I am so sorry for the delay! I know where I want the story to go, but it was hard writing this chapter and is mainly filler, but we are getting there. Please go easy on me :)


Tears Dry On Their Own

Brooke's POV

"Haley James Scott, where the hell are you?" Brooke yells as she arrives at Nathan and Haley's home. Brooke is not stupid and she knows that Haley is up to something.

"Well it's good to see you too Brooke," Haley says with a smile on her face as she waddles down the hall. Seeing this makes Brooke laugh and helps to get rid of some of the anger she had before arriving.

Haley pulls Brooke into a hug and both start to cry. Haley does mainly because of the pregnancy hormones and Brooke does mainly because her life seems like such a mess.

"God, look how big you are! I can't wait to meet your little peanut when he enters this world," Brooke says with a smile while wiping away her tears.

"Well if it isn't Brooke Davis?" she hears from behind.

"Nathan Scott I've missed you. I can't believe that you're about to be a dad."

"I know, I can't either…but I can't wait," he says with a huge smile on his face. Brooke knew that both Nathan and Haley would make wonderful parents and couldn't be happier for the two.

"Come on in and make yourself comfortable," Haley said.

"Yeah, we've got some talking to do. Does anyone care to tell me how I saw a certain blonde at the airport just about 45 minutes ago?"

Both Haley and Nathan looked at each other not knowing what to say. They knew they would eventually see each other, but not right when they arrived to Tree Hill. Haley of course took this encounter as a sign that they were destined to be together.

"Brooke, I'm sorry. We should have told you that we invited Peyton too. We just wanted all of our friends to be here and we knew that if you knew Peyton was coming you would make an excuse to not come," Haley said giving Brooke her best pout.

Brooke knew Haley was right, she would have definitely tried to get out of coming and she had to be honest with herself. She missed Tree Hill and being around her friends.

As the three of them caught up with each other, Haley knew she needed to be honest with Brooke and tell her their plans for the evening.

"Brooke, don't be mad but since this little one is due any day and all of our friends are back in town, we decided to have everyone over for dinner. You know, just to catch up like old times and also have some normalcy before there is a third person in our family."

"No, I get it Haley…how can I be mad at you for wanting to spend time with all of us? We are so lucky to have both you and Nate in our lives," Brooke said with a smile even though she was beyond nervous. She was definitely going to need a few drinks to get through this evening. Brooke also had a sneaking suspension that Haley and Nate didn't bring she and Peyton back to Tree Hill just for the birth of their child, but she would let it slide for now.

Just then a knock at the door drew her out of her thoughts as she heard Nathan say, "Peyton, it's so good to see you!"

Peyton's POV

Seeing Brooke brought back so many more memories than she could have imagined. She had forgotten just how beautiful she truly was and the way she made her heart beat and stomach turn into knots. She understood Brooke being short with her and trying to get away, but she had to talk to her. She just wanted to be them again if that was even possible.

When she gets to Nathan and Haley's house, she knows this is going to be an interesting evening, and although she's nervous as hell, she's also excited to see her friends. It had been too long and she was mad at herself for not making more of an effort to keep in touch with her friends.

She knocked on the door and was greeted by Nathan, who wore a huge grin on his face. She knew that women had a glow when pregnant, but she noticed that Nate had a glow too. She knew that both Haley and Nathan would be incredible parents and was so happy that things had worked out between the high school sweethearts.

"Peyton, it's so good to see you!" Nate said, embracing Peyton in a hug.

"It's good to see you too and be back in Tree Hill. So where do I go to surprise Haley?" Peyton asked.

Nathan had almost forgotten that this was supposed to be a "surprise" for Haley, but then he heard footsteps behind him to help save him.

"Oh Peyton I missed you…I knew Nathan was up to something and I got it out of him," Haley said as she pulled Peyton in for a hug.

"Haley, I have missed you! Look at you."

"I know, I'm about ready to pop!" Haley said with a laugh.

"Well I think you're absolutely beautiful. I'm so happy for both of you and thank you for letting me be a part of this," Peyton said with a smile.

"Peyton, we have known you for so long and you have been such an important part of our lives that we wanted you to be here to help celebrate," Haley said.

"Well come on in Peyton and make yourself at home. Would you like something to drink?" Nathan asked.

"I'm fine for right now, but thank you."

As the three of them were walking into the house Peyton thought she saw a brunette make her way outside to the backyard. Was Brooke already here?

"So, is anyone else coming tonight?" Peyton tried to ask nonchalantly.

"Well Lucas and Lindsey are coming over and so are Skills and Mouth. Brooke is already here because she's staying with us and I think that's it, right Haley?" Nathan asked.

"Yes, we just wanted to have a casual dinner party before craziness ensues," Haley said trying to read Peyton.

Peyton was trying to keep her cool, but knowing that Brooke was here and so close to her sent chills down her spine. In that moment all she wanted to do was find Brooke and speak with her, but she didn't.

