Hey everyone, did you guys have a great holiday? I hope you did. Anyway, on to business, here is the new chapter... for everyone I would just like to say that everything in this fic is pure fictional, especially the Chophia sub plot. Whatever I say here does not in anyway reflect their actions in real life.

Now that that's settled, here it is. I'd just like to point out that the first scene which is a flashback, was during that faithful Christmas eve that Lucas and Brooke found each other at the LA airport. You will be guided along the way, but just so that you don't get confused. So there. Please Review! I love getting long ones! Hint hint! haha! Thank you to all who left me a review in the past. You guys don't know how much I appreciate all of you! So please make my day and review! It is the holidays right:)

"Everyone, please fastens your seatbelts, make sure that your tray tables are stowed, seats in upright position, and all windows open. We will be lifting off in a few short minutes," announced the steward through the sound system. Brooke and Lucas have just been seated for about 15 minutes or so. Brooke originally had a First Class ticket but since she wanted to sit beside Lucas. This was the first time they've seen each other since graduation and Brooke as always was dying to know what's new. A lot of catching up was in order for the two of them since a lot had happened these past months. So in order to do so, she kindly asked the old woman who was supposed to sit in the seat that she wanted if she would be willing to trade seats, and the woman gladly accepted.

"Thank you so much young lady," the old woman told Brooke grateful for her offer. It's not everyday that you get to sit in the First class section.

"Oh believe me, it was my pleasure. Merry Christmas," Brooke said happily.

"Merry Christmas to you too, to both of you," the kind woman said motioning to Lucas who had also greeted her in return.

Brooke then took the seat to the left of Lucas, making herself comfortable, much to the dismay of the pretty blonde that sat to the right of Lucas.

"So, are you finally going to tell me what happened with Peyton?" Brooke finally asked.

Lucas let out a large sigh then shook his head. "There's nothing to tell. It's officially over between the two of us," he said sadly.

Brooke then saw the blonde beside Lucas suddenly lit up, smirking when she heard that he was single. She cocked an eyebrow but was gone unnoticed by the two blondes sitting beside each other.

"Excuse me," the blonde said to Lucas as she tapped on his shoulder.

"Yes?" Lucas politely asked.

"Do you know what time is it?" she ever so sweetly asked. It was pathetic, thought Brooke.

"Oh sure, let me just check my watch. It's…" he said as he raised his left arm to check his watch. Brooke watched as the blonde pulled Lucas hand using her right arm pulled it closer to her, pretending to read the time. Brooke this time raised an eyebrow to this. Who the hell did this girl think she is? Lucas was not even showing any sign of interest whatsoever, he was just being polite but apparently, the blonde thought of this as flirting.

"I think it is about time for you to get your own watch," Brooke interjected pulling Lucas' arm from the girl's grip, making him turn towards her. The blonde scoffed then sunk to her seat taking a magazine then began reading. "Now that we are clear of any distractions," she said glaring at the girl who was pretending the she wasn't listening but truly was while Lucas only laughed at Brooke antics. He almost felt sorry for the girl, "Now, tell me exactly what had happened."

"You tell me, I'm still trying to sort things out myself," he admitted. He was confused as hell, but then again something tells him that Peyton did the right things, the one thing that he couldn't bring himself to do. Everything just happened so fast and it was still a huge blur to him.

"What did she say?" she asked curiously.

"She just told me that it wasn't working anymore. That we were going off into different directions, and that…" he started then let out a heavy sigh.

"And?" Brooke asked impatiently. Brooke Davis never was the patient type.

"That maybe we weren't meant to be," he said closing his eyes.

"That must have sucked," Brooke commented sympathetically.

"You have no idea," he said shaking his head. It didn't have a lot of meaning, but to Brooke it did.

"Yeah," was all she could say. It only proved that after all this time, there were still things that he didn't understand about her, but then again, he's not the only one to blame. This was her fault as much as it was his. "It's not easy you know, realizing that the one person you've hoped was meant for you, really was meant for someone else, someone who isn't you," she said sadly, as if she could relate.

He looked at her curiously, with his head slightly tilted to the left. "What?" she asked then tried to make up an excuse, "At least that's what I've heard," she shrugged innocently, lying through her teeth, hoping that he wouldn't notice.

