Reasons that reason cannot know

Chapter 8

Brooke's cell rang and she looked the caller ID. It was Lucas. She knew that he probably would want to see Anna. Even thou she knew she lied to him and felt guilty every time she looked at him, she couldn't help but want this day they spent in NY to repeat.

"Hey, Luke."

"Hey. You busy today?"

"Well, I have some plans. What is it?"
"Well, I though about the three of us, me, you and Anna, to have lunch together and then to hang out a bit. What'd you say?"

Brooke was confused. She really had some stuff to do, and the main reason: every time she heard Lucas talking about Anna, she felt insecure that she could keep the secret anymore. But she knew she just couldn't say no.

"Ok. When and where?"

"If you want, I can pick you up, girls, and then we can go at the place where Nathan and Haley's first date was. You remember, the one you arranged?"

"Of course I remember. I felt so awful after what I did the previous night and I needed to fix things. I've always been hell of a matchmaker."

They both laughed.

"Ok, Luke, pick us up at 12."

"It's good that you're back, Brooke. I missed you."

"Missed you too. And it's good to be home again."

"Yeah. See ya."

"Bye."

Brooke hung up and looked at Anna, who was having breakfast, and whispered:

"We'll go see daddy, honey."

Peyton walked in the room.

"Hey, best friend."

"Hey, best friend."

"So, what are you doing today?"

"Well, I'm gonna look for a house, then I'll meet Lucas for lunch, we may hang out for a while."

Peyton's face changed a bit when she mentioned Lucas.

"Hey, P. Sawyer. Are you ok with that? Cause if you're not I…"

"Of course I am, Brooke. First, I'm not his girlfriend, it's been over for years. Second, you're one of his best friends. I'm just worried about his heart. He may get a heart attack when he sees you have a 2 year old daughter and you didn't tell him."

Brooke tried to look as innocent as possible.

"Well, Peyton… Actually… Lucas knows."

"What?"

She was surprised that Brooke has told him, but not her.

"Well, he had a book signing in New York a year after he first came to meet Lindsey about the publishing of the novel. We met and I wasn't sure how to tell him but something happened and he learned. The next day he was still at town and we hang out, the three of us."

Peyton was shocked and bit mad.

"So, you tell Lucas, but I'm not important enough to tell me, right?"

Brooke didn't know what to say.

"Peyton, it's not like that and you know it. To be honest, I don't know if I was going to tell Lucas if we hadn't had to go to the hospital…"

"What hospital?"

"Well, we just sat in a restaurant and began talking when Millie, my assistant and a friend called. I have felt Anna, who was then 3 months old, with her. Millicent told me that Anna had some kind of collapse and that they were at hospital. In that moment, I felt like the earth disappeared beneath my legs. I told Lucas I had to go, but he said that he couldn't let me go alone, I wasn't able to drive. So, he came with me and learned out of the blue."

Peyton still didn't trust her ears. It was so strange. Her best friend has become a mother and didn't tell her, instead she told their ex – boyfriend.

"I still can't believe you didn't tell me, Brooke."

"I'm sorry, Peyton. It's not because I don't trust you or because I don't care about you. Exactly the opposite. I know you well enough to predict how you would react. You'd have started worrying about me having a baby and raising it alone. You'd have tried everything to help me, that would have caused you problems in LA, and I knew and still know how important music is to you. Please, don't be mad, P. Sawyer."

Peyton looked at Brooke. She wasn't mad really.

"I'm not mad, B. Davis. I just wish I was there for you."

"Come here."

They hugged.

"I love you, Peyton, no matter what."

"I love you too, best fiend."

The smiled at each other.

"Momma…"

Brooke turned around immediately.

"Hey, beautiful. What's up?"

Peyton looked at them. She never imagined Brooke as a mother. Still, she was amazing. She loved Anna so much and she was doing a great job with her. And the little girl was more than great. She was like an angel. She smiled. At least one of them was happy.

*-*-*

Lucas was driving to Brooke's hotel. He was glad he as going to spend some time with her and Anna. It was strange, but he missed that little girl. His cell rang and he looked ate the I.D.

"Hey, Linds."

"Hey, babe. I was thinking about a lunch together. What would you say?"
"Oh, I'm actually on my way to the hotel to pick Brooke and Anna and have lunch with them. Sorry."

"It's ok. You two haven't seen each other in a long time. I'll call Haley. You guys have fun."

"You too. I love you."

"I love you too, Lucas."

It was so good to hear it. They were so in love and happy. Nothing could come between them. Lucas was already in front of the hotel. He went to the fifth floor and knocked at the door. He expected Brooke to open, but…

"Hi, Peyton."

"Hi, Luke, come in. Brooke will be ready in a minute."

He went in and sat on the couch. Brooke has booked an apartment big enough for the three of them. Lucas was surprised that Peyton was there. It was a bit awkward.

"Do you want something to drink?"

She seemed confused too. It was obvious she had some things to say, but just didn't know how.

"No, I'm fine. Look, Peyton, I'm sorry about the way I reacted the other night…"

"Lucas, it's ok."

