Author- Emily-Grace Mendes (Brookebynature)

Disclaimer- I don't own the characters, I don't own the show, and I don't own any of the songs that may feature in the story at any point.

A/N- I just can't stop! Another new story. I had topost this one now though, to spread a little Christmas cheer seeing as I'm listening to Christmas songs and getting all jolly and merry. I'll have to put 'Bad Girl's Secrets' on hold while this story is under way, but there won't be too many chapters, just enough before Christmas as a little gift from me :) I hope you enjoy, and please review at the end!


A Brucas Christmas Special

Chapter 1: Coming Home

December 2nd

It was most definitely the holiday season: crowds flocking to the departure lounge where they would fly home to their relatives, Christmas trees and various other decorations spanning the whole length of the airport, a guy dressed as Santa here and there, holding a pot for donations to charity.

In all honestly, Brooke knew she should have been donating to whatever charity it was, but greed had gotten the better of her, and she kept her money in her purse by her side, her hand clutching it tightly for fear of being mugged.

There were of course, photographers that had gotten tip-offs that the infamous Brooke Davis had landed in her home state of North Carolina, back in town for the holidays. Her latest scandal: getting drunk before a show, had been splashed across the pages of newspapers and magazines, with headlines such as 'Davis Hits The Bottle' and 'Davis Drunk Again' common.

Lucas had tried to ignore them, but after Nathan had thrown one under his face, he couldn't help but scan the pictures, just to see if she did really look as good as he had heard everyone say. He hadn't ever thought she would leave after senior year, but then again, none of them had anticipated the Chanel modelling contract. None apart from Rachel, who had passed on Brooke's photo after her shoot with Maxim.

----

"Do you think it's true Nathan?" Haley asked, struggling with their wriggling two-year-old daughter Rebecca under her arm.

"What?"

"Brooke, coming back to Tree Hill."

He looked up from his sports section, grabbing the squealing girl as he kissed Haley briefly on the cheek. "Don't get your hopes up babe."

"It's just, it's been too long."

"She famous now Haley, she doesn't have time for people like us."

Lucas wasn't the only one mad at Brooke for her lack of communication after moving to New York. A phone call one a year would have done, but it had been five years now, and she hadn't so much as sent a birthday card.

"You don't know her reasons Nathan." Haley tried to reason, taking the opportunity to put a pair of boots on Rebecca, who was revelling in the attention her father was giving her.

"I know she thinks she's too good for us now."

"She's a model, not wonder woman."

"She's not one of us anymore" He muttered, kissing the top of his daughter's head. "That's for sure."

----

"Lucas have you seen…"

"No" He cut Karen off abruptly, knowing that she was going to ask about the countless rumours circulating the media about Brooke's possible arrival in Tree Hill.

"I think that constitutes a yes."

"It means what I said." He replied. Pouring himself a cup of coffee from the fresh pot on the stand. "I've heard, but I haven't seen."

"She could be here for Christmas Luke!"

"So what?" He asked quickly. "If Brooke Davis is coming back to Tree Hill, it has nothing to do with me."

The decorations were already making Lucas sick of Christmas, and it was only the beginning of December. What with the fairy lights in his Mom's café, and most of the street a glowing white, his eyes seemed to ache when coming home. It used to be his favourite time of year when he was a kid, back when Keith was still here. He'd get up at 6am to open the presents he knew Karen had saved all year for. There was always the comical sweater that his Aunt in Boston had knitted, not just for him, but there was always one for Karen and one for Keith. They all wore them though, it was tradition.

Tradition had been scrapped now, since Keith had died, there hadn't been a need to recreate the fantasy he'd been able to loose himself in as a kid. Karen tried though, she had to for the sake of their child, the daughter Keith had never gotten to meet. She'd named her Kathryn, and being five now, she was able to understand the concept of Santa, and it had never failed to amaze Lucas seeing the joy on her face when she saw the presents underneath the tree.

"She never called you know Mom."

"I know sweetie."

"Not once. Not even to see whether you'd had the baby."

"She'll have her reasons Luke."

"Well whatever they are, they're not good enough" He replied bitterly.

"You hurt her too you know."

"Peyton and I never got together, Brooke knew that. Besides, that's not why she left."

"You're right." Karen replied, reasoning with her son. "But she had a great opportunity Lucas. She couldn't let that pass."

"She didn't have to leave her whole life behind."

