Hello everyone
Here comes another update. I decided to post one despite the fact that not too many of you reviewed the last one.
It's a long one, I had some inspiration from a few threads in the brucas discussion thread on the forum - reminding me that there are still some brucas-loving people out there. So this is for all of you brucas fans who might have losen faith, or sometimes find it hard to keep on believing.
After all the drama, we have some funny moments as well - but don't worry, the drama comes back right towards the end...
I hope you're still interested in this story, and you will enjoy this new chapter.
As always, comments and reviews are very appreciated...
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It was a morning like any other.
The sun was rising, the mail got delievered, and it was time to rise.
Nathan and Haley were enjoying their time alone while Jamie was having breakfast over at Mouth's and Skillz's. Milicent was opening the cloths over bro's store and an exhausted Peyton just got home from the club. She entered the house and called for Brooke. But everyhing remained silent.
A morning like any other. But yet something was different. Something was definetly different when Lucas opened his eyes this morning. He felt it right when he saw her. Lying on his chest, and sleeping tightly in his embrace. They had spent almost the whole night talking. They talked about their past, about how things went wrong, but also about some good moments. He felt her insecurity shine through from time to time, and that's when he realized that he had really messed up. But at the same time he realized how lucky he was, that he could actually feel her right know in his arms. How fortunate he was that she hadn't run away again, that she would try to give him the chance – that she would give both of them the chance to reunite again. He stroke her hair while the scene of last night rushed again through his mind.
How she had looked at him, with that intense look. And before he could start guessing if he had reached her with his words she had put her hands around his neck and kissed him. In that moment the insecure girl was gone, while her lips crushed onto his passionately, he felt that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
Clearly they both didn't want to rush things, so after they had gotten back in his room they simply laid down on his bed next to each other. They were facing each other and had began talking. About everything and nothing. And in moments of silence they simply looked at each other and were communicating without using words. Sometimes his hands had found hers, just like their lips did from time to time.
He smiled as he was watching her sleep. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead and cuddled himself up to her body. He breathed in her sweet fragrance and felt how he was falling asleep again.
When he snapped his eyes open for the second time this morning he saw Brooke staring at him.
"Good morning" she wishpered.
"Hey" he answered, sounding sleepy and looking pensivly.
"What? Surprised to see him?" she added and started to smile.
"For a moment I thought you had left again" he confessed.
She shook her head and brought her hand up to his cheek and fondled it softly.
"I'm right here. I wouldn't wanna wake up anywhere else right now."
She felt how he was finally relaxing. He hugged her tightly, burried his face in her hair and whispered: "Good." She leaned into his embrace and closed her eyes again.
Haley stepped with a cup of coffee outside the house and walked towards the pool. She sat down and thought about Lucas and Brooke. She was praying with all her heart that they both would finally find happiness. Together or by their own – she just wish to see both of them happy again. Lucas has always been her best friend, he's been with her every step of her life. Tough Brooke hasn't been a life-long friend, she had found in her a true friend who she could always turn to. She took another sip of her coffee and let her eyes wander across the water and the sunlight, which was reflecting in it.
She seemed deep in thoughts as Nathan approached her from behind.
He placed his hand on her shoulder. She immediately turned around to face him.
"Hey" she wispered. He smiled at her and sat down next to her. She nestled her head up against his chest. He rubbed her back softly. She closed her eyes and said: "What a wonderful morning." They sat together in silence. Then after a beat she added: "We should do this more often." He pulled her even closer to him. "Spending time together. Just the two of us." She looked up to him and he returned her look.
"Yeah, I've been enjoying this. Not that I would ever mind Jamie's presence" he explained. Haley nodded. "I know."
Back in Lucas's room, Brooke and him were still lying in bed, cuddled up to each other.
"Wanna know a secret?" Brooke asked. "I think I could stay like this all day long" she confessed.
"Yeah me too."
They smiled genuinely at each other again. But then Brooke's smile vanished and she added: "But I think I have to go see Peyton."
He looked more serious as well as he nodded.
"Everything ends someday right?" she said.
"You and I won't pretty girl." Lucas stroke her hair while he repeated: "We won't."
She nodded slightly as he pressed his forehead against hers. He kissed the tip of her nose. Pretty girl – his nickname for her resounded in her head, making her thinking back about lost times.
