Hey everyone! So this is going to be a two, possible three parter. It was originally going to be a oneshot but I ran out of time and I have to post something before my deadline which is tomorrow lol. This is part of the fic exchange on the 911 boards and was requested by Luciana / . Most of the story is flashbacks up until the end and the flashbacks start from early November onward. I know this is really short but I hope y'all like it. And trust me it will get much better in the second half which if all goes wonderfully, will be up by Christmas. Enjoy!
It was an unusually hot autumn day in Tree Hill. The sun was shinning brightly and the light breeze blew the colorful leaves around the ground. This time last year, a resident of Tree Hill would have been wearing jeans, a long sleeve tee, and a big jacket. This year however most are still wearing their summer clothes. The Tree Hill airport was stuffy and humid, making Peyton's curly blonde hair frizz out. She fanned herself with the magazine she had bought for Brooke while Lucas took of his stripped button up top, leaving him in a white wifebeater. "Good god it's hot in here," he mumbled, using his shirt to wipe some of the sweat off of his face. Peyton nodded, the heat only a little more barable in her shorts and tank top. They had stopped holding hands about twenty minutes ago when a nice layer of sweat started forming between them.
"Maybe we should wait for her outside," Peyton replied, looking at Lucas who was scanning the upper level for the girl they were supposed to be picking up. When he didn't see her, he turned towards his girlfriend and nodded.
"Leaving without me?" They both stopped and turned around to see Brooke Davis staring back at them. She was dressed for the weather, surprisingly, but instead of being sweaty, she looked like she was dealing with the heat just fine.
"Brooke!" Peyton dropped the magazine in her hand and ran up to hug the best friend she hadn't seen in five years. They kept in contact through numerous phone calls and e-mails but with Brooke being so busy becoming a hot shot designer, there were no time for visits. "It's so good to see you!" The blonde hugged her best friend tightly, nearly knocking Brooke over.
"It's good to see you too," Brooke chuckled as Peyton finally let go of her. "Hey Luke." Lucas smiled softly and walked up to the brunette, handing her the magazine that Peyton had dropped before giving her a hug.
"Two years is too long," he whispered in her ear and she nodded before pulling away from him first. When Lucas and Peyton had gone through their 'rough patch' two years ago, it was Brooke who had helped pick up the pieces until they found their way back to eachother. Of course, that hd lead to a fake engagement between the two ex lovers and a sort of kiss.
The three then stood somewhat awkwardly before Peyton's eyes traveled to a blonde little girl walking toward a very familiar man. "Oh my god." Brooke's eyes followed Peyton's to see Jake and Jenny by the luggage carousel.
"I didn't know Jake was coming back to town," Brooke said as he grabbed the little girl's small hand, dragging a suitcase behind him while he carried two others.
"I don't think anybody did." Lucas watched as Jake walked closer to them, still unaware of their presence. He looked over at his girlfriend and could tell she didn't know what to do. She looked like she wanted to run up to him but was hesitant. So, he made the first move. "Jake!"
"Daddy wake up! It's Christmas!" Jake rolled over and came face to face with his bubbly, very-awake-for-four-in-the-morning daughter. He groaned and shook his head.
"It's too early princess." He snaked an arm around his daughter's small waist and pulled her into the bed with im, trying to get her to go back to sleep.
"Jake it's no use. Christmas starts now," his girlfriend replied, already sitting up in the bed, Jenny jumping up and down.
"I can't believe you're really back in Tree Hill," Peyton exclaimed when she sat down in the small cafe where she was meeting Jake for lunch two days later. Jenny sat next to him drawing away on her paper menu with a red crayon. "I'm so glad you're back."
"It's good to be back. I really missed this place." He ran a hand through Jenny's soft curls, looking across the table at Peyton to find her eyes on the small girl. She looked beautiful, more so than she did back in high school. Her hair ended at her shoulders, curled of course, a more subtle blonde than it had been the last time he had seen her. In high school, her make up was always very light, but now it was darker, a little more severe. Black liner surrounded her eyes, dark eye shadow on her lids giving her a smokey effect. Her lips were coated in a glossy red, something that vaguely reminded him of Brooke. She dressed casually, and it was apparent that her style didn''t change that much from high school. She had on a pair of shorts and her converse, and of course some band tank top that looked like it had seen better days. "You've changed."
She looked up at him, a surprised look on her face. "And you haven't?" While his physical appearance hadn't changed much, the way he carried himself did. He seemed more stern now, more of a father than a dad.
"Fair enough," he said lightly, offering her one of the half smiles she loved so much. They made casual small talk then until he brought up something he'd been thinking about since he had seen her three days prior at the airport. "So, you and Lucas are still together?"
