A/N: Hello everyone! I know it's been a while but my modem actually went out and I had to wait for AT&T to send me a new one and then I went out of town for "Day of Days" (a DOOL event) and it took me a bit to get back in the swing of things. P.S., if you're a fan of AMC, i met Jacob Young aka JR Chandler that weekend too... he's so gorgeous! Anyhow,...Special thanks to miralinda, Luv2Live, maracasgirl, dstarlight, tanya2byour21, boothimyours, fggt16, Love me some Julian, sobreyra274, and scribbleoutthetruth for the reviews! I love reading what you guys think and I'm so glad so many of you are enjoying the story. Thanks to all my silent readers as well. Also if you're interested I wrote a GH one-shot for The Trusted Hearts Death To Brenda Thread that I posted two days ago so if she annoys you or you'd just like an amusing character death story, check it out. Anyways, on to the next chapter...
Before It Breaks
Say it's over, say I'm dreaming;
Say I'm better than you left me.
Say you're sorry, I can take it.
Say you'll wait, say you won't;
Say you love me, say you don't.
I can make my own mistakes.
Learn to let it bend before it breaks…
Jake hurried through the parking lot, cell phone attached to his ear, as he nodded in response to the voice on the other end. He was currently in the middle of a very lucrative case that was going into mediation tomorrow and wanted to have everything prepared.
"Yes Jamey," he replied. "Just have it all on my desk by three." Jake stood outside the entrance of Karen's Café. "Okay, I'm shutting off my phone so I'll be unavailable until I return… see you then." He hung up before stepping inside, his eyes immediately finding the group of brunettes in the far left booth. "Hello ladies, how's my favorite three girls?"
"Starved," Haley said before he leaned over to kiss her. "Brooke thought we were going to die of hunger."
"Hales," Brooke admonished before leaning over the table to kiss her friend on the cheek in greeting. "I wasn't that bad but you are late."
"Really?" Haley countered with a raised eyebrow. "You kept complaining about your intestines rubbing together."
"You were," Sam laughed as she hugged the newcomer, "but it's okay because I'm starving too." She looked over at Jake as he took his seat. "For a minute there I didn't think you were coming."
"And miss brunch with the three prettiest girl in Tree Hill," he smiled with a pause, "not a chance."
"You smooth talker." Brooke rolled her eyes with a dimpled smile. "So that's how you tricked Hales into marrying you."
He pulled at his collar, popping it enthusiastically. "What can I say?"
"He learned flattery got him quite a lot, "Haley said sweetly before looking over at him.
"Eww gross man," Sam shook her head in embarrassment. "You're not going to start going all honeymoon in the middle of brunch are you?"
"Why?" Haley turned towards the youngest brunette. "Is that what you and Jake do?"
"Do I need to have a talk with Jack?" Jake asked, trying to keep his voice as serious as possible.
"Stop teasing her you two," Brooke said before bumping her sister's shoulder in solidarity. "She's in love."
Sam blushed furiously. "I am not," she muttered.
"Aww how cute," Haley beamed.
"Stop it," Sam pouted with an eye roll. "Can we just order already?"
"Fine we'll stop," Jake replied. "Besides I'm much more interested in what's going on with your sister."
"What are you talking about?" Brooke pursed her lips at him.
"I don't know, you've had this happy little gleam in your eyes lately but then this last week," he tilted his head to study her, "something's changed."
"I've just been really excited about my project but then I ran into a little trouble," she shrugged it off, unable to say the changes in her mood had to do with Nathan. "It'll all work itself out." Her eyes met Haley's briefly before she stared back down at the menu.
"You sure that's it?" he queried. "This doesn't have anything to do with your fight with Lucas does it?"
"No," she replied with a huff. "The only other thing that's wrong is the fact I'm starving."
Haley laughed. "So am I, can we order or what?"
"Time's a tickin' there Jakey," Sam chimed in.
"Point taken," Jake nodded before turning back to the workers. "Waiter," he held his hand up in the air before turning back to the table, seeing the conversation had moved to a new topic.