Eventually she broke from his embrace and sat up. She reached for her shoes on the floor and put them on. Lucas sat up as well and put his arms around her from behind.
"You're sure you don't want to stay a little longer?"
She leaned backwards into his arms. "You know I'd love to" she answered. "But if we really want this to work this time I want to do it the right way, you know?"
She looked up to him and he nodded. "I know. You're right." He let go of her and laid down again with a sigh. She got up on her feet and walked over to the mirror and checked her hair. Suddenly Lucas sat up again. "You're sure you don't want me to come with you?"
Brooke looked at him through the mirror and nodded. "We already talked about this, remember? I still think it's for the best if I talk to her first alone."
"I know, I know" he said, thinking back of their conversation they had had last night. "I just feel like I'm leaving you alone with all of this. You don't have to deal with this alone. It's you and me now, you know?"
She could feel the happiness in his voice. She turned around and smiled at him.
"What?" he asked as he got up and approached her.
"Nothing. It's just strange because for the longest time it has just been me. Or me and my work, me and my designs..."
He put his arms around her waist. "Well you better get used to it. Because from now on it's you and me, Brooke."
She teared up a little as he pulled her into a hug. She returned his gesture and hold him tight. He run his fingers trough her hair. She breathed in his scent and try to take as much courage as she need to make it through this day.
He accompanied her to the door and opened it. She stepped outside.
"Call me if you need anything, okay?" he said. She turned around and said: "Okay."
They remained looking at each other. He reached for her hand and dragged her towards him again. Then he placed a soft kiss on her lips.
"Everything is going to be okay" he reassured her.
She tried to smile and nodded. "Bye." She stepped back and and began to walk away.
"Mommy, Daddy!" Jamie came running towards Nathan and Haley, who were still sitting by the pool.
"Hey sweetie!" Haley opened her arms and Jamie jumped right up to hug her. Nathan put his arms around them as well. Skillz and Mouth showed up right after Jamie.
"Did you have a good breakfast?" Haley asked. "Yeah, we ate in front of the television while we were playing Wii."
Nathan raised his eyebrows and Haley turned to the boys as well. Both laughed. "Well don't get used to it little boy." Haley told her son as she let him down again.
"Do you guys want some coffee?" Nathan offered.
"I just had one, but hey, I'm so tired I think I need another one" Skillz said.
Nathan smiled. "When did you get home last night?" He asked him as they both went inside, accompained by Jamie, leaving Mouth and Haley alone.
"Thanks for taking care of him for the last couple hours" Haley said.
"No problem, you know how much we love to have him around."
Haley smiled and sat down again by the pool.
"Hey did you heard something of Brooke?" Mouth asked her.
Haley looked at him in surprise. "Well no, not today. Why?"
He shrugged. "Just wondering, that's all."
Haley studied his expression. "She told you, didn't she?" she asked with a little smile on her face. Mouth smiled and said: "Yeah she did. But I guess even a blind man would have seen what's going on." He sat own next to her.
"I'm a little worried about her" he confessed.
"Yeah me too. About both of them acutally" she said.
"But I´m sure they´ll figure it out."Mouth added. And Haley nodded in agreement.
"Peyton?" Brooke yelled her best friend's name as she entered her house. She put down her keys on the table and looked for Peyton. After she scanned the living room she went upstairs to her room. She knocked on the door and asked for her once more. Then she opened the door, only to find it empty. She ran down the stairs again and grabbed her purse, to search for her phone. That's when she saw the red light blinking on the answering machine. She went a step forward and pressed the button to hear the message.
"Hey Brooke, it's me Peyton. You will never guess what happened: There was someone in the crowd yesterday who acutally loved the band. They're talking about co-producing the record and investing money in my label. Anyway, I'm at the airport right now, heading to New York to meet them and talk about everything" she paused. She was talking really fast, she was obviously excited. "Sorry I'm a little bubbly, I haven't slept at all and I'm super excited. Unfortunately you weren't home this morning when I got home. Anyway, I'll be home in two days or so, can't wait for you to fill me in with all the details of you and Chase... Gotta go, bye."
