Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill
Note: Merry Christmas!
Special Notice: This chapter is dedicated to Asharp4
Brooke tightened her tan, suede jacket around her body. She was wearing a midnight blue sweater paired with jeans and black, knee-length boots. Her hair was curled lightly around her shoulders, natural and unnatural highlights illuminating her face. She looked amazing. On the outside, she looked like the Brooke Davis that everyone at Tree Hill High knew, maybe even better since her skin had a new glow to it. But she wasn't the same girl anymore.
Brooke parked in her usual spot and turned off the car. However, she didn't make a move to get out.
"Brooke?" Haley sighed, placing a comforting hand on Brooke's arm. "Everything is going to be okay. But if it's not – you will be okay."
Brooke nodded silently, slowly sliding her keys into her purse and pulling her book bag out of the back seat. "I know. It's just going to be hard."
"It will be worth it." Haley replied, opening her car door, letting the cool air snap at Brooke's cheeks, turning them a light pink.
Brooke copied Haley and got out of the car, thumbing her cell phone in her jacket pocket. There was only one call she was waiting for. There was no way she was going in with out him.
"Brooke!" She heard him call from behind her.
She turned around, smiling despite the feeling in her stomach that made her want to throw up – and it wasn't morning sickness.
"Hey back." She greeted him, placing a light kiss on his lips. Luckily for them, class was about to start so the parking lot was mainly empty.
"I have to meet Nathan before class. See you at lunch?" Haley smiled as she walked backwards so she could face them.
"Yeah." Brooke and Lucas answered in unison and Brooke took Lucas' hand.
"You're freezing." Lucas stated, bring her hand up to his face and blowing hot air onto it.
"Thanks." She replied, although it was obvious she was distracted.
Lucas wanted to be able to comfort her, but he couldn't think of anything that would make her feel better that hadn't already been said. He knew there was nothing else that could comfort him.
"Brooke!" Some one called as Lucas and Brooke finally entered the main hallway. "Is it true?"
"It is! Look, she's with Lucas!"
"Do you think it's really his?"
"She's such a slut!"
"I bet she's already had an abortion."
"I don't think it's true."
"He should get a paternity test."
"I thought he was with Peyton."
"I think he's in love with Haley."
"Like father like son."
"It was bound to happen. She is the "head" cheerleader!"
Brooke tried to drown out the millions of voices that began whispering loud enough for her and Lucas to hear. She knew that these things were going to be said, but that didn't make actually hearing them any easier.
They finally made it to her locker, and Brooke was glad to be able to hide her head inside of it.
Lucas did his best to avoid eye contact, only lifting his gaze at the sound of Nathan's voice.
"Hey man." Nathan said, giving Lucas knuckles and standing awkwardly next to him. It was a strange situation and no one knew exactly what to do.
"Hey. Haley went looking for you." Lucas remembered, glad to have a short distraction.
"Yeah, I'm going to meet her now. I'll see you later. Bye Brooke."
"Bye." They both said in unison again. Brooke had remerged from her locker after a few deep breathes, feeling a little calmer. Things could be worse.
"Hey Brooke. Are you sure it's not mine?" A guy, who Brooke vaguely remembered came up, a smirk on his face.
Another guy also came up from behind him, "Or mine!" He laughed as they gave each other a high five.
"Or it could be my dad's…he was telling me the other day…" the guy continued to tease Brooke, who's jaw was clenched tightly.
"If I were you, I would back the hell up." Lucas warned, taking a warning step towards the guys.
Brooke's anger became strong enough to cover up her nerves. She stepped in front of Lucas and shot the guys a death glare that even a grown man would be afraid of.
"I cannot believe that anybody would be such a hateful scumbag as to say such things to anyone. Don't you think I have enough to deal with? Don't you think I should be worrying about how I am going to provide for a child and stay in school rather than babysitting two teenage boys whose only chance at being mistaken as "men" is on Halloween? Yes, I'm pregnant and yes, it's Lucas, and yes, we are together." Brooke was now looking around the whole hallway as a group had gathered. "But that does not give you the right to judge me. None of you even know me." Brooke was fuming as she turned back to the two guys.
"Now, why don't you two go back to the dark, sad little corner that you crawled out of and die there." Brooke gave the silent guys one last look before storming off towards her class as the bell rang.
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Lucas anxiously tapped his pen on his desk as he waited for the lunch bell to ring. He hadn't gotten a chance to talk to Brooke since she had stormed off earlier that morning and he was worried about. He was also very proud of her for standing up for herself. It took a lot of courage.
