Where Are You Love?

Why can't I find you?

by: SamiJane

Disclaimer: Please see Author's bio

Summary: After the Leyton wedding, Brooke Davis and Julian Baker try to figure out what's next in their own lives.

Note to new readers: I started writing this before episode 611, so anything after 610 in OTH world doesn't apply to my story.

A/N: Thank you to: CheeryBroody83, gigglingismylife, mcdreamyslover, ParadiseLost23, BrathanBrucasBaleyBreyton, p0line, toddntan, Iz-Belle91, cRiMsOnGoDdEsS01 for all your reviews!! I really really appreciate them and I know it's cliche, but they really help inspire and motivate me. Even your rants about Lucas or Peyton help lol. Anyways, I'm also glad to see a lot more Brulianites out there. I just finished watching the Brulian scenes from 612 for the second time because I can't get enough of them now. Lol.

BrathanBrucasBaleyBreyton: Baley and Brathan friendship convos will be coming up, so be on the lookout for that

CheeryBroody83: Your comment about what Luke was thinking sparked an idea in my head - so when they get back from their trip, we'll get to see what luke and peyton are thinking. for brucas fans, don't worry, it's not going to be how much they love each other.

Iz-Belle91: Lol. Umm, i'm just going to say, we'll see what happens with Peyton.

cRiMsOnGoDdEsS01: Thanks for your confidence about me incorporating John/Jack Daniels into my story. I'm typing some stuff out now, but whether or not I keep it, we'll see.

I hope all of you enjoy this chapter because I had so much fun writing it. So sit back, grab a nice hot beverage (if you're in the cold like I am) and get ready to laugh a little.

Chapter 4: Uncharacteristically Awake This Fine Morning

Brooke's POV; Brooke's house

"It's about time you had some guys over," Sam immediately tells me when I arrive downstairs, "I was beginning to think you were a prude or something."

Good morning to you, too, Sam. What the hell is she talking about anyway? And then the events of late last night reel back into my head. Oh man, that wasn't a dream? I turn to find Julian Baker and Chris Keller sleeping on my couches. Well…Chris' long frame is barely hanging onto the loveseat. How the hell he's still asleep in that awkward, advanced yoga like position, is beyond me. When I said the two could spend the night, I didn't mean staying well into the ten o'clock morning hour.

"So since you had boys over, does that mean I can - "

"What do you think, Sam?" I cut her off.

"Well, why not? I'm not going to do anything," she insists.

"Reason one: because you're fifteen. Two: because I would like your innocence to stay intact longer than mine did. And three: because these things are not boys," I point to the guests in front of me, "They're insects who never go away no matter how much repellent you spray on them."

They aren't insects in a bad way…just in an annoying way. Unfortunately for my couches, because of the wedding, Nice Brooke is in residence instead of Bitchy Brooke.

Late last night, I saw Chris and Julian walking on the sidewalks around my neck of the neighborhood and arguing like pissed off college roommates. Apparently, they had decided to go wander around town after I told Chris to leave the wedding reception. Some hours later, Chris managed to lose all of their cash and Julian's car keys. Julian said it was a long story better left untold. Talk about 2005 senior year déjà vu – except instead of Nathan that nearly gets screwed over, its Julian.

I didn't understand why Julian didn't abandon Chris to teach him a lesson, but I guess it is true that they were best buds. After some pondering I found it safe to assume that there is more to Keller losing his girlfriend than he let on at the wedding reception. If it is heartbreak that got them into this mess, then I feel for Chris.

After a long night of cleaning up after the wedding, I was too exhausted to drive anywhere else besides my own home. Under the stipulation that they didn't destroy or harm anything in my household, I allowed Chris and Julian to stay one night. And now, some hours later, I'm standing in front of two snoring sleepyheads, trying to figure out a way to explain all of this to my foster child.

"So if I got this metaphor thing correctly, I'm going to guess that you still haven't changed your mind about Chris and Julian," Sam breaks me out of my mini flashback from last night. Right…the insects thing.

"Ok, no more metaphors," I mumble. "It's time for a lesson on responsibility," I enthusiastically exclaim. Yeah, I get random hyper moments when I get stressed out. And as much as I want to give my child a proper lecture, Chris Keller's snores were getting louder, thereby distracting and stressing me out about the situation even more.

"Ok, Sam, listen carefully...If you are lucky, and I mean very lucky, this right here …" I motion and point out the sight in front of us, "is what happens when you gallivant all night and are left with no phone, no money, or no other way of getting home because you lost your best friend's car keys," my enthusiastic voice is dripping with sarcasm.