Brooke shook her head and let herself sink down on a chair. Could this get any worse? She wanted to tell Peyton right away, she wouldn't want to wait anymore. She had been waiting for too long... She got up and wandered through the living room where she was looking at some picture of her and Peyton framing on the wall. Peyton. She had been her best friend since beginning of time. They had been through some rough times. She had been hurt. It was hard to forgive and to move on. But she hadn't regret it for a second. Because no matter what, Peyton was the one person in the world she was actually consieridering as family. She was the sister she never had. Better to each other and worse to each other than anybody else. She took the frame from the wall and put it to her chest, sighing. She hoped that Peyton had it in her heart to understand her. She hoped with all her heart that she wasn't going to lose her.
Suddenly the front door was opened and somebody entered with fast steps.
"Brooke?" she heard Lucas's voice. Brooke turned and looked up.
"I'm here" she answered.
Seconds later Lucas was standing in the living room. "I'm sorry, I know, you said you wanted to do this alone, but I couldn't just stay away" he explained.
She smiled slightly at him.
He studied her expression. "Where is Peyton? How did she take it?" he asked.
"She wasn't home. She left a message on the answering machine. She will be back in a few days." She got up and put the frame back on the wall. She stepped back in Lucas's direction and stopped as she felt his arms around her body.
"Do you think I should call her?" she suggested.
"And tell her on the phone? No, I'd wait until she comes back."
She leaned back and he kissed her cheek. Brooke remained silent. They both stared at the picture in front of them. The two girls smiling into the camera. Happy and light-hearted.
Towards the evening both of them were sitting on the terrace of Brooke's house, enjoying the the last rays of sunshine. They nestled up to each other on the bench, covered with a blanket. They had spent the afternoon together in Brooke's house, cooking, eating, talking and mostly laughing. Lucas had missed Brooke's smile, and how good it felt inside of him. How good she made him feel by just being around him. But he felt from time to time how her thoughts drifted to how her best friend might react to the news.
"Do you think it's wrong to feel so happy, when the exact same happiness is about to cause some real damage to another person?" she asked with a little voice. He had put her arm around her and her head leaned onto his shoulder.
"She might be more understanding than you think, Brooke" he said softly into her ear.
"I wouldn't be so sure, Luke... I mean I know how I felt when she told me that she was in love with you. My best friend telling me she had feelings for my boyfriend. It felt like my whole world was crashing."
Lucas looked confused. "Wait a moment..." He sat up a little to look at her. "What are you talking about? Peyton and I got together weeks, even months after we broke up."
Brooke just looked at him.
Suddenly Lucas seemed to understand. "Unless, she already told you before..."
She kept looking at him, still not responding.
"She told you before she told me..." He looked at her with big eyes as it finally hit him."And that's the real reason you broke up with me..." he said, still unable to process what he's been saying. "But why didn't you tell me?" he said softly.
"You mean to litterally watch you walking away from me?"
"Why would you think I'd walk away from you?" he asked.
She just gave him another look and he nodded. "Because of that kiss in the library, right?" he guessed.
She shrugged and nodded slightly eventually.
He sighed and let himself sink on the bench again.
"I was afraid that once you'd find out, once she would tell you, you'd break up with me, like you did before. And I couldn't bear the thought of that, so instead I talked myself into not needing you, not missing you anymore and out of loving you."
He sat up again. "I wish I had known all of this back then. Things would have been different."
"Well things pretty much turned out as I expected them to. Once Peyton told you her true feelings you two got together."
Lucas shook his head in disbelief, burrying his face into his hands. Finally he understood, he saw the whole picture.
"I'm sorry you had to go through all this. But most of all I'm sorry for making you doubt me and the love I had for you." he put his hands on her cheeks., framing her perfect face .She closed her eyes as he leaned his forehead against hers. "I won't ever let that happen again" he whispered. She put her hands onto his and smiled through her upcoming tears. He pulled her towards his chest and leaned back, holding her tightly in his arms.
If he only had known sooner...
Later, they moved into the living room and made themself comfortable on the couch, because it was getting a little cold outside. Lucas had opoened a bottle of wine, and they were sharing some stories from the few years they haven't seen or heard much of each other. Brooke told him about life as a celebrity and how much she still loved her job, despite all the long hours and stressful deadlines. Lucas told her how he helped raising Lilly, and taking care of Jamie. How he was hoping to have an impact on his life just like his uncle Keith have had on his. His eyes darkened when he spoke about Keith.
"I miss him" he admitted with a little voice.
