Author's note: I own nothing. This story is an idea I've been toying with so I hope you like it. Read and review please. Thanks.

Brooke Davis stood in the cemetery with her son close to her chest. She had decided to go home. She needed to. It had been a year. Brooke Davis had been gone for almost a year. That year had brought so much change. She had missed Jamie's seventh birthday, she wasn't there for Haley when her mother passed, and she missed the place and the people. Brooke Davis looked at the headstone of her best friend and tried to hold the tears back. It had been two years since she lost her. Two years that seemed like a blur.

It had been twelve months since she had been here. Twelve months ago Brooke Davis stood in this cemetery with the boy she loved and laid flowers on the grave of Peyton Sawyer Scott and her daughter. She knew that it would be difficult being back, but she hadn't realized how hard it would be to stand here again. To look at the ground where her best friend was buried. She left L.A. and Julian. The life they were trying to build wasn't working and maybe it never was. Maybe she was trying too hard and maybe he wasn't trying enough. Julian Baker had tried, she knew that. But this wasn't his life to live. This was hers. She kissed the top of her son's head and turned to leave.

"Brooke?" She heard the voice and wanted to pretend she didn't. She wanted to pretend she was still alone with her son. But she wasn't. He was there, again.

"Luke," she said softly as she met his gaze.

"I didn't know you were in town," he said as he laid the two roses on the ground beneath the headstone.

"We just got in this morning," she said shifting the sleeping baby, "no one knew."

"How have you been," he asked as he walked towards her.

"Good," she lied, "we're good."

"That's great Brooke," he said, "Jamie is going to be excited, he's been begging Haley to take him to L.A. for a while now."

"I'm going to head over there now," she said, "I wanted to surprise them."

"I can give you a lift, if you want," he said.

"I've got a rental," she said as she motioned towards the silver car, "but thanks Luke."

"You look beautiful, Brooke," he said as she was walking away, she looked at him with a faint smile, "you're an amazing mom I can tell."

"Thanks Lucas," she said as she smiled at him, he walked towards her and she protectively held her son closer as Lucas kissed her forehead.

"I've missed you," he said as he stood there looking at the baby boy in her arms.

"I've got to go," she said as she started to walk towards her rental car. She buckled her son in the car seat and watched Lucas standing at Peyton's grave remembering the last time they were there.


The studio had been designed for Peyton, it was her baby, her dream. As Haley sat in the office that was once occupied by her friend she couldn't help but think about her. It had been two years to the day that Peyton had died. Days like today were always hard on Haley, and with Mia being on tour it was more difficult. Of course she had Quinn, but it wasn't the same as if she'd had Mia, or Brooke. But she hadn't had Brooke in almost a year. Brooke and Julian went to L.A. and Brooke had not been back.

Haley made her way to the piano. Music was her salvation. When she was sad or hurt, or happy and joyful, music was always there. That had always been the connection with Peyton. And after losing her mother she had found herself working on new material. She wasn't sure if she wanted to record again, but she knew she could never stop the music in her heart. She played, she played what was in her heart and mind and she didn't think about anything but her music.

"That was beautiful," Brooke said as she stood in the doorway watching Haley.

"Brooke," Haley said almost running towards her best friend, "oh my gosh, I've missed you."

"I've missed you," she said as they embraced, Haley glanced towards the sleeping baby that was in the stroller.

"Oh, Brooke, he's beautiful," she said as she moved the blue blanket for a better look.

"Thank you," she smiled, "Keithan James."

"Keithan James Baker you are gorgeous," Haley said as she kissed the baby.

"Davis," Brooke said timidly.

"Davis," Haley asked as she looked up at her.

"Keithan James Davis," she said as she looked towards her sleeping son.

"It's beautiful Brooke, he's beautiful," she said with a smile, "I've missed you so much Brooke Davis."

"I've missed you too, all of you," Brooke said wiping her eyes.

"Well you're home now," Haley said.

"Yep, we're home," she said looking at her son.


Haley James Scott walked in to her living room after a long day. She had just put her children to bed and gotten baby Keithan settled in to the guest room with Brooke. Nathan had already left for Charlotte, so it was her and Brooke with three sleeping children. It had warmed her heart seeing Jamie with his Aunt Brooke, and seeing Brooke and Grace bond was great. Haley had taken the opportunity to cuddle with Keithan, he was such a good little baby. Haley could see the love Brooke had for him and she was so touched. They had eaten dinner with Mouth and Millicent and Nathan, Lucas had declined saying had to much to do on the new book.

"Crazy day," Haley said as she handed Brooke a cup of coffee and sat beside her with her own.

"Yeah, thank you by the way," Brooke said, "for letting us stay here. I am gonna call a realtor in the morning."

"There is no rush, in case you haven't noticed this house is plenty big for you and Keithan. Plus, I like having you here, I've missed you."

"I've missed you too," she said.

"Can I ask you something tigger," Haley asked, Brooke nodded, "what happened with Julian?"

"He's not the guy for me," she said as she shrugged, "Julian wants a different life than I do, and it's just not working. I used to love the city and since Keithan has been born, I just realized how much I missed this place and all of you. Julian is a great guy, just not the guy for me. And there's only one Tree Hill, and this is home."