Setting: Mid Season Six. What if Lucas had heard Brooke tell Julian the last guy she was in love with was Lucas?

Author's Note: I did my best to make it fit what was going on, and I feel really stupid that I can't remember the exact episode but I did my best, and I'm not exactly sure where it's going, but I had a moment of inspiration. And though I've never published anything OTH, I find it really easy and fun to write both Brooke and Lucas so I took a shot. If certain scenes are out of order, ignore it, it's all happening at around the same time anyway. :) Reviews are LOVE!

"So the last time you were in love was…?"

"A very long time ago." She knows, as the words come out, that he'd understand. He would know who she was talking about. Anyone who knew her at all would know. He looks hurt, and it cuts her to see it. But not enough to lie, not enough to deny the questions he had.

Julian looks beautiful to her, sitting there, even though she sees the anger rising in him. He accuses her of still being in love, but not with him. Says he's tired of the stench of Lucas Scott ruining all his relationships. She assures him she feels the same, and she does. She was pretty tired of the same thing. He tells her they'll forget this whole thing happened, that they were still going out later. She excuses herself.

As Brooke Davis leaves the room, she turns back around, an apology on the tip of her tongue, only to see that Julian's back is to her. He's looking at her fridge and she'd have to be brain dead not to know what picture he was staring at, the only picture he could have interest in after their argument. Her favorite picture on that fridge.


"I don't even know if she was talking about me Hales!" His voice is rising, and even though he's tired of arguing with his best friend he doesn't want to stop. Stopping would mean giving up, and he'd given up so many times in the past. It had gotten him nowhere.

"Who else could she possibly be talking about Lucas? Really, are you thinking at all today?" Haley Scott kept calm, which is why he came to her first. He didn't know who else to talk to, certainly not Peyton. She could take it the wrong way, and he certainly wanted that old love triangle to stay in its grave where it belonged.

"I don't know Haley. But, I mean, what am I supposed to do?" Lucas leans forward on the steering wheel, they'd been sitting outside his place in his car for just under an hour now. Peyton was inside, waiting for him.

Haley sighed. "Why do you have to do anything Luke? You overheard Brooke's conversation with Julian. It's not a big deal."

He leaned back on the head rest, his head hurt from frustration and confusion. He had to make Haley understand, had to make her see why this meant so much to him.

"Hales…"He trailed off. "If it's my fault that Brooke can't open up anymore, if I'm the last guy she was in love with…"He was staring at his hands now, he could feel the dread set in. "I can't live with myself if it's all my fault."

Haley's eyes softened now and she reached over and gave Lucas's hand a gentle squeeze. "It's okay Luke. She's a big girl, she's gotten through a lot, and she can handle this. She just needs some time to trust Julian. You know her well enough to know that." Her words were meant to reassure but they didn't.


It was just a few days ago that he had stood outside Brooke's door. He needed to talk to her about what was going on with Peyton and the baby. He knew she would make him feel better, she always did. It was just so Brooke of her. And even after seven long years of knowing each other, after everything that had happened between them, it was still Brooke Davis that he went to. So this time was no different, or at least it hadn't started out any different. Until he heard her words. Heard Brooke Davis tell her boyfriend that she was not in love with him, or anyone else for that matter. Heard her tell him that she had not known love since Lucas, and something in her tone, though he could not see her eyes because he was outside her door, made him think that she didn't think she deserved to.

But that was not true. She deserved it more than anyone he knew. And he wanted to tell her that, except that it was Julian, her boyfriend that loved her, who told her. And so Lucas left, deciding that he was the last person the couple would want to see at that moment. That his burdens were his alone and he should not bother Brooke with them.

He was startled by the sound of footsteps behind him, and turned around, smiling at the woman leaning against the doorframe. "I was making breakfast in bed."

"I know, I smelled it. At first I wanted to throw up but then we decided that we're hungry." Peyton Sawyer patted her belly, which was getting rounder and rounder every day with what was soon to be her and Lucas's child.

"Well, eat up." Lucas set the plates of food down, kissing his fiancée's forehead on his way to the table. They ate in comfortable silence, the sound of silverware on plates being the only noise. He studied her as she ate. Peyton Sawyer was beautiful, all blonde and a mess of legs. There was an air of happiness around her now that she'd made the most important decision of her life, and it pleased him to see her happy, even if it might only be for a few more months. As he looked at his future wife, her face seemed to fade off of her body, replaced by another one that he knew just as well.

Dark hair and dimples, with eyes so huge, just wanting to take in the entire world in one scope. Now this was beauty at its best. So pretty, it hurt to stare for too long, though it never stopped him. The way he was picturing her now, laughing joyfully, was his second favorite way of seeing her. His first being the way she was when she was vulnerable. Like when she told him she gave a rat's ass about him, back in their junior year of high school. It had been her way of letting him know that this was different, that he was different, and it was also her way of telling him that he had power now. The power to hurt her, because she cared now, she cared about him. A lot. And he admitted that he felt the same. His "for fun" girlfriend was becoming the real deal and it was scary and wonderful all at the same time.

