjoy.

…

Haley put the last of the cutlery into the dishwasher following the friends' dinner and pushed the door shut with her foot. She picked her Hot Chocolate up from the side and strode through to the lounge where she could hear game sounds from the TV. She was unsurprised to find Nathan sprawled on the couch, his jaw set and his eyes following the ball intently.

Haley smiled lightly at the sight and nudged Nathan gently, forcing him to sit up a little straighter on the couch so that she could sit leaning her back against his torso. She curled her feet beneath her and reached for Lucas' book sat on the coffee table. As she nuzzled into the curve of his chest he wrapped an arm loosely around her middle and pulled her tightly against him, his eyes not leaving the TV screen mounted on the wall.

"Oh come on!" He moaned, rolling his eyes as his old basketball team lost possession of the ball to the Hawks.

Haley snapped her gaze up at the TV and watched for a moment as the Bobcats conceded a basket. Haley leaned her head back and blinked up at Nathan, "They played the fadeaway, fadeaway's weak."

Nathan smirked, "I love you."

He leaned his head down, over hers and pressed an upside down kiss to her lips. She smiled out of the kiss and studied his eyes carefully, "You miss it."

Following Theo's birth and the debacle with Nathan and Haley's wedding, the group had made some big decisions. They were, in every way that mattered, a family. And in tragic situations such as the ones they'd suffered, they felt the need to stick together.

There had been talk of finding out when Kook could be moved to the city as he got stronger but Brooke and Julian had admitted that they liked the calmness of the Hamptons surroundings. Being away from the craziness of work and the fast pace of the city meant that they could relax a little when they came home from the hospital each night. Nathan and Haley had told them quickly that they could stay at the Hamptons for as long as they needed.

The rest of the group too were reluctant to leave but they did, for a short time. They had lives and jobs to take care of. Haley had students to get back to and Nathan was due at training back in Charlotte. Lucas had meetings with his publishers about his new book whilst Peyton had to check in at Brooke's store and make sure that everything was running smoothly.

At work though they all felt distracted and unfocused. They travelled back to the Hamptons whenever they could to visit Kook, Brooke and Julian, always feeling better when the whole group was together.

One by one, without discussion they left their commitments to return to their family. Lucas pushed back his publication date, Haley took a sabbatical from her job, Nathan quit the team and Peyton left the store in Rachel and Millie's capable hands.

They'd been living together in the Hamptons house for nearly three months now, fortunate enough to have enough money to survive comfortably without income and somehow it worked perfectly.

Nathan sighed reflectively at Haley's statement, "Sure, I do miss it but soon I'll have the sports centre to focus on….we used to have these tours at the arena with schools and little kids, it was a pretty basic tour where they'd just point stuff out but I always stuck around if one was happening. I liked to give the kids a go at shooting baskets; it was the best thing just to see the way their eyes lit up."

"You're going to be great." Haley smiled, she knew it was Nathan's other dream, to share his love of sports with the next generation.

Since ending his contract with the Bobcats Nathan had put all of his energy into his plans for the sports centre he was set to open with his friend Skills from high school and his agent Clay. Growing up he'd played Little League and despite the fact that his Dad was always breathing down his neck, he enjoyed the fact that for once the game wasn't all about winning. He was all about sports being open to all, even people as useless as Haley, and he wanted to show everyone how much fun games could be.

"Listen to this," Haley curled her legs up and rested her pre-release copy of Lucas' book open on her knees, "My little brother taught me many things. He taught me how to survive a crazy parent, he taught me how to drink and he taught me how to talk to girls. He also taught me something else, which I'm reluctant to put down on paper because the written word can outlive us all. It cannot be forgotten nor denied like something spoken softly on a quiet night. But the following is a truth that I will commit to paper, and regret most likely, should my little brother ever read this. He taught me to be a great basketball player."

Nathan lifted his brow, "Luke said that? Gimme that."

He took the book from her hand and skimmed the page with his eyes, wrinkling his nose a little, "Jeez, he goes on about Peyton, huh?"

Haley burst into laughter, "It is a love story, Nathan."

Pulling a face he glanced over the cover, "Lame."

"Lame?" Lucas echoed as he strolled into the room, a mug of tea in hand. He sank into the wide armchair opposite, his steely blue eyes settled teasingly on Nathan. "Have you seen those Bobcats?"

