I wanted to do something in honor of Brooke's birthday. I would have liked to have had this finished & posted on her birthday (March 4th), but I have had no time to do anything with work and family stuff…but here ya go, this is the first chapter lol I will be continuing this story if you guys seem to be liking it.

A little background, this is a little different than the show. Instead of leaving town at the end of season 6, Lucas & Peyton leave more beginning/mid season 5, but are NOT married! lol Brooke doesn't start dating Julian, so she is single in this story & Peyton does come back to town, but with Jake. The only people who really talk to Lucas are Naley…also the resort they go to in this is the one they all went to in season 7 :)…Pairings, Brucas of course! Nathan/Haley, Peyton/Jake, Skills/Bevin, Mouth/Rachel…ok enjoy lol

"Oh come on Brooke, it'll be fun, everyone getting away for a few days. Besides you have to go, we're celebrating your birthday," Haley said sitting at the counter of Brooke's kitchen, trying to convince Brooke it was a good idea to go on a trip. She was watching her friend work on new designs and frantically sending emails to people. If anyone needed to get away it was Brooke. Everyone new she was stressed about the future of her company, that's why they all agreed a trip was the perfect thing for her birthday.

"I don't know Hales, I have so much going on right now…"

"That's exactly why you need this weekend. And when's the last time we've had the whole gang together?"

Sending one last email, she looked up at her resilient friend, huffing she smiled, "fine, you win, weekend getaway it is."

"Yes!" Haley answered standing, "ok, go pack, I will be back in an hour to pick you up."

"An hour?" Brooke asked watching her friend get up and open her front door, "Haley!" she yelled as the door closed. Huffing one last time, she closed her laptop and headed for her room to start packing.

When Haley came back to the house, Brooke was still in her room. She had actually finished packing, trying not to put too much thought into the clothes she was choosing. Sitting in front of her vanity, she was finishing up her makeup when Haley popped in. "Hey, you almost ready?"

"Yup," she answered turning to face her friend, "somehow I managed to be ready to go in that very small time frame you gave me. Nathan in the car?"

"Yup, we just dropped Jamie off to Deb, we were gonna bring him, but she insisted we needed some time for us. Nathan was pretty happy about that," she laughed.

Making their way out to the car, Brooke said hello to Nathan and found room for her bags in the back. All her bags but one that she put next to her in the back seat, that bag had her laptop and sketch pad; she figured she could get something down on the long drive, even if it meant hearing constant comments from her friends.

But before she could hit send, the phone was ripped out of her hand by Haley, "No working missy, I'm holding onto this," she said sternly before answering the brunette's question, "Peyton, Jake, Rachel, Bevin, Mouth, Skills, and hopefully Lucas, we invited him, but he said he may not make it."

"He's coming, he called earlier, he said it'll be late tonight, but he'd be there," Nathan chimed in.

Brooke couldn't help the smile that formed on her lips. She would be lying if she said she didn't miss Lucas, she did, she missed talking to him, she missed seeing him shoot around at the river court, she even missed the smug look he got on his face when he teased her. It had been a while since they talked, even longer since they had seen each other, they were both so busy. She secretly loved that he was willing to give up a week to be with her for her birthday, even if it wasn't just for her, to be with their friends, it had been too long since they had all been together as group.

Opting for sleep over work, Brooke rested her head against the car window. She closed her eyes, a smile resting contently on her lips, as she thought about her friends and the week ahead. So far she was glad Haley had talked her into some time away, she even promised herself no more work, that was if she ever got her phone back.

When they got to the ski resort, to check in, most of the group was there, the only ones missing Skills, Bevin, and of course Lucas. Nathan had reserved a cabin with six rooms, it was the biggest one the resort had, but they needed the space.

Everyone claimed a room when they got into the cabin, taking in the size. Brooke was in her room unpacking when she heard a knock. Looking up she saw Peyton in the doorway and smiled as her friend made her way in and sat on the bed. "So tell me, what's going on in the fabulous world of Brooke Davis?" Peyton asked, getting an eye roll from the brunette standing.

