I've read lots of fics about Brooke coming to TH to cause LP some trouble, and still being in love with Lucas. Meh. Let's not go down that route…! R-E-V-I-E-W-S!

Why was she home? Brooke pondered this question herself, knowing her friends would be too, and came up with nothing. Its good for the soul, she'd read somewhere, to return to ones childhood home; and for the good of her soul, she left the bustle of New York for the quiet of Tree Hill.

Temporarily, of course, she reminded herself as she turned to see if Peyton's car was here yet. Feeling a stab of pain as she did so, she scolded herself for forgetting the doctors orders so soon. Taking a deep breath, she rearranged her jumper so her shoulders and chest were covered, as were her legs and arms. It was colder than she remembered here, and she tucked herself into a ball and lay on her side, thinking and feeling her past.

She thought how safe she felt here, despite the time that had passed. She smiled as she remembered catching site of Haley, and her glorious pregnant form. Haley suited it, Brooke mused, more than others might. She flinched, as she remembered her own pregnancy scares of high school, neither of them producing the miracle that is James Lucas Scott.

Lucas. Another stab of pain, just below her heart.

Although he was not what had pulled her to TH, she couldn't deny his memory was imprinted everywhere, his broody eyes etched into her mind. She smiled as she remembered the last she'd seen him; drunk. It took her back to their first date. A lifetime ago. She heard her name being called and slowly untucked herself, wincing a little.

As she slowly descended the stairs, she saw Lucas next to Nathan, his shoulders broader than she remembered and his hair blonder too. He laughed at something, and his smile reached his grey eyes. Glad to see him, she took in the rest of the room.

Peyton was here too, giggling at Jamie and touching Haley's bump, her face a picture when the baby kicked her hand away. Lucas' gaze focused not on Haley, but Peyton and Brooke understood immediately what Lucas' gaze meant. She had refused to think about the past all the way down here, because it seemed unnecessary. Dredging up their past wouldn't help anybody, least of all her and certainly not now.

Her quiet, slow descent had not gone unnoticed, and Peyton looked up to see her former best friend come back into her life, and panicked as she wondered what to say or do. Lucas' hand on the small of her back calmed her down as his fingers danced lightly on her spine, taking her mind away from Brooke, albeit only for a minute.

She smiled, amazed at how well this man knew her. Wanting his hand in hers, she reached for him but he had already gone.

"Hey Brooke" he said softly, enveloping her in his arms and enjoying seeing her again.

"Broody, nice to see you. How're you?" she rasped, after she left his embrace.

He glanced at his worried, glorious fiancé. "I have never been better Brooke. Never." He winked at Peyton, and steered Brooke to the kitchen, oblivious to her wincing below his touch on her arm.

Peyton could breathe now, thankfully. Haley held her gaze, and frowned.

"What's got you so wired Sawyer? Everything ok? Haven't caught a cold after all the naked skinny dipping have you?" Haley teased, enjoying seeing her friend smile and blush as she realized her married friends shared everything. Especially partial nudity on the beach….

"Peyton Sawyer, skinny dipping. How long have I been gone? Who were you with?" Brooke's raspy voice was light, but she was wondering if she was with Lucas, and couldn't ask outright.

"The dipping was my idea, the naked part was all Lucas…" Peyton laughed, as she spoke before she thought, and realized what Brooke had really been asking. She met her former friends hazel stare, and realized she had missed seeing her smile.

"Well well. Glad to see you two have taken an extended break from brooding… I'm going to use the bathroom, excuse me." Brooke all but ran to the bathroom, confused as hell.

Last time she'd seen Peyton, Peyton had been a mess. Just months after her and Lucas had ended, the wounds still so raw, she missed her period and couldn't bring herself to take a test. Brooke was there, armed with supplies, and pushed her into the bathroom. One positive, one negative test. Peyton was scared to take the third, didn't want to know. Neither did Lucas; she called him that night after comforting Peyton, and Brooke had been surprised to hear Lucas' tone so angry.