Nathan pouted a little, "Whatever, Dude, they're your team too."

"I know." Lucas admitted with a shake of his head, "Keith would go mad to hear me trash talking on the Bobcats."

"Lucas, it's a wonderful book." Haley cut in to assure Lucas kindly, "I'm onto my second read."

Nathan narrowed his eyes and looked to Haley, "Hold up, you're reading it again?"

"Mmm-hmm." Haley hummed pushing her reading glasses on and falling back into the book. Nathan looked to her incredulously but she seemed not to notice.

The two brothers turned their attention back to the game for a moment and winced simultaneously at a bad pass from their childhood team. Lucas shook his head and set his feet on the coffee table, hugging his mug in his hands.

"Where's Peyt?" Nathan asked wondering if he'd find yet another room taken over by her drawing materials as he had done the other day. He'd then made the mistake of clearing the mess up and it hadn't ended prettily.

"Right here." Peyton supplied sweeping into the room in a knee length swishing dress.

"You look nice, Girly." Haley complimented through a smile.

Nathan frowned, "You guys are going out?"

"Yep." Peyton nodded rounding the couch to sit down and tie the ribbon of her heeled shoes. "There's a band playing at a bar not far from here."

The darker haired Scott brother's eyes popped with surprise, "You can't go and watch a band!"

Peyton inclined her head curiously and narrowed her eyes at him, "Um, why not?"

"Because you're pregnant!" Nathan exclaimed in an alarmed tone.

Smiling at his concern, Peyton arched her brow, "Nathan, we're not going to a rave."

"I won't let anything happen to them, Nate." Lucas assured. It was a promise. He would never allow any harm to come to Peyton and the baby under his watchful eye.

Nathan pouted, "That's my niece we're talking about and I don't like the idea of you taking her to a smelly bar with sweaty men and screaming loser rock, that's all."

Peyton stood up and strode over to Nathan, her hands cupped over her softly rounded stomach, "Honey, I hate to break it to you, but your niece is most likely going to like loser rock as well."

"Doesn't mean you should force it upon her before she's able to tell you how lame she thinks it is." Nathan retaliated. "But seriously, are you sure it's, you know, safe?"

"Nathan," Haley warned using a soft voice. "Leave them alone."

"Come on," Lucas set his mug down on the table and stood up, collecting their jackets from the back of the couch. "We should get going before Nathan locks us in."

Peyton smirked and nodded, poking her tongue out towards Nathan. She let Lucas take her hand in his and lead her towards the door. As they did, the door clicked open and Brooke appeared having spent the day at the hospital with Julian.

"Hey, we were beginning to wonder where you were." Lucas said smiling at her warm, happy face.

In recent weeks Brooke and Julian's demeanour had changed dramatically; Kook was improving day by day now. There had been some setbacks with infections and a worrying time when a hole had been discovered in his heart, but now after months of holding their breath it seemed that Brooke and Julian were finally able to relax a little safe in the knowledge that Theo was growing stronger.

"Hi!" Brooke grinned a wide dimpled smile, her eyes alight with excitement.

The four friends tilted their heads curiously, seeing that there was something she was hiding from them.

"Brooke?" Haley questioned, sitting up a little straighter against Nathan.

Shaking her head, Brooke returned to the door and pulled it open, "Okay I can't do it! Julian, get in here!"

She clapped her hands together gleefully as the group watched on, excitement rolling around in the pit of their stomachs. They heard Julian's footsteps in the hall and all held their breaths until he reached the room.

He stepped inside, grinning his devilish smirk from ear to ear, a tiny bundle lying calmly against his chest. All eyes in the room widened and a few even filled with tears.

"Oh my goodness," Haley cooed and Lucas and Peyton crowded Julian to ogle the wonder that was their little Kook. Theo shifted slightly in Julian's arm, turning his dark haired head and frowning around at the room so unlike the ones he'd spent the first few months of his life inside.

"Theo," Julian rubbed his hand up and down the tiny baby's back, "Welcome to your first home."

Brooke stroked the tears from her eyes and laughed at her own softness. "Okay, who wants the first cuddle?"

"Me!" Nathan cried out and began pushing Haley from his lap in anticipation. "Move over, Hales."

