Author's Note: So I don't know where this is going and for the first time since starting fanfiction I'm a little out of my depth. I've always had a clear cut idea of what I wanted but this story is throwing so many ideas around in my head it's a little disorienting. Therefore – I NEED YOU GUYS! Please tell me what you think of the story so far, what you think could happen, how you feel about certain characters and what you would like to see. As always, you are my light at the end of the dark tunnel. R&R - Chrissy xox

** Dedicated to the one boy I would lose it all for – Todd xox

Thoughts Run Unspoken

"I'm coming home, coming home.

Tell the world that I'm coming home

Let the rain wash away

All the pain of yesterday

I know my kingdom awaits

And they've forgiven my mistakes
I'm coming home, I'm coming home
Tell the world that I'm coming..."

J-Cole & Alex Da Kid

Chapter 2: Coming Home

The mindless chatter surrounded her like a thick, woollen blanket.

Her concentration impenetrable, Haley James Scott stared blankly ahead as a multitude of bodies floated past her. Their movements were of little consequence to the young mother, merely shadows surrounding her as she worked hard to keep herself together. Honeyed-locks kissed the top f her covered shoulders, barely brushed. Her eyes relayed her inner turmoil, reddened from the endless nights of crying herself to sleep in the lonely house, silent prayers falling on deaf ears. All she had was time – but time wasn't on her side.

She was waiting for her husband. Problem was, she wasn't sure if her husband even existed any more

That single thought had played out in her head like a silent torture for the past few days. With every heave of her sobbing chest more energy was zapped from her tired body. Haley had cried so many tears she thought it must have been impossible to shed any more. But sure enough, as night fell and the house succumbed to darkened solitude, her salty streams flowed once more. Kissing her porcelain cheeks, the young mother was certain her tears would leave permanent marks from their constant, persistent streaks. She could feel herself getting too close to the edge without much hope to cling to. And when life got too hard and she couldn't turn to her husband there was only one person on the entire planet who knew exactly what she needed. Only one person who could pull her through.

Lucas Scott.

It had been precisely fifteen seconds on the phone before the brooding writer had agreed to come home. It was a dependable friendship that Haley had come to value more than most. When the young mother had felt too vulnerable and unsafe to keep her children out of harm's way, Lucas had been the one she called. As uncle's go, he was one of the best. It was like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders knowing that Jamie and Lydia were safe. However once her children were safely tucked away on the other side of the world, Haley suddenly had to focus on herself or Nathan. With few leads and frustrating hours of uneventful waiting, the stress of the entire situation began to take its toll. Barely hanging on, she needed to finally accept the support of those around her.

She couldn't be tough all the time. Super-mum or not.

"Haley! Haley!"

His voice cut through her thoughts and snapped her to attention, Haley standing to her feet as the tired-looking blonde shuffled through the crowd and straight towards her. He proceeded with an obvious urgency, as if he needed to see her and hold her to make sure that she was there and safe. Sliding to a halt in front of her, Lucas scooped his best friend into a huge bear hug and buried his face into her neck.

"Uh Hales, I've been so worried about you."

Closing her eyes and allowing herself to fall into his embrace, Haley took a deep breath and nodded her head. It was nice to just stand there and be held together by someone she trusted rather than force herself to be strong. Lucas knew what she needed.

"Thank you, Luke. I know I called so late-"

"Come on," came the wary reply, thick arms pulling out of the embrace and landing on her shoulders so that she could see his expression. "You're family. You know that! Anything you need..."

He let the sentence trail off but Haley understood his full meaning.

"So, any news?"

"Nothing," came the lifeless answer, the young wife watching as the hope drained from her brother-in-law's eyes. "I keep feeling like I should be doing more. Or the police should be." Her words dripped with venom as she spat out the end of the sentence, showing she felt more than a little wrathful when it came to the uniform and their handling of her husband's disappearance. "It scares me to think of what might have happened to him, what he must be feeling right now-"

"Hey, come here," stretching outwards, Lucas pulled his best friend back into his protective hold. He knew Haley was probably one of the strongest people he knew, but even this was becoming to much for her to carry alone. He had to remain optimistic. "You know that the best thing we can do for Nathan is stay positive. The minute we give up is the minute we lose him forever."

Forever. The word hit her senses and caught in her throat. Always and Forever. That was what Nathan and Haley were supposed to have.

"I know," softly, her whispered voice pushed the words from her trembling lips. "It's just so hard to think that way sometimes." His image flashed before her eyes, stabbing at her chest once more. She didn't know how to survive in a world where Nathan didn't. She needed him home with his family.

Where he belonged.

