Chapter 12-The Truth Doesn't Make A Noise

A/N: I don't own OTH

"Cooper?" "You're in love with Cooper?" Luke said

"Luke, you have to listen to me" Rachel pleaded

Lucas just stared blankly at his girlfriend. She took this as a good sign

"Luke, Cooper and I, it started of as just a fling," she explained

"Started of as? How long has been going on?" he demanded

"Really Lucas it doesn't matter,"

"How long, Rachel?" he asked, closing his eyes, wishing this conversation away

"A year"

"A year?? For a year you have been sneaking around behind my back!" he exclaimed

"Luke is only started off as meaningless sex!"

"Sex always means something, Rachel. In the 3 years we have been together, I never cheated on you"

"Really cause you're knocked up ex girlfriend upstairs would say otherwise" Rachel said Lucas sat down on the garden bench next to Rachel.

"When did I turn into my father, Rachel?" Lucas sighed

"You haven't turned into Dan" Rachel said

"Really because being engaged to one girl while getting another pregnant sounds a lot like history repeating itself." He said quietly

"History won't be repeating itself and you know why?" Rachel said staring at her 9 carat engagement ring

"Why?" he said looking quizzically at his fiancé

"Because you're not engaged anymore" she said, taking off her ring and handing it to Lucas.

"Rachel"

"Lucas, look. My secrets out, ok? I'm in love in Cooper; you're in love with Brooke"

"I'm not in love with Brooke" he said automatically

"Whatever you tell yourself" she said

"What about the baby, Rachel?" he said quietly

"Luke you should know…"

Luke saw the guilt in her eyes, and the realisation dawned on him

"The baby isn't mine?" he asked dismayed at Rachel's deception.

"Luke I'm so sorry…" she said, a tear slipping down her cheek

"No you're not" he said darkly

"Yes I am, I didn't mean to let it get this far. I was just…"

"Comfortable, in a routine" Lucas finished, realising they had become more like habitual housemates then lovers the past year.

"Yeah something like that" Rachael, relieved he felt the same way

"It's ok Rachel"

"You sure?" looking questionably at her now ex-fiancé

"It is, it really is" Lucas said, thinking of his daughter and Brooke.

"Go be with Brooke, Lucas. She loves you" Rachel said to Lucas, looking him straight in the eyes

A smile that Rachel had not seen in a long time adorned Lucas' face.

"Despite everything, Rachel, I still love you, you know" he admitted

"You're just not in love with me, and ditto" she said

"You're really something, Rachel" Lucas said, shaking his head

"Strangely, that's not the first time someone has said that to me" she said cockily

"Thank you, Rachel for everything" he said softly kissing her on the cheek

"No problems, mister. Now go be with your woman"

"Ok, you'll come visit later?" he asked, for Brooke's sake as much as his own

"Maybe. I think I will do some damage control" she said lightly touching where Haley had slapped her.

"Ok" he said, getting up and started walking towards the cafeteria.

"Oh and Lucas?" she asked

"Yeah?" he said turning around

"Congrats on the baby"

"Thanks" he said, walking away.


Brooke lay dozing in and out of sleep. Haley, Peyton and James were sleep also; all exhausted from the days events. Lucas quietly walked into the room, his arms occupied with a bunch of lilies. Brooke woke up as he put the flowers on the bedside table.

"Luke? What are you doing here?" she whispered

"I just wanted to make sure my 2 favourite girls are ok"

"She fine, kicking away" Brooke said smiling slightly

"Can I feel?" he asked hopefully

"The baby kick?"

Lucas nodded

"Sure." Brooke grabbed Lucas' hand and placed it just above her abdomen.

Lucas held his breath. Suddenly he felt a pounding against his hand

"That's it? He said excitedly

"That's it" she said grinning widely

"Wow" is all Lucas could say

"It's pretty amazing, is it?"

The expectant parents fell into silence, listening to the breathing of the other 3 occupants in the room.

"Brooke"

"Lucas"

They said at the same time.

"You go first" Lucas said to Brooke

"Ok. Lucas, I want you to know I am not upset about Rachel"

"About Rachel, Brooke..."

"Let me finish, Lucas"

He fell silent, waiting for Brooke to continue.

"I want you to know, you can be involved as much or as little with the baby as you want" she said frankly

"Brooke I want to be completely involved!" he said alarmingly

"But just as friends" she finished

"Friends?" he repeated

"Yes Luke, I need to make the baby my priority from now on" Brooke said earnestly

"Ok" he agreed reluctantly

"Ok?" she asked

"Yes that's fine Brooke" Lucas didn't want to agree with Brooke's terms, now that Rachel wasn't an issue anymore; he was certain tat Brooke wanted to be a family. Although she did, not in the way he expected or wanted. But if he was going to gain her trust and love again, he would have to do it her way.