Julian grinned and walked over to Nathan as Haley moved to the couch, smiling and rolling her eyes together at Nathan. Carefully Julian laid Theo in Nathan's waiting arms and the little boy looked curiously up at his Uncle.

"Hey, Kid," Nathan smiled widely, running his eyes over Theo's features. He had a head of dark hair and bright eyes that sparkled up at Nathan. His mouth was somewhere between and grimace and a smile but Nathan could already see the dimples that would deepen when he inherited Julian's smirk. "We've been waiting for you, you know that? Well you must be a Bobcat fan since you showed up on game night and all. Regrettably we're currently losing but there's still time for us to pull it back…"

"Oh my God," Brooke shook her head as Nathan continued, describing game plays and tactics.

Haley patted Brooke's shoulder in condolence, "All I can say is sorry. But I have got a plate of Mexican food for both of you whilst you wait for Nathan to return your son."

"That would be great actually, Haley." Julian nodded, sidling up to Brooke he leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Are you okay?"

"Yes, this is exactly what I wanted, I've been waiting for this since the day he was born and now I can't believe it's happening." Brooke sat down on the couch and leaned over to coo at her baby boy as he stared up at his uncle, apparently listening avidly.

Julian turned his attention to Lucas and Peyton who had been stood by the door but had crept to the back of the couch to lean down and watch Theo. "Were you guys going out?"

Peyton shook her head and strolled back to the couches, "We were going out to catch a band, but,"

"You should go." Julian said in a soft but kind voice.

Lucas and Peyton shared a confused look and went to argue but Julian beat them to it.

"We're not planning on going anywhere, now that we've got him home. We'll be here tomorrow and the day after that and so on. In a few months when you have that baby you won't remember what a good night out is. Go and enjoy yourselves." Julian advised them.

"What do you say?" Lucas asked, nudging Peyton's hip with his own.

Peyton looked to him with sparkling eyes, "Okay. Let me coo over that gorgeous boy for five more minutes and then I'm all yours."

Lucas chuckled dryly and agreed, following her towards where Nathan was explaining the scoring system to Theo who seemed to now be asleep. Haley returned to the room with two steaming plates and set them on the dining table just through archway divide.

"Go and eat." Haley told the tired but thrilled new parents, "We've got this."

"You're sure?" Brooke questioned, her separation anxiety high even though she wouldn't even be as far as the next room.

Nathan waved his hand, "Seriously, get out of here."

Brooke and Julian reluctantly followed their friends' orders and retreated to the table leaving the besotted aunts and uncles to argue over cuddles.

"Gimme," Peyton requested, her arms outstretched, "Me and Luke are going out, I need a hug now."

"He's happy where he is." Nathan pouted.

Through a sigh, Peyton dropped her arms, "Fine." She leaned down and brushed her lips softly over Theo's forehead and whispered to him not to listen to his Uncle Nathan's boring basketball talk.

"You ready, Blondie?" Lucas asked, holding out his hand.

She nodded and threaded her fingers through his and slowly they left the room, leaving Nathan and Haley alone with Theo.

"He's incredible, huh?" Nathan asked.

Haley nodded, squeezing herself onto the seat with her fiancé and godson, "I feel like I've gotten to know him better in the past five minutes than the past few months, you know?"

"Yeah, I do." Nathan frowned, "I keep thinking of all these things I want to show him and I keep seeing him pulling faces like Brooke or giving me that look Julian has,"

"Look at his little feet!" Haley said in an awed tone as she laid her hand flat against his tiny foot. "He's so mushy, I just want to eat him up!"

Nathan watched her interact with Theo, feeling a grin grow over his lips. "I want one."

"What?" Haley's eyes snapped up to meet his.

He rolled his shoulders, "A baby. Me and you. I want one that belongs to us."

"One that belongs to us." Haley laughed lightly so as not to wake Theo. "I'd really like that. A baby. Me and you."

…

Peyton bit down on her lower lip trying to suppress a laugh as she watched Lucas fumble through his pockets and wallet in search of the tickets he'd purchased the week before for the charity battle of the bands night.

"Luke," She laid her hand on his upper arm.

"I have them!" He assured in a stiff tone that told her he was frustrated. He pulled his wallet out again and began to pick through it.

Peyton rolled her eyes teasingly, "You know what? Maybe Nathan was right. We could always skip out on the sweaty bar with the deafening speakers and crammed together dancers."

