One year later…

Jay walked into his usual coffee shop and groaned when he saw the long line in front of him. He was already running late for work and almost left, but decided he needed something other than black break room coffee to make it through the day. He breathed a sigh of relief as the line moved fast and he saw that he was up next. When the woman in front of him began to order, his heart stopped. That voice. He would recognize it anywhere.

"I'll take the same and pay for hers!" he blurted out and the barista gave him a strange look, causing the woman in front of him to turn around. Sure enough, it was Brooke Davis. Her jaw dropped and the second they made eye contact, Jay felt his heart stop once again.

"Oh my god, Jay!" Brooke threw her arms around his neck in a tight hug. Their moment was interrupted as the barista cleared his throat to get their attention when the coffee was ready. Jay threw money on the counter and he and Brooke moved to a table as he texted Ruzek to tell Voight he was going to be late.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, still in shock that she was sitting across from him looking as beautiful as ever.

"We're opening a store in Chicago! I have a meeting with some investors this morning then an appointment with a realtor to look at some empty storefronts," she explained, a huge smile on her face.

"That's amazing! I can't believe this," Jay still couldn't form coherent thoughts. He thought he had gotten over Brooke and gone back to his old flirty ways, but seeing her here brought back all of the feelings he'd tried to hide a year ago.

She nodded. "This is…"

"What are the chances?" Jay was glad she couldn't find words either.

"I wanted to call you and tell you I was coming, but I realized I never even got your number when you were in Tree Hill. Can you believe that?"

"I really thought I'd never see you again," Jay just shook his head.

"Well I'm here now. I have a flight to New York to headquarters in the morning, but we still have tonight. Wanna show me around Chicago?" she flashed him a smile, her dimples popping more than ever.

"I'd be honored. I get out of work at 6. Where are you staying?" he asked, smiling back.

"Hotel Monaco."

"I'll meet you there at 7." Jay took out a piece of paper and scribbled something before sliding it towards her. "I gotta get to work, but here's my number." He winked at her before getting up, squeezing her arm as he walked by.

Jay walked up to the stairs to the bullpen with the same smile plastered on his face, earning questions from his coworkers.

"Who's the girl?" Atwater asked after Jay had been sitting at his desk staring off into space with a smile for 20 minutes.

Jay rolled his eyes, but was too happy to hide it. "Brooke Davis."

Ruzek turned around so hard his coffee mug flew off his desk and shattered on the floor. "What?" he asked, ignoring the mess.

"Saw her at the coffee shop this morning. She's opening a store here in Chicago."

"No shit," Antonio muttered, walking out of the break room "Good for you dude." He patted the younger detective on the back on the way to his desk.

"Remember that time I told you everything happened for a reason?" Ruzek asked with a smirk on his face.

"And what was the reason for you breaking that perfectly good coffee mug?" Jay shot back with a laugh.

The mood in the bullpen was lighter than it had been a long time as they all settled into their files and paperwork, but the day at work crawled by. With no open cases, the unit was using the day to catch up on paperwork and Jay was pretty sure the clock wasn't moving. When the clock finally struck 6, he was out the door in a heartbeat. His smile was still on his face as he drove back to his apartment and began to get ready for his night with Brooke. He knew she still lived in Tree Hill and he was obviously in Chicago, but he was taking this morning as a sign from the universe: Brooke Davis is not someone you can just give up.

Jay finished getting ready, sprayed on his favorite cologne and grabbed his wallet and keys, then got in his car to make his way back to Brooke. As he got in his car, his phone vibrated with a text from an unknown number.

Room 310. Can't wait to see you :) B

He smiled as he typed a quick reply – See you in 10 – then started his car and made his way to Hotel Monaco. He parked his car and almost ran to the elevator; he had never been so excited for a date before, and he wasn't sure if this was even a date. After what seemed like an eternity but was really only 30 seconds, the elevator arrived on the third floor and Jay was in front of room 310. The smile still on his face, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.

"Wow," Jay's breath caught in his throat when Brooke opened the door. She was dressed casually in ripped jeans and a tank top, but she still took his breath away.