"I wouldn't say fabulous," she laughed, "I've just been busy trying to get everything with the store back on track, it's been a pretty crazy few months."

The blond nodded knowing exactly how long it had been, she was there through some of Brooke's longest nights, Haley too; the three of having more sleepovers over the past few months than they did in high school. "How are things going on the Victoria front?" Peyton asked, getting her answer from the look on her friends face, "that bad huh?"

"No, I mean it's tough, but it's not as bad as it could be. I'm just hoping she keeps her distance, at least while I'm here. I know I have a million things to get done and I planned on working on down town, but now that I'm here? I don't even wanna open my laptop," she laughed, moving her now empty suitcase into the closet.

"Well good," Peyton said sitting up from her spot on the bed, "you deserve some time off, you work too much Brooke. This weekend is for you, so don't worry or over think anything, just have fun."

The gang got settled into the rooms after Skills and Bevin finally got there. They all wanted to get some sleep and get ready for the day tomorrow. Brooke laid in her bed, trying to relax, starring out the window, as her mind continued to race. She took a deep breath and looked up at the mountain, it was so beautiful, that alone was enough to calm her nerves some. Her eyelids were finally getting heavy and she could feel herself drifting off, when she heard the front door.

Slowly getting out of bed, she opened her bedroom door and went to look around the cabin. She flipped on the light switch, not sure who or what she'd find. A sigh of relief left her lips when she saw the blond standing there, trying to 'quietly' bring his bags in the door. He turned around startled by the light coming on, but quickly smiled when he saw who turned it on. "Hey Broody."

"Brooke," he answered walking toward her, pulling her into a tight hug. It felt to hug her, it had been too long. Too long since he'd hugged her, since he'd seen her and boy did he miss Brooke Davis.

As they pulled apart, he grabbed his suit case, "I'll help you get your stuff in your room before you wake anyone else up," she giggled picking up his computer bag and heading down the hall to room next to hers. Brooke sat on his bed as he started putting his stuff away, "I saw your new line, it's nice."

She kinked her eyebrow and looked up at him confusion on her face, "you did?"

He laughed, "I do get your magazine Miss Davis."

"Right. So you also know the do's and don'ts of sensible shoes and the hottest new hairstyles," she joked, poking fun at herself.

"I do, all thanks to you," he replied with a smile, sitting next to her. "Alright, what's wrong?"

"What do you mean?"

"Come on Brooke, I know you. I know something's bothering you, what's up?"

"It's nothing," she said sliding her feet down and moving closer to the top of the bed so she could rest on a pillow.

"It's not nothing, if I can tell something is wrong," Lucas said mimicking her movement and resting his head on the other pillow next to her.

"It's just I love my company and my clothes, but lately I feel like it's not fun, and it's more..."

"Work?"

"Well yeah. I know that sounds stupid, it is work, but it's never felt like that before. Between getting designs done on a deadline, the constant emails, not to mention my mom trying to medal her way back in and control everything. Lately I just feel like I'm losing the reason I started my company in the first place."

"So do something about it. Talk to your mom, extend your deadlines, it's your company Brooke, that means you're still the boss," he replied smiling, resting his hand on her arm.

She nodded, smiling at him softly. "What about you? How's your latest book coming?"

"It's coming. Speaking of deadlines, it's been hard reaching this one. I don't know, lately I feel like I've lost my muse." She nodded again, this time her eyes were closed, he knew she had to be exhausted, he smiled to himself as he watched her for a minute. He grabbed a blanket from the bottom of the bed and pulled it over her, kissing the top of her head. "Maybe this weekend will change that," he spoke the words out loud finishing his thought, even if it was to himself. Wrapping an arm around Brooke's waist, he pulled her in slightly, he missed this, missed having her around, having her this close, he didn't even realize how much until tonight.

I know this chapter was short, but i kinda wanna gage what you guys think lol this will probably end up being a few chapters, I know I shouldn't start a new story when I need to work on my other ones, but I really wanted to do something for Brooke's birthday :) even if it was a couple months ago lol…reviews welcome, please let me know what you're thinking so far.