Lucas arched his brow in response, "Did you just say that Nathan was right?"

She held her hands up and shook her head, "Alright I did, but don't you dare tell him."

"I wouldn't dream of it. Your pseudo brother/sister relationship confuses the hell out of me." Lucas confessed through a grin. "So you really don't mind missing a whole night of fresh new unsigned talent?"

Peyton twisted her lips, "Don't tease me. I'm fine, come on."

"You want to go back to the house?" Lucas asked softly, threading his fingers through hers and leading them away from the party.

"No. Julian's right, we should spend some time together while we can." Peyton said firmly, "Let's go for a drive someplace."

Lucas agreed readily and held open the passenger door for her. The Comet was still back in the city but on the trip to the wedding, Keith and Karen had driven their Mustang up from North Carolina. Due to the change of plans they'd had to catch flights home for business commitments, leaving the beloved car in Lucas' thrilled care.

Peyton watched on smiling as Lucas caressed the wheel and steered out of the lot. They snaked along the winding road beneath the darkening spring sky of stars, the sounds of the ocean drifting in over the radio.

"Where are you taking me, Lucas Scott?" Peyton grinned over to him, her eyes gliding over his shirt sleeve rolled up to the elbow, his muscles flexing with every movement.

He smirked over to her, squinting his way through a rugged smile, "Where do you want to go, Blondie?"

She looked out into the night, her eyes glazed, "Let's get lost."

He laughed lightly but nodded, taking the next turning available down a dirt track road. The sound of grit and gravel crunched beneath the tyres as darkness blanketed them. Suddenly they felt a world away from everyone and everything.

"It reminds me of Tree Hill here." Peyton mused. There was the same gentle unthreatening quiet and calmness in the secluded lane. She turned her head to Lucas, "We're due a visit there, I think."

"I suppose that we should take the car back soon," Lucas said reluctantly, "Keith's been hinting pretty heavily that he's missing her."

"Her." Peyton echoed with a roll of her eyes. "Plus I think your Mom wants a copy of your book already."

Lucas shook his head, "That's the cover story she's using when she talks to you, what she really wants is to coo over her unborn granddaughter and spoil her rotten. She's already bought stuff you know?"

"Yeah, Lily may have mentioned that she and your Mom went to the baby boutique." Peyton beamed, she didn't mind at all that Lucas' family were so excited. With Mick and Ellie gone, Keith and Karen were the only grandparents that their daughter would have and Peyton couldn't have wished for better.

Lucas shook his head smiling as he turned a sharp corner and the ocean came into view.

Peyton leaned forwards in her seat and gasped. They were in a small cove that was completely deserted and not overlooked in any way. "It's beautiful down here."

"It almost rivals the lake back home." Lucas noted, pulling the car to a gentle stop and gazing out towards the horizon. A ghost of a smile wavered over his features, this spot next to the water felt familiar; it felt like their kind of place.

They both got out of the car, the radio still playing softly and the headlights reaching out towards the ocean. Peyton rounded the bonnet and leaned back against the hood, her back lying against the warm metal covering the engine. She blinked up towards the stars that she so seldom saw back in the city and smiled. She laid one hand on her stomach and reached out with the other for Lucas.

"The stars are beautiful here." She remarked softly as he joined her in lying back against the hood.

"There is, though I do not know how there is or why there is, a sense of infinite peace and protection in the glittering hosts of heaven." Lucas quoted, squinting towards the sky.

"I like that." Peyton whispered. Somehow, through means that Peyton couldn't understand, Lucas always knew just what to say to her. "They are kind of peaceful, huh? I wish there were more stars in the city."

"Perhaps we wouldn't appreciate them for what they are if we saw them every night." Lucas proposed, stroking his hand lightly along her arm.

Peyton mused the thought, blinking up at the heavens above that were shining down so gloriously on them. "This feels like one of those moments, you know? Like clarity, or something pure."

"It does?" Lucas questioned in a strange tone.

Peyton turned her head to face him, frowning slightly at his conflicted gaze. He cleared his expression and stood up, pulling Peyton up after him.

"What's going on?" Peyton questioned, her eyes flying wildly over his face.

"Let's go down by the water." Lucas suggested, pulling her down towards the pathway that wound towards the ocean.

Peyton followed, her skin tingling with curiosity at the look in Lucas' eye. "What are you doing, Luke?"