Brooke squeezed his hand. "I know." She sat up a little, to face him. "Do you have any idea how proud he would be of you right now? You're being the man he raised you to be. A good, honest, warmhearted man. Just like he was."
He smiled sadly and nodded. "I try my best."
"Maybe you should stop trying so hard, Luke. Because for me, you already are that man. You always have been" she whispered. She put her hand on his cheek. He leaned into her palm.
"Sometimes I wonder how I made it through that dark place. How I could actually recover from something like that."
Brooke looked at him, her eyes full of sympathy.
"But I already know the answer to that question. I had a hell of a girlfriend" he smirked, and she smiled back.
For a moment they were lost again in each other's eyes. Lucas leaned forward and kissed her gently. He felt how his body and mind were yearing to be close to her, but he tried his best to be reasonable and take it slow. Especially regarding they still hadn't talk to Peyton, and he felt that Brooke wasn't oo comfortable with that. So eventually he broke away from her lips and her sweet loving eyes. He checked his watch. "I should get going."
She looked at him with sad eyes. "Already?" she said a little short of breath.
"Well.. it's already late" he explained.
"Well, I guess you should then." They got up and walked to the front door. They were standing in front of each other, their eyes fixing each other.
"So, I'm gonna go" he said. He stepped closer to her, taking her hand in hers.
"Yeah, okay" she responded and stepped closer as well. Their hands entangled, and their face came closer and closer, until their lips crushed on each other. Arms were put around the other one, and they stood in the hallway, kissing passionately.
"You know what I'd love to do?" She whispered between the one kiss and the next one. Or was it the one and the same?
He shook his head and kept kissing her sweet lips.
"Waking up to you in the morning" she said softly. He put his arms around her waist. She smiled shyly. "You could stay, and we could talk and..." He interrupted her with another kiss.
"Talking sounds just... perfect" he assured. They smirked at each other.
"I was hoping you would say that" she added.
Their hands entangled again, as he guided her towards the stairs. Hand in hand they went together upstairs.
As soon as they reached her room, Lucas let himself fall on Brooke's bed, with him on top of her. He kissed her lips, and she responded immediately. Then he wandered down her neck, while he was caressing her hair softly. Her hands were stroking down his back. "Lucas" she whispered out of breath. He stopped, rolled a little bit away from her, supporting his head on his elbow and looked at her.
"You don't have to say anything. I wasn't planing on rushing anything here."
She simply looked at him, appearing shy.
"But I just can't help it... God, can't believe I forgot how good it is to feel your skin against mine" he softly stroked her arm. "Or kissing your perfect lips." He leaned forward again and captured her lips with his. "Or how insanly good you smell." He rested his head on her shoulders.
She smiled, blushing a little. "Luke..."
"But I know, I know." He lifted his head and looked at her again. "We should wait until everything is well ordered. You're right."
She nodded in agreement.
"Since when are you so reasonable anyway Brooke Davis?" he said, with a grin on his face.
"Hey, what's that suppose to mean?" She looked at him slightly scandalized.
He just laughed and she smiled along. Then her expression got more firmly.
"I can tell you it helps to have been in the exact same situation."
"Brooke" he sat up a little. "Stop coparing this to what she did to you. Because I know you do, especially regarding the news I got today. You are not destroying a relationship. You're not destroying anything. Peyton and I are not together. We haven't been for the last 2 years" he said and meant it.
"I know that. But..."
"There is no but. I'm not saying it's going to be pleasant, but you shouldn't feel so guilty about all this. This is a good thing, remember? You and me?" He placed his palm on her belly.
"Yeah, you're right. And I know that... It's just, I can't really be here with you, and enjoy all of this unless I haven't talked to her."
He nodded and seemed to understand.
He rolled away completely and got on his feet. Suddenly he felt her hand on his arms. He looked at her, and she looked back.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm going home, giving us some space?"
"But, what about me wanting to wake up to you?" she pouted.
He smiled, letting himself sink down to the bed again. "Do you really think I can take my hands off you while you're sleeping next to me?" He looked at her, with his typical flirting look.
She smiled, she had missed this look. "Well you could try!" she answered.
He smiled. "Okay, I will try. But I won't guarantee anything" he pointed his finger at her, and smiled back. She giggled, obviously happy that he was staying after all. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him briefly. Then she got up, and bounced over to the bed room door. "I'm gonna get some water, do you want some?"
