Many thanks for all the reviews. I am evil I know, of course I couldn't leave them like that.

It wasn't until she got home almost two hours later that she noticed the blisters on her feet, she'd done nothing but walk since she'd left him in Central Park. One look in the mirror showed that not only had she walked until her feet were raw she'd cried until her make-up was almost gone. She felt so utterly drained, seeing Lucas again and revisiting everything she'd locked so firmly away was beyond painful. Just sitting next to him was enough to make her body come alive, the smell of him stimulating everything inside of her. The bold truth staring her in the face, no matter what the circumstances, the years between them she wanted him – badly. Her body almost literally craved to be united with his, no one had ever had this effect on her. She sadly accepted that while sex with Chris was relatively good, it paled significantly in comparison to her and Lucas. Everything did, he owned her body in a way that was unique. Whether it was because she loved him with a dark and unforgiving passion like she'd never loved anyone else or it was just physical she didn't know.

She did wonder how on earth their love had the endurance to have survived this length of time, because while she had questioned whether he did love her in the past she was certain now that after six years of waiting for her, after showing up here she knew that he did love her. For the first time ever she actually believed it. She just didn't know how she felt about that. Damn, Chris would be here in just over an hour to collect her for a charity dinner. It was the last thing on earth she felt like doing now but she knew he'd question her if she cancelled now, question she wouldn't be able to give him answers to.

Lucas licked his lips nervously, he knew that the park was Brooke giving them a final goodbye, but the fact was he just wasn't ready for that. As he sat there letting her words wash over him after she'd gone he found he just couldn't accept that they still loved one another and couldn't make it work. If she'd talked just once about her fiancé, told him that she loved another man more than she loved him he might have been able to get on a plane and go back to Tree Hill, but she hadn't. It was impossible for him to leave things like she had, it might have been closure for her but it wasn't for him. He hadn't moved on from her and he was almost certain she hadn't from him. So here he was outside her door, hoping that unlike the last time she'd actually let him in, he had so much more he needed to say to her.

But as the door opened every single word left his head. There she was, her face bare of make-up, hair in dripping wet strands around her face, skin glistening with water and a towel wrapped around her body. Somehow he figured she was expecting someone else, he didn't think she'd answer a door like this, looking so glorious in her simplicity. He felt his cock twitch in his trousers and words seemed impossible, she stood expectantly in the doorway so he moved forward forcing her back, he used his foot to close the door behind him and did the only thing his brain was telling him to do. He grabbed her by the tops of her arms, clamping her to the spot on which she stood and pushed himself forward to capture her lips with his own.

Her brain screamed at her that this was a huge mistake, yet her body melted into him and when he moved his hands from her arms to take a strong hold of her body she felt herself mould against him. Instantly her nipples stiffened from the blood rushing to them and she felt herself moist between her legs. This is exactly what was missing with everyone else, this was what had been missing in her life for so long now she'd forgotten just how badly her body needed his. She felt bereft as he moved away from her, but he stood one hand reaching out and pulling the towel wrapped around her body away from her. Still the voice in her head screamed that she had to stop this. But it was too late and she knew she couldn't. She felt a flush of heat pass through her body as he stared unashamedly at her naked body, one hand reached to cup her cheek.

"You're so perfect." He murmured amazed that this was happening. Not only was she letting this happen she wanted it as badly as he did, he could clearly see the lust written across her face. His hand dropped from her face to caress her body, he reached forward again, his lips meeting hers once more in a kiss that made his knees weak. She reached down to free his rock hard cock from his jeans, soon they were on her floor. Years of distance and desire had him desperate to be inside of her almost instantly, he pushed her back against the wall and she wrapped on leg around him as he slid effortlessly inside of her. she gasped.

She felt a sense of wholeness the second he filled her, the length of his body pushing against her own, pushing reason further away, lust zipping within her as she got something which she'd forgotten she needed like air. As her hands roamed his body one stopped, resting over his heart.

"Is this okay?" She panted out to him, her response was another strong kiss as he began to move inside her. she moaned deep in her throat as she felt him, her insides clutching him, not wanting him to leave her, he tormented her almost withdrawing completely with each thrust, yet satisfying her driving deeper each time he returned. It didn't take long before she felt the world moving away, before she saw the white light behind her eyes as she panted and gasped his name. She forced herself back from the brink, waiting for him to be ready. With a loud grunt he forced further into her, so far she didn't realise it was possible and as he hit that sweet spot deep within her again she felt herself explode, gasping his name as he came bellowing hers.

Reality returned all too soon for Brooke as her brain began to scream that Christopher would be arriving soon, she untangled herself from Lucas and pulled the towel back round herself, flush with embarrassment yet having the glow of a woman sated. Guilt flooded her as she became the person she'd always despised, the type that could cheat on someone.

"Chris will be here soon, you need to go." Her instant dismissal of him hit him in the heart. It also brought to mind when he'd done the same to her. Had he been completely naive to think this would change things? Maybe he had, it never had before so why should this time be different simply because he wanted it to be.

"So this meant what Brooke?" She froze and then slowly turned back to him.

"Don't Luke, please." He saw the flash of fear in her eyes as she begged him not to push her. suddenly they were back in time almost ten years, only this time she was the one scared, the one ready to put something between them just because letting herself love him would be too terrifying to cope with. He saw a hint of vulnerability about her as she pleaded with her eyes for him to just go.