----

The hotel room was too neat for Christmas time, Brooke figured. This was Tree Hill, and there were lights everywhere. It looked a little odd for such a big building to only have the two trees. Still, Christmas hadn't been a part of her life for five years, it didn't need to be now.

Deciding that she needed a hot chocolate, Brooke wrestled with herself about whether or not she should visit Karen's Café. She didn't particularly want to bump into anyone from her past tonight, not when she looked worn out and felt like crap. But there was nowhere else that made hot chocolates as good as Karen's, not even in Manhattan.

----

"How about we get Rebecca a basketball jersey for Christmas?" Nathan asked as Haley returned downstairs, exhaustion written across her face.

"Nice try, but if that appeared in her stocking, she might think Santa thought she was bad this year."

"How can I have a child that doesn't like basketball?"

"She's two, and she's girl." Haley laughed. "Besides, we could get her a little cheerleading uniform."

"No way! My little girl is not wearing a skimpy outfit like that."

"She'll look cute." Haley replied, snuggling into the couch to watch America's Next Top Model. "You know, I always thought that one day, I might see Brooke on this show."

"I always thought that one day I might see Brooke." Nathan muttered, rubbing Haley's stomach. "You think this one's a boy?"

"Not a chance" She giggled, placing her hand over Nathan's. "Even if it is, the amount this one kicks, it'll be a soccer player rather than a basketball player."

Nathan faked shock and mock-clenched his fists. "Never!"

"You think it's true?" Haley asked again.

"What?" Nathan wasn't quite sure why he'd even asked-he knew she meant Brooke.

"Why would she come back this year though? It's a little out of the blue."

"Who knows what goes on in her head. Something inexplicable to the rest of us."

"Good word babe" Haley mocked, kissing Nathan softly as she settled further into his arms.

----

The bell rung almost too loudly when she entered, and thankfully, there weren't any customers. She wasn't sure if she could deal with autograph signing tonight.

She knew it was Karen even before she turned around, that soft humming was the same, as was the warm atmosphere and the smell of coffee and blueberry muffins. Only now, it resembled the inside of Santa's grotto.

"Hey Karen"

She almost dropped the coffee pot as she turned around to see the subject of her and Lucas' earlier conversation standing before her, looking…well like a model.

"Brooke!" She enveloped her in a hug warmer than Brooke could have ever imagined. "Look at you! How are you? How's New York? What brings you here?"

The brunette giggled at Karen's constant stream of questions, though she was more than happy that she didn't appear the slightest bit mad.

"I'm good thanks, and you?"

"I'm great I…"

"Oh my God!" Brooke shrieked "You had the baby! What was it?"

"A girl." Karen smiled proudly. "Kathryn Danielle."

"So she must be like…"

"She's five."

Brooke's mouth dropped open as Karen set the mug of hot chocolate in front of her-she hadn't even had to ask.

"It's really been that long?"

Karen nodded somewhat sadly. "Yeah, five years ago since we last saw you."

"I'm sorry" She began "About not keeping in touch, I just…"

The bell rung, the door opening and shutting quickly, as Lucas dusted the few flakes of snow which had just begun to fall, from his hair. Looking up, he saw the two women, each with totally different expressions across their faces.

"So I guess the rumours were true then." He said coldly, grabbing a mug from behind the counter in order to pour himself some coffee. Right now, he didn't feel so much like the hot chocolate he'd been craving for the past hour.

"Hey Lucas." She replied awkwardly. "How are you?"

"Oh I'm great, thanks so much for asking!" He put on a fake voice, shooting a glare towards Karen, who was undecided about whether to leave them alone, or to stay there in case heavy objects were thrown.

"I'm sorry I didn't call."

"Which time Brooke?" He exploded. "When you landed in New York five years ago? The first Christmas you missed? The day you knew my Mom was supposed to give birth? Haley's birthday? Nathan's Birthday? My Birthday?"

Brooke couldn't help but stare at the floor, ashamed of her own loyalty. "All of them."

Looking at her dressed in a shortish brown skirt, cream cashmere sweater and tan boots, Lucas couldn't stand it any more. She looked too much like a model, too much like he'd imagined she would if she ever came back, too much like the same Brooke Davis he'd fallen in love with all of those years ago.

And yet she looked different. A little taller, a lot thinner. Her hair was glossy, matching her lips, but she looked tired. And it was hurting him to see her.

"I've gotta go." He said bitterly, leaving the full mug on the counter. "Hope you've had a nice five years Brooke. Merry Christmas."


The faster you guys can review, the faster I can get the next chapter up.

Emily-Grace xxx