Notes: Thank you everyone for your reviews. I was pleasantly surprised when I checked my e-mail account this afternoon. I'm glad that you're enjoying it so far and I hope that you continue. Please let me know what you think along the way.

Chapter Rating: PG-13 (for language)

Whiskey and Weddings
Chapter Two

There was only one person, aside from Peyton and her future family that Brooke was looking forward to seeing in Tree Hill and that was Karen Roe. Though she and Lucas had lost touch after their ugly break-up a few years back, Karen had remained a constant in her life. They talked often and were both careful about not bringing Lucas into the conversation.

The truth was Karen had been a sort of surrogate mother to both she and Peyton since they were first introduced to the petite brunette. The older woman had been dealt a lot of bad cards in her lifetime, but had managed to pick herself up and build not one, but two, successful businesses. Many people in Tree Hill, but especially Brooke admired her.

Karen was the first person that had ever believed in her. She was the one that had told her to chase her dream, not to sit and waste away waiting for something great to happen. Greatness wasn't given. It was achieved. That was all it had taken to get Brooke on a plane to New York. And four years later when she had received her diploma, Karen was the one next to Peyton, sitting in seats that everyone else's parents occupied. If Brooke Davis had ever had a mother in her lifetime, it was Karen Roe.

Walking the familiar path from Peyton's to the cafe, Brooke was taken back to a time where everything was so complicated. Everyone used to tell her that if she thought high school was bad, she should just wait to get out in the real world because it would be hell. It hadn't been like that for Brooke. The world had been good to her. She'd never take back anything that had happened in her life, even the times of complete heartbreak and udder despair because she knew those were the things that had helped shape her into the woman she was today and she liked who she'd become.

As she pushed the cafe door open, the familiar ring of the bell made her smile. Karen looked up from her spot behind the counter and practically ran to greet her newest customer.

"Oh, Brooke. Why didn't you tell me you were coming down" She exclaimed and wrapped her arms around the younger woman in a tight embrace. Karen stepped back and looked her over. "Well don't you just look fabulous. Did you change your hair? It looks nice." Karen pushed a stray strand behind Brooke's ear and then pulled her into another hug. "I can't believe you didn't tell me you were coming." Brooke laughed as Karen finally let go.

"I wanted it to be a surprise."

"Well, you succeeded. How long are you here for? Please say it's more than the weekend."

"Two months. I'm helping Peyton plan the wedding."

Karen was beaming. "Isn't that nice. I'm so glad the two of you are still so close and Peyton is just so happy. Its such a change from when I first met her."

"Don't I know it. She's really excited about it all."

"As she should be. Would you like something to eat? I can whip you up one of those pattie melts that you love so much in no time."

"That would be great. Thanks, Karen."

Brooke settled into a seat at the counter and chatted with Andy, whom Karen had finally married last summer, when the door to the cafe flung open violently.

"What they hell" She exclaimed and was shocked to see Nathan Scott stumbling towards a booth in the back of the cafe, the door to the cafe still wide open. Andy silently got up and closed it and returned to his seat next to Brooke like nothing had happened. She'd seen Karen peek through the kitchen door but after seeing Nathan, she too had gone back to work as if he'd never entered. "What was that" Brooke asked already irritated.

"Just Nathan." Andy replied matter-of-factly.

"I know that's Nathan, but what's with the attitude"

"Its not really an attitude so much as a drunken stupor."

"And since when does Karen let drunks in her cafe"

"Since the night she found him sitting on the pavement in the rain after she kicked him out."

Brooke turned to look at him again. His body was still just as great shape, but his hair was a mess and his clothes were dirty. She was almost positive he was drunk, but when he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a flask all doubt was gone from her mind. "Is he like this a lot"

"He comes in a few nights a week, yeah."

"Is he always drinking"

"Pretty much."

"And it doesn't bother Karen"

"She just wants him to be safe."

"He looks more like a mess to me. I'm going to talk to him."

