Title: Waiting on Forever

Author: D Sollers

Subject: Post OTH episode 5x15 BL. Brooke nods her head, yeah because she feels it too. She can't remember a time where it was just the two of them together, trying to be friends. But somehow, it feels right. BL, NH, maybe a little LP and JP.

Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with OTH and honestly, I don't really want to.

Author's Notes: Okay so this is the last chapter til probably Monday. Hopefully you all love the story and are willing to wait, I promise I will update some more then. Thanks for all the reviews and remember how much I appreciate them. This is two weeks into the future, to the day where Brooke has to return Angie. I wanted to skip ahead and there might be flashbacks later on explaining the gaps. Enjoy!!

Chapter Nine

Where ever you will go

Two weeks later.

"Today's the day, huh?" Peyton said as she entered Brooke's bedroom and sat down on the bed. Brooke nodded her head sadly as she glanced at her friend. "You want me to go with you?"

Brooke shook her head no and reached out to hug her friend. "Thank you but I think I have to do this on my own. You've probably got a lot planned, since you're leaving tonight."

"Yeah, there are a few things I've been wanting to do..." Peyton said as she stared at her friend. "But nothing that important. You're my Brooke and I want to be here for you."

The brunette smiled at got up from her bed. "You have been Peyton, everybody's been there for me. What I really need is to do this alone."

"Alright, well I will call you when I get to Savannah. And if you need me, I'm a phone call away," Peyton said as she hugged her friend once more.

Brooke reached into Angie's crib and picked her up, rocking her gently. "Hey baby girl, it's almost time now. We're gonna get you dressed and gather your new toys and then we're going to go. And you're not going to cry because this is a happy day. You get to go home to your mommy and daddy."

Brooke shook her head and wiped away the tears that were forming in her eyes. "I can do this," Brooke whispered. "I can do this."

Nathan walked into the bathroom behind his wife and wrapped his arms around her. "Hey there gorgeous," he said as he bent down to kiss the nape of her neck.

"Hey yourself," she giggled against his lips. "Are you going for a run?"

He nodded his head as he gathered his shoes and socks, turning to face Haley. "Has Lucas mentioned Lindsay to you at all?" He questioned.

Haley shook her head no as she continued to brush her hair. "It's like he's avoiding the subject. He won't talk to me about Peyton either," she sighed. "I just wish I knew what was going on in his head."

"And his heart," Nathan added, as he leaned against the door frame.

Haley dropped her robe to the floor as she headed towards her closet, allowing her husband to see her naked skin. "I just hope he makes up his mind soon before Brooke becomes more involved than she already is."

She pulled the jeans from the shelf but before she knew it, Nathan had his arms around her. "Nathan," she laughed. "Go for your run, I promised I'd meet Peyton at the studio."

"You couldn't possibly think you could parade around me naked and not get some type of reaction out of me," he said in between kisses.

She shrugged her shoulders and placed a kiss on his lips. "I just thought it was time I did what the therapist said. Maybe we should act our age," she smiled. "Impressed?"

"Very," he said as he pulled her towards the bed.

Brooke's been in the airport a million times before. She's had to say goodbye to people she cared about in this very same airport but even as she makes her way through security, her heart aches. Saying goodbye to Angie is going to be the hardest thing she's ever had to do.

It amazes her, how many people are in the airport. Ones that are saying goodbye to girlfriends or picking family members up. Each single person surrounding her has their own life going on, their own sets of problems and all Brooke can think about is trying to be brave.

In the distance, she can see the very lady that dropped the baby to her. She doesn't want to do this, everything inside of her is screaming that this is wrong. That Angie needs to stay in Tree Hill, with her. But she knows that can't happen.

"Bye baby girl," Brooke said as she squeezed the little girl against her chest. "I hope you know how much you've changed me..." She whispered into Angie's ear.

There's a smile on Angie's face and Brooke can't help the tears that are entering her eyes. It wasn't because of gas or because Lucas teased her, the smile was just for Brooke.

And then, the smile was gone. The lady's there, waiting for Brooke to hand over the baby. Brooke shakes her head, repeating telling herself that she can do to her what seems impossible.

With one last kiss to Angie's forehead, Brooke passed the baby to the woman. It seems like only seconds and they're both through the gate and out of Brooke's sight.

There's nothing left for her to do now, except return home. Back to her empty house, where not even Peyton will be. Her steps are slow as she walks back to the gate and when she rounds the corner, she sees Lucas.

She can't form any words but it meant a lot for him to be there. Especially when she had told everyone that she needed to do it alone. "Hi," she whispered up at him as he smiled down at her.

"Hi."

