A/N: Hey, so this is a sequel in many ways to my one-shot 'It Will Always Be There' (which when I wrote it I didn't know it would be a saying to reference Leyton). I contemplated for a long time whether to leave the one-shot as it was or right something to give you it some closure. Anyways here's what I came up with, and I would highly recommend reading that first. Some things to know for this story- everything up to the point where Brooke slapped Peyton at the end of Season 3 happened. After that everything that happened to everyone else(besides Peyton of course) goes along with seasons 4, 5, and 6. I haven't watched Season 7 so I am pretending it doesn't exists (yay made up world of fan fiction). Ok so to clarify, Brooke is still a big time fashion designer for Clothes over Bros, Lucas is an author but did marry Lindsey (I know I am a Leyton fan too, but not this time sorry), Naley had Jamie in their senior year etc. etc. That's the big stuff really, and all you probably need to know so far. If I missed something let me know. And without further ado, the first chapter…
Chapter 1
Nine years later…
A lot can happen in nine years….
A lot cannot happen in nine years …
And for Brooke Davis it was about what didn't happen that held the most significance in that seemingly large amount of time.
The brunette closed the door to her New York penthouse, and threw her purse haphazardly on the entryway table. She made her to the kitchen where a bottle of already opened Merlot was waiting patiently for her. After pouring herself a modest glass, she fell down into the chair in front of the laptop at her kitchen table.
She took a sip of the burgundy liquid and let it calm the stress of her hectic day. Her hand moved to the mouse, and the cursor took its familiar command to open the only bookmark on the web browser.
The page appeared and although disappointing, it was hardly unexpected that it showed no change.
Letting out a heavy sigh, she took another long sip from her glass before getting up and moving towards the large floor to ceiling windows that held a breathtaking view of the New York skyline.
Closing her eyes, the brunette was transported back in time once again…
Flashback
"Come on Peyton please…" begged the ten year old Brooke.
The only response she got from the lump under the covers was a frustrated grunt.
"Peyt if you don't get up, you are going to regret it, and I think you know what I mean," the young brunette said standing at the end of the blonde's bed, arms crossed.
"You better not," came the lump's reply.
"I'm sorry, but you leave me no choice," and with that Brooke yanked the covers fully off her best friend's body.
"Brooke!!" whined the curly headed blonde as she scrunched up into herself.
"Nuh uhh, get up Peyton, you promised!"
"Yeah but I didn't promise to go at 7 o'clock"
"But if we don't get there early, they will be all sold out!"
"Brooke, I don't even know why you want that crap anyway," Peyton said making no move to get up.
"Peyt most the time you have to beg me to go to the record store, and the one time I actually want to go, you give me a hard time." Brooke shouted, throwing her hands in the air.
"That's because when I go to the record store its to get real music, not CRAP!" Peyton shouted back trying desperately to regain the covers from the foot of the bed.
"N'SYNC is not crap!"
"uh yeah it is"
"is not"
"is too"
"is not"
"is too"
"Ok Peyton, you leave me no choice yet again" the brunette said moving around to the side of the bed
"Brooke I swear…." Peyton's reply was cut off, however, as Brooke's hands viciously attacked her sides, and the blonde couldn't help but wriggle in laughter.
"o…k… ok, I'm… up, Brooke….I'm up" she got out between laughs
"Good, get a move on Goldilocks, we are already behind schedule," Brooke smirked triumphantly before making her way to the bathroom to start the shower.
End Flashback
Brooke Davis couldn't help the smile that spread across her lips at the memory, but as always the smile was accompanied by a deeper pain, one that settled itself right in her heart.
No amount of success, money, elegant clothes, or fancy parties could ease that pain.
There was only one cure, and Brooke Davis made a promise to herself nine years prior that she would not stop until she found it.
The famous designer was pulled from her thoughts, as her phone vibrated from her purse in the hallway. Glancing at the caller ID, she didn't hesitate to pick up.
"Hello"
"Hi Aunt Brooke" the excited eight year old replied.
"And what to I owe the pleasure of talking to the most handsome man in the whole world?"
"Auunnnt Broooke" Jamie groaned, having told his Aunt before he had out grown her doting.
"I told you before mini-Hot Shot, that I am your godmother and therefore have the right to talk to you however I want,"
"Ok, Ok, but guess what?" Brooke couldn't help but laugh
"What"
"I made the junior league all-stars"
"Jamie that's awesome, I bet your dad is super proud of you,"
"Yeah, and Uncle Lucas too," Brooke could hear Haley yelling "And Me" in the background,
"Oh yeah and Momma too" the boy added happily.
"Well add my name to that list, cause your Aunt Brooke is so so so so so proud of you!"