He shook his head.
"I'll be back in a sec" she disappeared out of Lucas's sight.
He sighed but smiled at the same time. Then he got up as well, wandering to the bathroom.
Brooke ran to the fridge, and got a bottle of water. She couldn't wipe of the smile out of her face. She felt like 17 again, young, careless and so in love. Suddenly she heard her phone ringing. She went over to her bag, grabbed it and answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey Brooke, it's me, Millicent."
Brooke recognized her voice immediately. "Hi Millie."
"I didn't wake you, did I?"
"No, you didn't."
"Sorry to call so late, but I was just wondering If you're coming to the store tomorrow or if should be there on time to open it?"
Brooke frowned. "What are you talking about? I've never been on time, you are the one who's taking care of everyhing. I'd be lost without you, you know that..." she trailed of. Then she suddenly realized what was going on. "Wait a minute, this is just you checking on me, right?"
After a beat Millicent admitted: "Acutally it's Mouth. He made me call you to..." Then she heard how somebody took the handset.
"Brooke? Is everyhing okay?"
Brooke smiled. "Mouth you're so sweet. Yes, I am fine. But just for the next time: You don't need an excuse to call me. Ever."
"I know. I just didn't want to interrupt anything."
Brooke looked in the direction of her bedroom. "Trust me, you didn't."
"So, you sound happy, I assume you talked to him?"
"Yes, we talked. And we still are actually."
"Oh okay. Then I will leave you two. I'll check in with you soon, okay?"
"Yeah, sure. And tell Millicent that I don't know if I'll be at the store tomorrow."
"Man, that must be some good talking" he giggled and Brooke rolled her eyes but smiled as well.
"Good night Marvin."
"Good night Brooke."
Then she hung up the phone and went back upstairs.
As she stepped into her room again, Luke was lying on the bed. He had removed his T-Shirt and was only in his boxers, gazing outside the window. He still looked the same. His apperance was still this well trained physique, and she remembered how she used to place kisses all over his body. She shook her head, trying to blink out those thoughts.
As he heard her entering he turned towards her. "Hey there. Where have you been so long?"
"Millie called..." She frowned. "Well sort of." She walked over to the other side of the bed and got changed. She turned herself towards the window, not facing Lucas.
"You know, I've seen you naked before, right?" he said with a grin.
Brooke grined as well but just continued to remove her clothes without facing him and put something more comfortable on. With a tank top and some shorts on she hoped into bed.: "That's right. But that's sooooo long ago – I'm sure you don't remember."
"Oh trust me, I do remember" he grined again and rolled over, to be near her. "Any new tattoos?" he said with a little voice, still grinning.and narrowing with his eyes the spot where her chinese symbol tattoo was,
She laughed and hit him softly in his shoulder. "That one must have been really impressive when you're 16, hm?"
He nodded, laughing along.
She touched his shoulder. "Well you obviously still have yours as well" she stated. Her fingers wandered over his cheast and softly stroke his body. He closed his eyes for a moment.
Suddenly Brooke snapped out of it. "Why don't you put a shirt on, Luke?"
He grinned. "I see, you'd better play it safe." He rolled over and took his shirt from the floor, put it on and rolled back next to her.
"Better?" he asked, while he nestled himself to her body.
She nodded. "For now it is." She put her arms on his arms and hold him tightly against her. Brooke felt Lucas smiling. "What?" She asked with a little voice.
"Nothing. It's just..." He pulled her a little closer to him. "perfect."
"What is?" she wondered.
"This stillness I feel inside of me. Like I'm finally where I've always belonged" he whispered."And it's wonderful." He added in a sleepy voice.
She placed a kiss on his arm, which was placed around her shoulders and whispered: "I know the feeling."
Their breaths found soon and equally rhythm, carrying them into a peaceful sleep.
The morning sun was chasing away the darkness of the night when Brooke opened her eyes the next morning. Her room was already bright, as she blinked her tiredness away. She rolled over to the other side and realized disapointed that her bed was empty. She sat up, pressing the blanked against her body and looked around. Then she got up, put on a bathrobe, and stepped outside her room. That's when she heard noises from downstairs. She walked down the stairs and located the noise from the kitchen. She clearly heard two people talking. Her eyes widened as she opened the door and saw Peyton and Lucas standing there, having coffee and talking.