"Your ass gets saved by Brooke Davis?" she jokes but I don't return her smile.

"No, you become a hassle to your best friend and a smelly hobo in the house of Brooke Davis rather than a smelly hobo out on the streets," I sense that I would have gotten my point across better if I had used a different set of words than 'smelly hobo.' "And I'm deducting one dollar from your allowance this week," I tell her.

"What? Why? I didn't become the smelly hobo," she counters, wondering what she had done wrong.

"You said ass," I inform her. It is a lame thing to punish her on, but I am still working on cleaning up her vocabulary, especially around Jamie.

I decide to clean up the quasi mess Julian and Chris had managed to make just by walking into the room last night. Boys.

"Don't you have to go to school?" I ask Sam, a lot calmer than I was thirty seconds ago.

"It's Sunday," Sam says as she looks into an empty refrigerator. Damn it. The wedding totally made me space out on food for this week.

"Isn't there Sunday school?" I ask again.

"I'm not Catholic," she states as she stares at a pantry full of nothing but condiments, a half full bag of potato chips, and a couple cans of non perishables. Damn. I was hoping there was someplace she could be so she didn't have to witness me kick both of their asses out of my house...possibly even literally. Deciding physical violence is not the answer, especially in front of my fifteen year old, I head to the kitchen.

"Well, since you have to hang around here, grab a water gun," I offer Sam a toy weapon from underneath the sink.

"Why?" Sam asks with a bewildered expression. My face sparks up with a mischievous smirk.

"We're going to wake up these lazy bums so they can get their smelly selves off my couch and out the door," I tell her as I finish loading my Super Soaker with water. I need to remember to thank Jamie for forgetting his toys at my house.

"Sweet," Sam exclaims as she waits for my count. As I mouth the word 'three,' Sam starts squirting at Chris, while I merrily aim water at Julian's face. Hopefully neighbors are not walking by right now, because all they will hear are two girls yelling for two guys to get up off their butts, and two guys yelling for two girls to stop splashing their butts.

After a good fifteen seconds of squirting water at their faces, Chris and Julian finally lift themselves off the couch and agree to leave. They ask for a glass of water first and the next thing I know, they manage to find Jamie's other water guns.

"Oh no you don't! You guys are so dead!" I warn them as I give Sam the ok to continue to aim and fire good old H20. Pretty soon, the boys are aiming as well and I feel like I'm back in the seventh grade. I sure as hell was not expecting this. I don't know if this water fight is a symbol of us releasing our stresses and emotions, or if it's just plain old fashioned fun. But what the hell, I am enjoying this way too much to care what it is.

And from the looks of things, everyone else is, too. Even Julian is laughing like there's no tomorrow. It's hard to believe that just yesterday he gave a heartfelt "Congrats and goodbye" to Peyton. I wasn't joking when I called him noble last night.

"Ahhh!" I release a squeal as I feel a stream of water hit my back. This is what I get for pausing to think behind the counter. Unfortunately, my little, girly yelp becomes even more reason for Julian to soak the heck out of me.

After some minutes of team work and smarts, the girls end up on top, literally. Sam and I have managed to get a soaked Chris and Julian under ten or so couch cushions and pillows, with us sitting on top with four water guns. How us two tiny girls managed to win a fight against guys, both over six feet tall, is beyond me. But I have a feeling they let us win. After all, it is our house they are in, and they owe us big time for letting them sleep over.

"Ok. Truce, truce," Julian yells out as Chris waves a clean white tissue in the air.

"You guys have no more fight left in you?" I ask before releasing them from our clutches.

"Yes, we promise," Chris mumbles from beneath a cushion. Satisfied with their answer, Sam and I get up and liberate our prisoners. And the good prisoners that they are, they kindly help Sam and I tidy up and put the living room back in tip top shape within twenty minutes. Hmmm, I seem to have underestimated their characters.

"Ok, now that we've had our morning fun, you guys can leave," I tell them as I motion my hands towards the door. "Oh, and thank you so much for cleaning up."

"You're kicking us out?" Chris asks in disbelief, continuing to dry his hair with a towel. I'm guessing he is hoping that our water fight adventure is grounds for another free stay at Casa Brooke's. No way is that happening. I'm not ready to have boys living in the house just yet. And what kind of example will that be for Sam?

"I have work to do, you are setting bad examples for Sam, and you smell," I tell them, shrugging my shoulders.