"Oh, no you're not" Karen said joining in the conversation and placing Brooke's meal before her. "Just let him be."

"He's drunk, Karen."

"I know that, sweetie. But you talking to him will only cause a scene. He's not exactly friendly these days."

"So I see."

"Just let it go and eat your dinner before it gets cold."

"Fine."

Brooke agreed not to talk to Nathan now, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to talk to him at all. When Peyton had informed her of Nathan's behavior, she didn't think it was that serious. However, actually seeing him and the way both Karen and Andy tip toed around him had her curious and a bit pissed off. It was one thing for Nathan to be upset about Haley's leaving, though in her opinion he should have moved on by now, and if he wanted to drown his sorrows in the bottle, that was no one's concern but his, but to take advantage of Karen and her kindness and just be outright disrespectful of the woman and her business made Brooke all kinds of angry.

She sat with Karen and Andy until closing. Karen had agreed to let her use Tric the following night to throw Peyton and Jake the first of many wedding parties. It wasn't until she saw Nathan slip out the front door that Brooke said her good-byes.

"Don't follow him, Brooke. It won't do any good." Karen warned.

"Follow who" She asked with a smirk and walked out the cafe door.


Brooke went back to Peyton's to get her car and then drove across town to Nathan's apartment. Peyton had informed her earlier that Nathan was still living in the apartment he shared with Haley, which was something else Brooke thought he should have moved on from a long time ago.

She knocked on the door, but no answer. She knew he was up because the lights were on and she could hear ESPN through the door. She knocked louder.

"Go away" He yelled and then turned up the volume of the television. Brooke reached for the knob and was happy to find the door unlocked. She flickered the lights to make her presence known. "What the hell" Nathan yelled again and got up from his resting position on the couch.

"Hello to you too, Nate."

"Go away, Brooke."

"Not happy to see me"

"No."

"That's a shame."

"Is it?" Silence came over them for a few seconds. "Do you want something"

"Yes, as a matter of fact I do."

"Well, get to it. I have better things to do."

"Like what? Drown your sorrows in beer and basketball"

"You have two minutes. Then, I'm kicking your skanky ass out of my apartment."

"There's no need for name calling."

"Or insults." He countered referring to her earlier critique on his life and habits, which she knew absolutely nothing about these days.

"Fine. Tomorrow I'm having a party at Tric."

"Surprise, surprise. How long have you been in town? Already hosting a booze fest. Maybe I'm not the only one drowning my sorrows."

"Could you just shut up for two seconds" Nathan fell silent. "Like I said, I'm having a party tomorrow night at Tric for Jake and Peyton."

"Okay."

"And I want you to come."

"No can do."

"And why is that"

"Because I don't want to spend all night around a bunch of people that piss me off, including Peyton."

"What about Jake"

"What about him? I see him almost everyday."

"He's your friend. You should be there."

"Because he's my friend" Brooke nodded. "Well have you called Lucas yet? Because last time I talked to Jake, him and Lucas were still buddies. And if this is for Jake and Peyton, then I think he should be there."

Brooke gritted her teeth. Crazy bastard just had to bring up Lucas. "I don't know where to find your brother" she spat.

"I have his number. Hold on and I'll get it for you" he said walking towards his bedroom.

"That's not necessary."

"I think it is." Nathan came back and handed Brooke a paper with Lucas' number on it. "You know last time I saw Lucas he had this hot little red head on his arm. I wonder if they're still together? But knowing my big brother he probably has two or three girls on the side. Don't you think"

Brooke was seething with anger at this point, but refused to let him get to her. "Probably. Thank you for this and I'll see you tomorrow night, Nate. Its open bar, so try and wait until you get there to start your daily intoxication routine." She closed the door silently behind her.

Nathan lay back on the couch annoyed. First the girl interrupted his peace and then she ignored his jabs. The last thing he wanted to do was attend her stupid party, but it was for Jake and there would be free drinks so he would be there. And if Brooke Davis invaded his personal space again, he was sure to teach her a lesson she would never forget.