He smirked mysteriously back at her, his blue eyes indecipherable. He reached a hand behind his neck and rubbed it in a nervous manner before releasing an uneasy laugh. His narrow gaze snapped to the beautiful sky for a moment as they stood hand in hand facing one another at the water side. When his eyes met Peyton's once again she could see the nerves lingering in his irises. "I'm asking if you'll marry me."

"What?" Peyton's eyes widened with shock. "Oh my God."

Lucas produced a ring from his pocket, his hands trembling. In the back of his mind all he could think of was Jake proposing to Peyton and how it had been one of the best moments of her life. He didn't know the details, he didn't want to know the details but he couldn't stop them from haunting him. No doubt Jake had done something incredibly romantic, planned the event for months and bought her a proper diamond. All Lucas had was a vintage emerald ring and a promise. He hadn't planned to do it tonight, not at all. The only reason he had the ring with him was that he was afraid to put it down in fear of her finding it somewhere. The moment had just felt right and he was ready. He was so ready.

Lucas cupped her chin in his hand and lifted her gaze to meet his, "What do you say, Blondie?"

"I say," Peyton paused to catch her breath, "this is the best gig I've ever missed."

Lucas inclined his head enquiringly, the seconds seeming to stretch into hours.

Peyton bit down on her lip and in answer to his question she took the ring from his hand and slid it onto her finger, smiling at the way that looked on her. "Yes, Lucas. A thousand times yes."

…

Haley screamed as Nathan launched himself onto the bed, where she was lying beneath the sheets. The mattress bounced and sagged with his weight as he crawled up over her. She giggled and breathlessly cried out his name as she lamely attempted to push him off. Nathan grinned and pulled the iPad out of her hands, he held it teasingly above her head.

"Hey," She pouted, "I was watching that."

He barked a laugh and glanced up at the screen, to see that she'd been watching The Flintstones. "Babe, we're practically newlyweds, Fred Flintstone shouldn't be in our bed."

Her eyes danced in a contented manner, "Well, I got bored waiting for you to get out of the bathroom!"

Nathan shook his head, grinning widely, the relief of having Theo home was everywhere. The air was lighter, the mood happier, everything felt better. He laid the iPad on the bedside table and began tickling at Haley's waist as she squirmed and protested. "Maybe I was waiting for you to come and join me?"

"Nathan! Stop!" She laughed, kicking her feet free of the comforter and pushing them against his thighs to little effect. "You're a ball player, this isn't a fair fight!"

He smirked and caught her wrists in his hands; she wriggled a little beneath him as he watched on amused.

Haley rolled her eyes and stopped resisted, "Fine, you win! Just kiss me already!"

Quirking his brow, Nathan leaned down, his lips hovered just above hers. Her eyes, that had been closed, popped open questioningly. He swept his mouth to her ear and whispered, "Who said anything about kissing?"

She opened her mouth to protest but was caught mid-breath by his lips. They grazed hers softly, gliding over her skin like feathers and then returned with fervour and hunger. Haley felt his tongue slide between her lips and let it fall easily into sync with hers, roaming and tasting. Her wrists were still in his grip, held above her head and his thighs were now around her waist, straddling her to the bed. His chest was pressed against hers; rising and falling dramatically with every laboured breath he took. She closed her eyes and let herself fall into the moment.

His touch was gentle but she could feel the need behind it; she could feel it in the brush of his fingertips, from the way that his knees were squeezing against her ribs, from the pressure of his lips against hers. She felt it because it was inside of her too like adrenaline, kicked into force by his wicked glance.

Slowly he pulled his lips away and Haley fluttered her eyes open in protest. "You know, for someone who didn't come here to kiss me, we're sure doing a lot of it."

"Are you complaining?" Nathan challenged, his easy smirk playing over his features.

Pouting her lips, she sighed. "No. Only that we've stopped."

"I really didn't get into bed to kiss you though." Nathan pointed out, making her brow pinch with confusion. "Babe," He laughed at her expression and how she could possible believe that he didn't want to kiss her. For good measure he pecked a quick kiss to her lips before rolling off of her onto his side. He kept his arm slung around her waist and his gaze settled on her confused brown eyes.

Licking his lips, he took a moment to explain, "What I said earlier, about us, having a baby, I was serious, Hales."