"We're not going to bother you, we can teach Sam the consequences of Keller's actions, and if you so kindly let us, we can shower," Julian retorts as I glare at him and his quick and witty response. Ooo this guy is good. No wonder he is still able to stick around here for so long. He has a knack for words and charm.

"Do you have that coconut shampoo you used in high school?" Chris asks. I can't believe he remembers what kind of shampoo I had as a teenager. But I ignore his question and instead counter Julian's comment.

"You will, you can't, and no way are you setting foot in my sanctuary of a shower," I tell them with a polite, yet sarcastic smile. The staring contest between Julian and I lasts a few more seconds while Chris and Sam watch intently. Chris whispers something in Julian's ear and he relinquishes.

"Then can we at least have a loan for cab fare?" Julian asks with puppy dog eyes.

"And breakfast," I hear Chris whisper this time.

"And breakfast," Julian repeats as I roll my eyes. "Aren't you supposed to figuratively kiss my ass?" Julian then asks with a devilish grin. Well if it isn't my words to come back and bite me in the ass, figuratively of course. I mumble random nonsense to myself as I fetch my wallet. They seriously want me to pay them to leave? Ugh. I wonder if this is how guys feel when they can't get rid of that one night stand.

"I believe this counts as using my words against me, friend," I hand Julian two twenties. If that isn't enough for them, they can just starve for all I care. I have way too much work to do with my new line and with the movie costumes.

"Hey, Sammi, you wanna come?" Chris asks Samantha before the male best friends walk out the door.

"Hell yeah," Sam exclaims as she grabs her jacket from the closet.

"What? No way. She's only fifteen; and you are two overly sized twenty-somethings, with the maturity of two twelve year olds," I immediately react. There is a reason I issued the two guys out of the house. One is because the boys need a shower; two is because I have too much work to do; and the third, most important reason, is I still need to give Sam a proper explanation on…well everything that went down the past few hours. "And besides that, you, young lady, are soaked," I point out her wet hair and semi wet sweatshirt.

"But we have no food," Sam points out. Crap. I look around the kitchen as I mentally attempt to concoct some sort of meal out of the few scraps of food we do have. And even if I order delivery right now, it will still take a good forty five minutes to get here. And I am getting sick of delivery.

"The kid's hungry, Brooke. You're not going to let her starve, are you? What kind of mother are you?" Julian taunts me. I look back at Samantha, whose eyes are pleading me for food. And I have a feeling she finds it extremely cool to be able to eat breakfast with the paparazzi's favorite rock star. Plus, for some reason, she adores Julian.

"Fine," I surrender, "We will go change and you two will not move." I rush upstairs to change while Sam does the same in her bedroom.

"I'm driving," I proclaim as I skip down the stairs and pull my hair back into a miniature ponytail. As I make my way towards the door and past Julian and Chris, I manage to grab my money out of Julian's hand.

"Hey!" he yells in complaint.

"Uh uh, mister. I have given too much to you two already and there is no way I am paying you to eat breakfast with us," I exclaim as I lead my new mini entourage out the door.

These two really owe me now. They are so lucky I don't hate them. Producer Boy Julian had to show me his do gooder best friend side. And Chris, his "You're family too, you know," rings in my mind and makes me think twice about him…again. These two are sooo lucky.

"Shotgun!" Samantha calls out as she runs towards the passenger door of my car.

"No way; I am not sharing the back seat with Keller again," Julian complains as he catches up next to me. He nudges me and looks for support, "Brooke, come on. I'm your boss, you're her boss. Have the kid sit in the back, just this one time." But I merely shrug it off with a smile and let Sam sit up front with me.

"Come on Baker, we can share the cup holder for an arm rest again," Chris teases his best friend.

"Can we go somewhere that serves waffles?" Sam asks as we drive off. Man, this little excursion is definitely not on the week's agenda, or on any agenda for that matter.

If someone would have told me two days ago that I would be spending an entire morning with Chris Keller and Julian Baker, I would have laughed it off and told the person to see a shrink and be certified insane.

"Can we stop by the hotel first? Chris Keller doesn't like walking the Walk of Shame," Chris requests as he gets up to examine his reflection in the rearview mirror.

"Julian Baker doesn't like to, either," Julian chimes in as he shoves Chris back into his seat, "Dude, sit further, you smell like ass."

"Why does he get to say ass?" Sam complains.

"You don't let her say ass?" Julian smirks in amusement at the type of somewhat strict parent I must have become to not allow my teenager to say 'ass.'