"Well what you've heard is true, and I can't believe that this happened to me again!" he said sadly. This was the second time that the girl he thought was meant for him, apparently wasn't. One of them being the girl who had just broken up with him a mere two hours ago, and the other… well he didn't like to think about her because it hurt more than he thought, until now the pain is just as intense before. But it was hard not to think about someone when that someone was sitting right in front of you, taking your hand in hers.

"I'm sure you and Peyton will work things out. You're Leyton for heaven's sake! Even the Brooke Davis couldn't tear you apart!" she joked trying to get a laugh out of both of them, but when she reevaluated what had said, it didn't seem funny to her. Not one bit.

"I don't think so Brooke, not this time," he admitted sadly, totally disregarding her last statement, retracting his hand from hers.

"Just don't lose your hope yet Luke. I need for you to be strong because I still believe that there's love out there. And if you guys don't make it then who can? Just have faith that things will get better," she said reassuringly, though not sure who it truly was meant for, him or her?

Before either of them was able to say anything else, the lights of the plane had dimmed. The plane was already leaving the hangar and making its way through the runway.

He looks at Brooke and he sees her close her eyes so tight and seemed to be muttering something incoherent. When he finally able to decipher the words coming from her lips that were quivering, he realized, she was praying. He starts to laugh.

"What is so damn funny?" Brooke firmly asked as she glared at her newly reunited friend.

"Nothing, it's just that for a girl who loves traveling, you seem to be afraid of riding a plane," he said chuckling.

"I am not afraid of riding a plane! I just don't like taking off okay?" she said as she shut her eyes again.

"Whatever you say Brooke," he said then positioned himself comfortably on his chair.

The plane had started to gain much speed as it prepares to lift off from the ground, and he was about to fall asleep when he suddenly felt a hand deathly grip his left hand. He opens his eyes to see Brooke still in her previous worrisome state. He looks at her again and chuckled.

"Don't even say it!" she sternly told him and Lucas could bet that if her eyes weren't closed at the moment, then she would have definitely given him another one of her famous icy glares that could make any person cringe.

He simply lets out a short laugh then shakes his head. He then looks at her hand that lay on top of his and he smiles. He flips his hand so that their hands were palm to palm and then laced his fingers with hers.

'I think things are getting better already' Lucas thought to himself.

He then closed his eyes and started to drift into a deep sleep, his smile not once leaving his face.

-

"Hello, sunny California!" Brooke greeted happily as she made her way down the plane.

"Aren't you happy today?" Lucas told her after noticing her overly ecstatic mood.

"Of course I am! I can't believe it, in less than 4 hours I'll be face to face with Sophia Bush, and maybe if I get lucky, her hot ex husband who's supposed to be her husband-again-to-be would be there as well!"

"No way!" he said with a girly voice, mockingly.

"Oh shut up!" she laughed playfully slapped his shoulder.

"So what is first in our agenda today miss famous fashion designer?" he asked her.

"Why mister big shot writer, I thought you'd never ask!" she said playing along. "First, we head to the hotel,"

-

"So it's settled then, whichever bed is on the left is mine, and the one on the right would be yours," Lucas concluded obviously relieved. After almost an hour of bickering, they had finally agreed on which bed each would take.

"But what happens if instead of being positioned side by side, the beds are in front of each other?" Brooke curiously asked. For a second, Lucas seemed stunned.

"This is pointless! Why are we even arguing about this when we haven't even seen the room yet?" he said, clearly frustrated that they had wasted their whole ride to the hotel on arguing on which bed they were to take.

"Fine," she said giving up. She guessed that the best way to settle their arrangement after they've seen the room.

Of course, to both their amusement, they were stuck in a room with one queen sized bed instead of two singles that they had expected to have. Apparently Brooke had forgotten to talk to Edna about the room arrangements and since there were no rooms with single beds left, they were stuck with this one.

"It's not like we've never slept together…" he started saying.

"Yeah," she agreed immediately.

"In the same bed I mean," he quickly added not liking how his first statement had come out.

"That too," she giggled sheepishly.

"And come on, what's the worst that could possibly happen? I'm already pregnant, with your child might I add," she laughed.

"Gee, that makes me feel so secure!" Lucas replied sarcastically.