She laughed and her dimples popped out. "Hey, I'll be ready in two minutes. Come in," she moved to the side to let him in the room.

"You're beautiful," he told her as he walked past her into her hotel room.

"You're not to bad yourself." She winked at him before disappearing into the bathroom. She reappeared a few minutes later and walked over to the bed where he was sitting. "Ready?"

"I've been ready for a year," he admitted, grabbing her hand and leading her out of the hotel room.

"Where are we going?" she asked when they got in the elevator.

"You hungry?"

"That is never a question," she laughed, "Always."

"I knew I liked you," Jay laughed back, "We'll start at my favorite restaurant – the Purple Pig. Then I'll take you to Navy Pier."

"That sounds great," she squeezed his hand as the elevator doors opened and they walked through the lobby, then out into the warm Chicago night.

"Do you wanna walk or drive?" he asked.

"Let's walk. It's nice out and I can't get over how beautiful this city is."

"It's definitely not Tree Hill," Jay laughed.

"That's for sure." Brooke had honestly never been so amazed by a city. New York had been nice, but Chicago was something amazing. Before she met Jay, she had never had any desire to visit, but a few months ago when Victoria suggested opening a store on Michigan Ave, she jumped at the chance to see where he lived. She never imagined she'd actually find him and be lucky enough to get her own personal tour, but she couldn't have been happier with how fate worked.

They walked in silence for a few minutes as Brooke took in everything around her. She smelt the restaurant before she saw it and her stomach rumbled. "Oh my god, it smells so good," she said, laughing.

"You have to try the truffles, they're the best," Jay told her as they walked up to the restaurant and he opened the door for her. They were seated quickly and taken care of quickly, Jay's frequent visits seeming to pay off.

"So how have you been?" Jay asked once they ordered.

"Good. Really good. Got my life back on track after the attack and the company is thriving. I've started to design a children's line, too." She told him proudly.

"That's amazing. I'm really happy for you." Jay smiled, causing Brooke to blush.

"Thank you. How about you? How's work?"

"It's good. Just trying to get all the psychos off the street, ya know?"

Brooke nodded. "I still can't thank you enough for putting him away,"

Jay shrugged, but a smile took over his lips. "It's my job."

"Is it weird that I'm kind of thankful I was attacked?" she asked slowly, making a face when she realized how bad that question sounded.

He raised his eyebrow, "Yeah, that's pretty weird… what do you mean?"

"I met you because of it." She said simply, as if he'd just asked the stupidest question in the world. "I mean, yeah, I could've gone without the black eyes and bruises and anxiety, but being here right now feels so right. And without Xavier, we both know I wouldn't be here right now."

Jay smiled, "It does feel right." Their food came and they ate in a comfortable silence, sneaking glances at each other whenever one thought the other wasn't looking. Every now and then Brooke would reach over and try to steal a fry from Jay, earning a playful push. Jay paid the bill and led them back outside, once again taking Brooke's hand to hold on the walk over to the pier.

"That was so good, I'm going to be full for like three days," she groaned.

Jay laughed, "I told you! Let me guess, they don't have food like that in Tree Hill?"

Brooke shook her head, "No, they definitely don't have food like that in Tree Hill. They really don't have anything in Tree Hill anymore."

"So why are you still there?" Jay asked, curious about the sadness in her voice during that confession.

"Actually… I wanted to talk to you about that tonight. Peyton and Luke are getting married next month and moving out to LA. And Nathan just got drafted by the Bobcats, so him and Haley are moving their family down to Charlotte. My mom is back in New York and Millie's boyfriend just got a great job offer in Oklahoma and I want her to go with him. So I guess all my reasons for staying in Tree Hill are leaving…"

Jay's heart began to beat fast. "What are you saying?"

"If I can find a store that I like here… I think I'm going to close the Tree Hill location and move out to Chicago to run it. Unless that would be weird for you, because it's beautiful here but I-"

Jay stopped walking and turned so he was facing Brooke. "You ramble when you're nervous, you know that?" he asked, a huge grin spreading across his face. "I would love nothing more than for you to move out to Chicago. I don't know what we are right now, but I can promise you'll always have at least a friend here."

