"Morning! Wake up! Wake up! Mommy's making pancakes! She says we can't eat until you get up! Wake up!" James was bouncing up and down in the middle of their bed, having long since given up on trying to wiggle his way between the sleeping couple.

Brooke rolled over and pulled a pillow over her head while Lucas fought to pull the covers up over his eyes.

"James, kiddo, seriously, this is to early. Go way' buddy," the sleepy man mumbled from beneath the comforter.

"James? My goodness! James I didn't mean for you to wake them up, just see if they were awake yet!! I'm so sorry guys, sleep in as long as you want. James, come on! Quit jumping!" Pulling her son out of the room, they could hear the little boy whining about being hungry and wanting Aunt Brooke to sit with him and how come he couldn't sleep in?!

Chuckling, Lucas rolled over and pulled the pillow off of Brooke. She groaned and tried to bury her head under the covers.

"Morning sleepy head. You look gorgeous." He showered kisses on the grumpy woman next to him, kissing her lips, her jaw-line, her neck, along her collarbone, and back up to that one sensitive spot behind her ear…

"Ohhh god Lucas that feels good," Brooke moaned as he hit all the right spots on her body. He could feel himself responding to her sensuality and pulled away.

"Where are you going?" she cried as she fumbled to hang onto his arm. He stood up and ran to the door, throwing the lock on it.

"Ah, smart man. See that's why I lo-" he was kissing all those right spots again and Brooke couldn't find the words anymore. Her breathing grew rapid as Lucas ran a hand up the outside of her thigh, his thumb teasingly caressing her soft skin. Brooke gasped and gripped his muscled shoulder, digging her nails into his skin. Brooke had craved his touch for so long, to finally feel his large hands and strong body on her was ecstasy.

"Lucas," she breathed as he moved down her body and kissed first one breast and then the other. He tugged on a nipple, pulling it into his mouth and she arched her back up in pleasure. She was moaning louder now and Lucas grunted in response. His own body was growing hot with the need to be inside the writhing woman underneath him.

"I've missed this body, I've missed you Pretty Girl," Lucas mumbled between kissing the soft skin between her breasts and sucking on them. Brooke whimpered in pleasure at the feelings the sensuous man was bringing out in her. Running her fingers through his hair she tugged on a handful, pulling Lucas up into a passionate kiss. She slid her own hand, fingers trembling, over his chest and down to gently caress his hard erection. Lucas groaned into the kiss, nearly losing control. They'd both dreamed of finding pleasure in each other's bodies for so long that the reality was almost too much for them to handle.

Unable to hold off any longer Lucas reached hands down to wrap Brooke's slender legs around his waist, sliding himself inside her eager body. With the penetration Brooke gasped in intense pleasure, tightening her hold with her legs and wrapping her arms around her tall lover's shoulders. She breathed into his neck, showering tiny kisses down his neck and back up behind his ear, biting gently. Lucas moved above her, their rhythm from long ago easily resurfacing. She whispered his name into the air, urging him on.

Raising himself up on his arms, he gazed down at the brunette beneath him, her face radiant with the ecstasy he was bringing her, her eyes warm with love for him. His breath caught in his throat at the sight of his Pretty Girl. Sensing the intense emotions running through him, Brooke leaned up and captured his lips with her own while moving her hips. He groaned again, lowering himself back down on top of her.

"I love you Brooke," he whispered, pushing harder into her.

"I love you Lucas," she breathed back, tightening her arms around his shoulders.

Abandoning themselves to their bodies' increasing needs, they moved as one, the sounds of their lovemaking echoing in the room around them. With a sharp cry Brooke shuddered in his arms, and Lucas, unable to restrain himself, followed her sudden release with his own. They lay there, panting, wrapped in sheets, safe in each other's arms.

-

"Hey, look who decided to join us!" Nathan looked up as his brother walked into the room, his shoulders relaxed, an easy grin on his face.

"Yeah, sorry about that. But Haley said we could sleep in." Lucas blushed slightly at the memory of what he'd done in place of sleeping, and Nathan broke into laughter.