"You know this isn't the end right." He said it as a statement and not a question because after playing this game, toing and froing for nigh on twelve years it wouldn't end this way of that he was certain. Until she had that ring on her finger he wouldn't stop believing that they were meant to be together. Fate had stopped her marriage once because he knew just as surely as he knew that grass was green and sky blue that Brooke Davis was made for him and him alone, just as he was for her.

"I'm engaged." Her voice was thin and weak when she said it, lacking conviction that both took note of.

"You're as ready to let go of me as I am to let go of you, the difference is I have the guts to admit it. You came to me Brooke, when it mattered when it counted you came to me. Everything else is nothing more than an illusion, Peyton, Chase, Lindsey, Christopher our love survives them all and it does that for a reason." With a strength and certainty she didn't feel she shook her head.

"You're wrong Chris isn't the others. Now you need to go." He smiled tenderly at her and she was thrown.

"In twelve years we've spent a matter of months in the same place, one day we'll get there again and this time we'll stay that way." The tears rolled softly down her cheeks after he'd gone. Her heart begged her to chase after him, not let him walk away. But her head refused. Not that it really mattered, she knew he wasn't planning on going far. And that thought both thrilled and terrified her in equal measure.

Once he'd left her he allowed himself time to consider his next move, there was something more he could do there had to be, something more that would convince her that the time for running was done, that finally they needed to accept the inevitable, they would be together. Their love was too strong to deny. His cell vibrated in his pocket and he quickly dismissed the thought it would be her, she wouldn't give in so soon. He allowed himself a wry grin as he glanced at the display knowing that it was time he faced the music.

"Hey ma."

"You disappear for over twenty four hours, you don't tell anyone you're going, don't answer your cell, leave your meds on Brooke's desk and when you finally answer all you say is 'hey ma'! Lucas Eugene Scott I swear to god there better be one hell of a good reason for you to be behaving so god damn irresponsibly." He grinned again.

"Ma I'm twenty eight years old and if I want to hop on a plane to New York then I can do. You didn't need to worry about me I can look after myself. And yes I did leave my meds in Brooke's office but that's only because I knew it was the only way to get her to come and find me."

"Lucas under normal circumstances I might well agree that you're old enough to go where you want when you want but you've not been out of hospital after a cardiac arrest long and I'm your mother it's my job to worry."

"I know, but if I told you, any of you, you'd all have tried to talk me out of this. I know Brooke came to see me while I was unconscious ma, I know she walked out of her wedding to fly to Tree Hill and I know she still loves me. Where else is the world should I be knowing all that but where she is."

"Oh Lucas, I wish it were that simple."

"I'm saying it's simple, but if I have any chance of convincing her that our love is enough then it's by being here, not in Tree Hill."

"And you think you have a chance?" He smiled to himself.

"Something gives me that impression."

"Don't get your hopes up honey, she seemed pretty set on things when I spoke to her here. And given your history with one another I can understand why she doesn't trust you." He knew then that Brooke had told his mother everything. And what his mother said was an understatement. By rights Brooke should hate him, not still love him. But love was illogical and that worked in his favour.

"Ma do you think that this is right, that we're right?" He waited patiently for her answer.

"Does it matter what I think Lucas, you're an adult and you're set on doing everything you can to bring her home anyway."

"Just tell me."

"I love that girl Lucas and for some unknown reason given what you've put her through she loves you. Nothing would make me happier than you and she reuniting and making a life together, but you already knew that."

"So I have your blessing to chase after her."

"As if you need it. Haley wants to talk to you."

"Better get it over with."

"Lucas Eugene when you get back here I'm going to kick your ass!"

"Good to speak to you too Hales. I have a proposition for you, you forgive me for coming here without a word and I'll forgive you for not telling me Brooke was in Tree Hill." He was just able to stop his laughter at the deep sigh from his best friend.

"You're lucky this time Lucas. You speak to her?"

"A little more than speak." A shocked gasp met his ears.

"You didn't, did you?"

"Not even an hour ago Hales. But now she's with him and I'm trying to figure out what to do next."

"I cannot believe it. After everything she said about not going back there. I wish the two of you would stop this you know."

"I listened to the stop hiding your heart speech last time Hales, it's her you need to tell. Or I think that's what she's doing."

"You hide your heart Lucas, Brooke has always known what's in hers. That's the problem with you two, you never realised you loved her and she always loved you but wouldn't let herself."

"Maybe I need you up here to tell her that."

"It's you that needs to convince her. You need to make her see that this is forever this time, it was you that was scared of that not her. She's scared that it won't be."

"Any suggestions on how I do that?"

"That's your job Luke, you need to figure it out, because you broke her and now it's your job to fix her."

"Thanks for the encouragement Hales."

"You need encouragement, okay try this senior year as well documented in your novel a young vulnerable girl, says to this guy 'I wanted you to fight for me! I wanted you to say that there was no-one else you could ever be with and that you'd rather be alone then without me. I wanted the Lucas Scott from the beach telling the world that he's the one for me!' All Brooke has ever needed was for you to prove that your actions will back your words, because your words lie to her. They always prove untrue and she needs to know that this time you mean them."

"Should be easy then."