"I was too." Haley bit down on her lip, "I am, I mean."

"Then what's stopping us?" Nathan quizzed seeing the indecision over her face. He swept some of her hair onto her shoulder and rested his hand there over her warm skin.

She shook her head, "Nothing…well, me, I suppose. I just, if we have a baby and god, this sounds so selfish but I was thinking of maybe not teaching anymore. And I don't want you to think that I want to live off your money because it's not that at all. When I was growing up my Mom was always around and I loved that. And with my teaching it takes up so much of my time. When I do something I always want to do it to the best of my ability and I don't think I can do the two at once, least not to begin with," She averted her eyes, gazing instead to the ceiling. "That's what's holding me back."

"You're a goofball, you know that?" Nathan laughed at her and she turned her head back towards him, "Haley, you can do whatever you want. I think you taking time out to be a Mom is an awesome idea. And if you want to go back to work later that's awesome too."

A smile crept over her lips, "You mean that? I'd still do something, of course, but not full time. I was thinking that I could help you out with the sports centre or maybe I could do some more Open Mics?"

"That sounds perfect, Hales." Nathan said sincerely. "So we should get practising, don't you think? No more cartoons in bed."

"None? Not even Tom and Jerry or Scooby Doo?" Haley pouted adorably.

Nathan laughed, shaking his head, "I want our kid to be just like you, you know?"

"Nathan, most kids are like me; they all like cartoons…and Pez." Haley rolled her eyes but she was smiling. Every time Nathan mentioned their kid a tingling sensation ran the length of her body.

"I don't mean that." Nathan chewed on his lip, "Like, I want them to be smart and have your confidence, where they don't care what people think of them, but everyone will love them because they're so nice anyway. And I want them to have your laugh; the one where you find something so funny and you can't stop giggling, that one. And for them to be complete goofballs, just like their Mom."

Haley smiled at his enthusiasm, she had no idea he'd put so much thought into it, "Don't our kids get to have any pieces of you? Because I want them to have those beautiful blue eyes and that smirk that says they've done something wrong but is too cute to resist. And I hope for their sake they get your co-ordination!"

"I suppose I'll give you that one, I can't live with more than one klutz." Nathan reasoned. "Okay, no more talking, you,"

She squealed through a laugh as Nathan leaned over her and began to kiss her all over.

…

Brooke laid horizontally across the double bed, her polished fingernails dancing up and down the soft cotton tummy of Theo's baby grow. Inside the footed onesie he kicked out with his little feet and bunched his hands into fists before letting out a short whimpered grunt. His soft eyebrows knitted together and he frowned in a frustrated manner, to Brooke's amusement.

"Are you making a dirty diaper for Daddy?" Brooke cooed happily, watching the changing expression over Theo's face.

"Hey, Daddy heard that." Julian warned strolling in from the adjoining bathroom, roughly towel drying his hair. He leaned over the bed and chuckled at his son, "Take a look at his face."

"I know. He must get that from you." Brooke said smoothly, chancing a glance up at Julian.

Julian snorted, and whispered to Theo, "Mommy likes to pretend she doesn't make funny faces, so we'll go along with it, okay kid?"

Brooke gasped and held her hands over Theo's ears, "Don't tell him things like that! He's supposed to believe that I'm the most beautiful girl in the whole world, and love me so much that he'll never go off another girl."

Julian looked to her and smirked, nudging her gently on the shoulder, "Hey, crazy possessive Mom, where have you been hiding?"

Smirking, Brooke raised one manicured eyebrow, "You should have seen the look I gave the baby girl in the next crib last week; she was totally eyeing him up."

"You really are crazy." Julian remarked, pressing a kiss to her hair. "The baby girl in the next crib was cute, and I may have slipped her Kook's number, so,"

"Not funny." Brooke warned, returning her gaze to Theo as he wriggled and protested at his parents' wavering attention. Brooke beamed at the sight and began to blow raspberries on Theo's belly.

Julian crossed the room and reached for a paper bag hidden behind the curtain by the window.

Brooke looked up and tilted her head questioningly, "Is that a shopping bag? Is that a shopping bag for me?"

"Actually, it's for Kook but you can open it for him, we know how much you like gifts." Julian smirked.

"I do like gifts." Brooke agreed, crossing her legs and scooping Theo up into her arms. "What has Daddy got for you, Baby?"