He's seen her like this before, there's a familiar look in her eyes that scared him. She's about to break down and he's afraid if she starts, she might never stop. So, he does the only thing he thinks will comfort her.

His arms wrap around her just as they always have and he presses her body towards him. People are staring at the two, most likely assuming that there lovers and seeing each other for the first time.

But Lucas doesn't care. He can see the pain in her eyes and a part of him feels it too. She's sobbed against his chest, her words incoherent beneath the gasps for air.

And he's realized, that he's never known the right words to comfort her but she's always been the one to comfort him. "It's alright, I'm here for you," he whispered into her ear, mimicking the words that she's said to him so many times before.

She's tired and before she even realizes it, her knees give out and she collapses to the floor. But Lucas is right there with her and she's able to regain her balance after a few seconds.

Brooke's sobs are loud and he can't help but feel his heart break a little at a time. "You're going to get through this Brooke, I promise you. I'll be right here with you."

The tears have stopped and even though her head is still against his chest, he can feel her begin to pull away from him. "Look at me," Lucas asked and Brooke shook her head against his chest. "Please, look at me."

She doesn't want to but she's never been able to turn down Lucas. So with her eyes filled with tears, she looks up at him. "I'm not going anywhere," he said. His voice is firm and she's not exactly sure what he's trying to say but she doesn't have the energy to ask.

"Take me home," she whispered finally.

"Hey," Haley walked into Peyton's office and sat down on the chair in front of the blonde's desk. "When do you leave?"

Peyton glanced at the clock and shrugged her shoulders. "A couple of hours actually, I have one more thing to do and it's off to Savannah."

"Isn't it going to be weird? Being in Savannah, after all this time?" Haley questioned.

Peyton shook her head no and smiled. "That's the great thing about Savannah... About Jake. There's never any weirdness."

Haley tried her best to understand her friend. "I'm sorry about Lucas," Haley said after a few minutes of silence. "I know just how stubborn he can be and I am sorry he's still not talking to you."

"It's okay," Peyton lied. "Sooner or later, he'll come around."

Haley nodded her head. "Are you ever going to tell him you read the book?"

"Maybe," Peyton whispered. "Maybe."

An hour had passed since Brooke had arrived home and Lucas was doing his best to distract her from thoughts of Angie. He had suggested watching Weird Science but half way into the movie, Brooke had gotten a call from her office in New York.

"Are you sure?" Brooke said quietly, turning her back to Lucas. "Well is she okay?" Her voice was filled with concern and Lucas immediately thought about Angie. "Okay, I'll be there soon."

Brooke turned to face Lucas and bit her lip nervously. "That was one of my employees. Rachel's overdosed and in the emergency room," she explained.

It took a moment for it to settle in and Brooke reached for her phone once again. She called the airlines and booked herself a flight, all before Lucas could say anything. He stared at her with a slight grin.

"I've been thinking," Lucas said as she hung up the phone. "I've seen what you've done for Angie and Rachel..." His voice trails off and he wants to add himself but he doesn't because he's afraid of the questions she'll ask. "And so many other people. You save people, I'm go grateful to have been able to see it."

"Let me know when Angie is home safe?"

He knows he has to go now, before he says too much or does something they'll both regret but he's surprised when she grabs a hold of his wrist.

"I couldn't have gotten through this without you."

It's such a simple statement, something she's wanted to say for a while now but she's scared and nervous that he won't understand. Her fingers play with Angie's purple monkey and she hands it to Lucas.

"You should keep this, to remember Angie..."

He glances down at the monkey and knows that it's more than just a reminder of Angie but one of Brooke as well. So he takes it and smiles down at her.

"I love you Lucas Scott," she said as she stands up and wraps her arm around him.

His eyes shut and he smiles against her hair. "I love you too, Brooke Davis."

She'd thought it would have been more strange, hearing him say those words. It seemed as if forever had passed since she last heard him say it and she knew they couldn't go back to what they use to be.

But perhaps, they could go forward.

It had taken two hours, for Peyton to successfully finish her last project in Tree Hill. As she stared down at the river court with pride, she couldn't help but wish that this was the sign. That Lucas would understand for once and for all that they were meant to be together.

And that the comet, had been her as much as he tried to pretend it wasn't. The comet was huge, spreading across the entire river court and lyrics to a familiar love song were scribbled down around it.

It was beautiful, her best artwork yet.

And still as she walked away from it, she couldn't help the sinking feeling in her gut that it wasn't enough. That Lucas wouldn't understand and that the last two hours had been a complete waste of time.
She revved her engine and took off leaving the river court, Tree Hill and Lucas Scott behind.

If only for just a little while.

TBC...