"Somehow I doubt you were sleeping eh?"

"Shut up. Is there any food left? I'm starving."

"Yeah, Hales left you and Brooke plates in the warmer. Speaking of your girl, where is she?" Nathan peered down the hallway, expecting to see the perky woman bouncing after her man.

"She's taking a shower. She was gracious enough to let me go first. However, she did say something about an outing, all of us, so I'd be prepared for a day out of the house. She's got a fire inside her that I don't think she's had in a while, and I don't think no will be an answer she'll accept from you guys."

"A fire huh? I just bet she's got a fire inside her," Nathan chuckled. Lucas blushed and searched for something to throw at his brother.

"Shut up man," he mumbled. Nathan busted out in laughter.

-

Brooke burst into the playroom where Haley was playing with her son, causing them both to jump a good foot in the air.

"Alright you two! Up you go! We've got shopping to do! Come on James, lets get you in some comfy shoes while your mommy goes and puts on some clothes so we can go to the mall." Brooke bustled around the playroom, picking up toys while Haley just stared at the petite bundle of energy. At the mention of shopping James whooped with joy and started helping his aunt clean up.

Haley shrugged, fully recognizing her friend's determination. Giggling at the sight of her son and his godmother jumping around singing horribly off key, she turned toward the door only to bump into the Scott brothers. The ruckus had attracted them to the room, and they stood bemused in the doorway.

Lucas, laughing walked into the room, grasping his newly reunited girlfriend around the waist and swinging her in the air. James, seeing his uncle up, immediately demanded to be swung too. Haley slipped in next to her hunky husband and sighed at the scene.

"She does wonders, doesn't she?"

"Yes, that she does."

-

"Hello?" Brooke stepped out onto the back patio for a moment, not wanting to be rude and talk over the comfortable rumble of conversation going on in the family room.

"Brooke? This is a bad time?" Peyton's voice came over the line crisp and clear, and Brooke could tell something was up.

"No, what's up?" Brooke had momentarily forgotten about the errand Peyton was supposed to run that morning, having gotten caught up in the excitement of going shopping and getting everyone out of the house.

"I stopped by Lucas' this morning. From what I can see all signs point to the skank being gone."

"Really? Wow. It can't be that easy can it?" Brooke's voice carried a touch of trepidation. Nothing ever went that smoothly in her life.

"Honestly, I don't know. It's a little weird. I think she stole some of Lucas' things, but its been so long since I've seen the inside of his bedroom that I can't be sure. His room just felt so…empty. I talked to Karen while I was there and she said that Amber had been gone by the time she'd woken up this morning." Peyton sounded unsure of herself, agreeing with Brooke in theory if anything else that things were never that easy.

"Hmmm…I'll have to talk to Lucas about that later. Did Karen check to see if anything had been taken?"

"She peeked into his room, but couldn't see anything that was clearly missing. She said that Lucas had packed away a large amount of stuff after Lily's death, but she couldn't remember all that he had left in his room. What do you want to do?"

"Well, if she's gone, then she's gone. I've got a nasty feeling that shit with her isn't over, but there's nothing I can do about that right now. Like I said, I'll talk to Lucas about it later, but for now, let's just move on. She's caused enough drama for a lifetime. We still on for shopping?"

"You know it B Davis!!! You dragging the perfect couple out with us?" Peyton's voice turned chipper, her previous worry and concern dissipating in the face of spending money and hanging out with the girls.

"Most definitely! I called Rachel earlier, she said she'd meet us there, and Nathan called Skillz and he said he'd bring Bevin and join us later. Lucas called Mouth, so it looks like the gang'll all be there."

"Awesome! Meet you there in thirty minutes?" Excitement carried over the phone line, and Brooke could imagine the curly blonde jumping up and down in her room.

"Sounds like a plan. See you then!" Brooke hung up the phone, making a mental note to bring Lucas by his room to see if anything was missing. She couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was looming, but then again when hadn't she been just that tiny bit morbid about things? Sure, she was the bright, bubbly party girl, but she had her moments.