"Good morning B. Some coffee?" Peyton handed her a cup of coffee.
Lucas simply stood there and looked at her with raised eyebrows. Brooke took a few steps forward into Peyton's direction. "Yeah, thanks" she said as Peyton handed her the cup.
Brooke put the cup down on the table. "Peyton..."
"I already know what you want to tell me Brooke" Peyton cut her off.
Brooke looked unsure from Lucas to Peyton. "You do?"
"Yes. Luke told me everything." Brooke was surprised that Peyton didn't sound angry or upset. She soundend rather calm.
Peyton walked over to Brooke and pulled her into a hug. "It's fine Brooke. I'm okay with it." She let go of her and faced her. "You deserve it. You're my best friend B.Davis. I love you, and I want you to be happy. That's all there is to say."
Brooke smiled trough her upcoming tears. She felt the weight of the world falling off her soulders. "Thank you Peyton" she whispered and the two girls huged again.
Suddenly Brook felt herself ripped away from Peyton's embrace and she opepend her eyes. She looked around and found herself once again in bed, waking up. She looked around, and found her room with the same brightness as before. She turned around and the bed beside her was empty. She frowned. She got up in a hurry, put on her bathrobe, and went outside her room. She heard noises from down stairs. She ran down the stairs and opened the kitchen door. She found Lucas standing at the stove, cooking something. He turned around as he heard her entering. "Hey beautiful. You're awake."
She nodded and looked around the room, still not really sure what was reality and what wasn't.
"Are you okay?" He asked her.
"I'm not sure" she answered. "Peyton isn't here, is she?" She asked.
Lucas frowned. "No, why would she? Are you expecting her this morning?"
Brooke shook her head as she went to the frigde and poured herself a glass of juice. "Too good to be true" she whispered to herself, smiling sadly.
"Excuse me?" Lucas asked, trying to drown the noise of the ventilation and the radio which was playing a random song.
Brooke put down her glass and went over to Luke, escaping in his arms. He put down dipper immediately and put her arms around her shoulders. "What's wrong?" he asked, while he was rubbing her back.
"It's nothing. I just had this dream, where Peyton would acutally be completely okay with the idea of the two uf us." She explained.
He looked at her sadly, not knowing what to respond. Instead he just hold on to her a little longer, trying to give her some comfort and courage.
After a beat she let go of him. "What are you doing here anyway? You can't just get up and leave me all alone in that big bed" she said, and seemed to want to forget about her dream.
"Well, what does it look like?" He answered and made a hand gesture over the kitchen. She smiled as she realized that he was making her breakfast. She had been so preoccupied with her thought about Peyton, that she didn't even noticed the smell of scrambled eggs in the air, fresh coffee and toasted bread.
"Aww Luke... You shouldn't have..."
"I know. But I wanted to." He turned around and took care of the eggs again. She sat down at the covered table.
"Besides" he turned around again and pointed a finger into her direction. "I had to get back to you for leaving me waking up by myself not too long ago." He grined and turned around again.
Brooke shook her head and thought back of that morning. It was strange how quickly thing could turn around. She reached for the flower standing in the vase on the middle of the table. She put it to her nose and smelled it. She smiled as the sweet fragrance of the rose filled the air around her.
Suddenly there was a knock on the front door.
Both turned around immeditaly towards the front door.
"Are you expecting anyone?" Lucas asked.
Brooke shrugged her shoulders. "I'll get it." She got up and walked through her living room and reached for the door.
"Hey Brooke" a smiling Haley greeted Brooke.
"Good morning" she answered, opening the door only to the width of a chink.
"I didn't wake you, did I?" Haley asked. Brooke adjusted her bathrobe a little. Before she could actually answer, she noticed Jamie, standing besides Haley.
"Hi buddy" she said. Jamie stormed into her house, leaving Brooke unable to react in time to stop him. Haley followed, calling for Jamie. Brooke went after them, closing the door.
"Jamie, you can' just..." Haley stopped lecturing her son as she spotted Lucas standing in his boxer shorts and a Shirt in Brooke's kitchen.
"Uncle Lucas!" Jamie ran over to him, and Lucas lifted him up, hugging him tightly.
"Hey Jamie. What are you doing here?" He turned around and faced a surprised Haley and an embarrassed looking Brooke.
"We found him Momma!" Jamie said.