"Thanks Aunt Brooke, here Momma wants to talk to you,"
"Haha ok bye buddy"
"Hey Brooke," Brooke heard Haley James-Scott say a beat later
"Tutor-mom, looks like you got another super star on your hands," Brooke laughed.
"Oh gosh I just hope he skips the cocky years that Nathan went through," Haley laughed back.
"You and me both tutor-girl," Brooke replied knowing first hand what an ass Nathan had been in the day, "so what's up?"
"Well besides Jamie wanting to share his news, I just wanted to see how you were, Tigger. I haven't talked to you in a while, and I know you have been busy, and I've been busy, but I just…"
"Haley," Brooke cut off her friend's nervous ramblings, "It's fine,people get busy it happens."
"I know, especially being a big fashion designer and all," Haley joked back.
"Or a big rock-star and teacher extraordinaire to America's youth," Brooke quipped back.
After a moment of comfortable silence, Brooke could tell there was something else her friend wanted to say.
"Haley, what is it?"
Hearing a sigh come from the other end, Brooke knew Haley was trying to find the right words.
"Brooke, it's about what Lucas told us after visiting you a couple weeks ago."
Brook let her eyes close, as she thought back to broody blonde's recent visit. Lucas' second book had just made the bestseller's list, and he was up in New York doing a book signing.
As the two friends caught up over a very nice dinner at Masa, Lucas had approached the subject, no one in their group of friends had dare bring up in front of the brunette in a long time.
Flashback
"Brooke I want to ask you about something, and I want you to promise me you will hear me out," the blonde said setting down his chopsticks.
"No offense Lucas, but that doesn't exactly make me inclined to hear what you have to say," Brooke tried to joke to avoid what she knew was coming next.
"Brooke, it's been nine years," he said softly.
Trying desperately to push down the anger that had risen so quickly at his words, Brooke took in a deep breath to steady herself.
"Lucas," she started but he cut her off.
"Please, just hear me out" he asked again.
She nodded in response
"It's been nine years, and we all miss her, but what you keep doing isn't healthy. The police stopped the search years ago, and I understood when you said you needed to keep looking, but Brooke its time to stop all of this. You have let this guilt eat at you for so long and its time you forgive yourself. She wouldn't want you to keep doing this," his statement seemed to come out all in one breath.
The brunette had been gripping her fingers until they had turned white from the second Lucas had started his speech, and now it was all she could do not to reach across the table and smack the living daylights out of him.
He knew what he was asking of her, he knew her pain. God he had loved the curly headed blonde too, and to Brooke that made what he said all the more hurtful.
She released her hands, and brought her eyes to meet his.
"Lucas, I love you, you know that," he nodded for her to continue, "We have been through a lot together, and you have been an amazing friend to me."
She paused to let her words sink in.
"But, I swear to god Lucas, if you ever, ever bring this up to me again, it will be the last conversation we ever have. Do you understand me," her blazing eyes told him that was last part wasn't a question, it was a promise.
They had finished their dinner in silence
End Flashback
"Brooke, Brooke, you still there?" Haley's voice called out.
"Yeah Haley look, I'm really tired can we talk about this another time," Brooke definitely did not want a repeat performance.
Seeming to know that arguing with Brooke Davis usually led nowhere, the petite brunette let it go.
"Sure Brooke, get some rest."
"Thanks Haley, tell Jamie I love him."
"Of course, and Brooke," Haley paused, "We all love you too, and just want you to be happy."
"I know, goodnight Tutor-Mom" Brooke said before ending the call.
And she did know. She knew her friends, especially Lucas, Haley and Nathan, only wanted what was best for her. Unfortunately, they didn't realize that what was best for her was to keep searching.
She wasn't stupid, or naïve. No, she knew the statistics of finding Peyton were stacked heavily against her. But she also knew that giving up, moving on, would kill her more than having hope ever could.
Finishing her nightly routine, and climbing under her Egyptian cotton sheets and light- purple down comforter, Brooke reached for the picture that had forever sat on her nightstand.
Two girls. One a curly headed blonde with emerald green eyes and a smile that lit up the entire frame, the other a perky, hazel-eyed brunette with dimples to die for.
Two girls, one summer day, and nowhere they would have rather been than with each other.
Best-friends…
Sisters…
Soul-mates…
Running her finger over the blonde's beaming face, Brooke felt a tear make its way down her cheek as she could still hear Peyton's voice as clears as she had nine years ago.
"It will always be there."
The brunette smiled in response, before whispering,
"Always."
A/N: Let me know what you think. I know you might be thinking that this could make a go at being a more than friends piece for Peyton and Brook, and that's true but right now its purely a deep rooted friendship. Look for an update soon. Cheers!
Ps. any guesses to what Brooke was looking at on the computer?