"Yep, going on five years now." Her smile seemed almost fake, but he shook it off. She and Lucas were meant for each other. he had been the first one to see it. And even though it killed him inside that she could never be with him again, he wasn't about to ruin her happiness.
"I'm happy for you two." It came out forced and she smiled at the attempt.
"I'm really glad you're back," she said again, this time with a seriousness in her voice. She reached across the table and placed her hand on top of his, feeling that little spark she always used to feel when they were together. She smiled and then looked up to meet his eyes, watching him as he smiled back.
Brooke sat on the wooden bench next to the river court, watching her godson play with his uncle. It was nice to see Jamie again. She hadn't seen him since his last birthday when Nathan and Haley came up to New York with him. And she had to admit, it was nice to see Lucas' too. She hadn't really talked to him since the night when they pretended to be engaged after Peyton had turned down his proposal two years ago. "Auntie Brooke! Come play with us," James yelled from the black top and Brooke laughed and shook her head.
"I'm horrible at basketball Jamie. You don't want me to play," Brooke said with a slight chuckle. "You play better than me."
"That's because it's in my genes," James said, rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, come on Brooke. Jamie wants to play basketball with his god parents. Do you want to deny him that?" Lucas arched an eyebrow in a way that made her think of when they were dating. Of when she was so much happier.
Brooke sighed and stood up, kicking off her shoes that she'd spent at least five hundred dollars on. "Fine. But you have to go easy on me. I'm not wearing any shoes."
"You don't give yourself enough credit Brooke," Lucas said as he tossed her the ball. She caught it in her small manicured hands and watched as he jogged around her towards James. "After all, I taught you how to play." She dribbled the ball and walked towards James, keeping her eyes on Lucas the whole time. Leaning down, she whispered something in James' ears before giving him the ball.
"What did you tell him," Lucas asked after James had laughed and nodded his head.
Brooke shrugged innocently as she jogged backwards on the court, James dribbling the ball slowly. Lucas turned and walked in front of him as his nephew tried to get away. Suddenly, he felt a huge weight on him, Brooke's arms around his neck. "Get his wallet Jamie!"
Without hesitation, James dropped the ball and ran over to his uncle, digging into his pocket and pulling out the brown tattered wallet. "What the hell are you guys doing?"
James ran to the bench, the designated safe spot, and Brooke hopped off of Lucas' back, running back over to James. "Good job!" She took the wallet from him and turned around to find Lucas in front of her. He tried to grab the wallet but Brooke quickly shoved it down her shirt.
"Brooke." He was almost aggravated. He looked down at James who was giggling despite himself.
"Jamie and I agreed that you should take us out to a nice big godparents and godson lunch."
Lucas let out a sigh and sort of laughed at Brooke's antics. "I would have taken you two out to lunch if you had just asked. Personally, I think you just wanted to get on me." He was flirting, he knew it. He just couldn't stop himself from doing so around Brooke. "And I could easily get my wallet back."
She smirked, ignoring for now, his obvious flirting. She stuck out her chest in the 'athletic' way her PE teacher taught her junior year, egging Lucas on. "Then get it."
He stared at her for a moment before starting to call her bluff. He knew Brooke, there was no way she'd let him go down her shirt, not while he was with Peyton. He raised his hand and it hovered over the neckline of her shirt and looked back into her eyes. She still had the smirk on her face and suddenly he thought that she wouldn't stop it. So, he put his hand down and Brooke giggled triumphantly.
"We're going to eat Jamie!" She picked up the small boy who had his hands up in victory. "And then that wonderful shopping spree courtesy of Uncle Luke."
"Shopping spree?"
Lucas walked down the stairs of Nathan and Haley's house, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He had been out so late last night that he'd just crashed over at their house. The whole house was still silent, his brother, nephew, and girlfriend still asleep upstairs. Haley sat on the couch in front of the christmas tree, just staring at all the twinkling lights. "How long have you been up?"
She turned around a little startled to look at him. She smiled softly and patted the seat next to her. "I've been up for about twenty minutes. When did you stumble in?"
He laughed quietly, easing himself down into the seat. "A few hours ago."
"And you're up now?"
"Maybe I didn't really fall asleep." They sit in silence for a few minutes when they hear a creack in the floorboards behind them. Haley expected her son but when they both turned to see his girlfriend standing in the door way, a very dazed look on her face.
"It's too early for you to be up," Haley said amussed by the girl's apperance.
But she just shook her head, a smile on her sleepy face. "It's Christmas!"