"Well ok then" she said, looking relieved "What did you want to talk about anyway?" she asked brightly

"Nothing, it was nothing" he muttered

"Ahh, ok" Brooke said awkwardly.

"Well, I'm going to you know, go, then" Lucas said, getting up from the bedside chair.

"Ok" Brooke said looking disappointed for a second before smile flashed on her face.

"I'll come visit you, tomorrow, ok" He said

"Ok" she said softly

Lucas kissed Brooke softly on the cheek.

"Bye Brooke"

"Bye" she replied quietly. She had wanted Lucas to show some emotion with her revelation about being just friends. She wanted him to fight for her, and like many years before, he let her down. This was the only way that she could protect her heart, and her head from falling in love with him again.

Lucas quietly left the room without looking back

Brooke softly touched the place where Lucas' kiss had been.

"Just friends, B. Davis?" Peyton said her eyes open wide.

"It's for the best, P. Sawyer- Jagielski"

"The best for whom, Brooke? You or your unborn child" Haley chimed in

"Was everyone awake when he was here?" Brooke asked

"Yes" James piped up.

"Oh God" Brooke said climbing underneath the bed covers

"So tell us, B. Davis, why did you tell Lucas that you want to be "just friends"" Peyton asked, using air quotes.

"I just can't handle it all you know? The doctor says that I need to keep the stress to a minimum, and when it comes to Lucas, my stress meter..."

"Goes off the charts?" Haley suggested

"Well yeah. I need to put my baby before the entanglement known as my love life."

"As much as I commend you for that Tigger, don't you think you and Lucas will always be something more then friends?" Haley asked

"Yeah well Jake and Nikki have a history and managed to sort things out and they have Jenny in common"

"Yes but Nikki is a B-I-T-C-H" Peyton spelled out for the benefit of the youngsters in the room.

"Look guys, I know you are just trying to help, but my baby will come first and foremost. Plus, I don't want my heart to be broken by Lucas again"

"Of course you don't sweetie" Haley said squeezing Brooke arm lightly

"I just want to focus on the baby" she said

"Ok, Tigger, we hear you" Peyton said, thinking that the famous Davis stubbornness was shining through.

"We are going to go.." Haley said watching her son's eyes slowly open and close tiredly

"Ok, I'm getting a bit tired anyway"

"See you tomorrow, ok?" Peyton hugged Brooke

"I'll bring some of my famous bread and butter custard" Haley offered

"Alrighty"

"Bye Brookie" Jamie said, climbing up the bed and hugging Brooke around the neck

"Bye, little man" she said

The three waved good bye, and Brooke was left with her own thoughts of the days events.

A knock on the door interrupted Brooke's conflicting thoughts.

A tall man in a white coat emerged from the other side of the door.

"Ms Davis?"

"Yes?"

"My name is Dr Brady. I was the consulting physician when you were admitted to the E.D" he said seriously

"Ok"

He picked up her chart from the base of her bed. He focused on the notes for a few moments.

"Well your stats are up, you and the baby's heart rate is stable, and the bleeding has stopped"

Brooke nodded her head.

"Well, it looks like you can go home the day after tomorrow" he revealed

"That's great" she said grinning, her dimples showing

"But I am putting you on bed rest, and I want you to make an appointment with you OBGYN as soon as possible"

"Ahh ok..." Brooke said reluctantly. Spending the last weeks of her pregnancy lying in bed was her version of hell.

"I know you may not like it Brooke, but it is necessary to keep that baby inside you as healthy as possible."

"Ok" she sighed

"Well, I will check on you before you get discharged" he said

"Thanks, Doctor"

The doctor exited the room, and Brooke closed her eyes, and quickly fell asleep.


"Aunt Brookie!" Jamie yelled as he ran up and climbed on Brooke's bed

"Hey J-Man? How are ya?" Brooke asked groggily

"I'm good, Daddy says we can go play basketball once we visit you" he said bubbly

"Hi, Brooke" Nathan said, kissing Brooke on the cheek

"Hi stranger...where have you been?" she asked Nate

"You know looking after…things" he said uncomfortably

"So where is Tutor Mom?" Brooke asked

"Just outside, talking to Peyton"

"Ok…."

"Guess what?" she said brightly while tickling Jamie

"What?" Nathan asked, smiling at the sight of his son and godmother interacting.

"I'm going home tomorrow!"

"You're going home?" Peyton said as she and Haley walked into the room

"Tomorrow, but on bed rest though"

"You on bed rest B.Davis? Isn't that your dream?" Haley said jokingly

"Hardly Tutor Mom. Lying on my backside for the next 6 weeks, not being able to go on an impromptu jog, go shopping, and turning into a size of a whale. Not my idea of fun" Brooke said grumpily

"How about this B.Davis, I will stay with you, until Mini B. Davis makes an appearance?