"And that's why you have me," Lucas countered, hoping his reply reassured her even the slightest bit. He would take any small triumphs where he could get them. "Any time you need to fall apart, you just go right ahead." Soft lips grazed the hair of his best friend as he kissed her. "I'll always be here to pick you up again."

Standing there in the middle of the bustling airport, passers-by oblivious to the heartache of the strangers around them, Haley felt the support she had long been craving. She had never blamed Lucas for getting in his car and driving away that day with Peyton and a very young Sawyer She had never once questioned his decision when he called from New Zealand and said that he had finally settled where Peyton had found more work. When he had given up writing she didn't question his motives why – she simply supported him as best she knew how. That was why out of all the people breathing the oxygen provided by the planet at that point in time, Haley had chose Lucas to be the one to support her in her hour of need.

She got him and he got her.

"How are the kids?" Pulling her thoughts away from the gloomy situation, Haley smiled as she pushed Lucas to follow her lead. She missed Jamie and Lydia so much at night she thought she might crumple over from the hollowness she felt inside.

Perhaps she would blow away?

"Good, they really enjoy staying with Mom and Andy and Lily enjoys having them around- it keeps her out of trouble." Lucas smiled whenever he mentioned his god-children, their perseverance in spite of everything they had been through something he very much admired.

"And Peyton? Sawyer?" her questions were innocent enough, yet at the mention of their names Lucas flinched and immediately seemed uncomfortable. In front of anyone else the reaction might have gone by unnoticed. In front of Haley James Scott it was a completely different story.

"Sawyer is great. She's gotten so big so quick, time really flies-"

"-Lucas?" interrupting, her voice was laced with questioning concern. Delicate eyes trailed over the boy before her, his evasiveness beyond apparent. Cerulean orbs trailed north and collided with her own and it was at that moment that the penny had dropped. Too consumed in her own need, Haley hadn't even stopped to think about how her request may have impacted on her friend's family.

"Peyton was okay with you coming, right?"

Uhhhhhh-hhhhhhhuuuuhhhhh. Breathing heavily, a long sigh spilled from the writer's lips and expelled into the tense air that surrounded him. He had never been very good at lying to the young mother before him and he wasn't about to begin to now.

"She may have had an issue but I don't agree with her. You and Nathan are my family. I needed to be here."

Slowly, warm eyes hid behind closed eyelids as Haley consumed the information. The last thing she wanted to do was come between Lucas and his family.

"Luke, I don't want to cause tension between the two of you-"

"You haven't," He countered back quickly, fiercely determined to stop his friend from taking this new burden onto her already fragile shoulders. "What Peyton and I are dealing with is all about us. It's no one else's fault or problem."

Confusion littered her features as his words traipsed a pattern through her mind. All about them? Was there something else happening between Lucas and Peyton that Haley wasn't aware of. Surely if they were having problems her friend would have told her. She would always be there to lend and ear and be a support, no matter what was happening in her life. Before she could formulate a response to Lucas' statement, the engine cut off and the young mother suddenly took in her surroundings, the front door of her home staring back at her. Opening the door, Quinn stepped onto the front porch with Clay beside her, the young duo throwing smiles at the pair who had just arrived home.

"Welcome back, Lucas," Quinn announced, a large grin encompassing her lips as she reached out and took Lucas into her arms. He could feel the relief that flooded through her as he held her back, a vast difference from the stressed woman he had seen at the airport the last time they were in each other's orbit. "Have you met Clay?"

"Heard of, never met." Reaching out, the brooding writer took the blonde's hand in his own. "Nice to meet you, man."

"Hey yeah, you too." Shaking Lucas' hand, Clay smiled a warm welcome. "Listen, anything we can do to help please, just say the word."

Lucas smiled at the offer, genuinely appreciative of it. He had heard about Clay from Nathan and the pair had been through a lot together. He didn't need to know the sports agent to trust him. As long as his brother did, he was okay by Lucas.

"Will do, thank you. Maybe the four of us can sit down later and you can fill me in on everything with Nath-" he stopped when he noticed Haley's face fall, the young mother slowly walking out of the room. The look on her face said it all. Drained of life, her eyes seemed dark and hopeless. Immediately Lucas was by her side, a strong arm snaking around her waist as his other held onto her forearm.

"Come on, I think you need to lay down."

Throwing a look back in Quinn and Clay's direction, the pair nodded as Lucas pulled Haley up the stairs, her weak body falling onto his for support. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen her so forlorn and helpless and it broke his heart. He had worried when Nathan called him to explain her actions after her mother's untimely death, but even then the brooding writer couldn't have imagined it. Haley was always the strong one, the voice of reason.

She was always the one whose eyes portrayed hope, even when there was none to be had.