"Lucas? Did you hear me?" Peyton woke Lucas out of his stupor. He found himself annoyed, wishing she hadn't done so. He was enjoying himself, reliving one of his favorite nights with Brooke. One of his favorite nights period.

"Sorry, what did you say?" He couldn't look at her, afraid it would be Brooke that he saw again, and afraid he'd be happy if it were.

"I said that you've been a little sulky lately. It's like you're trying to make up for something." She was chiding him, not seriously suspicious but at the same time curious. It was true, he had kept to himself a lot more lately, spending his time taking more and more trips down memory lane. He avoided Peyton when these trips happened, the times getting more frequent as the days went by.

He shrugged, at a loss for something to say. She smiled at him, reaching over to put her hands over his. "I'm only teasing sweetie."

"Yeah, I know." He said smiling back, hoping she wouldn't realize that it wasn't genuine.


"It's a nice picture."

Brooke let out a little squeak, and turned around. She'd forgotten that Julian was still here. They had fallen asleep on the couch a while ago, Brooke waking up before him had decided to make herself something to eat.

"It's my favorite." She said honestly. She didn't know why she said it, didn't know why the more she hurt him the more she felt relief. Maybe she was hoping he'd end it, surrender the war he could never win. That way he'd be free, free in a way that she hadn't been since she'd met Lucas Scott.

Even now, as he looked at the picture he'd looked at the previous week, the one with her, Lucas, and Angie, she saw him bite back the hurt. He really was in love with her, and he was trying to be patient. But how long would he wait for her?

Julian was silent as he sat down across from Brooke. He took both her hands in his, and she sensed something heavy coming on. She would not allow him to open himself up even more for her, not until she was ready for it. Fortunately, she was rescued by a phone call.

She looked at the caller ID, not wanting to let any emotion play out on her face, and took her hands out of Julian's, snapping the phone up before he could read it as well. At the look on his face she wondered if she had taken them away too quickly.

"Hey Peyt! What's up?" She paused waiting for her caller to continue.

"Oh, I get it. Listen, Brooke, I need to talk to you about something. Can you come by? I'm at Nate and Haley's watching Jamie."

"Yeah, sure, I'm on my way." Brooke snapped her phone shut and did her best to put a passive expression on her face. "That was Peyton, she says she needs to talk to me, so I'm going to head over and she what she wants. Stick around, I'll be back soon, promise." She leaned over the table and kissed his lips quickly.

Julian sighed, but nodded his head. "Want me to take you?"

His question was casual, but Brooke's response wasn't. "No!" She paused, eying the door, wanting to leave. "No, I mean, I want you to be here when I get back." She did her best to sound seductive, knowing well enough that she could without even trying. It was like she had a switch in her, and she could turn it on and off whenever she pleased.

Julian's face lit up, buying her false promises. "Sure, go ahead."

She rushed out, unsure what she was doing or why she wanted to do it so badly.


"So why did you lie to Julian?" it was the first question that Lucas asked Brooke after saying hello when she reached the Scott's house. Jamie had fallen asleep watching cartoons, so Lucas led her into the kitchen.

"What?" she had no idea what he was talking about, and she guessed that it was because she'd been so confused lately. After breaking up with Lucas for good all those years ago, she'd learned how to put those feelings away, at times she questioned if they were still there. But lately, with Julian's questioning she found herself thinking about him and more importantly thinking about what could have been.

"I mean, when we were on the phone. You made it sound like I was Peyton." He explained, leaning against the kitchen counter.

She replied with another question. "How did you know I was with Julian?" she asked him.

He shrugged. "Who else?" And though it seemed like a plausible answer, she knew him so well that she knew he was hiding something. Brooke was clever enough to guess that it was the reason behind their meeting today.

"Luke, what are you not telling me?" She asked him point blank. She was startled to see him laugh, a real laugh,she was startled but pleased.

"Always blunt Brooke." He said distantly, as if he was thinking about something else. They were silent for a few seconds, and just when Brooke was about to repeat her question, Lucas looked up at her. "Do you remember that time at the beach, right before senior year?" he asked her.

She opened her mouth to reply yes but stopped herself. She had just been thinking of that day this morning, right before Julian came over. "What about it?"

"It was a great day."

She smiled, cocking her head to one side. "Yes it was. But why are you bringing it up now?"

"I thought we could enjoy a nice trip, you know, down memory lane." He said. She could see he was being honest with her, about what he wanted, but not about his intentions. She didn't know what to do, and she absolutely had no idea where this would lead them. Brooke didn't know if she could trust him, but she knew that she did. Aside from Peyton, Lucas was her best friend. She loved him more than was good for her sometimes, she couldn't help it, him being such a huge part of her and of who she was now. He was her history.

And so she decided that this time, this one time, they could discuss that history. "Do you remember when Deb caught us buying Trojans and whipped cream?" She asked, letting just a little smile play at her lips. His answering grin was amazing, and made her feel happy in a way that she hadn't in a long time.

"I remember everything." He replied.

A/N: So that's that! I actually wanted to keep writing but I thought it would be too long of a chapter, though I'm writing a new right now. I really love the way its going and I won't abandon it, just because it's so much fun to write. I love reviews, the more I get the more I write. :D