Setting: Brooke's house - Friday night.

Brooke was feeling a little apprehensive about going to New
York tonight with Edmund. She wished she had gone by
Myrtle's on the way home. Nothing in her closet was
appropriate. "Why am I so nervous. Edmund is my best friend
and business partner," Brooke thought. Lately, every time she
found herself alone with Edmund for more than a few minutes,
she got nervous. She hadn't given it much thought. Helping
Jamie deal with Tad and Dixie's divorce and running Tempo
kept her too busy to think.

Brooke sat down on the bed to relax and get hold of her
emotions. After a few moments, it hit her. "Oh, God," she
groaned. "It can't be!" She'd long given up hope of ever
getting back with Edmund. Had she not traded seats with
Maria, she would have died. If that weren't bad enough, Jim
was only on that plane because of Brooke. Somehow, he knew
Brooke had adopted Laura. There is no way Edmund could
totally forget that Brooke was responsible on many levels for
Maria's death. Even if he could, she couldn't! "I can't
allow myself to fall in love or be in love with Edmund ever
again. No, it has to stop!"

Just then, Brooke noticed a chill in the room. She walked
over to close the window to keep out the cold of an early
spring evening. "Damn!" Brooke thought after catching a
faint smell from the tree outside her window. It was a
cherry blossom tree ; just like the one Brooke and Edmund
were standing under the first time they kissed. As the tears
welled up in Brooke's eyes, she heard footsteps and then
Tad's voice,

"Brooke, honey. The boys and I are leaving. Brooke, are you
up there?"

Realizing that Tad was on his way up the stairs, Brooke
quickly wiped her face and put on the TV.

"Brooke?"

"Tad, come in". Brooke said throwing on her black cocktail
dress.

" Brooke, are you OK? Why didn't you answer?"

"Sorry, I guess, the TV volume is too loud. Let me go say
bye to the boys. Jamie has been looking forward to tonight
all week. Are you guys going for pizza or burgers?" Brooke
said doing her best to sound casual.

"Wait," Tad says grabbing Brooke by the elbow. "Something is
wrong. I can see it in your eyes."

Realizing Tad was staring at her, Brooke said, "Tad, I'm just
running late. I'm fine. Really"

"Damn it," Brooke whispered as she felt her eyes swelling
with tears.

"Brooke, look at me." Tad said gently placing his hand on
Brooke's cheek. Immediately the tears began falling. As the
first tear trickled over Tad's finger, he pulled Brooke into
him and held her tight.

"Brooke, you do so much for me, for everyone. Let me help
you. Please tell me what's wrong. Brooke, please, honey,
let me help you."

As soon as she could manage it, Brooke pulled away from Tad.
She felt funny about confiding in Tad, the man who convinced
her to leave Edmund. If it were not for Brooke going back to
Tad, she and Edmund might be married now. Edmund probably
would not have married Maria, and Maria would certainly still
be alive!

"Brooke, I care about you. I know I have not always been
there for you, but I'm here now. Talk to me, please."

"Tad, I'd prefer not talking about this, OK?" Brooke
whispered so as not to be overheard by the boys.

"Look, if you don't want to talk to me, talk to Edmund on
your way to New York, tonight. Please! Promise! You need to
talk to some one." At the mention of Edmund's name, the
tears started flowing again.

"Brooke, is it Edmund? Did he do something to hurt you?"

Upon hearing those words, Brooke was filled with rage.
"What!" Brooke yelled, "Edmund could never hurt me as much
as I hurt him when I left him for you!" As soon as she
finished, Brooke wished she could take back what she said.
She did not want to hurt Tad.

"Tad, I'm sorry."

"Brooke. Don't be. Besides I'm just as responsible for your
leaving Edmund as you are. If I hadn't pressured you, you
might not have left him. Don't forget Edmund isn't a saint
in all this. He kidnapped Erica and left you while he
stalked around Budapest. Perhaps if he had been here
fighting for you, I would not have been able to talk you into
coming with me."

"He did fight for me." Brooke yelled between sobs. "He
tried to talk me into coming back with him several times. By
the time I realized my mistake, it was too late. He had
found Maria"

"Brooke, I didn't know. When?"

"Remember when Edmund and I almost died in the quicksand?"

"You mean, you two?"

"Yes, and there were a few other times."