Finally, it rang and Lucas jumped out of his seat, hoping to catch Brooke as she came out of her next class.
He saw her, her head held high, a direct contrast from the earlier Brooke who had shoved her head in a locker. She was smiling, her arm linked with Peyton's.
"Brooke!" He called out, running up to meet her.
Brooke heard his voice and she turned, waiting for him to catch up. She let him walk beside her, but she stayed linked with Peyton. She needed a little "girl power."
"You okay?" He asked, trying to keep his voice neutral. He didn't want her to think he was trying to baby her.
"Yeah." She smiled, a little light visible in her eyes. "Starving though!"
They made their way out to a picnic table that was located in the sun so it would be warmer and sat down. None of them even gave a thought to how weird it was for them to be sitting together. There were too many other things to think about.
Only one person tried to talk to them, a freshmen cheerleader. "Excuse me, Brooke?"
Brooke turned to the girl. She couldn't remember her name so she just waited for her to speak.
"Have you seen Theresa? I need to give her the list of people coming to the-"
Brooke rolled her eyes and interrupted. She knew she couldn't yell at the girl – it was unlikely that she knew Theresa was the one who leaked the information. However, she wasn't about to let is slide. "Honestly I don't know. Check in the yellow pages under W for whore. Oh wait, she's not that bright. Check under H."
The girl nodded quickly, realizing her mistake and hurried off. Lucas and Peyton didn't comment on Brooke's snipe at Theresa because they both felt the same way – Theresa deserved it.
Soon Haley and Nathan both joined them and they all ate lunch together. It was so…normal. Brooke smiled to herself as Haley and Lucas playfully fought over who made the best hot chocolate. If this was the way things were going to be – well, she was okay with that.
But suddenly, as she shifted in her seat, she felt something weird. "I, um, I have to go to the bathroom." She stammered quickly before jumping out of her seat and leaving the rest in shock.
She rushed into the nearest bathroom stall where her worst fears were confirmed. She was bleeding. A lot. She remembered Addison saying something about a chance of bleeding but this was a lot. As if by clockwork, she immediately felt strong cramping in her abdomen.
Tears began pouring silently down her cheeks, not because of the pain, which was bad, but because of the fear. She had never felt such fear in her life. It was like darkness had become a person and strangling her, forcing her to be engulfed in it.
"Brooke?" She heard Haley call out, "Are you in here?"
Brooke managed to push the door open before sinking onto the ground. "I'm bleeding." She whispered, looking up to Haley whose expression switched instantly to panic.
"I'm calling 911." Haley responded, grabbing for her cell phone.
"No!" Brooke mumbled, "Just bring me to the hospital. I don't want everyone…please."
"I'm going to get Lucas." Haley nodded, running out of the bathroom.
Lucas almost knocked someone out getting to the bathroom. Nathan, Haley, and Peyton were trailing behind him.
He thrust the door open, finding Brooke sitting on the ground, pale and stained with tears.
"Come on." Lucas went to grab her but Nathan stepped in front of him.
"Your arm. Just let me get her. I've got it okay?" Nathan bent down and scooped Brooke into his arms and turned to follow Lucas who was already out the door.
Brook leaned into Nathan's chest, praying that her baby would get to meet her amazing uncle.
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Lucas paced the ER waiting room. They had taken Brooke away and hadn't allowed anyone to follow. It had been almost an hour. Lucas had already called Karen and had dialed Brooke's house number many times, but never pressed the send button. He didn't know if Brooke would get upset. He finally just decided to wait until he talked to her or a doctor.
Finally, after what seemed like year, Brooke emerged, looking shaken, but not heart broken,
"The baby's okay." She said as Lucas wrapped her in his arms. "The baby's okay." She repeated, drenching Lucas' shirt in her tears.
When the doctor had told her that the amount of bleeding was a little over normal, but not life threatening, Brooke felt the tight grasp of darkness loosen from around her neck. He told her that since she was leaving her first trimester, she was just having a little cramping and bleeding that happened with some mothers. He told her it was good that she came in though and that he would call Dr. Addison later.
"The baby's fine," she said again, unbelievably happy. Brooke found it amazing that something that had caused her so much pain and was something that she wouldn't have wished on anyone was also the same thing that she couldn't see herself loosing.
"The baby's fine." Lucas copied Brooke, burying his face in her neck. "The baby's fine. We are fine. God, I was so scared." His voice cracked as he said the last sentence and he pulled Brooke closer to him.