"Tigger! Come on! You've got us all piled up in here ready to go, and now you're the one dragging your feet! Let's go!" Haley waved impatiently at her fashionably dressed friend, and setting aside her worries, Brooke flashed that famous Davis smile, dimples and all.

-

Six hours, three trips to the cars to unload bags, four turns on the merry-go-round (Brooke insisted, she wanted to sit in the sleigh with Lucas), and a round of cokes and cookies later, the group finally found a set of tables close enough that were clean to push together and sit down. James was slowly dozing off in his father's arms, Haley smiling at the scene as she sat around the corner. Brooke was whispering something with Peyton, Bevin, and Rachel, occasionally throwing furtive glances at the men surrounding them, while Lucas talked with Skillz about the latest basketball scores. Mouth was chatting with Haley, a light conversation that didn't really go anywhere.

Suddenly Brooke stood up, her ringing cell phone in her hand. Muttering something similar to an excuse, she took off running for the nearest exit. Lucas, who had been eerily attuned to everything that was Brooke Davis since they'd gotten back together, immediately saw all the things she was trying to hide and shot after her. The rest of the group was silent for a moment, still unsure of just what had happened.

"No! I'm not ready to come back yet! I was supposed to get a full two weeks vacation for Christmas, it had been arranged months ago!" Brooke was pissed, yelling into the phone. For a moment Luke felt bad for whoever was on the other side of the conversation.

"You'll just have to deal with it. I've got another four days and then I'll be home." She was resolute. No one, and she meant absolutely no one, was going to steal the remaining days she had in Tree Hill from her.

"Four days Louise. Four days. Then I'll be home. Everything else can wait until then." Brooke snapped shut the phone with a force that should have shattered the screen. It was all she could do not to throw the phone against the wall. She would have fought hard for her last four days even if she'd been at home, alone, crying into a pillow. But now that she'd finally reconnected with her friends? And finally admitted her feelings for Lucas? Hell no. Four days was four days and there weren't no way in hell she was going back a millisecond sooner.

"Everything okay Cheery?" Lucas, who had stood quietly to the side while she'd paced back and forth, suddenly realized the truth of the situation. In four days his heart and soul would be on a plane back to her life in New York, and he didn't know where he fit in with it all.

"Jesus Luke! You scared me! How long have you been standing there?" Brooke whirled around, silky brown hair flying behind her, eyes wide.

"Long enough to realize you'll be leaving me soon. When were you going to tell me that you had to leave?" He didn't mean to sound so churlish, but he was more scared and frustrated than he'd originally thought.

"I'm NOT leaving you. I'm going back to New York to the life I've built for myself there. Honestly I've tried not to think about my upcoming flight. I guess I figured if I didn't acknowledge it, then it wouldn't happen." She ran a slim hand through her wavy locks, sighing in frustration again. "Damnit!" She yelled, the sudden expletive making Lucas jump slightly.

"Four days huh?" He sounded defeated.

"Luke, please. Don't turn sad on me now. There is still four days for me to figure something out. I'm not losing you now, or losing us, not when we've fought so hard to get where we are. I meant what I said in the hospital. New York is New York, and Tree Hill is Tree Hill. Neither one of us is exactly broke or without the means to make things happen. Just trust me, and we'll find our way through this. We've survived so much, a couple hundred miles isn't that big a deal." She walked over to her brooding boyfriend, taking his hands in her own. She stood on tiptoe, that pleading look in her eyes. Always so expressive, her eyes swirled with the strong need to know that Lucas understood.

"Brooke, I can't just leave. This is my home. I can't leave mom, it's too soon after everything that has happened. I've just now come back to life, and it's all thanks to you, but I can't walk away from that without stitching up the wounds I've caused." He had shoved his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, that resigned look clearly on his face.

"I'm not asking you to leave anyone. I'm asking you to trust me, and give me the four days to figure something out."

"Of course I trust you." This was said with clear certainty. A smile broke out on his companion's face.