"Honey, I'm sorry. I should have been honest with you when I
realized my feelings for Dixie were returning. I did not
realize your and Edmund's feelings ran so deep. I should
have said this before, please forgive me!"

"Tad, I have long ago. You're a wonderful to father to
Jamie. That makes up for anything that happened between us."

"I'm confused" Tad said brow furrowed.

"What?" Brooke said frantically drying her eyes.

"How have you been able to work with Edmund for all these
years given your history? You two were more connected than I
realized. How were you able to attend all the Wild Wind
functions and socialize with him and Maria? A love like you
two shared does not die without some lingering bitterness on
at least one side."

The look in Brooke's eyes as Tad finished explained
everything. He knew from the look in her eyes that Brooke
still loved Edmund. Brooke's eyes opened right into her
soul. No wonder she has made such horrendous choices in boy
friends during the past decade. Instead of remarrying Adam,
she chose Pierce. Adam would have fought for her. Obviously,
she did not want any relationship that did not include Edmund
to succeed.

"My God, honey, your still in love with him!"

The possibility that she was in love with Edmund frightened
her. However, the fact that her feelings were so apparent
upset her more. "Tad, listen, I need to get ready. We have
an important meeting with an advertiser tonight. I need to
collect my thoughts. Edmund will be here soon."

"Brooke, look at me, you're still in love with Edmund.
Aren't you?" Tad held Brooke's hand in his. He did not
remember the last time she looked so vulnerable. Even during
her murder trial, she looked defiant.

"The thought never crossed my mind until tonight," Brooke
blurted out against her better judgement. "It doesn't matter
anyway. I have hurt Edmund too much for there ever to be
anything between us."

"Brooke, all that stuff happened nine, ten years ago/"

"No, I'm responsible for Maria dying. That was only 4 years
ago."

"Brooke, how can you blame yourself?"

"I changed seats with Maria so Edmund and I could work. I
should have died. Edmund would still be with Maria if I
remained where I was supposed to be. In addition, Jim
followed me on board. He only came to Pine Valley because I
adopted Laura."

"Brooke, you are not to blame for Maria's death. Edmund does
not blame you. If he did, he could not have remained as
close to you as he has. Brooke whenever you've needed help
;which isn't often because of your damned self reliance-
Edmund has been there ; front and center. The rest of us
wanted to help, but he has always beaten us to it. Doesn't
that tell you something about how he feels?"

"Yeah, he pities me, "Brooke says half laughing, wanting to
believe Tad's assumption.

"Mom," Brooke turned startled to see Jaime standing in the
bedroom doorway. "What's going on?"

"Jamie, your mom is worried about her meeting tonight, but
she'll be fine." Tad said still holding Brooke's hand in
his.

"Dad, we need to leave if we want to have pizza before the
movie."

"OK, you and JR get your coats on and I'll be right there."

"Bye, Mom. You'll knock 'em dead." Jamie said giving Brooke
a hug. As Brooke engulfed her son in her arms, Tad embraced
them both.

After a few seconds, Jamie pulled away from the family
embrace and left Brooke's room, calling back. "Enough hugging
guys. We'll miss the movie."

As Jaime left, Brooke looked up at Tad and realized how lucky
she was to have a friend like him. Together they were
raising a wonderful son. However, she was a bit embarrassed
at having poured her heart out to him.

"Tad, thank you so much. I promise I won't break down every
time you come over."

"Brooke, I don't know where I'd be if you hadn't found me in
Napa. You're responsible for Dixie letting JR come with us
tonight. Please, let me help you in the few ways that I
can."

"OK I promise." Brooke said just to shut Tad up.

"The boys and I'll be leaving in about five minutes. Please
wake me up when you get home tonight. We'll talk some more.
I make a pretty good batch of French toast," Tad said as he
pulled Brooke close and kissed her on the cheek.

"I've heard! Jamie raves about your French toast and
strawberry jam."

"Brooke, I'm not going to let this go. You've given me some
great advice recently, please let me return the favor. Tell
Edmund how you feel. Trust me."

As Tad leaves the bedroom, Brooke smiles as she realizes how
much her relationship with Tad has changed over the years.
They went from friends to lovers to adversaries to parents
with joint custody, and now finally back to friends. She
wondered if it was possible for her and Edmund to come full
circle.