This is my second One Tree Hill story, however- the other story wasn't exactly a hit. So….. it's not that I've given up on that one. It's just that, I'm starting a new one. Which is…… this. Yep. It's based on an after Season 2 setting, where Brooke is back from California, Nathan comes back from High Flyers, and well…..then all the drama settles. Yeah….. and in case you're wondering, no…. I have yet to watch a single episode of Season 3 of One Tree Hill, mostly because I'm an Asian and live in Asia….. so there. Obviously, I am UPSET about Sophia and Chad's break-up/separation, then again, who am I to judge them, right? Pairs are undecided. And just incase you wanted to know, I will be focusing on everyone. Anyway, please read and review people…..

Disclaimer: I have never and will never own One Tree Hill. As much as I want to.

Chapter 1: Home Is Where The Heart Is

Trailing her way home from California- well, apparently, it wasn't her real home. Just a temporary one. A place where she could stay in, so she wouldn't have to leave Tree Hill, Peyton, her friends……. Lucas…….or anyone she would give a damn about, for that matter.

'Pull yourself together, Brooke Davis…….' She thought, gulping, as she tugged lightly on her shirt.

Flashback……..

"I love you, Brooke..." Lucas said, sitting on her-his- bed after their short kiss.

"Excuse me?" Brooke replied, shock etched on her expressions.

"I know I screwed up with Peyton, Brooke…. And I'm really sorry," he sighed lightly, turning to look at her.

End Flashback…..

She paused, as she stopped in front of her…. well maybe their house, taking a deep breath, as she cautiously put her things in front of the white (?A little help?) door, slowly turning the door knob and pulling open the door.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

He got off the bus, picking up his luggage and making his way past the groups of people, looking out for his mother's car. She said she'd be there when he was back.

"Nathan!" He turned, smiling, when he saw his mother waving to him, smiling widely.

really, smiles are contagious.

"Mom," He replied, walking towards her and hugging her tightly, remembering how much he'd missed her.

"How was it, honey?" She smiled lightly, the both of them walked to her car.

"Good. How was your summer?" he paused. "You know, with Dad in the hospital and all that. And speaking of which, how is Dad? Still alive?"

"My summer was good- and yes, Dan's still alive. The doctors say he should be up soon, maybe." Deb shrugged, pulling open the boot and helping Nathan put his stuff in.

Nathan raised an eyebrow, soon shrugging it off and stepping into Deb's car.

"Haley…." Nathan blurted out. "Is she still in Tree Hill?"

"Yes, Nathan. She is. I think you should talk to her, Nathan. Get things clear." Deb answered, glancing ever so slightly at Nathan.

"I will," Nathan mumbled, nodding.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nobody was there. Everything was the same; other than the fact that her-his-room was much cleaner. Brooke sighed a sigh of relief as she picked her things up and carefully placed them beside her bed- she'd tidy up later.

Smiling to herself, she stood up straight, checking her image in the mirror.

She calmed herself down, taking deep, slow breaths, as she slowly walked out of the room, smiling to herself.

'Peyton's gonna be so surprised……' Brooke thought, adding a spring to her steps, walking to Peyton's.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nathan slammed his mother's car door forcefully, walking tiredly towards the boot, lifting it up with ease.

"Be careful with the car next time," Deb frowned, helping Nathan with his stuff. "You might just break it."

"Got it, Mom." Nathan sighed, carefully closing the boot.

"That's better," Deb smiled, putting an arm around his shoulders. "Welcome home, honey."

"It's nice to be home," Nathan turned to face Deb, a small smile drawn on his lips.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"P. Sawyer!" Brooke exclaimed, stepping into Peyton's room- apparently, undetected.

Peyton practically jumped out of her pants. She tuned abruptly, and couldn't help but smile when she saw Brooke.

"Well hello, B. Davis," Peyton grinned, hugging her tightly. "I missed you,"

"Spare me the drama, Sawyer." Brooke scoffed, playfully hitting her on the arm.

"Ha. How was California?" Peyton asked, sitting on a chair.

"Nothing much. You'd think it'd be way cool, but trust me. It isn't. Unless you're talking about the shopping. Now that's something." Brooke smiled, making herself comfortable. "How was Tree Hill without me?" Brooke paused. "I bet it wasn't so great."

"That's where you're wrong, Brooke. Apparently, after you left, Haley came back. Nathan left for High Flyers, the 2 Scott brothers are at each other's throats, Dan's office was put on fire just before Nathan left, by some crazy maniac, but, is still alive. Jake has yet to give me a call, and there's this psycho lady that keeps telling me that I'm her daughter." Peyton stopped, checking to see if she'd forgotten anything. "Oh, and um….. Lucas….. he told me that he wants you- not me- you, Brooke. He loves you,"

"Ok, that's a lot." Brooke smiled, carefully avoiding the subject of Lucas.

"It sure is," Peyton nodded in agreement, noting that Brooke had just avoided the subject of Lucas. "How long have you been in Tree Hill anyway?"

"About…… half an hour? An hour maybe?" Brooke shrugged. "You, my friend, got the honor of being the first to know I'm back."