"Yes, Jamie, I can see that" Haley answered. She looked quickly over to Brooke and back to Lucas again.
"Were you looking for me?" Lucas asked.
"Yes, I was worried because you weren't picking up your phone and I wanted to hear how you're doing."
"Sorry Hales, I must have left it in my jacket, downstairs."
"Mhm. Downstairs." She stated, looking again to Brooke, who couldn't restrain a smile.
Haley started to smile too. "Well, everything seems to be fine, so we are gonna leave you two alone."
"No, I want to have some breakfast too, Mommy" Jamie said, as Lucas let him down on the floor again.
"You already had breakfast Honey."
"I know, but can't I have a second time? It smells really good in here."
Everyone in the room started smiling. Lucas smiled stroke over the boy's head.
"Not today. Come on Jamie, we leave your godparents alone." Haley reached out for his hand, which he grabbed eventually. "And you two go back to.. whatever you were doing." Haley grined shyly.
On their way out, Jamie stopped as he passed Brooke and hugged her tightly. "You clearly are something special. Uncle Lucas never made me breakfast before."
Brooke smiled as she put her arms around Jamie.
"Some other time, okay Jamie?" Lucas yelled after him, as he was leaving with Haley. Jamie nodded enthusiasticly in response, and then they were gone.
"Oh my god, did that just happened?" Brooke covered her mouth and started laughing. Lucas laughed along.
After they had enjoyed their breakfast, Lucas told Brooke that he had to the gym, getting ready for tonight's practise. At first she pouted a little. She had been enjoying the time they shared together. Alone. Maybe she wasn't ready to face reality just yet. But she told him eventually that it was fine, and that she wanted to check on the store anyways.
Brooke was sitting in the living room as Lucas came down the stairs, completely dressed and ready to go. Brooke got up as she saw him coming towards her.
"Duty calls" he stated. He reached for her hands and pulled her towards him. "But you know what the best part is?" he mumbled.
Brooke laid her hands around his neck and shook her head gently.
"To be coming home tonight to you" he said while his eyes locked hers.
A blissful smile came across her face. He guided her chin in his direction and kissed her softly. "See you tonight" he said as if it has been the most normal thing for the longest time.
Brooke nodded. "Bye." She let go of him and watched him leaving.
As Lucas entered the school this morning he walked by Haley's classroom. He saw her sitting there, writing something. He knocked on the open door. She looked up, noticing him in the doorway. "Hey, I see you got dressed after all" she gave him a big smile.
Lucas grined and stepped into the room. "Yes, I normally get dressed when I come to work."
"Thank god" Haley said, while he sat down in a chair in front of her. She studied his face for a beat. Then she added: "And thank god you're finally seem happy again."
Lucas nodded slightly. "It's still a little unreal you know. But I'm good. I'm very good." He smiled at her.
Haley returned his smile. "I can see that. And I think it's great."
Lucas got up and walked out of the room. "Oh and Haley – please don't tell anyone, Peyton kind of still doesn't know and..."
"Don't worry Luke. I won't tell. But you guys should tell her as soon as possible."
"Yeah, Brooke is taking care of that." He waved at her and disapeard in the hallway.
Back in Brooke's house, Brooke was sitting on the couch after taking a long shower and getting dressed. She had been staring at her phone for the longest time which was lying on the table. Her expression was pensive. Eventually she grabbed her phone and dialed Peyton's number.
But she had turned her phone off and all she could reach was her mailbox.
"Hey Peyton, it's me, Brooke" she heard herself talking. What was she going to say?
"I was just wondering when you're planing on coming home. Because I'd really like to talk to you about something. So just give me a call or something. Okay, bye." She hung up and sighed.
After Brooke stopped at the store just to see that everything was ok she headed over to Haley's in the afternoon. She felt like she had to talk to her about the situation this morning.
"Hey there" Haley greeted her friend as she spotted her sneaking in through the backyard. "I was just thinking about calling you."
"Really?" Brooke made her way through their garden and finally stood in front of Haley.
"I'm so sorry for interrupting like that this morning, I was just worried about both of you, I had to come over and check." She apologized to Brooke.
"Don't worry, it's just that..."
"Peyton still doesn't have a clue, I know. Lucas filled me in." Haley told her. "You have to tell her Brooke. You don't want her to find out through somebody else."