"Good. Now, let's go back inside. I've got more shopping to do, and I've already got an idea on how to make it all right. Besides, I've got to get back to my girls." Sliding his hand out of the pocket, Brooke entwined her fingers with her boyfriend's, and led the way back to the group.

-

"Wow, my feet hurt" Haley whined and propped her feet into her husband's lap, wiggling her toes suggestively. Grinning, Nathan took the hint and began to rub the dainty feet. "Oooh that feels nice. Jamie, honey, can you bring mommy that bag over there? It's got something I want to show Aunt Brooke." Her little man dragged the bag over with both hands, plopping down on the floor. "Thank you honey. You see that Disney bag over there? That's got stuff all for you sugar. Why don't you take that bag over onto the table and find out what's in there?" Eyes lighting up with excitement, he shot up and grabbed the bag. Smiling at his youthful exuberance, Haley rifled through the bag finally tossing a smaller package at the brunette sprawled on the other couch receiving similar treatment from her Scott brother.

"Oooh whatcha find Tutormom?" Eagerly unwrapping the package, she gasped when she finally got to the item at the center. "Haley!" she exclaimed.

"I couldn't help myself. You've brought so much back to us all, it was the least I could do." Giggling slightly, she swung her feet to the floor and stood up to walk over to Brooke. Scooting over, she made room for Haley to sit down next to her. Lucas walked around behind the couch and kneeled down behind the two women to peer at what Brooke was holding in her hands.

"Oh Hales, wow," he mumbled, wrapping an arm around his best friend's shoulder to squeeze it in thanks.

"Really Haley, this is just, it's just, I mean, wow, it's gorgeous! How you managed to take the picture I just don't know, but its perfect, I love it thank you so much!" Brooke rambled on, breathless with gratitude and pure happiness.

"I'm glad you like it," she blushed, hard, really happy that the woman who had come to save her best friend at her request was pleased.

In Brooke's slender hands was a crystal frame, silver edging the inside and outside borders. Protected beneath the clear glass was a picture taken just that morning, of Lucas, his arms wrapped around Brooke's tiny waist as he whirled her around and around the playroom. She was laughing hard, her hands on his broad shoulders, a huge grin on his own face.

"Like it? Like it? I love it!!!" She squealed, wrapping her own arms around Haley to hug her. "Thank you!" Both women were grinning and laughing lightly, while Lucas took the precious frame from his girlfriend's hands. Standing, he was staring intently at the scene captured for eternity.

"You alright bro?"

"Yeah, I guess I'd just forgotten what happiness looked like. I mean, yeah, I've seen pictures of you and Hales, but that was you guys. This, this is different ya know? This is me" Lucas said quietly.

"I know what you mean. It's one thing when it's someone else, an entirely different story when it's you. But this is a good thing right?"

"Oh yeah, this is definitely a good thing." He grinned at the man he'd grown to love and appreciate for the support that being blood had formed between them, and slapped him on the back, nodding. "Definitely a good thing."

-

She stood in the shadows, watching through a window as the five people inside happily chatted and examined other purchases made that day. She was motionless except for the slow, steady rising of her chest as she breathed in the cold air.

"He's mine you bitch. This whole town in mine. Just you see. By this time tomorrow, you'll see just how big a mistake you made, coming into my town and messing with my man. I'll make you pay," the shadow whispered, the wind carrying her words away. She knew what she wanted, what she needed, and how she was going to achieve it. No one, and she meant absolutely no one took anything away from Amber Jeffries without suffering big time for it. Brooke Davis was going to regret the day she ever stepped foot back in Tree Hill.

AN: Hey everyone…just wanted to say thank you for all the reviews, it really is the most amazing thing to be able to open up my inbox and see all the emails. It's like Christmas every day!!!

To grumpie2003, ilovmedou, othfan326, othgirl2010, thecutenikki, brucas333, flipflopgal, toddntan, whiters, p0line, craftysoldieress, erikax3, and brucas224, thank you so much for taking the time to leave me a review. It truly helps urge me on to the next chapter, the next story, the next idea!

Hope everyone has an awesome Thanksgiving! Go Cowboys:D Sorry couldn't resist.

xo

z