Timeline: Set in my imaginary world where Lucas and Peyton never went behind Brooke's back, and Brooke and Lucas are the happiest couple ever. Lucas still doesn't like Nathan (much).

Summary: Brooke and Lucas go to her little cousin's birthday.

Disclaimer: The title is a Britney Spears' song . I unfortunately do not own the OTH characters.

Bitching: I hate the writers. What was last season? Felix and Anna? They made me laugh, but Don't Take Me For Granted made me cry. What was that scene of Brooke kissing Felix, and poor, in-love Luke watching? Hopefully this season they'll bring back the Brucas flame we all know and love and let them play a little as the happy couple.

Brooding: It's sadly ironic. Now that I think back, I got engaged a few days before Chad and Sophia made their engagement public. My marriage happened four months earlier than theirs (Roan's and my first anniversary was Dec., 24). I am happily married now, and they aren't. Hopefully, I won't join Sophia on the statistics of American divorced women.

And more sadly ironic is that the writers are bringing Brooke and Lucas together now that Chad and Sophia are not a couple anymore. Can someone get me a kleenex? And I'd love if someone gave me the URL of a site where I could read the OTH scripts for seasons one, two and maybe even three. I'd worship who indicated me one.

Deep in My Heart

By Karen

Tree Hill High, noon.

Lucas Scott was sitting at his usual table at the school cafeteria, his lunch untouched in front of him, as he watched intently the whispered conversation his best friend was having with that spoiled asshole brother of his. He would make sure Nathan never hurt Hales, otherwise he would have to pay dearly.

Lucas could kick some ass when he wanted to do so.

A tray landed noisily beside his, on the table, and he recognized the flashy pink nail polish. A smile curved his lips as he raised his blue eyes and met the brown ones of his loving girlfriend.

"Hey, babe", he said as she sat down by his side. "What's up?"

"Hey, Broody", she replied cheerfully as she picked on her food. "Ew, I hate this", she shoved her tray away. "What's are you looking at?" She said, following his eyes' direction, and sighed. "Luke, Hales is not a little girl anymore, she can take care of herself".

He grunted and shoved his own tray next to hers. Brooke put her hands on his cheeks and made him look at her. "Look, babe, leave them alone. And I have this yucky party to go tonight and I want you to go with me. Maybe it'll be more... fun".

"You? Considering a party boring?" He was sincerely surprised, but she could see a glint of tease inside his eyes. She slapped his arm playfully.

"It's my little cousin Kelsie's birthday. Little kids' birthday parties are not the kind I like", she said with a wink.

He laughed. "Honey, what about this? We'll go to your cousin's party then we'll hang out on that bar you took me the night we first kissed".

Her eyes sparkled and she sat on his lap, crushing his lips to hers on a fervent kiss. "I love you. You're the best boyfriend ever. But... Hey! This is gonna need two different outfits!"

Lucas made her get up and got up as well. "Come on, Cheery, you're gonna come up with something".

"Lucas Scott, you and your male ideas!" She said with playful annoyance and, to go back to her good graces, he pulled her to him and (in front of the whole student body of Tree Hill High) kissed her with fiery passion.

When they pulled apart, she was dizzy, he was breathless, and the cafeteria hall was buzzing with the students' murmurs.

"You know, Luke?"

"Hum?"

"I could get used to kisses like that", she said as she snuggled close to him. He smirked at her.

"I'll consider it".

Karen's Café, 3:30 p.m.

Haley walked in the café and found Lucas cleaning the counter with a rag, his cell phone cradled between his right cheek and shoulder. Apparently, it was Brooke calling Haley's friend, because she heard him say, "Honey, calm down, you're gonna look wonderful no matter what you wear. Okay, okay, hold on".

He let go of the rag and grabbed a pen and a piece of paper. "Seven thirty, your place. Okay, okay, baby. I'm writing it down, I swear! Okay. Don't worry, you're gonna kick ass. Love you".

He closed the phone and smiled exhausted at her. "Hi, Hales. What's up?"

"What was that?" She asked, a smile playing at her lips.

He smiled sheepishly at her. "I made this wacky deal with Brooke. She has this party she has to go, her cousin's, and she isn't exactly fond of the idea. So I told her we'd stop by at it, make the social appearance she needs to make and then go hang out on a bar. She agreed, but then decided she needs two different outfits, one to the family party and one to the bar, and now she's making me go crazy because she doesn't know what to wear".

Haley nodded. "Makes sense. And she made you write down the time you'll pick her up?"

"Actually, I decided to do it because the café is crazy today and I'm afraid I'll lose track of time. Can you set up my cell phone alarm clock to ring at seven? I want to go home, shower and change before going to pick her up".

"Sure", she did and grabbed his phone, doing as he asked. "So tonight you're gonna meet the parents?" She teased him.

He made a face. "Stop it!", he chuckled throwing the rag at her. "What about you? What are you gonna do tonight?"

"Hang out with Nate", she answered simply. Lucas scowled, but, for his benefit, he kept his mouth shut.

