Summary: It's been ten years since Brooke's been back to Tree Hill. After receiving an invitation to her high school reunion she decided to come home.
Disclaimer: I don't own the cast, one tree hill, the lyrics or the title of this chapter or the even the title of the story. The chapter title and lyrics are the song Home by Daughtry and the story title comes from the song 18 by Daughtry
Can We Just Hold On?
1. Going Home
Ten years. That's how long it's been since she was in that small town that she spent the first eighteen years of her life at. She stared at the invitation in front of her and knew she had to go. In ten years, a lot of things change.
Hell, at age twenty-eight, Brooke worked hard at designing clothes and being a manager at the department store, barely making ends meet, and raising two kids that meant the world to her.
"What's that?" Brooke didn't even have to look up to see who it was. She knew the voice and the small foots steps walking over to her.
"In invitation for me." Brooke lifted the girl onto her lap.
"Is it for a birthday party? With cake and ice cream and pizza and soda and a piñata? Those are my favorite."
"No, nothing like that Len. It's for an adult party." Brooke laughed.
"Well you gots to go."
"It's have too, baby girl." Brooke shook her head laughing some more. She never imagined she'd be correcting the language of a six year old since that was always Haley's thing, but here she's doing it. "I'm still thinking about it. It's far away and I don't know if we can swing it."
"But, you deserve a break. I gets one in two weeks. My teacher says its spring break."
Fuck, Brooke forgot about the lovely week schools let their students have away from school. "That's in two weeks?"
"Uh-huh." The cooper-haired girl nodded along. "It's gonna be fun! No school for a week!"
"Yeah, for you baby. I have to find someone to watch you and Bubbah."
"Bubbah and I go with you to party!"
"Lena, I don't know if I can afford it. It's going to cost a lot to get there, plus finding some place to stay." Brooke pointed out. She had to go through the numbers. This month to begin with was a tight one because Jackson, aka Bubbah was turning four and had to have a friend's party. "I'll try my best, baby."
"But, call your friends Mommy. You gots their pictures all over! They'll let us stay with them!"
"I don't know, Len. I haven't really talked to them in a long while."
"Please mommy! Lets go to Tree Hill!"
"How do you know about that town?" Brooke raised an eyebrow at the little girl.
"I find pictures, Momma." Lena shrugged. She didn't seem to care that she broke some of the rules by sneaking into her mother's closet.
"You little sneak." Brooke tickled the girl on her lap.
"Why you all so loud?"
"Come on, Bubbah, come join us."
"Guess what? We are going to Tree Hill, Bubbah!"
"I never said we were, Len." Brooke rolled her eyes at the enthusiasm that girl had. It impressed her every single day.
"But that's were we're from." Jackson pointed out.
"Well sort of." Brooke kissed his forehead.
"Can we?" Both children started begging and Brooke knew it was going to be a loss cause on winning this battle.
"I guess we are heading back to Tree Hill." Brooke smiled. Her heart was beating like a nervous wreck. She was going home and she knew there would be a chance of her staying there.
Brooke was brought out of her thoughts by the phone ringing. She didn't recognize the number but she sure as hell recognized the area code, Tree Hill.
"Hello?"
"Hey Brooke, it's Haley." The voice on the other end sounded nervous and uneasy about the situation. "I was calling to see if you where going to come to the reunion in two weeks. We didn't ever get a response from you and everyone was just wondering."
Looking at the two smiling faces in front of her, Brooke responded. "Yeah, Haley. I'm coming. I just don't know any of the details yet exactly. I'll probably end up driving down. I mean three plane tickets are an expensive thing and I can not afford that."
Brooke hated talking about her monetary issues. Though, with Haley, all the problems seemed to be easy to fix. Haley was one of her best friends, and still to this day she knew how to help.
"Then don't worry about it. I'll get them for you. I want to make sure everyone is back for this day. I mean can you imagine? It's really been ten years since we graduation from High School?" Haley was oblivious at times to some conversations. "Wait, three tickets? Does Brooke Davis have a husband and a kid that I do not know about?"
"Hales, I can't ask you to do that. I mean really? I can't. Thanks though. I'll figure something out. And no, no husband, just three kids. That's all."
"Nonsense, Brooke. I want to do this. If this makes sure you get here, then this is what I want to do. Think of it as a Christmas gift. I mean I have two miniature Brookes to spoil."
Letting out a small laugh, Brooke continued. "Tutor girl, Christmas was five months ago."
"Yes, but think I have like ten Christmas's to make up for to them! I'm doing this and that is final Brooke Penelope!"
"Middle name? Really, Haley Bob? Two can play that game." Brooke snickered back.
"Anyway, I'll ignore the use of the middle name the hippies of parents I have gave me. So where are you going to stay? If you don't have anywhere to stay, you can stay here. I mean really Brooke. Jamie will probably be happy if kids were around. I mean he's surround by girls. Lets face it, the Scott Brother's don't know how to have sons."