"Yeah I know. And I wanted to tell her the other day, but she had already left for NY. I tried calling her, but she doesn't answer. I will talk to her as soon as she gets back" Brooke explained.
"You know why I'm insisting on this, right?" Haley asked, as she was sitting down on a chair, offering Brooke one as well.
"Yes, because Brooke Davis of all people should know how it feels to discover that your best friend and your boyfriend sneaking around your back." Brooke let herself fall on a chair infront of Haley.
"No, that's not why." Haley shook her head. "But first of all, Lucas isn't dating Peyton, Brooke." Brooke looked down, playing nervously with her fingers. "You're both not seeing someone, you don't owe an explanation to anybody."
Brooke let this sink in and remained quiet.
"And there lies the reason why I'm insisting on this. I know you Brooke Davis. Unless you haven't talk to her you're gonna keep blaming yourself and you won't be able to completely open up and enjoy this happiness which lies right infront of you. You need to talk to her for your own sake Brooke." She reached for Brooke's hand and squeezed it."And because I saw that happy smile of yours this morning, and I realized how much I missed it. You – being happy. That's why I'm telling you this."
Brooke smiled genuinely at her. "Thank you" she said hardly audible.
After her talk with Haley Brooke went back to the store again. She sighed as she entered her office and saw all the work on her desk. She clearly hadn't checked in for last few days. So after chatting with Millie for a bit, she barricaded herself in her office.
She spent the next few hours working, and didn't see the time flying by. Only as Millie came in to wish her a nice evening she noticed how late it already was. After Millie had left, her phone ringend and ripped her out of her concentration once more. She smiled as she saw who was calling.
"Hey Luke" she answered the call.
"Hey there beautiful. Where are you?"
"At work"
"How about you call it a day and come join me at my house? I just ordered some pizza."
"Sounds really good, but I have to finish a few things first here."
"Come on Brooke. It's not you and work anymore, it's you and me, remember?"
She smiled into the phone, not answering for a beat.
"You know what? You're right. I'm on my way."
She hung up and grabbed her bag. As she left her office she looked back again. It was the first day in a long time where she felt that there was something better waiting for her than her work. She switched off the light, locked up the door and left with a smile on her face.
Haley and Nathan enjoyed the end of the day with their son. Mouth and Millie were cuddled up in front of the television. Skillz sat in the coach office and planned tomorrow's practise. And Brooke and Lucas sat down on the floor in the living room, illuminated only with a few candels Lucas had lit before, equipped with a lot of pillows, having pizza and a glass of wine. While they were enjoying each other's company Brooke's cell was ringing in Lucas's room. She had left it in her purse, on Lucas's bed. The melody of her latest ringtone was playing – but it was left unnoticed.
"I'm glad you called and made me come" Brooke confessed as she laid down on Lucas's lap. She put her head on his outstreched legs, while he rested his head on the back of the couch.
He looked down on her pretty face, running his fingers gently over her face, and caressing her cheek.
"Yeah, me too." He smiled and gazed at her with his typical loving eyes, which she loved so much.
She smiled back, returning his look. He leanded down and placed a kiss on her lips. He lifted his head a little, only to feel her hand around his neck, dragging him down to her lips again. A little smile played around his lips. After a beat their lips crushed again. Lucas caressed Brookes hair, as their kiss got more and more passionate. He put an arm under her body and made her sit up a little, pulling her even closer, without once seperating his lips from hers. He held her in her arms, still kissing her. Brooke couldn't get enough how his sweet lips and his the smell of his skin, which she had missed so much, and made her feel like she finally found what she's been searching for all those years. Brooke put one hand on his chest, and felt his heart racing. Suddenly Lucas broke away from her, lifting his head, leaving Brooke winded. She didn't open her eyes right away, she was still amazed and enchanted by his touch and his nearness. After a beat she opened her eyes only to see Lucas eyes narrowing the other side of the room. Her sweet smile vanished as she saw Lucas's stern expression.
"What's wrong, Luke?" She lifted her head and followed his gaze. Her jaw dropped as she finally saw what he had noticed just a few seconds before her.
Peyton was standing in the doorstep of Lucas's frontdoor, looking shocked at both of them.
Disbelief and anger were reflecting in her eyes.
After a beat her low and shaky voice resounded through Lucas's candle lit livingroom. "What's going on here?"
--
TBC