Carefully, with her free hand, Brooke reached into the bag, her fingers grasping at something soft and plush. Brooke inclined her head curiously. When Theo had been in the NICU they hadn't been allowed to take him any soft toys as they carried infection, now that he was home, he deserved a cuddly toy.

With a flourish, Brooke pulled the toy out of the bag and gasped. Theo's eyes focused on his Mom and then the gift in her hand. A little baby grin formed over his features and his arms pushed forwards towards it, reaching for the plush purple monkey.

"You got him a purple monkey!" Brooke gushed. "A purple monkey! How did you, where did you get this?"

Julian laughed, happy to see how delighted she was, "You like it?"

"We love it." Brooke confirmed, holding the monkey in front of Theo who cooed happily. "Now come and join us, Daddy."

Julian didn't need to be told twice; he padded over and laid down opposite Brooke, his hand reaching out to stroke Theo's soft hair. "This is day one, Brooke, the start of it all."

She beamed but didn't take her eyes from their boy, "I know. I've been waiting so long for this moment."

"It's here now, we don't have to worry anymore, we get to enjoy him." Julian nudged her gently. "He's all ours now."

Brooke hummed under her breath and stroked her finger under Theo's chin, "He is. Me, you and him, right?"

Julian's brow knitted at the tone of her voice, "Brooke?"

She shook her head and bit down on her lower lip.

"He's enough Brooke, he will always, always be enough." Julian implored, knowing exactly what she was torturing herself with. "Three's our magic number, remember?"

Slowly Brooke lifted her gaze, tears shining in her eyes, "Yeah, kind of like a Trinity?"

"Exactly." Julian agreed, "We're a trinity."

"A trinity…I like that." Brooke smiled, "Perfect."

…

A few broken hours later and Brooke was sat downstairs in the kitchen with a grizzly Theo, bouncing him in her arms as the first rays of sunlight crept into the room.

"Hey, Mommy," Julian leaned sleepily against the doorframe of the kitchen and smiled lazily towards his family, "You want me to take him? You can't have had any sleep."

"No." Brooke shook her head, "I'm fine. I don't mind if he screams every night for the next three years,"

Julian padded across the room and swept the hair from Brooke's face, "I know you don't, but you need to sleep, Brooke. Besides, you should share him."

"I'm-," She stopped her protests at the sound of the front door clicking opening. Brooke tilted her head and crept out into the hall behind Julian. She gasped and pointed her finger when she saw the two blondes slinking back into the house, still dressed in the clothes they'd worn out the previous night. "Leyton walk of shame!"

Peyton winced at her friend's raspy accusation, "Why are you guys up? It's only just getting light outside."

"Kook was wondering where his Aunty and Uncle had got to, he hasn't been able to sleep." Brooke said with a quirked brow, "And Brooke's been wondering if you did something dirty."

As Peyton rolled her eyes, Lucas smirked a little, nudging his hip gently against hers. He moved his lips to her ear, "Tell them,"

"Tell us what?" Julian asked curiously. He'd known Peyton a long time and he'd never seen her acting so anxiously, she was chewing on her thumbnail and hovering from foot to foot.

Peyton bit down on her lower lip and looked between Lucas and an inquisitive Brooke and Julian. She broke into a wide grin and her eyes sparkled, "Okay, well," She wriggled her left hand free from Lucas' and held it in front of her, "Lucas asked me to marry him!"

Brooke screamed and then Theo cried and Julian laughed.

"Are you kidding?" Brooke's eyes bulged as she reached for a closer inspection of the ring, "Peyton! Broody, this is…I had no idea! I usually sense things like this! I'm so excited! I'm so making your wedding dress, and Kook can be a Page Boy!"

"Congratulations, you guys, that's incredible." Julian cut in, "I would say that Brooke will calm down when the news sinks in but considering the fact that she's sleep deprived and hasn't even had coffee yet, I'd say that she's only going to get worse."

Lucas laughed and took Julian's offer of a congratulatory handshake, "I'd be disappointed if Cheery wasn't acting like this."

Brooke winked at the comment as she held Peyton's ring up to the light, admiring it as it sparkled, "I completely approve, by the way."

"Thanks," Peyton said through a smirk. Brooke and Haley's opinion counted a lot and she was glad that they both got along so well with Lucas. She thought that they were all lucky in that respect; she couldn't imagine dating someone that her friends didn't like.

