So, this is my very first fanfic, ever. This is a Brucas tale, and the focus will be on them, although we will see some other characters pop in and out. Seasons 1 - 4 happened. After that, I'm taking some liberties with the plotline. I'm picking it up at about the point season 5 would have started.

Of course, I do not claim to own OTH or any of the related characters.

Feedback, especially constructive criticism is very welcome!

Chapter 1: Waiting For the Miracle

Baby, I've been waiting, I've been waiting night and day. I didn't see the time; I've been waiting half my life away. There were lots of invitations, and I know you sent me some, but I was waiting for the miracle; for the miracle to come. - Leonard Cohen

The view was amazing. Most days, Brooke Davis didn't have time to enjoy it. In fact, she rarely returned home, except to sleep. There was too much to be done: meetings to attend, sketches to draw, calls to take, parties to attend and decisions – endless decisions – to make. But, today was different. Her Blackberry was turned off, her land line was unplugged and her laptop was tucked away in her roll-top desk. As she had informed her assistant, Tatiana, today she was incommunicado. Well, except for the iPhone clutched in her left hand. Her personal phone, less than a dozen people has this number. She was focused on one thing and one thing only – the call. The call that would change everything.

Brooke stared down at Central Park far, far below. She could see there were quite a few people enjoying the crisp November afternoon. It was unseasonably warm. She wished she could be like them, carefree, happy to enjoy the sunlight and the way it reflected off the skyscrapers and illuminated the leaves in the trees. Instead, her mind was 500 miles away…in Durham, North Carolina to be precise.

She glanced down at her phone. Of course, she hadn't received a call yet. It was just past 1:30. He wasn't due to land for another three and a half hours. Hell, he hasn't even gotten on the plane, yet! Brooke smiled to herself. She ran her finger across the display on her iPhone. She wanted to call him, to hear his voice and be reassured… but she resisted the urge. She had to wait, just like she had been waiting for the last five, no six, years. She had been waiting ever since senior year, when she had stepped aside so her boyfriend and best friend could be together. They were soulmates; it was fate, they had both proclaimed. Brooke had known differently, but she had remained quiet and let them find out for themselves. They wouldn't have listened to her at that point, anyway. It had broken her heart, but she couldn't bear to lose two of the most important people in her world.

Somehow, she always knew Lucas would come back for her – as he had told her many years ago – he was the guy for her. Sure, they had remained friends; they talked, they laughed and they even cried together. It wasn't the same – she wanted his heart; she wanted him. After last night, she was pretty sure she had his heart, at least. Then again, she thought she had it before…only to see him run into the arms of her best friend…twice.

"What am I doing?" she whispered, not even realizing she was speaking out loud.

Here she was: founder, CEO and chief designer for Clothes over Bros., one of the fastest-growing fashion labels in North America, sitting in her fabulous penthouse obsessing over a boy. In business, she was a force to be reckoned with – Brooke Davis always got what she wanted. Except the boy. She sighed. She didn't want to think about what she would do if he didn't come back to her. She wasn't up to dealing with the heartbreak a third time.

Brooke jumped, nearly dropping her phone as it suddenly vibrated to life in her hand. It was still too early… she looked at the name on the display and her stomach dropped. P. Sawyer. Brooke briefly considered letting it go to voicemail. No, she had to answer. Peyton was her best friend, her sister. Brooke knew things were not well with Peyton and things would soon become much worse. She picked up, trying to sound cheery and carefree. "Hey, P. Sawyer!"

"Brooke, I need to talk." Peyton didn't sound like herself – her voice seemed strained, but there was an undercurrent of strength in her tone.

Brooke's heart fluttered. "Oh? About what?" Brooke rested her forehead against the window. Did Peyton know?

"Well…remember when we last talked and how I told you that things with Lucas weren't good?" she gave a short, bitter laugh. "Bad, in fact? Very bad?"

Brooke closed her eyes. Of course she remembered. She had seen it coming for ages. "Yes," she whispered.

Peyton sighed. "Can I come see you this weekend?"

Brooke's eyes snapped open. If she was asking to visit, she obviously didn't know. What the hell's going on? "Peyton, what's going on? Talk to me."

"I'm doing it, Brooke. I made a decision. I'm pulling the trigger."

"Trigger?!" The first thought that popped into her head was that Peyton had a gun. She became even more confused when Peyton laughed.

"Brooke, I mean the trigger on my relationship with Lucas. I'm done. I'm telling him tonight." Peyton paused.