Haley noticed that Brooke hadn't come back inside and she knew she was avoiding Peyton at all costs. She thought about going to speak with her, but she decided to let the brunette have some time alone.

As the three friends caught up more of their friends began to arrive and pretty soon everyone was there. Peyton had forgotten how good it felt to have these people in her life. But the one person she needed the most in her life had still not come inside.

Brooke's POV

She could hear everyone talking inside and she knew she should go in, but it was like her feet were cemented to the ground and she couldn't move. Brooke could hear Peyton laugh about something and she had forgotten how good it was to hear her laugh and see her smile.

"Hey," she heard someone say behind her. She hadn't even heard the door open.

"Hey, sorry I didn't hear you come out," Brooke said with a faint smile.

"It's okay…everyone's here if you want to come in. We're about to start dinner. Are you okay Brooke?"

"I don't know Nate," she said truthfully.

"Look, I know this isn't easy for you, but maybe you should give Peyton a chance. It's been four years and maybe you should try to let her back in your life. I know you miss her and I know she misses you. Don't put your walls up…let her in."

"Nathan Scott, when did you get so sensitive?" Brooke asked.

"Have you met Haley?" They both laughed knowing that she had made him into the man he was today.

"Let's get inside." Brooke thought about what he was saying and maybe he was right. A long time had passed and she did miss her best friend terribly. Maybe there was a way to build their friendship again and she could push her feelings down and pretend they weren't there.

As she entered the house everyone came to give her a hug, except a certain blonde. Brooke wanted to go up to her, but she just couldn't do it. She grabbed a drink and began catching up with her friends. Before she knew it dinner was being served and they were all sitting at the table.

Conversation was going well and both Brooke and Peyton had been successful in pretty much avoiding each other. Everyone could sense the awkwardness between the two girls and did their best to make things as normal as possible. They all knew the two had had a falling out, but not all of them knew the reason why.

So after they had all had a few drinks and a nice dinner, Lindsey decided to get to know Peyton a little bit better. She had met everyone else in the room except for Peyton and she was curious why the blonde hadn't returned to Tree Hill until now.

"So Peyton, you haven't been back to Tree Hill since everyone graduated, or at least that's what Lucas says. Why did you decide to come back?"

"Well I've just really missed everyone and when Nate called me and told me that he wanted me to surprise Haley before she gave birth it just made sense to come out. It's been way too long."

Something came over Brooke and Haley could see it in her eyes. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the pain she felt, maybe a little bit of both. But Haley knew that this was not going to end well.

"Well we all know Peyton, she likes to think only about herself and not about the people that care about her. She couldn't be bothered to keep in touch with her so called friends," Brooke said angrily. She hated that after all this time Peyton could just waltz in and everyone accept her. It wasn't fair! And she knew what Nate had said about giving her a chance, but Brooke didn't know how to give Peyton a chance. At this moment she only knew how to be defensive.

"Brooke, why –" Haley tried to say until she was cut off.

"No, she's right Haley. I haven't been around or really kept in touch, but I just really miss everyone," Peyton said in a sad tone. This only made Brooke laugh at what a stupid response she thought Peyton gave, which made Peyton angry.

"You know what Brooke? I'm not the one that ran away!" Peyton exclaimed.

Brooke couldn't believe Peyton had just said that to her. How dare she? Before she knew tears were welling up in her eyes and she would not give her that satisfaction. Before they could fall Brooke got up from the table and went outside.

When the brunette left, Peyton knew she took it too far but she was just so upset that Brooke was making it this difficult. She noticed that all eyes at the table were on her and she hated that feeling.

"I'm gonna go check on her," Haley said as she started to get up from the table.

"No Haley, you sit. This is my mess and we need to talk. I'll go."

Peyton didn't know what to say to Brooke when she got out there, but she knew they needed a talk. As she made her way outside she noticed the brunette was wiping her eyes, trying to hide the fact she had been crying, which made Peyton feel even worse, knowing she was the cause of her friend's pain.

"Hey," Peyton said softly. When Brooke didn't say anything in return she continued. "Listen Brooke I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset."

"No, I'm sorry too Peyton. It's just hard seeing you after so long," Brooke said surprised at her honesty.

"I know, but I just want my best friend back," Peyton said with watery eyes.

"Well I don't know that we can ever go back Peyton. You hurt me," Brooke said raising her tone.

"Well Brooke your confession came out of nowhere. How did you expect me react?" Peyton asked getting defensive.

"I don't know Peyton, but I wouldn't have said anything to you if I didn't think that maybe you felt the same way too. I now know that I read everything wrong, but I don't know that we can go back to before," Brooke said trying to keep the tears at bay that threatened to run down her face.

"Can't we at least try?" Peyton asked, almost pleading with Brooke.

But before Brooke could answer Lucas came rushing out to them.

"Sorry to interrupt, but Haley's water just broke!"