Nathan cruised through the water on the sea-doo, enjoying the feel of the mist splaying over his face as his son held on from behind, his boyish laughter echoing through the air. They had been on this family vacation for five days now and he had to say it had gone pretty well. He relished the time he got to spend with his son and he and Peyton were getting alone much better, despite the fact they hadn't really been intimate for the whole trip. He was brought out of his musings by his son's voice.
"Faster Daddy," Jamie yelled gleefully as they raced through the water. "Get Momma!"
"No," Peyton yelled as she hopped up and down on her own jet-ski, almost tipping over as she tried to get away from them.
"Hold on buddy," Nathan said as they caught up to the blonde, whipping around her and splashing her with water.
"Ahh!" she screamed as the water hit her face. "You two are going to get it."
"You have to catch us first," Nathan taunted as they turned around.
"Yeah Momma, you have to catch us first!" Jamie laughed loudly at the scowl on his mother's face as they took off in the opposite direction.
"I'll catch you alright," Peyton said as she sped off after her boys, her hair whipping in the wind.
"Look," Jamie said pointing, causing his dad to ease up on the speed. "Dolphins," he said excitedly as they idled in the water. "Look Momma," he turned back to look at her as she slowed her jet ski behind them.
"Oh wow," she was completely in awe. "They're beautiful." Her eyes scanned the water, counting at least six of them. "This amazing," she pulled out her waterproof camera from her vest pocket, immediately snapping pictures.
"How cool is this buddy?" Nathan turned back to ruffle his son's hair before looking back out at the dolphins who swam around them.
"It's really cool," he grinned happily. "This has been the perfect day."
"Yeah it has," Peyton smiled at the sight of her son's happiness, watching as the dolphins circled around them once more before they swam off. "This vacation has been a great idea."
"I'm glad," he returned her smile before looking back down at his still amazed son. "I had fun too but we should head back to land." He watched as his wife nodded. "Hold on Jamie," he said before he took off towards the shore, hearing Peyton follow behind him.
Julian sat in his kitchen, staring down at the cup on coffee in front of him. He was shocked to say the least at his guest's arrival a few nights ago. Things had been so up in the air for him lately with his separation from his wife and the line he'd crossed with his good friend, and finding one of them at his door had not been what h was expecting, the former even more shocking. He took a drink of the bitter liquid, relishing in it's warmth as he remembered their conversation from the morning after.
"Good morning," she said as she stepped inside the kitchen, finding him standing in front of the coffee pot.
"Julian turned around. "You want," he motioned to the full pot, watching her nod before filling up two mugs and handing her one. "So what are you doing here Lindsay?"
"I-I don't know," she shook her head before making her way to one of the kitchen chairs. "I've been talking a lot to Uncle Dan lately and I don't know, I was thinking about family and you and the next thing I knew I was jumping on a plane and then standing outside your door." She stood up abruptly. "Maybe I shouldn't have come; I can just… I can just go."
"You don't have to go Lindsay," he reached out to grab her arm. "I guess I'm just having some trouble understand all this." His eyes peered into hers carefully. "You were so adamant about not leaving London."
"I know I was," she replied softly.
"You just sent me divorce papers," he let out an exasperated sigh. "Damn it Lindsay!" Julian hit his fist against the table.
"I know and I'm sorry," she replied, her light blue eyes staring up widely into his brown. "I knew I would regret it for the rest of my life if we didn't at least see if we could work this out."
"I can't believe this," he shook his head incredulously. "I don't- I need time."
"I should go," she replied before lightly kissing his lips. "I'm sorry, I…" she trailed off as she turned away from him, hastily exiting.
He stood there in silence for a few minutes before he picked up his full coffee cup, tossing it at the wall in aggravation and watching as the brown liquid ran down the white wall.
Julian hadn't seen her since that morning though he was pretty sure he knew where she was. The question was, if he was ready to see her again and if he did, what he would say.
Brooke rode up the elevator, exhausted from her day. She'd met with a few other potential investors, had a pow-wow with Deb, and then went to the gym to blow of a little steam. All she wanted to do now was order takeout, take a hot shower, and crawl into bed.
"Sam," she called out as she entered her condo and then froze at the man who came out of her kitchen dressed in an apron. "Lucas? What are you doing here? Where's Sam?"