Peyton suggested

"I can't let you do that P. Sawyer- Jagielski, you've done enough already. Plus I think Jake and Jenny have forgotten what you look like" Brooke said

"Are you sure Brooke because Nathan and I can stay with you…" Haley suggested as well

"Don't even think about it Tutor Mom, your life is in Tree Hill" Brooke said firmly

"But Brooke, how are you going to manage?" Haley asked

"I'll manage guys" Brooke said stubbornly

The group exchanged sceptical glances

"Really, I'll be fine!" she said trying to convince her friends

"I look after her" came a voice from the door

"Luke?" Peyton said

"I'll look after Brooke" he repeated

"Lucas, you don't have to..." Brooke said reluctantly

"I want to. Plus, I can do my work from anywhere, that's the beauty of being an author." Lucas said

"What about Rachel?" Brooke asked directly

"Rachel won't have an issue with it" Lucas said mysteriously

Nathan looked up sharply at his brother. Lucas could feel his glare, but didn't acknowledge it.

"It's perfect!" Haley piped up

Peyton gave Haley a sidelong glance.

She knew what Haley was up to, and Peyton also knew Brooke. Brooke wouldn't even consider Lucas moving in with her if Rachel hadn't agreed with it. Although it was over 5 years ago, what happened between Lucas and Peyton still affected Brooke. She would never be the "other woman" and Peyton knew that. She also knew how much Lucas could keep a secret. She had seen the look Nathan had given him a moment before. Something was up, and Peyton wanted to find out what exactly that was.

"I guess…but you will have to take the couch, my apartment is kinda small" Brooke agreed, still not completely sure about the new arrangement.

"That's fine" Lucas said, silently ecstatic

"Well we will come pick you up in the morning, ok?" Peyton said, anxious to talk to Lucas.

"Thanks P.Sawyer-Jagielski, I really appreciate it" she said hugging her best friend

"We're all here for you, Tigger" Haley said, getting pulled into a 3 way hug.

"I know you are, now get out of here!" Brooke said, playfully whacking Peyton on the arm

"We will see you tomorrow" Nathan said, lifting a sleeping James over his shoulders

"Bye Brooke" Lucas said quietly

"Bye, guys" Brooke said from her position in the bed

"Bye" they chorused

As soon as the group was out of sight of Brooke's room, Peyton shoved Lucas.

"What the hell was that for?" he yelped

"For whatever dickhead thing you have done now, Lucas" Peyton said glaring at him

"I've done nothing!"

"Come of it Luke, I saw the look in your eyes in there. What's going on and why wouldn't the most jealous woman on the planet AKA your fiancée Rachel mind that you moving in with your ex girlfriend who is also the mother of your child?" Nathan asked

Lucas stayed silent. He was going to keep it quiet for a while, but for once the truth needed to come out.

"Where's your fiancé Lucas?" Haley stopped suddenly, looking at her brother in law.

"Well she's…..not exactly my fiancée anymore" he admitted

Nathan groaned. "Please tell me you told Brooke before you decided to shack up with her?"

Lucas looked sheepishly at the floor "not exactly"

"Lucas, are you kidding me?! You know how Brooke hates lies, particularly from you!" Peyton said, hitting Luke across the head.

"Ouch, Peyton! I just didn't want to make our relationship more complicated!"

"More complicated then say getting your ex girlfriend pregnant while impregnating another?" Haley asked quietly

Lucas' mouth dropped at Haley's admission.

"Wow, low blow Hales"

"Well it's true isn't it? You know how much of an ass Dan was, ignoring you. Are you going the same to your own children?" Haley continued furious

"Rachel's baby isn't mine" Lucas admitted

"Are you sure?" Haley asked

"Haley! "Peyton said. Peyton turned around to face Lucas "well are you?"

Brooke's two best friends were shoulder to shoulder, arms crossed and matching scowls on their faces, facing Lucas

Lucas stared at a spot on the floor." It isn't mine" he whispered

"What?" Peyton said loudly

Lucas looked directly at Nathan

"It's Cooper's"

"What? Are you kidding me?" Nathan said storming off in the direction off the car park. Lucas immediately started running after Nathan.

"Oh crap" Haley said sitting down on the closest chair

"This is beyond bad" Peyton muttered taking a seat next to Haley

A/N: So that was chapter 12 folks. Did you like it? Loathe it? Please review they are my new addiction (alongside Facebook!) If I get heaps of reviews, I will update this weekend, and I will give you double the update if my beloved Geelong Cats with the AFL final on Saturday!!(That probably only makes sense to my Aussie readers, if there are any out there!)Lydia xoxo