Assurance Closure

Brooke sighed and sat more comfortably on the couch.

"So Brooke, I thought ya were asleep."

"I was. I heard Embry talking to someone."

"Oh. Are ya mad she called me?" Oli heard a slight pause.

"No." Oli took a sharp breath. He wasn't expecting that.

"Brooke, we really....we need to talk."

"I know."

"Are ya workin' today?"

"No."

"Can I come by?" he heard her hesitate.

"Sure." Oli couldn't help but let a slight smile cross his face.

"I'll be over in about two hours."

"Alright. See you then Oli."

"See you later Brooke."

He clicked the end button and sighed. He had a major hangover, but it wasn't as bad as it normally was. He took a shower and got ready. He walked to her apartment and Embry opened the door.

"Mister Oli!" she squealed. Oli couldn't help but smile. the tot was marvelous. Brooke came out her room and gave Oli a smile.

"Hello."

"Ello."

Oli crouched down to Embry's level and she gave him a hug around his neck. He hugged her back and felt his heart swell with an emotion for the young girl. He looked up and saw Brooke looking down at them, smiling and with what he thought to be a few tears in her eyes. Oli gave Brooke a small smile and she gave one back.

"Mister Oli?"

"Yes?"

"Can I just call you Oli?" he grinned.

"Yeah." Embry grinned and she took his hand and dragged him off to her room.

"Mommy told me you were coming so I wanted you to see my room." she said excitedly.

Oli walked into the dark purple painted room. He looked around and saw various three year old girl things. There was a tote in the corner and Oli looked at it. It was simply labeled with duck tape "OSS" Oli looked at Brooke and she just looked down.

"Embry, do ya know what's in that box?" Embry looked at it and then nodded.

"Mommy said that some of my daddy's things were in there. She said that it made her sad to look at, but it would maker her sadder to leave." He he looked over at Brooke.

"Embry, play in here. Your mum and I need to talk, okay?" the girl nodded and Brooke and Oli exited the room.

"So...ya told her nothin' 'bout us?"

"I've told her some things. I told her you lived in Sheffield. I told her that you were a famous musician."

"Did...did ya ever show her pictures?" Brooke smiled wistfully at that.

"No. But She found some of us. And she figured out that you were her dad simply because she said I looked so happy with you and that you two look similar." Oli smiled.

"What did ya tell 'er?" Brooke raised a brow

"About what?"

"'bout...'bout me making you happy." Brooke felt tears come to her eyes.

"I told her....I told her that you did." Oli smiled. He scooted closer to her. Brooke looked up shocked.

"Oli..." she said softly, the confusion clear in her voice.

"Brooke...I..." he took a deep breath. He looked into her blue eyes and took a deep breath.

"Brooke, I wa-" they were cut off by his cell phone ringing. Brooke took this as her chance and stood up. Oli watched her as she walked away and continued to talk on the phone.

When he finished Brooke was in Embry's room. Oli stood in the door way and just watched the mother play with her three year old.

Oli wished he had known about Embry. She was so beautiful and she was so much like both of them. He smiled as Embry climbed on top of her mother and Brooke laughed. Embry looked over at Oli and smiled. She motioned for him to join them. Brooke avoided the look that Oli shot her.

"Mommy....is Oli...is Oli my daddy?" Embry asked when Oli was sitting with them. Brooke took a deep breath.

"Yes honey. Oli is your daddy." Embry squealed and hugged Oli

"Can we stay with you daddy?" she asked earnestly. Oli and Brooke exchanged glances.

"Embry honey, it's a little more complicated than that." Brooke said softly. Embry shook her head.

"NO! Everyone else's mommy and daddy live together and love each other. Why can't we?" she asked her eyes filling up with tears. Brooke and Oli exchanged glances again. Oli decided to try and talk to her.

"Embry, sometimes love...no matter how strong it is, just isn't enough."

"Do you love mommy?" She asked her hazel eyes fixed on him. Oli looked at Brooke and then back at his daughter.

"I...it's hard to explain how I feel about your mum." she shook her head, her black hair flying.

"NO!" she started to cry and Oli didn't know what to do. Embry buried her head in Brooke's chest. she cried and eventually fell asleep. Brooke put Embry in her bed and Oli and her left the room. Brooke shut the door quietly and they sat back down on the couch.

"Brooke, I'm sorry...I'm sorry if I did anythin' to drive ya away."

"Oli, I told you. It's not your fault. It's...it's mine. And I know, I should've told you about Embry..." she said and felt a fresh wave of tears fill her eyes.

"Brooke, I really do still love ya. I've denied it until now. But when I saw ya yesterday...my god, it was like seein' ya for the first time again. I...I felt my chest fill with emotions I thought I'd never feel again." Brooke felt her eyes fill up with tears.

"God Oli, it's like you walk in my life and I just become a mess of tears." she said, with a slight laugh. He gave her a smile and scooted closer, holding her to his chest. She cried and when she stopped she just sat there, his arms around her calming nerves.

"Brooke...I've missed ya. God 'ow I've missed ya."

"I've missed you too Oli."