"Well," Peyton paused, putting a hand on her chest to give a dramatic feel. "I'm honored."

"You should be," Brooke laughed, standing up.

"Where you going?" Brooke smiled, walking to the door and turning, facing Peyton. "I got a lot of catching up to do, see you."

"Same to you," Peyton replied, but Brooke was long gone.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nathan dug his hands into his jeans pockets, turning to face the setting sun, young teenagers slowly left the beach, filing out one by one.

"Nathan," Nathan looked up, frowning slightly when he saw her.

"What do you want?" He asked, walking further up front.

"I want you Nathan, nothing more." Haley answered, following him.

"Hah," he laughed at her statement, turning sharply. "You're way too late, Haley. This whole relationship ended the moment you left Tree Hill, and rejected me asking you to come back. We can never get together again."

"But….. Nathan, I love you." Tears welled in her eyes, fighting their way out of her eyes and onto her cheeks.

"Too bad, Haley. Because I don't." Nathan continued walking straight, not taking a look at the now crying Haley James.

"Nathan, don't say that." She pleaded, the light sounds of the sinking of their feet sinking into the soft sand made their way through the atmosphere.

"It's over, Haley. We're going to be getting an annulment." Nathan finished, walking away while slow sobs escaped Haley's mouth, she slowly fell to the ground, crying inconsolably.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lucas swore that he'd heard the clicking of a door in the sound. Only moments later had he decided to go check on it after failed attempts to convince himself that it was just his imagination. Putting down his book, he dragged his feet through the house, finding himself stopping at his old room –currently being used by her.

He turned the doorknob, pushing open the door and quickly scanning the room, noticing the unfamiliar sight of luggage beside the bed.

"She's back," Lucas mumbled, bolting out the house and rushing to Peyton's house, hoping that she was there.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Hey," Brooke smiled at the tall teen sitting on the beach.

"Brooke," Nathan turned. "Nice to see you."

"I'm a sight for sore eyes, aren't I?" Brooke laughed, sitting beside him.

"Peyton told me that Haley came back," Brooke stopped herself, checking Nathan's expression, which was pretty much emotionless. Or at least not hurt. "So…. You two got back? I mean…… you're Nathan and Haley."

"Not anymore. We're getting an annulment. It's over." Nathan turned to face Brooke.

"Ooooooh…….. I'm sorry." Brooke sighed, shaking her head.

"Naw. It's ok. You should feel sorry for the priest. It's me he's dealing with." Nathan laughed, running a hand through his hair, his blue eyes shining.

"Hah," Brooke laughed, putting a hand on Nathan's back. "I feel sorry for him."

Nathan stood up, holding out a hand. "How 'bout dinner?"

"I'd be delighted," Brooke smiled, taking his hand and standing up, dusting her jeans. "You are paying, right?"

"Yeah, sure." Nathan turned, putting a hand on her shoulder and walking to his car.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"She's not here, Luke." Peyton put down her sketch book and faced Lucas, who stood panting in front of her, beads of sweat trickled down his brow.

"What do you mean by, 'Not here'?" Lucas was bewildered.

"I mean, she's not here." Peyton sighed, rubbing her temples with her index fingers. "I'll tell you if she drops by."

"Thanks." Lucas was about to leave, when he turned. "Any idea where she might be?"

Peyton put a thoughtful look on, trying to remember the previous events. "She said she had some catching up to do. She's probably out somewhere with Bevin or Teresa."

"Thanks." Lucas nodded, walking out of Peyton's house.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"You just had to pick a burger joint didn't you!" Brooke pouted, hitting Nathan on the arm. "I probably gained a few pounds after that, no thanks to you…."

"Whatever." Nathan smirked, angering Brooke even more.

"God…. You better find a way to make it up to me," Brooke frowned, forcefully pulling him to the car.

"Ok, ok….. calm down. It's not the end of the world or anything," Nathan sighed, earning a playful smack on the arm from Brooke.

Stepping into the car, Brooke shut the door, sitting on the door and folding her arms in anger.

"Lucas', right?" Nathan turned to Brooke, who nodded slightly.

Nodding, Nathan revved the engine, driving out of the car park.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lucas plopped onto the sofa, laying his head back. "Still no sign of her….." Lucas mumbled to himself, covering his eyes with his arm in exhaustion.

"Maybe she'll come back….. soon," Lucas told himself, nodding slightly.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Thanks for the ride," Brooke smiled slightly- seemingly, she'd calmed down already.

"My pleasure," Nathan smirked, driving off.

Turning on her heel, Brooke walked up to the front door, deciding that she'd have to face Lucas eventually.

She opened the unlocked door, seeing Lucas sitting on the sofa, apparently worn out. Sighing in relief, she stepped in, but forgetting the fact that she was wearing high-heels, she let out a short gasp when she heard the loud thud. Almost immediately, Lucas awoke from his 'nap', locking eyes with her.

"Brooke," Lucas mumbled, not taking his eyes off of her.

TBC……..

In the next chapter…..

"That was the hospital," Deb paused, gulping. "Dan's awake. They want us to be there now."

……

"I…..I can remember who put my office on fire," Dan blurted out, closing his eyes, almost as if trying to visualize the situation.