"I don't care Brooke. She doesn't want to be with me. Why? Because today isn't someday." He spat the last word, as he hung up the phone. Giving himself a minute to think of Peyton and want her to be ok, he worried. Then, Lindsey returned to the dinner table, and all thoughts of his blondie ex vanished. Well nearly.

Peyton was a mess, and decided a baby would be the worst thing to happen right now. She wasn't ready, and couldn't face the thought of single parenthood, or a tense, hateful relationship with Lucas as they shared their child. She decided to have an abortion, to move past this point to something better. Brooke shouted, and yelled and tried to persuade Peyton to have this child.

"Adoption, foster care, keeping the baby. Peyton please! You'll regret this forever!"

Brooke couldn't understand why Peyton was so quick to be rid of Lucas' baby, and found it hard swallowing P's decision, as she knew this baby deserved a chance at life. When she confronted Peyton, years of hurt and accusation spilled out and their friendship was destroyed. Too ashamed of herself, Peyton didn't follow through with an abortion; no life deserved that. She lost her baby anyway, just a few hours later after her and Brooke yelled and cried together, she awoke to blood soaked sheets, and cried when the doctors told her she'd lost the baby, Lucas' baby, it was then that she fainted.

Coming to, she found Haley and Nathan either side of her, holding both of her hands and watching her for signs of life.

"Hey you. Thanks for coming back to us!" Haley joked, pleased her friend was still here.

"Brooke?" she rasped, reminding them all of their croaky voiced friend.

Nathan cleared his throat. "She left Peyton, went to NYC. She said you weren't who she thought you were, and needed some time to think."

Fresh tears fell as she cried for her lost baby, best friend and boyfriend. People always leave.

Brooke took a breath. What did all that matter? She left because she felt betrayed by Peyton's morals, and never looked back. So what if she had had an abortion? It was nothing to do with her.

She stepped out of the bathroom, and into the plush hallway, and almost ran straight into Peyton.

"Sorry… I…" Brooke whispered, looking at the happiness dancing in Peyton's eyes.

An awkward silence followed, as neither knew how to talk without mentioning why they hadnt spoken for 3 years.

"Did Lucas know?" Brooke asked, breaking the silence suddenly.

"Know what?" returned Peyton, her voice shaking.

"That you were pregnant, had an abortion." Brookes voice was emotionless.

For a moment, Peyton simply looked at Brooke; at her designer clothes, designer hairstyle - even designer flip flops. A world away from Tree Hill, and a world away from Peyton, and who she was now.

It wasnt always that way though, and seeing her friends brown eyes smile and plead with her, Peyton knew that whenever she was with Brooke, a part of her would always be 19 and a mess.

Deep breath.

"No, he does not know. Because I was falling apart, and he walked away, and... and... we...I don't want to hurt him, please don't tell him. Please." Her voice broke, and tears slipped down her cheeks.

Brooke did her best to remember Peyton had once been like a sister; questionable morals aside. She had one more question.

"So what happened then? After I left."

"I miscarried a few hours after we argued." Peyton's sadness rang out through the room, and Brooke felt any anger melt as she realized her friend needed a hug. Holding her breath to stop herself screaming out, Brooke & Peyton hugged, a hug that was full of love and friendship.

"Ouch!"

Brooke couldn't stop herself crying out loud as Peyton's elbow accidentally poked a rib. Peyton's eyes flickered over Brooke's outfit, and the source of her pain. She lifted the body of Brooke's sweater and flinched.

Too many bruises to count. Tears fell silently across her friends cheekbones, as her hands were wrapped in Brookes.

"A man came to… I was locking up and he..." Brooke couldn't say it, but Peyton understood.

"Your home now, ok? You're safe here, with me, Haley, Lucas and Nathan. I promise."

And Brooke believed her, needed to. That's what friends are for.