"Do you let her say butt?" Chris questions. "Or how about asinine? Or assessment?" He stresses the "ass" part in each word. I don't know if his inquiry is genuine or meant as a joke; either way, Sam and Julian are finding it hard to stifle in their laughter.

"Minus another dollar for you, missy, and no hotels for you two misfits," I scold my three passengers. I smile as my comment receives three groans sounding in unison. So this is what having three children sounds like. But like children, they quickly shrug it off and start making jokes about random things.

Man, it is a good thing Lucas and Peyton are out of town. Because, as unnatural and bizarre as this sounds, I think I might actually enjoy this Keller/ Baker hanging out time. Luke no doubt will go on a long rant to dissuade me from initiating a friendship. Haley would be amused, yet cautious. Nathan would just say 'Oh God, Brooke, not you too,' and Peyton would be perplexed as to what to feel.

"So, I guess this is going to be more than just a one night stand, huh Davis?" Julian jokes as he catches my glaring eye in the rearview mirror.

"I wouldn't know, Baker" I shrug, "I'm not the one who slept with Chris Keller last night." I watch as Julian's face shifts from a scowl and pushes Chris' head off his shoulder. Sam's voice echoes with laughter and Chris…well, he's acting like Chris Keller and annoying Julian in the process. Oh damn Brooke, what have you gotten yourself into?

Julian's POV; a diner

"Did you guys know what you were getting yourselves into?" Keller asks Brooke after she tells the entire story about what happened in Honeygrove five years ago – bailing Mouth out of jail, getting stranded on the road and being rescued by Chris, raiding vintage stores, scaring the local residents, walking in on Lucas and Peyton, and Chris' mini breakdown on his tour bus. Lucas managed to cut most of the non Peyton stuff out of the book. During the past five minutes, Sam and I hung onto every word that sputtered out of Brooke's animated mouth about the Honeygrove craziness. The girl really knows how to tell a story.

"Of course we knew," Brooke answers Chris, "What can I say; we were antsy teenagers who got bored when nothing dramatic and crazy happened to us for more than a week." Judging from what I've seen the past few weeks, it seems to me that they still get bored without all the drama. But then again, I wouldn't have a movie without all of their drama.

"I can't believe Mrs. Scott did that stuff back in high school," Sam comments, "I can't believe you did that stuff, Brooke."

"And you don't let her say ass," Chris chides Brooke with a sullen face. His face is soon met with a piece of bacon flicked by Brooke.

This morning's breakfast is a huge departure from my normal routine of running to the office, and picking up a cup of OJ and plain bagel on the way. I haven't had a proper sit down breakfast, complete with conversation, in months. With people other than those affiliated in the film industry, well that would be years.

And then waking up this morning – well that was a surprise and probably the most fun I've had in a very long while. Since I've arrived in Tree Hill, I have been counting down the days till I would get to leave. I didn't think there was anything for me in the small sleepy town except for a movie deal and the occasional amusing encounters with Peyton. I didn't plan on being nice to anybody let alone becoming their friend. Then Sam introduced herself to me and convinced Brooke to become my costume designer.

It isn't that we are friends – because Brooke had made it perfectly clear that we aren't. As for Sam, well, the kid is unfortunately growing on me. And now, here we sit. My best friend, Sam, Brooke Davis, and I, are eating breakfast together. Unexpected? Yes. Random? Yes. Uncharacteristic? Yes. Weird…surprisingly, no.

"You've been unusually mute, Baker," Brooke disrupts my thoughts.

"Yeah, producer guy, what's up?" Sam backs up Brooke's observation. Chris is too occupied with the rest of his food to be a best friend and defend me.

"Just doing a little thinking," I respond. "And don't worry, it's not about trying to destroy Lucas' movie," I add, mocking her constant accusations from two weeks prior. If there is one thing I am sure of about this town, nobody wants me to ruin Luke's movie. "His life…well that's a different story," I joke. I certainly wouldn't mind getting back at him for sucker punching me at my hotel.

"As long as you're not concocting some evil plot to stay at my place for free again, think whatever you want," Brooke tells me, "I really hope you two know that last night was a fluke – a one time thing that will never happen again." The way her eyes spark when she says never is a little scary. I guess she really means it.

I grin and raise my brows, "I don't know about that, Davis. You seem to enjoy our company, hence this hour long, conversation filled, breakfast. And I doubt this is all to kiss a little producer ass. You know, I'm still up for the literally part," She rolls her eyes when I wink back at her.

"This was just about hunger. And if I was kissing a little a - ….if I was trying to please anybody, it's Sam," Brooke says unconvincingly. She is having fun; and just like me, she isn't going to admit it.