"Don't worry you sissy, I'm not going to touch you" she joked and both of them laughed. But they both knew she would but not in the totally malicious kind of way. Brooke always had this fear of sleeping alone, and because of habit he guessed, she would cuddle with anything when she sleeps. So he knew that later that night, when he hears her shuffle on her side, it could only mean to things: she needs to use the restroom, or she coming closer, ready to wrap her arms around the thing that was closest to her, which most likely is going to be Lucas tonight.

"Okay, so what do we do now?" he asked after they had finished unpacking their clothes. He plopped himself on the soft bed watching her fix her things.

"I am meeting soon to be Mrs. Murray-again in 30 minutes, while you, you're going to do whatever it is that you want to do," she said stressing the words 'I' and 'You'

"Aw, can't I come?" he pleaded pouting slightly.

"And do what?" she asked skeptically.

"I don't know, but don't you want me there during your biggest break since like ever? Please?" he pleaded once again, this time with Brooke finally giving in.

"Fine, but don't embarrass me!" she sternly told him.

"Deal,"

-

"Excuse me Ms. Davis Mr. Scott, Ms. Bush will be with you shortly," a nice lady told Brooke and Lucas who were now sitting on Sophia Bush's luxurious couch in her huge house.

"Oh my God Luke, can you believe it? I finally get to meet her!" Brooke squealed in delight.

"I don't get what the big deal is," he told her unenthusiastically.

"What's the big deal?! Lucas, in case you didn't get the memo, in a matter of seconds we are going to be face to face with the Sophia Bush, Hollywood's next best thing! Not to mention my favorite celebrity like ever!" she defended.

"Isn't she that girl in that TV show where this guy gets stuck between two best friends; the blonde and the brunette? She plays the brunette girl while her best friend is the blonde, right? What was that show again, One Bush Mountain?" he questioned. He remembered that show. It aired at the same time with the NBA highlights program on ESPN, the show he couldn't watch because as Brooke said "Watching basketball won't help you anywhere expect for well… basketball," and after a huge fight over which show they're to watch, which even includes a short tug of war with the remote as their rope, Brooke would always win. He always let her win.

"No, it's called One Bush Valley, and it's only like the best show ever!" she exclaimed enthusiastically.

"I think the guy looks like a stud," he commented then laughed.

"I know! That guy is played by Chad Michael Murray! That's who she's marrying! You know, I kind of see a resemblance between the two of you," she said as she squinted her eyes and furrowed her brows trying to visualize Lucas and Chad side by side.

"No way, I'm way hotter," he said with a smug look on his face.

"No, you're just scrawnier," she said then laughed. Lucas' face fell for a second and laughed too when he realized that she was just joking.

"You know, I always thought that the guy and the blonde would end up together," he joked, knowing full well that this would anger his friend, or whatever she was to him.

"WHAT? How can you say that?! Are you sure that we're still talking of the same show here? Have you gone blind or something? Did you not see the intense connection between him and the brunette? They looked so cute together! It was like a match made in heaven! They have gone through so much already including the brunette's blonde backstabbing bitch of best friend, for them to not end up together! Plus, the brunette is so much hotter than the blonde. And besides, the blonde and the guy had too much in common anyway," she animatedly explained. She never got tired of defending her favorite TV couple.

Lucas watched her, amused at how defensive she had just been over some fictional characters that he couldn't even remember the names of. He wouldn't admit it to her but he always knew that the guy would end up with the brunette. He just felt it; they just seemed right. But why spoil the fun?

"And you know what they say, opposites attract," a voice said out of nowhere joining Brooke and Lucas' playful banter.

They looked up and saw that it was none other than Sophia Bush herself, smiling amusingly at the two. Brooke and Lucas quickly jumped to their feet and smiled sheepishly at her. They didn't know how long she had been listening to their conversation, but Brooke had to admit, this has got to be one of her most embarrassing moments. Humiliate your self in front of your greates celebrity idol? Check.

They then saw her kink her eyebrow and take one step back. She seemed to observing Brooke as she looked at Brooke from head to toe, with a bemused expression. "Has anyone told you that you look a lot like… never mind," she said dismissing the idea.

The two exchanged looks but deciding against saying anything as to not offend their lovely hostess.

"Sophia Bush," she smiled warmly at the two as she extended her hand for a shake.

"Oh trust me, we know who you are. I'm Brooke Davis," she said cheerily as she introduced herself, shaking Sophia's delicate hands.