"Brooke?!" Haley's slightly confused and slightly agitated voice drifted down from the upper landing over-looking the entrance hall. The group glanced up to see both she and Nathan stood in hastily tied robes wearing frowns and not much else.

Grinning deliciously, Brooke quirked her brow, "I'm sorry, did my scream interrupt some Naley bed rocking?"

Nathan narrowed his eyes, "We were sleeping," he paused as everyone looked to him disbelievingly, "okay, we were sleeping naked, but still sleeping. Why are you all up? It's the middle of the night."

"Naked slee-,"

"Brooke screamed," Lucas cut in softly, "because I proposed to Peyton last night and she said yes."

Haley's big brown eyes widened and Nathan smirked. They scrambled down the stairs and Haley flew into her friend's arms, hugging her excitedly. Nathan pulled his brother into a one armed hug and clapped him on the back.

"That's awesome." Nathan nodded, "Far too early in the morning, but awesome."

"Actually, I'm glad everyone's up early," Brooke said mysteriously, leading them all to the kitchen, slightly worried looks over their faces, "I've had this wonderful idea."

"That's a dangerous sentence," Nathan said with alarmed eyes as everyone fell into seats around the kitchen table.

"Okay," Brooke focused her attention on Theo in her arms, "Since this gorgeous boy is home and well, George was so good to us over the past few months, I mean we were always knocking on his door and getting him to pray for us because we didn't know how and…everything….I said that we'd all go to church service today!"

Even Julian seemed surprised by the announcement. Everything Brooke had said was true and George really had been incredible, but they still weren't exactly church people.

"Please!" Brooke begged them, "For Theo, look at his little face!"

Nathan scrubbed a hand over his features, "Fine but I'm going back to bed for a couple of hours. Congrats, Luke, Peyt. And Davis, you're going to owe me for this church thing."

"Whatever you say, Hotshot." Brooke smirked as Nathan pulled Haley up with him.

Lucas and Peyton went to follow but Brooke stopped them with a look. "Brooke?"

Brooke leaned in closely, "You want to know a secret?"

"Always." Lucas smiled tiredly, his arms around his new fiancée's waist.

"George is going to marry Naley today!" Brooke burst with excitement, "Don't tell them!"

Julian, Lucas and Peyton froze in a state of shock, not saying a word. A gasp of disbelief came instead from the doorway. Haley was stood with her mouth open, staring at Brooke and shaking her head. Nathan was beside her, his eyes shining with something.

"What do you say, Hales?" He inclined his head to Haley, his eyebrows raised. "You said that a big wedding wasn't what was important, you just wanted to get married…"

Haley laughed and through her arms up, "Okay, let's get married!"

Nathan smiled broadly, "So I guess that we won't be going back to bed now?"

"Not likely." Haley laughed with a shake of her head, "Oh my God, it's my wedding day!"

"Can I go back to bed?" Nathan requested optimistically.

"Dude, this is like your Stag Party right now." Peyton laughed at him, ruffling his hair playfully. "You want orange juice or coffee?"

"Coffee!" Everyone chorused at once to which Peyton rolled her eyes dramatically and began setting mugs out on the side.

Julian produced a plate of pastries from somewhere and everyone began to tuck in hungrily.

"I've got déjà vu." Haley said wrapping a grin around her lips, "This is like the time in the café when Brooke declared that she'd found Mr Haley."

"And it turned out to be Lucas." Peyton laughed.

Brooke shrugged, "I was close enough. If it hadn't been for me setting Haley and Lucas up on that date, you two girlies would probably still be single!"

"Hey!" Haley protested but she was smiling, it was her wedding day.

Peyton set the steaming mugs down and raised hers in a toast, "Here's to no more terrible blind dates."

"Because Brooke is such a genius." Brooke added.

"To the wedding of Mr and Mrs Haley." Lucas smirked.

"Haha." Nathan said dryly, "Here's to my Stag Party."

"And for my son being the youngest member of a Stag Party ever." Julian added, smiling wryly at Theo.

"Cheers, my Kooky family." Haley grinned and the mugs clinked together creating a pleasant sound.

"To the Kooks."

THE END

…

One last thing to say to you all;

Thank you so much for reading, you lovely, lovely people.

Lexie :)