"I was so scared that you were hurt, that the baby was hurt, I don't know what I would have done. I love you so much. So much. It's scary how much I love you." He whispered, the emotion in his body causing him to shake a little.
"I love you too." Brooke said, taking a deep breath and finally pulling back from his chest. "So much."
Brooke smiled up at him, and then looked over his shoulder and saw everyone waiting. Haley, Karen, Peyton, Nathan, and even Jake were all there.
Brooke smiled and walked over to them. She went up to Nathan first and gave him a huge hug. "Thank you." She smiled, giving him a kiss on the cheek.
She then turned to Haley and Peyton and pulled them both in for a hug. "I'm okay." She told them as they each let a few tears of relief fall. "The baby's fine." She said again, it never getting old.
Finally she turned to Karen, who wrapped her in a hug. "I'm so glad everything is okay." Karen's warm voice warmed Brooke's smile.
"Me too."
"I'm sorry that this has to happen to you – you have so much to deal with-" Karen said, knowing the burden Brooke was carrying.
"What doesn't kill me will make me stronger right?" Brooke managed to laugh.
Karen grinned and gave Brooke another hug.
Lucas came up behind Brooke and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Do you want me to call your family?" He asked, unsure of what her response was going to be.
Brooke looked around the waiting room. Most of the people in it had been waiting for her. She gave each one of them a smile, Lucas, Karen, Nathan, Haley, Jake, and Peyton.
"What are you talking about? My whole family is right here."
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A/N: Like it? I'm pretty happy with it! Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! I've been pretty sick, but I'm starting to feel a lot better. Thanks for the reviews on chapter thirteen! They were a great Christmas present!
Vicky: Oh I know. I'm glad this fic can help you keep the faith! JerksTheBenefitOfTheDoubt: Yeah, Brooke's mother is not very nice. Hmm…a fight between Karen and Sherry? You never know. By the way- I liked your old penname:o) But this one is very cute too! Mine is so boring! Lorianne: Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked the mother thing- I came up with that while I was writing! Thanks for reviewing! l.g: Thank you so so so much! This story won't be finished for a while, but "The Holiday" should be finished in early January. :o) tutorgirl25: This hasn't been very long! I tried to get this one out quick! Thanks for reading! Lyra White: Hope you had a good holiday! I'm glad you like the Brucas- it's very fun to write! PaulineJ: Thank you Thank you Thank you! I'm really glad you liked the Nathan and Lucas interaction. I have been wanting to put that in for a while. I love their brotherly relationship! Hope this chapter was all you wanted! Brucas224: Thank you! BrucasForeva: Yeah, I have that same nauseous feeling when I watch Leyton tool. Brooke is definitely still insecure about her relationship with Lucas and will struggle with that for a while. Thanks for reviewing! Eemah: I love your 2 cents:o) Hope you did well on your exams as well! Haha, yeah, Peyton gets on my nerves a lot now. But I liked her in the first, second, and third seasons! Keith is going to show up soon, I just need to find the right way to bring him in. But he is alive and well! Thanks for the review! It means a lot! Wishinonastar: Thank you! Happy you liked the face wash bit. It was cute to write. Hope you liked how I wrote the reactions of people at school! Once again, thank you for your review.
Soundinmymouth3: Hope this was soon enough! The scare wasn't too bad was it? Duckygirl: Thank you! LiZ47: Hope this is soon! Ace: Thanks! Drama is definitely coming! ;o) Brucas3: Thank you! Grooviejj-othfan88: Thank you so much. Don't worry, it isn't ending for a while. :o) Lala: Thanks! Brooke and the baby are okay! Yay! Asharp: The old wives tale is real – but I'm not sure how accurate it is:o) Theresa is definitely causing trouble, but you know Brooke. She won't sit back and take it. Brooke and Lucas and #secret baby name#will be a family in the end- don't worry:o) Once again, thankyou so much for your reviews! They mean a lot! Katie: Thank you! I'm definitely going to fast forward some, it would take me years to finish if I didn't! I'm not quite sure when I am going to though! We will see! Goober396: Thank you! That's very sweet! It's awesome that you took the time to review:o) Catcat51092: Thank you! Jeytonbrucasnaley: I know, the last one wasn't top notch. I think this one was better! Thanks for the review! Dolcegrazia: Thanks! Theresa is a little hungry for popularity- this might get her in some trouble! Onetreefan: Thank you so so much!