"Lucas Scott," he said as he introduced himself and shook her hand as well.

"I'm glad to meet both of you. You know, you too look like someone," she said as she pointed at Lucas.

"Me?" Lucas asked curiously.

"Yes, I just can't point out whom exactly," she said as she scrounged her forehead and seemed to really be giving this a thought. "So anyway, Brooke, shall we begin to discuss the dress?" she politely asked.

"Of course," Brooke smiled gratefully.

"Why don't you come with me upstairs and I'll show you the themes we've prepared so far? Lucas, would you mind waiting here for a sec?" she asked.

"Sure," he said.

"Great, just make your self comfortable. My fiancé will be home in a few minutes so he should keep you company while I steal this girl of yours for a few minutes," she excused.

"Oh no, she's not my… I mean we're not," Lucas stuttered.

"Oh, I get it. Sorry for my mistake, it's just that you looked so comfortable with each other so I thought… has anyone told you that you guys make a great couple?" she asked them quickly averting from her previous mistake.

"His mom, our friends, the nurse, mostly everyone actually," Brooke stated with a small laugh realizing that everyone seemed to be telling them the same thing.

"Well they weren't kidding."

-

"Ms. Bush, soon to be Mrs. Murray, I hope you don't think I'm intruding but can I ask you a question?" Brooke asked sheepishly as she sat on one of the chairs in the master's bedroom. She had just finished taking down notes on what her client wanted her wedding gown to look like. She hasn't drawn anything yet but from what she envisions and Sophia's specifications, it's going to be enchanting.

"Call me Sophia, Brooke, and I guess it depends on the question," she chuckled, curious as to what her designer's question was.

"How were you able to forgive him? Chad I mean," Brooke asked softly.

For a second, Sophia seemed to have been caught off guard. And for a second, Brooke thought that this was the end for their short lived customer-designer relationship. But her thoughts were washed away when she heard her speak.

"Just promise me, that whatever comes out here stays in this room," Sophia told her.

"My strawberry glossed lips are sealed," she promised.

"It took a long time, much longer than I anticipated. But eventually I did. I'm not going to lie and tell you that I didn't hate him for a time. He just hurt me so bad you know?" she began and Brooke just found herself absentmindedly nodding as she bit her lip, relating to every single word.

"How were you able to let him in again?" she questioned, really interested in knowing the answer.

"That took even longer than forgiving him. As the saying goes, it's hard to get back in the ring with the person who knocked you out in the first place. I promised myself that I'd forgive him, but I also promised that I wouldn't let him hurt me again, so I had kept him at a certain distance. When we started to be friends again, if we were even friends to begin with, it got harder for me to keep that promise because as much as I tried to fight it, he always found a way back into my heart. Especially when I don't think he ever left. He worked really hard, harder than I've ever seen him work, to get me to trust him again. He was really determined and would just not take no for an answer. Once the wounds had healed, I decided that it was time to move on and leave the past behind us," Sophia explained.

"I see the friendship, but how'd you end here about to marry him again?" she asked.

"We were completely happy the way we were at that time, and he was marrying this girl Kenzie so we had no other choice, not that I would have gotten back together with him if there was a choice. She was nice though. But even if I didn't really love him as much as before, it still hurt to see them on set everyday, happy and seemed so in love. And as much as I hated myself for it, there were times when I'd think that could've been me. It was wrong and it was selfish, but I just couldn't help myself. One night he came to my house and told me that someone asked him, if he could only choose one between the two of us, Kenzie and I, who would it be? Somehow all negative thoughts entered my mind. What if he doesn't want to be friends? What if Kenzie tells him to stay away, would he do it? Who I am to him… nothing but a thing of the past… Imagine my surprise when he takes my hand and places in my palm the engagement ring that I used to see in Kenzie's perfectly manicured finger, telling me that he wasn't going to lose me again, not for the world. I fell in love with him all over again that night," Sophia said as she remembered that night. She couldn't help but smile at the memory. She knew she'd never forget that night.

"Then he proposed to you?" she asked.

"No, at least not at that precise moment. Besides, do you really think I would wear that ring when I know that it wasn't meant for me?"

"So how did you work things out?"