"No, it's not. Just because of everything that happened in our relationship, it doesn't mean we can't be friends. More than that, we should be. You're too important to me to just be a stranger."

They looked at each other's eyes.

Peyton wanted to scream that she loved him, but knew it wasn't right.

Lucas realized he needed Peyton in his life. As a friend, nothing more, but he just couldn't let what happened between them to make their friendship impossible.

"Yeah, Luke. We are friends."

They smiled at each other just when Brooke went into the room with Anna. She saw them and felt like she was interrupting something.

"Hey, do I interrupt?"

Lucas and Peyton both looked at them.

"No, of course not. I was just waiting for you and chatting with Peyton."

His looked moved from Brooke to Anna.

"And if that's not the most beautiful girl on the planet."

Brooke smiled and told Anna.

"Hey, honey. Go introduce yourself."

Anna went to Lucas, who was squatting now.

"I'm Anna. Nice to meet you."

"And I'm Lucas. You know, I've already seen you, but it was when you were a little bay. And look at you know: beautiful young lady."

He smiled at her and she blushed.

Peyton smiled.

Brooke's heart melted. It was so right to see them together. She was glad Lucas was going to be in their daughter's life, even if only as a friend.

*-*-*

Brooke, Lucas and Anna were in the park. The little girl was in a swing, while Lucas and Brooke were sitting on a bench.

"She's amazing, Brooke."

"Yeah, she really is."

They were looking at her, having fun with the other kids.

"You're a great mom, you know that?"

"Thanks, Luke. I know I can't give her everything, but I'm trying my best to make sure she is happy."

"She is. Anna is one of the luckiest children ever."

They looked at each other and smiled.

"So, how are things going on with you? Your first season as coach of the Ravens, the writing, Lindsey?"

"Well, it's early to talk about the team. I hope we're going to make a great season, I'll do my best."

"I know you're gonna be great, Luke. Look how great things were when you were coaching in college. If anyone can make these boys win the championship, that's you."

She always knew how to encourage him and make him trust himself. One of the things he loved about Brooke Davis.

"Thanks, Brooke."

"And are what about the writing? Have you started a new book?"

"Nope. You see, with "An unkindness of ravens", it was easy. I just wrote how I felt and what's been going on in my life. It was like it was writing itself. But know, I lost my inspiration. I really hope it will pass. And Lindsey hopes too."

"Luke, just don't do it because you have to. I'm sure that one day you're gonna wake up feeling you have something to tell to the world. And I know Lindsey understands."

"Yeah. I hope so too. I'm just worried, I don't wanna disappoint her, her bosses let her spend time in Tree Hill to try to make me write something. And it's so nice to have her here, otherwise I miss her too much."

"You two seem pretty happy together."

"We are. I hope you'll get to know each other. She's amazing and I'm absolutely in love with her."

"I'm happy for you. Because you deserve it."

They smile at each other again.

"You deserve it too, Brooke Davis."

Lucas has always know how to make Brooke feel important and special.

"Hey, how you feel about Peyton around? Do you still love her?"

"Well, it's a bit awkward between us, you know? But we've known each other for so long and I'm sure we'll be able to be friends."

"You didn't answer the other question."

Lucas was confused and Brooke could see it.

"Yes, I love her. I always will. But we're just friends now. I love Peyton, but I'm in love with Lindsey."

"And how does she feel about it?"

"Well, she knows I love her and that we're friends. I really don't think she's jealous, she understands everything."

He meant what he said. He loved Peyton, but he was in love with Lindsey. And one thing he learned in the past was to focus on his girlfriend, not to Peyton, because otherwise there was no way to avoid jealousy. So that's why he was proving Lindsey she's his girl and she was mature enough to know it.

"Hey, what about you? Have you met someone?"

"Nope. I'm single for years now. Since I broke up with Chase, actually."

"What happened with you two?"

"We just realized that things between us were just a high school thing, you know? It took us less than 3 months after graduation to figure it out, but we're cool now."

"Do you miss him? I mean, you fought so hard for him, he obviously meant a lot top you…"

"Yeah, he did. But the truth is we weren't in love. We thought we were, but at some point we realized we had some good times, but we weren't meant for anything more. I haven't heard of him since we broke up. I hope he's happy."

Suddenly, Anna ran to them smiling.

"Momma, I want ice cream. Can I get some?"

"The magical word?"

"Please."

Both Brooke and Lucas laughed at the cute face she made. Then he looked at her to see if Brooke allowed.

"Ok. Let's get you some ice cream. Come here."

Lucas took Anna in his arms.

"Let's go get some ice cream, baby girl."

"Hey! I'm not a baby."

"Oh! How can I be so stupid? You're a big girl, right?"

She nodded and Lucas started walking, holding her in his hands.

Brooke walked a bit behind them. Lucas and Anna looked so adorable together. He was amazing with her and she totally adored him. Brooke sighed, knowing that it was wrong to not let them be together all the time, as a father and a daughter were meant to, but that was what it was. She was glad that they 'd be in each other's life at least.

Lucas and Anna approached Brooke, giving her an ice cream, and the three of them started talking and laughing.

*-*-*