"I was just going to stay at a hotel or motel Hales. I don't want to over stay my welcome or anything." Brooke rambled on. Her heart was still set on a blonde haired boy she left in that town and Haley's words hurt her a little. Lucas, with a kid? Really? Brooke knew he was good with Jamie, from the little that she has seen when he was a baby. She just couldn't imagine him moved on.
"Brooke! Enough! I'll have a guest room all ready for you and your kids!" Haley insisted. "I'll do anything for my best friend here for this and if making her get here and having her stay in my house will get her there then it's a start!"
"Hales," Brooke sighed knowing how persistent Haley can be till she gets her way. "Fine. I guess we will stay with you."
"Great! This is going to be so amazing!" Haley sang, screeching a little. "It's going to be great to have you back, Brooke. Hopefully this trip will help you understand the need for you to stay here."
"You know I have a life here, Haley. I can't just pack up and move somewhere I don't have a job or house."
"Brooke, just think about it. I know if you need a job there are plenty of ways for me to get you one. We just want you home, B. We all do."
"We'll see how this trip goes, okay? I'm not making any promises." Brooke looked up at the clock hanging in the small kitchen and noticed it was past both kids bed time. "Look Hales, I need to go. The kids need to go to bed. Call me with the details okay? Thank you for this."
"Okay, just remember Brooke, we all love you and anything you need- just give me a call. I'll be on a plane to New York in a second to help. I'm still surprised you never run into Luke when he's there. I mean he goes at least once a month."
"Haley, you're rambling again." Brooke laughed. "I'll talk to you later." Brooke hung up her phone and placed it on the counter in front of her. She was exhausted and just wanted to get her kids to bed and go to bed herself. She works two jobs to supply just enough to make it month to month and was way over it.
"Mommy, Bubba went seepy." Lena giggled pointing to the sleeping toddler on the floor.
"Okay, let me get him and then its bedtime for both of you."
"Do we have too?" Lena pouted crossing her arms over her chest. She was turning into a miniature Brooke and it made Brooke laugh.
"Yes, someone has school tomorrow Len." Brooke shook her head placing the little boy into his small bed. "Good night my sweet boy." She placed a soft kiss before moving over to the matching bed where her daughter slept. "Now, sleep well angel."
"Can you tell me a story? Please? It's been a while since I've gotten one." Lena begged and completed the look with a puppy dogface.
"Sure angel, scoot over." Brooke spent the rest of the night in that room. She fell asleep with her daughter wrapped tightly in her arms and was at peace with her choice to go home.
"Where we going, Mommy?" Jackson questioned as his eyes looked out to their plane taxing to the gate.
Its been two weeks since that phone call and Haley made sure to check on Brooke every night. It was something in Brooke's voice that had Haley worried about her former best friend. Haley couldn't wait till Brooke got here and made sure everything was okay with the brunette.
"Remember when I said we're going away for the week to Mommy's hometown?" Brooke looked at the boy and ruffled his auburn hair a little. "We'll that's were we are now and a very special person is going to pick us up from the airport."
"Is it that lady that calls you all da time?" Lena asked. She was perplexed who this lady was that was so important to her mother.
"Yes, Lena. She's just worried about me and you guys."
"But we don't know her."
"I know, but after this week I think she'll love you guys." Brooke reinsured them. She was a nervous wreck on the inside and was trying the best not to show it at all. "Trust me, everyone loves a Davis. Well except Grandma and Grandpa. They'll evil."
"Evil poopers." Jackson giggled.
"Yes, baby boy." Brooke smiled. "I want you two to grab your bags and then Lena head out first, okay? But I need to grab the bag up top first."
"I get to be a leader!" Lena bragged causing a pout from her younger brother.
"Be nice, baby." Brooke warned. "Just because we are on vacation doesn't mean we don't follow the rules. You can still get punished here in Tree Hill."
Ten minutes later, they where walking out of the gate and towards the waiting friend.
"Oh my gosh! Brooke Davis back in Tree Hill finally!" Haley jumped up and down clapping. Everyone in the airport was watching wondering what was going on between the group. "I'm so excited!"
"Haley, calm down. Relax, a little." Brooke smiled. "Or you'll scare them."
"I totally forgot about them." Haley joked with a smile. "What are your guys names?"
"I, Lena and dats Bubbah." Lena proudly stated with her hands on her hips.
"My names Jackson! Mommy! Tell her that!" Jackson pulled at Brooke's white t-shirt.
"That's a cool name dude." Haley found herself intrigued with the two little kids. Something about them got her remembering a certain redheaded girl that use to call Tree Hill home. Haley shook at the thought and decided not to even discuss it. She had one of her best friends home for the first time in an eternity and she was going to enjoy it. "Let's get you guys to my house. Welcome back, Tigger."
"It's glade to be back, Tutor Girl." Brooke pulled her friend into a hug.
Well, I'm going home, back to the place where I belong
And where your love has always been enough for me