Entering the upstairs bedroom, Lucas slid his friend under the covers and watched as she closed her eyes, the sound of her breathing enough to cause him fresh heartache. Gazing down at her in that moment, Lucas knew he had made the right decision. Even though his wife was mad at him, he knew that Haley needed him. She was barely holding on and she needed someone to be strong. Leaning down over her, warm lips pushed a soft kiss down on her forehead, Haley's eyes fluttering a little as Lucas stepped back and made his way towards the door.

"Stay?" croaky, her voice was edgy and laced with despair. "I don't want to be alone any more"

Swallowing hard, Lucas nodded and slid onto the soft mattress beside her, Haley curling up into his hold and nestling her face into his chest. Thick hands stroked her honey hair and after a few minutes her breaths became deep and laboured, Lucas gazing down to find his best friend asleep in his arms. He wondered how long it had been since she had gotten some decent rest and he was glad she was going to have some now.

She would need her strength. Every last ounce of it.

"You will never be alone again, Hales," Lucas breathed, his words falling between the empty spaces of the air between them. "I promise you."

x~X~x

Clink. Clink. Clink. Clink.

The steady rhythm of silverware and porcelain plates echoed throughout the tiny cafe, matched by the melodious hum of happy customers in a symphony of sound. Around her mindless chatter ensued, tiny hands gripping the hundredth order for that evening as Brooke made her way through the maze of tables and chairs. Sliding the food down onto the table, she forced herself to smile as the customers looked up at her with a puzzled expression.

"I'm sorry Brooke, but I don't think this is our order?"

Gazing down at the plates full of burgers and fries, a quivering bottom lip sunk behind teeth as the brunette looked around the tables. Sure enough, in the window booth there sat an expectant pair of teenagers who were awaiting their order.

"I'm so sorry," Brooke replied, letting out a long breath and making her way over to the right table. Shaking hands slid the plates onto the laminate once more, appreciative looks from the patrons sent her way. She gave them a short, forced smile before turning on her heels and making her way back towards the counter.

"Chelsea?" she called out, the young, blonde waitress turning around at the sound of her name. "Hold the fort for a few, okay?"

Before she even got a reply, Brooke surged into the kitchen area and slid against the wall, heavy breaths expelling from quivering lips as she tried to keep herself together. Heavy eyelids fell from the lack of sleep, the fresh tears that sprang to them quickly blinked away. She couldn't afford to fall apart right now but it was hard not to. Closing her eyes, she let out a few sharp breaths and shook her hands in front of herself as if she were drying them, familiar baby blues landing on the sight in concern.

"Hey you."

Startled, emerald orbs shot open at the sound of his voice and landed on a figure she hadn't seen in a long time. Leaning against the tiled wall beside her, Lucas' face relayed his worry about her current state. He looked good, albeit a little tired, but he was definitely a sight for sore eyes. Without hesitation Brooke leapt into his arms, his familiar hold encapsulating her as they greeted one another. Smiling as she pulled back, her face was instantly more like the Brooke he wanted to see.

"What are yo doing here, Luke?" came the raspy tones known only to the fashionista, eyes opening wide as she glanced behind him. "Are Peyton and Sawyer with you?"

Face instantly falling, Lucas shuffled slightly on the spot. "Not this time. I'm here for Haley and I have been dying to see this place since the two of you started it up again."

Brooke smiled and shrugged her shoulders, like the ordeal had been nothing out of the ordinary. This was the Brooke he had remembered and it was good to see her again. Carefree. Strong. A little zany.

"It seemed right," the brunette offered as reason, her smile lighting up her eyes. "The town needed to have it's heart and soul back, I think. When I look back on all the memories I have and the people I've known, this cafe was a huge part of that. I guess Haley and I just wanted our children to have that same experience, you know?"

Nodding his head, Lucas completely felt her meaning. "It looks amazing, Brooke."

She smiled at his compliment, his approval meaning more than most. This was where he had spent most of his life, where a lot of his memories were formed. Both she and Haley had wanted his approval nearly as much as they had wanted Karen's. Perhaps more.

"So, what's new with you? Twins I hear."

Brooke smiled at the mention of her boys, clearly a proud mother. Reaching into her back jeans pocket, she pulled out a picture of Davis and Jude. Lucas smiled at the image, white teeth stretching in a distinct Lucas chuckle.

"I know, they're perfect. It's a good thing I am a designer because you really couldn't have designed more perfect babies if you tried."

Lucas laughed at her statement, handing the picture back over to the proud mother and nodding his head. He had to admit, they were ridiculously cute and it was great to see her so happy. He wasn't prepared however, for her remarks that followed. As her eyes filled with confusion, the brunette looked upon her old friend for answers.

"Luke, how is Peyton?" Shuffling on the spot, Brooke slid the picture of her boys back into her pocket and looked up at the blonde for answers. "We have barely spoken for months and every time I call she doesn't reply. Is everything okay?"