Haley felt grateful. She knew Nathan wasn't Lucas' favorite person, but she had grown up with the latter and was dating the first. They were very alike (probably Dan's genes), both stubborn, strong and smart. And both were handsome. And both loved her. And she loved both, in totally different ways, of course (because it would be yucky if she loved Lucas and were with Nathan because she couldn't have who she loved).

"Luke?" She called.

"Hummm?" He made, oblivious.

"Care to give me your phone, please?"

"What for?"

"You asked me to set up your alarm clock for seven p.m., remember?" She spoke like he was a silly little boy.

He smiled sheepishly and passed her the phone. She started to do her task, and then Lucas said suddenly, "I don't know what I would be doing if I never got together with her".

Haley froze for a minute, and lifted her eyes to look at him. "What the hell are you saying, Luke?"

Lucas shrugged. "I don't know... Better yet, I do know. I really love Brooke, Haley. She's my only one".

Haley bit her lip. "What about Peyton?"

Lucas gave her a smile. "A crush. Nothing more, nothing less. When I think of losing Brooke... I can't breathe. I feel like I can't breathe".

Haley made a face. "Have you been watching my 'Buffy' DVDs again, Lucas?"

Lucas eyed her oddly. "No. Why?"

Haley blushed slightly. "Buffy says something similar to Willow when Angel breaks up with her".

Lucas sighed. "Brooke and I are not a vampire slayer and an ensouled vampire, Haley".

Haley thought it over for a minute and then laughed. Loudly. Lucas watched her strangely, not understand the reason for such laughter. Haley noticed her best friend's blank face and wiped her eyes, which were tearing up with laughter. "Sorry", she said as she wiped her cheeks. "It's just that..." She let out a giggle. "... you totally fits the brooding category".

He scowled at her. "I don't brood", he said stubbornly.

"Sure", she said, and looked down at his phone to hide her smile. Lucas stuck his tongue out to her and went back to his cleansing ritual of the counter. After a few minutes (five tops), she handed him the cellphone back and then said, "What are you thinking of wearing for tonight?"

Lucas gave a non-committal shrug. "Jeans and a T-shirt, I guess".

Haley looked out-right shocked. "You're not thinking of only changing the shirt you're wearing, are you?" A glance at his lost expression told her his answer. "You are!" She said almost accusingly.

Lucas looked at her, and his expression was a mix of amusement, shock and happiness. "You're hanging too much out with Brooke".

"And whose fault is that?" She said ironically, and he gave her a cheeky grin.

"True. Since you seem to be getting more and more like my Cheery, shall I warn Nathan that he might end up with a red-haired version of Brooke?" He mulled it over for a second. "Thinking back, I'll keep my mouth shut. There's no way you can outshine my girl".

Haley laughed out loud. "Oh, my. It's love, isn't it?"

She didn't miss the way his face softened. "Yeah"

While Haley realized maybe her best friend had it bad for Brooke, Brooke was busying herself with the arrangements for the incoming night. She had to choose an outfit that looked sweet and tender, for Kelsie's birthday party (her Gucci silky pink dress, maybe). And then an outfit that looked sexy and seductive for her man (her Versace satiny top and a low-cut Brazilian jeans that kicked ass).

It was Lucas' fault. If he hadn't seduced her with that indecent proposal of his, she'd not be in that huge mess.

She opened a small smile. Those inventive, wacky solutions were what made Lucas him, and that made her love him even more.

Peyton walked in her bedroom, only to find her surrounded by clothes. "B, are you in here?" She called.

"P Sawyer!" Brooke yelled over the blaring Britney Spears' 'Toxic' that played in her CD player. "You're the one with my Gucci silky dress!"

Peyton turned the volume down to normal levels and said, "I thought you lent it to Haley so she could wear it in a date with Nathan?"

Brooke slapped her forehead. "That's right!" She said as she hurriedly dialed Haley's cell phone number. "Tutor fiancée!" She hollered after a few moments. Peyton looked at her oddly. "Gimme my pink Gucci dress back! Soon! As in now!"

Haley came running a few moments later. She was flushed, sweaty and slightly panicked. "What the hell is going on!" She said, slightly out of breath.

Brooke took her Gucci from Haley's hand and put it in front of her body. She let out a frustrated scream and threw the dress in the growing pile of discarded clothes on the floor. "I lost weight and it's terribly loose!" Haley and Peyton noticed, startled, that she was in verge of tears.

Haley cautiously approached her. "Brooke, what's wrong?"

Brooke was desperately blinking to clear up her eyes. "I want... it all... to be perfect. I want... my family... not to see me as the whore black lamb. I want... them... to love... Luke". She whispered in-between sobs.

Haley opened out a small smile. "Okay. Peyt, help me here", she said as she took Brooke to the bathroom. "We have a few hours before Luke comes pick Brooke up. I'm in charge of pampering you up, B. Peyt, you're the one to choose her outfit. Something that's hot for Brooke's taste and nice for her family's eyes".

Peyton caressed her friend's cheek. "You're gonna drop them dead, B. Davis".

Brooke smiled at her friends. "You guys are the best, you know?"

Haley smirked. "I know", she said. "But I demand to be bridesmaid!"

T B C