"We talked about things. We had a lot to talk about, and we promised that we'd start all over; a clean slate for the both of us. He gave me his word, and I gave him my trust, and then we just let our love and destiny take its course. It took a lot of time and hard work for us to get here, but we did it together," she said proudly with a smile on her face. They had gone through a lot, but in the end, they were still here, stronger than ever.

For a moment, Sophia seemed to have been lost in her own thoughts, at least until she heard Brooke's faint sobs.

"Brooke, are you crying?" Sophia asked both concerned and amused at the same time.

"I'm so sorry; it's just that it was so beautiful," she admitted then lightly rubbed eye lids using the tip of her finger, "And I can relate to you a lot, that's all," she said and both laughed for a moment then became silent.

"You're not just some reporter trying to get a story aren't you?" Sophia asked skeptically.

"No," she answered her, afraid for a moment.

"Good, because I think we're going to get along just fine," Sophia said offering her a warm smile and a fresh hanky.

Brooke accepted the offer and said, "I think so too."

"I know that I was the one who kept asking the questions, and you just answered them, but can I ask you why you'd tell me? If I were in your position I would have just dismissed the question or gave a brief statement about it,"

"I love talking about him; it just makes me feel all giddy inside just thinking about us. And to your question, why you? I guess it's because I feel like we have a lot in common. Maybe the same experiences?" Sophia hinted to Brooke who reluctantly nodded.

"Now, let me ask you a question," Sophia asked, diverting the attention to the girl in front of her.

"Shoot," she encouraged her to continue.

"What's the deal between you and the hot Scott boy?"

-

"Hey babe, I'm home!" Chad greeted as he entered the house he shared with his beautiful fiancé who he loved more than life itself. He was startled to find a guy, probably in his early twenties sitting on his couch. "Oh sorry, I didn't notice you. And you are?" he asked. He wasn't rude, just curious.

"Lucas Scott, I'm here with Brooke Davis," he said as he extended his hand for a shake.

"Ah, the amazing new designer Sophia's been raving about. Chad Murray," Chad said introducing his self as he shook hands with him, but just like what Sophia had done to Brooke a while ago, he took a step back and eyed him from head to toe bemusedly. "Is it me or is this just," he started, referring to the two of them.

"Weird," Lucas said, finishing Chad's sentence as he eyed him as well.

They both laughed and soon enough got comfortable with each other.

"So how long do you think they'd be up there?" Chad asked.

"Knowing Brooke, I'd say it'll take a long time," he told him laughing at Brooke's ability to maintain a conversation for hours.

"Ah, and with my fiancé with her, I'm sure it'll take even longer," he said laughing along.

"What do you think we should do while we wait?" Lucas asked.

"How about we shoot some hoops outside?" he suggested. "You do play right?" Chad asked.

"Yeah, I love it," Lucas said with a smile.

"Are you sure you're a Scott because you could easily pass as my long lost twin or something," Chad joked earning a chuckle from Lucas.

"I was just about to ask you the same thing."

-

"I can't believe I almost puked on Sophia Bush! It was so embarrassing!" Brooke exclaimed exasperatedly.

"I'm sure she'd understand, I mean you are pregnant," Lucas stated nonchalantly, as if it didn't seem like much of a big deal.

"And that's another thing! I wasn't even planning on telling her about that but since I couldn't think of any good excuses at that time, I just had to come clean," she said.

"What did she say?" he asked curiously.

"Brooke, what's wrong?" Sophia asked as she approached her new friend who had just finished throwing up. "Are you okay? Are you sick or something?" she asked worriedly.

"I… I… I'm pregnant," Brooke guiltily admitted.

"And Lucas…?" she asked. Though she didn't really finish her question, Brooke already knew what she was asking and hesitantly nodded her head. She then saw Sophia's lips curve and form a smile if not a smirk, "I knew it!"

"It was pretty funny actually," Brooke admitted.

"I bet it was, I could only imagine the look on your face when she said that," Lucas chuckled.

"Oh shut up. Whoever called morning sickness morning sickness must be a guy," she stated suddenly thinking.

"Why do you think that?" he asked her, curious as to what was going on her mind.

"Because it's not only during mornings that we get to throw up but more like almost every other hour, and considering that the person didn't know that since that person called it morning sickness then he probably goes home to his wife late at night then leaves in the morning, so the only time he sees his wife throw up is during the wee hours of morning, hence the name," she explained in typical Brooke Davis fashion.