Brooke reached forward and threw her arms around Jay, hugging him tight. "Thank you," she whispered into his chest. She pulled away and looked back into his eyes. "By the way, I also did find a store that I liked. I just wanted to see your reaction about me moving out here before I told you."

"So you're moving to Chicago?"

"That's what the meeting in New York is about tomorrow. But yeah, I think I'm moving to Chicago." Brooke announced.

Jay had never seen anyone smile so wide in his life, but he was sure his smile was just as big. He couldn't help it, he leaned forward and crashed his lips on to Brooke's and the kiss was more electrifying than their first one a year ago. They struggled for control, tongues darting back and forth, Brooke pulling the short hairs on the back of Jay's neck until they both ran out of breath.

"I think we'll have plenty of time to see the pier," Brooke panted as she pulled away. "Take me back to my room." She winked, running towards the nearest taxi.

xoxoxoxo

"Jay," Jay woke up to a raspy voice and soft kisses being placed on his forehead.

He broke out in a huge grin when he opened his eyes to see Brooke straddled on top of him. "Good morning," he mumbled.

"My flight leaves in two hours," she said sadly, climbing off of him to get out of the bed.

"Do you have to leave?" he whined, the memories of last night coming back and another huge smile breaking out on his face.

"I mean… I could stay, but then I'd miss all of my meetings in New York and I couldn't file the paperwork to open up the store here…" she shrugged, raising an eyebrow to tease him.

"Ugh," Jay groaned. "When will you be back?"

"A few months." Brooke looked up from her suitcase and into his blue eyes. "I'll have to close down and sell the Tree Hill location, then go to New York for a few weeks to get everything together before I can get back out here." She walked back over to the bed and sat down beside Jay, who grabbed her hand.

"I'm gonna wait for you, Brooke Davis." He promised. He'd gone a year thinking he was never going to see the girl again; he could definitely make it a few months knowing she was coming back.

"You better," she squeezed his hand.

"I'm all in. I'm gonna miss you though." He pulled her back down on top of him and placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"All in," she mumbled into his chest. She squirmed out of his grip and placed a soft kiss on his lips before getting back up. "But you reallllly have to let me shower so I don't miss my flight." She gave him a signature Brooke Davis wink and disappeared into the bathroom.

She returned a few minutes later with a twinkle in her eye and a smirk on her face. "What?" Jay asked suspiciously.

"I got an idea,"

"For what?"

"Come to Peyton and Luke's wedding with me. It's next month, so it would cut the time apart in half. And going to your ex-boyfriend's wedding alone isn't really ideal. I know you met everyone at Tric that night, but I want you to really get to know my friends before everyone leaves and everything changes. Please?" she was almost begging.

"Of course." Jay blurted out before he even knew what he was saying. He didn't think about work or Voight or any obligation he could possibly have in Chicago. All he could focus on was the beautiful girl in front of him admitting that she needed him just as much as he needed her.

Brooke's face lit up as she walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his body. "Thank you. I know you weren't a huge fan of Tree Hill, but this means more than you could ever know."

"I think you could convince me to do anything for you, Brooke." Jay laughed, wrapping his arms around her small body.

"Good, because I need a ride to the airport." She laughed and pulled away to finish packing her suitcase. Jay groaned and shook his head, wondering how he was going to survive another month without this girl.

xoxoxoxo

Jay parked his car at O'Hare and he and Brooke very slowly made their way into the airport, neither of them wanting their time together to end. They'd only been together for a day, but Jay was positive it was the best day of his life and he couldn't wait for hundreds of days like that when Brooke finally moved to Chicago.

"Last call for flight 457 to New York City," the announcement boomed through the airport and Brooke looked up at Jay with sad eyes.

"That's me." She sadly stated the obvious.

"I'll see you soon, Brooke Davis." He leaned down to capture her lips into one last perfect kiss.

"You better wait for me." She reminded him as they pulled away.

"Always. I told you, I'm all in."

"All in." she repeated, placing a final kiss on his lips before turning around to walk towards her terminal. Jay watched her go until she disappeared into a crowd and he prayed that this next month would be the fastest month of his life.