Authors Note: Thanks for the reviews, I am not sure where it will end as it is something I have just been playing around with. I own nothing, wish I did.
"Hey bud," Brooke said as Keithan walked in the house. It was almost midnight, but she felt like she wanted to wait up for him after the way things went after the game, "how was the party?"
"Usual Jamie Scott party," he said as he sat on the couch next to his mom, "what are you working on," he asked noticing her sketch book.
"Just some designs for the girl's prom dresses," she said as put the book down. The sat quiet for a few minutes, "are you doing ok," she asked softly, he shook his head and immediately put his hands over his face, it nearly broke her heart seeing him like this. "I wish I could do something to take this pain away," she said as she pulled him close, "but baby I can't, and I am so sorry."
"Why are they even here," he sobbed. "It's all people at school want to talk about, and I hate him. And Sawyer, Mom, I don't want her telling people she is my sister, she's not."
"Keithan, it isn't her fault either," she said, "I don't want you shutting her out because of him, ok."
"I don't need her or them," he said as he wiped his eyes, "I don't want them in my life, I have you and dad."
"You do," she said, "you have so many people who love you buddy." She knew no matter what she couldn't take away the pain he felt seeing Lucas, the questions he had and the hurt and anger, but she would never stop trying.
"I'm going to go to bed," he said as he stood, he reached down and placed a kiss on her head, "I love you mom."
"I love you son," she said, "I am proud of you and the wonderful young man you are." He smiled at his mom, and Brooke's heart melted, she was so frustrated and sad all at once. She never wanted this for Keithan, for him to feel less than amazing, less than loved.
Brooke sat alone, she loved this place so much, it really had become part of who she was. She sipped her coffee as she looked out across the river.
"Hey," he said as he took a seat next to her, "I appreciate you meeting me."
"Luke, I don't know what you think you can say to make this ok," she said.
"I never meant to hurt him," he sighed, "and I never wanted to hurt you Brooke."
"But you did, Luke," she said, "he's hurt. And you of all people Lucas, you should understand what this is like for him."
"Brooke," he said softly, "I have to fix this. Please," he pleaded. They sat in silence for what felt like eternity to him, "what can I do?"
"I never really thought things would be like this," she said wiping a tear from her face, "but here we are. He loves and adores his Uncle Nathan, always wanting to follow in his footsteps. It's funny in a way, you know Nathan didn't have the relationship with his uncle, but I know Keith would be so proud of who he turned out to be." She stood up to go, because her heart could not withstand anymore of this with him, in this place, "Keithan has people who care about him, who love him, who never make him doubt that, we both do," she said as she walked towards her car.
"Brooke," he said, she turned back to look at him, "there has not been a single day that I have not thought about him, that I haven't wanted to be with him, to be able to tell him I love him, or you," he said softly. She stared at him for a moment before turning and continuing towards her car.
Brooke walked into the house, it was silent. She knew Keithan was probably over at Jenny's, since he started dating her Brooke had seen less and less of him. She saw the book laying on the kitchen counter, she hated herself for keeping a copy, and she hated it even more when her son would read through it. An Unkindess of Ravens, a novel by Lucas Scott.
Suddenly, it was as if the roar of the crowd, the echo of the final buzzer, the cheers of my teammates were all sounding from a thousand miles away, and what remained in that bizarre, muffled silence was only Peyton. The girl whose art, passion, and beauty had changed my life. In that moment, my triumph was not a state championship, but simple clarity. The realization that we had always been meant for each other and every instinct to the contrary had simply been a denial of the following truth—I was now and always would be in love with Peyton Sawyer.
"Hello," Haley said waving a hand in front of Brooke's face, "are you ok?"
"Yeah sorry, lost somewhere in a memory," she said as she sat the book down.
"Speaking of, how'd your conversation go this morning?"
"Pointless, Hales, I can't force Keithan, I won't do it."
"Also speaking of," Haley said as she started looking through the book, "I guess some movie producer wants to turn this into a movie."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah, I was talking to Lucas earlier, and he said he got a call this morning after he saw you. I guess the guy is coming into town soon."
"Keithan is having a hard enough time with Lucas and Peyton, and Sawyer and Keith, but yeah I am sure this movie won't be an issue for him," Brooke said frustrated.
"Well I am sure Lucas won't agree to it if it will cause you or Keithan any pain Brooke," Haley said.
"It doesn't seem like that is his priority Haley, I mean sixteen years is a long time and to come back and expect Keithan to just say hi dad?" Haley looked at her sadly, knowing Brooke was still hurt after all of these years, "and Keithan has a dad. I mean he may not biological, but damn it he has been there for him."
"Tigger, I know," Haley said softly. "One thing I have learned over the years is that it isn't biology that makes a family."
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to take it out on you, I just hate seeing Keithan like this. He is hurting so bad and I can't help him," Brooke wiped her eyes, just then Keithan walked in the kitchen, "hey bud."
"Hey," he said grabbing a drink from the refrigerator, "Aunt Haley," he said as he kissed the top of her head, "mom," he said seeing her wipe her eyes, he had always been so protective over Brooke, "are you ok?"
"Yeah," she said forcing a smile, "you need to shower, we are having dinner at casa de Naley tonight, ok."
"Ok," he said as he wrapped his arms around his mother, "I love you."
"I love you," she said with a chuckle, "even when you are stinky and sweaty, go shower."
"You really are a good mom, Brooke, you amaze me with him," Haley said, "Keithan has always been so happy and loved, and I really can't imagine how hard it has been sometimes, I am proud of you Tigger."
"I haven't done it all alone," Brooke smiled glancing at the photo on the refrigerator door of her Keithan and Clay on Christmas last year, "we have a pretty amazing group around us."