"You're crazy you know that?" he laughed and shook his head. He never could explain the mind of Brooke.

"And damn proud of it! You know, Sophia and Chad were so nice," she said, still can't fully believe that she was starting to be friends with them, especially with the personal conversation she had with Sophia.

"Yeah, they were cool," he told her. They truly were. He didn't expect them to be, since they were famous and all. He was surprised to find that they were like normal people, just rich, beautiful, and definitely in love.

"So where do you want to go tonight? I want to see the city!" she told him.

"But didn't you live here before?" he asked, wondering how she still had that amount of enthusiasm after a long and tiring day.

"Yes, but I didn't get out that much, with work and all. And besides, the last time I've been here was that Christmas Eve when first saw each other again since graduation," she reminisced.

"I know it was the night when I Peyton and I ended things, it was mostly her actually but you get the point," he sighed remembering that eventful night.

"You miss her don't you?" she asked sympathetically.

"Would you believe me if I told you that I don't? I haven't thought of her in God knows how long. But I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that I've completely erased her from my mind especially my heart because she's still there Brooke, no matter how much I tried to forget," he admitted.

"I know, but like I told you before, when you're ready, then you're ready. You never got that closure that you wanted and I guess that's the reason why you're having a hard time moving on. But I want to tell you that I'm proud of you Luke, I've seen you progress through this years and you truly have matured," she told him.

"I've seen you too Brooke, and if anything else, my progress had everything to do with you. I wouldn't be the way I am today if it wasn't for you. Between the both of us, it's you who's grown up the most. Right from the way you took care of me and helped me get my life back on track after what had happened with Peyton, until taking responsibility for your actions and raising this baby," he said as he put a comforting hand on her tummy, an action he had absentmindedly been doing a lot lately.

"Our baby," she corrected him and his smile became even wider, if that was possible. "Well think of it this way. If she didn't break up with you that night, then we probably wouldn't be here tonight," she told him. She then placed a swift kiss on his cheek then waltzed her way to the bathroom. He watched as she made her way towards the bathroom ready for her nightly bath. He noticed how she'd sway her hips slightly as she walked, whether she was aware that she was doing it or not, it was definitely sexy.

'Somehow, I doubt that,' he thought. He had always felt that no matter what he does, somehow, Brooke Davis will always find her way back in his life. How else could he survive?

Just then his thoughts were interrupted with a knock on the door. He opened the wooden oak door and revealed one of the hotel's bell boys extending one hand with an envelope that was addressed to him.

"Mr. Scott, a woman dropped this off at the front desk and told us to deliver it to you," the boy said.

"Who's it from?" he asked as he took the envelope into his own hands.

"She didn't say. All she said was that it was urgent and private," the boy informed him.

"Is that so? Well thanks," he told the boy.

"My pleasure sir," the boy said and then turned towards the hall disappearing from sight.

After he had closed the door, he turned his attention on the white letter envelope he was just given. It had his name scribbled at the back but nothing more. No address, no name whatsoever. Curiously, he opens the envelope and takes out the white piece of paper with a few words written on it.

I need to see you.

Tomorrow, the L.A. Zoo, by the elephants, 9:00 am

It was short and straight to the point, and it made him particularly curious. And as his eyes traveled to the bottom part of the letter where the signature of the author resided, his blue eyes widened. He could hear Brooke throwing up in the bathroom, probably because of her 'morning' sickness even if it is 10:30 in the evening, and usually he would be by her side in a matter of seconds, holding her hair back and running his hands soothingly on her back, but right now, he couldn't move. His feet seemed to be planted firmly on the ground and he felt his whole body become numb. He could swear he felt like the color had drained from his face. Just like any prime time soap, life will always have some sort of drama. There in that letter, resided a name that had haunted him these past few years…

Peyton Sawyer

Cliffhanger huh? Just so you guys know, I hate that love triangle from hell. Enough said. Please tell me what you think. This chapter was exceptionally long so it's only fair that your reviews are proportional to the length of the chapter! Just kidding:) Happy New Year everyone.

Next: the meeting by the elephants and Lucas takes one step forward, but which path is forward? You'll have to find out in the next chapter, which I am almost done with by the way. Take care :)