Brooke sank down on to the hardwood floor, barely noticing that she was no longer standing. Her legs just seemed unable to support her weight. Peyton was ending it with Lucas? She tried to speak; Peyton was waiting for her to say something, but she couldn't find her voice. After all she had been through, what they had all been through, Peyton and Lucas each decided to break it off on the exact same day? Brooke was speechless.

"Brooke? Still there?" Peyton sounded worried.

Brooke breathed deeply. "Yes, I'm here. Of course I'm here. But…what – why?"

"Look, I promise, I will tell you everything when I see you. There's a lot of shit I haven't told anyone, not even Luke… Brooke, this is going to be a fucking mess. You aren't going to believe what a bloodbath this is going to be. You don't understand how bad this is going to be. That's why Sawyer is with Derek and Michelle. I don't want her around for this, even if she is only two months old." Peyton paused. "I might seem like I'm being overdramatic. Trust me, I'm not. I'm just so damn miserable, Brooke. I've been ready to walk for over a year. But, I found out about Sawyer and I- I just couldn't –" Peyton's voice cracked, and she let out a sob.

"Peyton, sweetie, don't cry. It will be okay." The word tumbled out instinctively, but Brooke's mind was racing. "But, what's changed? Why now?"

Peyton sniffled and then was silent for a moment. "I made a mistake, Brooke. When he showed up in L.A. two years ago, asking me to marry him, I should have said no. I should have stayed in L.A. I shouldn't have let my dreams die. I should have done what my heart told me to do instead of letting a stupid novel influence my decision. Just because someone is your soulmate, it doesn't mean you're meant to love them for the rest of your life. Sometimes, you're meant to let them go. I believed in the fairy tale for too long. It's killing me. It's time I woke up."

Both women were quiet for a moment. Brooke was shocked, still. For Peyton to be so self-aware… it was not the Peyton she was used to. And hazy memories of things Lucas had told her last night were resurfacing. Maybe this was not wholly unexpected… did Lucas anticipate this break-up?

Finally, Peyton broke the silence. "So, is it okay if I come up for the weekend? I think I'll need some time to re-group. And, I really need my Brooke."

"Peyton, of course you can come. You're always welcome, here." What choice did she have? Something big had happened…or was about to happen. The way she described the impending break-up with Lucas…"a bloodbath", "a fucking mess." Peyton would need her best friend. "We'll get the guest room ready for you. Are you bringing Sawyer?"

"No, she'll be fine with Derek. I just need to be alone with my best friend this weekend. After all, B. Davis, you are great at figuring your way out of tough situations. Maybe you could help me with mine. Although, I think you'll be surprised by the mess I've gotten myself into this time…even this may be beyond your powers."

"Oh, Peyton. Of course I'll help, if I can. When do you think you might be coming?"

"I haven't booked a flight, yet. I wanted to make sure it was okay with you if I visit. I have to pick Lucas up at five o'clock, or so. Then, it'll be time for the talk…I imagine I'll be quite late getting in." Peyton cleared her throat. "Brooke…did you and Lucas end up hooking up last night?"

Brooke nearly dropped her phone. "Um, yes. We went for dinner. At Morimoto. I convinced Lucas to try the sashimi." Followed by drinks and dancing at the stupid club Rachel dragged us to and still more drinks back here, she added, silently.

"Mmmhmm." Peyton didn't appear to be listening. Brooke heard a male voice in the background, and Peyton's muffled response. "I have to go, Brooke. I'll call when I'm on my way."

"I'll be waiting. Good luck."

"Thank you, Brooke. For everything."

"That's what friends are for, right?"

"No, this is what sisters are for. See you soon."

"Bye, Peyton." Brooke hung up.

She got to her feet, walked into the living room and flopped down on the couch. She placed her phone on the coffee table in front of her. Brooke stared at it, wondering if she had imagined the entire conversation. Of all the ways she had imagined the inevitable break-up, this scenario had never occurred to her. Peyton had been ready to leave for more than a year? Since before she had even gotten pregnant with Sawyer? Brooke's heart went out to her small goddaughter. Poor baby. Even though she had two loving parents, it was hard being a child of divorce. Not that Lucas and Peyton had ever gotten married. They were only engaged… for now.

Brooke rubbed her forehead. She was getting a headache. Should she call Luke? No, it wasn't her place. She was just going to have to continue waiting. "You can't fight fate," she said, again not realizing she was talking to herself. For now, she had to stay out of the fray and trust that events would unfold the way they were meant to.