"So, who gets the check?" the waitress interrupts our conversation as she looks between me and Chris.

I merely point to the short haired brunette sitting next to me, "That would be, the strict yet pleasing mom right here."

I can feel Brooke glare at me before she takes the check with a faux smile aimed at the waitress. As Brooke tries to figure out tax and tip, Chris and Sam begin talking more about the Brooke Davis of yore, while I zone everything out. The end of breakfast means that it is time to figure out how to get around without a car. One thing is for sure, Chris is not going anywhere with me this time.

"You guys all set?" the waitress comes back after ten minutes and is beaming uncontrollably. She obviously has figured out who Chris is, especially since Chris is giving her the "What's up, hottie," stare.

Brooke hands her the check and payment and before the waitress lets us be on our way, she decides to fill us in on whom we are. "Not to sound like a crazy person, but you're Chris Keller, right? And Brooke Davis, the designer, and you're the producer – I'm sorry I don't remember – wait – Baker, right? Anyways, could I get your autographs?"

Ok, I know I said breakfast wasn't weird before…but, now this is weird. Nobody usually recognizes the producer. And Brooke, well, she had been staying under the radar here in Tree Hill for quite some time. However the waitress figured out who we are, I guess it's too late for any of it to matter now. The three of us decide to be polite and agree to sign a couple napkins for her while her stomach is probably doing flip flops at the presence of so many "celebrities."

"Can I just say, that you guys are such a cute family," she blurts out. The four of us freeze instantaneously, our eyes bulging out of our sockets; but, she doesn't notice. "I mean, there were rumors that you two were together, but to have a kid, too! And Chris coming out to support the movie, well…" she continues to ramble, but I tune her out. She lost me at 'family' and then she really lost me at 'together.' Since when are there rumors that Brooke Davis and I are – holy shit. Usually I keep up on all the tabloid drama to make sure that my movies wouldn't suffer under bad publicity – but when the hell did this happen?

"No, no, no, no. No – we are not – god, no – we are not – eww no– we are not even friends, let alone a couple, and definitely not a family," Brooke voices, echoing all four of our thoughts. "Well, she's my family, but those two – god, no."

Whoa, the energy and yelling she uses just to convey one simple statement – it is like she is protesting against something. The rumor is bizarre, but it doesn't require that much negativity, even if we don't necessarily like each other that much. Although, this morning seems to have gone against our "business and nothing else" contract.

"I think she got the point, Brooke," Sam whispers. The four of us continue to stare at the waitress, who has gotten more nervous since Brooke's first utterance of a 'no.' She apologizes and makes a beeline for the kitchen. Poor girl; got chewed out by Brooke Davis.

"Did you have to use eight no's?" I ask Brooke as we exit the diner and heads towards the small parking lot. She looks at me with confusion as I reiterate word for word what she told the waitress, stressing every 'no' that she said. "You could have left it simple and said, 'No. You must be mistaken,' and left it at that. I mean, I'd like to think I'm not that horrible."

"Aww, are you hurt by the number of negatives I used to point out how much we are not a couple?" her voice is mocking, like she's talking to a five year old.

"Not as much that I'm hurt that waitress girl thought I would choose you for a girlfriend," I retort back. She scoffs and punches me in the forearm. "I'm sorry; did I hurt you?" I grin mischievously.

"No more 'figuratively' for you, and definitely no 'literally,'" Brooke snaps back. Oh man, my stay here cannot get any crazier. Four more months to go…four more months of Tree Hill craziness and Brooke Davis craziness. Can I take all that?

Yeah, this is definitely not a typical Julian Baker morning. Only in Tree Hill would I spend the day with a foster kid, her mother, and Chris, having water fights and diner breakfasts. And then top it off with autographs and a confused waitress claiming I had a thing for the fashionable foster mom. What the hell did I get myself into?

A/N: What did they get themselves into? hmmm lol. Anyways, I hope you guys had a few laughs and enjoyed this chapter. Review and let me know your thoughts so I know I'm staying on track with quality and stuff like that. Or even if its just to tell me you want more Keller or to have Haley and Nathan pop up (which they will).

And to everyone that lives in the States, I hope you have an awesome Thanksgiving weekend. I know I'm excited for all the turkey and cranberry sauce. So, since it is Thanksgiving, there probably won't be another update till Sunday. If I'm really motivated, maybe Saturday. :) At least it's not Jan 5 - man I wish we didn't have to wait so long till the next episode - I need more Brulian and Naley on my television. :) Happy Thanksgiving everyone!