Her voice was drowning in her obvious fear and it made Lucas uneasy. He knew he and Peyton had problems, but he didn't expect for her to close herself off from the people she cared about. The people who cared about her. When she had claimed Sawyer was too sick for Brooke's wedding he was uncertain but he accepted it, not wanting to cart his daughter across the seas. But at the same time he'd known his mother and Andy were more than capable of taking care of her so he chalked it up to a mother's anxiety over leaving her child. However upon hearing that she was barely speaking to Brooke these days caused him to re-think things a little.

"She's fine," he stammered, not wanting to bring Brooke into everything. Knowing her she would worry and Lucas knew she had enough on her plate. "Just incredibly busy. New Zealand was different than we thought it would be."

His facial expression relayed his concern and unease. Brooke knew him too well to let it go. Folding her arms across her chest, she gave him the eyes that he in turn, knew too well. She wasn't buying it.

"Tell me."

Soft hands reached out and slid themselves over his, Brooke's fingers squeezing down as she held onto him.

"We've uh, been having problems." He had barely been able to admit that notion to himself, his voice shaking slightly as the words fell from his lips. "We've been distant lately and she wasn't too happy with me coming here this time. We fought before I left."

Brooke could see the strain behind his cerulean eyes, the pain he felt. Even though she had barely spoken to Peyton she was sure that her old friend would see Lucas was right in coming back home. If she could see Haley and the way she was falling apart then she would never have questioned Lucas on it. He was all about saving people and no one knew that better than Peyton.

"She will understand, Luke," Brooke breathed, clutching his hand in reassurance. "Haley needed you. Anyone with half a brain could see that. Hell, even a blind man could see it. We all tried as best we could to support her but she needed you. Nathan's brother. Her family. She will understand this once the dust settles, I'm sure of it."

"I hope so," Lucas breathed, gazing down at Brooke's reassuring smile. Even after all these years, it was still as infectious today as it had been the first time he saw it. "God Brooke, it is really good to see you."

Smiling, Brooke nods her head in reply. "It's good to see you too, Luke."

Brrrrmmmm. Brrrrmmmm. Brrrrmmmm. Brrrrmmmm.

"Sorry," apologetic eyes glanced over the boy before her as she reached for her vibrating phone. Sliding the metallic cell to her ear, the young mother smiled at Lucas as she answered.

"Hello, Brooke speaking."

As the voice broke through on the other end, Lucas watched as Brooke's smile began to slowly fade away. Her eyes lost their life, replaced instead by both anger and pain as she listened to whatever the caller had to say. She took a deep breath and sighed, nodding her head before simply answering "Okay, I'll be right there."

Sliding the phone shut, Brooke glanced up at Lucas and apologised. "I'm sorry, I have to go but it really was great to see you. Give Haley my love and tell her I'll be around tomorrow."

Delicate hands moved to the back of her apron as the young mother untied the knot, the fabric shoved onto the kitchen counter as Brooke made her way into the cafe. Grabbing her purse, she calls out to the waitress who was busy clearing an emptied table.

"Chelsea, I've got to pop out for a bit. Can you handle the fort?"

The young blonde smiled and nodded, Brooke throwing another apologetic look Lucas' way before bursting out of the cafe doors and onto the busy main street, the brooding blonde watching in concern as she disappeared out of sight.

Perhaps Haley wasn't the only one he needed to come home for?

x~X~x

Oh my gosh, yes it's an update. I took a rest from writing to help my hands and it has appeared to work however I do need to take it easy. I want to say thank you to everyone who reviewed. I am so surprised it got as many as it did for just one chapter. I have to of course, give a shout out to the following people who took the time to send me their thoughts and support:

dianehermans

pam

Todd

Tutourgirl23

brookescott13

othiller

dreamkent

XHush-HushX

DANI OTH

ReadingRed

craxygirl54

sunshine

Me

jdubbs

LoveWritingxoxo

BpDs89

Just so everyone knows, in my head it doesn't really matter how much time has passed since the last time Lucas visited Haley at the airport. The way I see it, Peyton was making that remark out of frustration and in an attempt to get Lucas to see her side of the argument. It could be a week, or a month – it doesn't really matter. What matters is that the last time Lucas went back to Tree Hill he came back with Jamie and Lydia and Peyton argued that point. Was it fair? No, but she was irrationally upset. As this is an AU re-written season 9, parts of it will inevitably change but a bulk of it will remain the same. I hope that is a good enough explanation for everyone :)

Anyway, thanks again and please review. You know they mean the world to me and push me to continue with my stories. It's always amazing to see them and I hope you all enjoy the update!

Much love and god bless,

Chrissy

xox