Lucas offered her a small smile. "Hey, we're just…"
"We're making you dinner," Sam came out of the kitchen behind him. "Lucas is teaching me the art of cooking."
"Is he?" she raised a brow in mild annoyance, turning her eyes towards her ex-husband. "You're kind of the last person I expected to find in my home," she let out a breath. "Is this your way of making me forgive you?"
"No," he shook his head. "You can stay as mad as me as you want; this is about Sam and me bonding."
"Really?" she didn't look impressed.
"Yes," he nodded. "So you just go upstairs and take a hot shower…"
"Are you telling me what to do now?" Brooke crossed her arms over her chest but was only mildly irritated.
"Absolutely not Pretty Girl," he held his arms up in surrender. "I just thought it would help you be more relaxed once the masseuse arrived."
"You got me a masseuse?" the brunette couldn't control the smile the graced her features.
"And wait till you see what this lady can do with her hands," he replied.
"You're good," she nodded.
"Go Brooke," Sam replied. "We'll send her up when she gets here while we finish dinner."
"Okay," Brooke said slowly. "I don't know what you guys are up to but I'll take it," she replied as she made her way up the stairs.
Nathan stepped out on the back porch to the beach house, looking out as the waves crashed against the shore. The past several days had been fun; it had been good to get away but there was still an emptiness, an open spot where his little girl used to be. He wondered if all fathers who lost their daughters felt like this; all parents who'd lost their children. It seemed to be an unmovable weight permanently cast upon his chest and every time he allowed himself to feel anything, the grief of Liz's death washed over him. There had only been two exceptions to that t rule: his son Jamie and that night he'd spent with Brooke. If he were completely honest with himself, even with Jamie he still felt the pang of pain, lessened a great deal but still there nonetheless. But for some reason he couldn't understand he had managed to forget about the pain within the brunette's arms; an escape from his grief filled reality.
He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, scrolling down to her name. He knew that it was insane but he missed her. Just as his thumb was about to push the call button he heard the sound of the sliding door behind him.
"Hey," Peyton stepped up behind him on the deck. "It's so beautiful here," she said as she looked out at the night sky and the big orange moon. "It's incredible here."
"Yeah it is," he replied before looking over at her. "Is Jamie asleep?"
She nodded. "He was won out. Thank you for planning all of this; it's been really good for Jamie."
"How has it been for you?" he asked.
"It's been… it's been great," she answered before her eyes drifted to the sky again.
"I'm serious Peyton," Nathan sighed deeply.
"So am I," she turned back to look at him. "I know things between us aren't quite solid yet but I really feel like we're making some progress." Her green orbs peered into his blue. "Am I wrong?"
"No," he shook his head, "of course not. I just, I just wish we could go back to before when everything was simple."
"It will be again," her voice was as soft as the wind that rustled around them as they both stared out into the distance silently for a few minutes. "We're like that palm tree," she suddenly spoke again.
He furrowed his brows in confusion. "What?"
She pointed to a tree that was waving in the wind. "Just because it bends doesn't mean it's going to break." She reached over to grasp his hand, squeezing it in tight reassurance. "We're not going to break Nate."
He nodded silently, is eyes flicking to the moon before casting back to the blonde who stood beside him. "I do love you Peyton."
"I know," she said as his arms wrapped around her. "I love you too."
"Well this was excellent," Brooke said as she sat her fork down, leaning back into her seat. "The two of you did a great job."
"I'm glad you liked it," Lucas said.
"And for dessert," Sam hurried to the kitchen before bringing gout two plates of apple cobbler. "Enjoy!"
"Wait," Lucas squinted at the teenager. "You're not having any?"
"I actually wanted to take mine to go if the two of you don't need a chaperone anymore," Sam replied.
"To Jack?" Brooke asked with a knowing smile.
"Yeah," she nodded, and Hannah and Mark too. Me and Hannah were going to meet up with them at Crimson Lights before we went back to her house." She looked up at her sister. "You remember I was supposed to spend the night over there right?"
"Vaguely," she nodded. "Okay, but call me when you head back to Hannah's and don't stay out too long."
"I won't," Sam smiled giddily as she grabbed her backpack and a plastic Tupperware of the dessert. "Thanks Brooke," she kissed her o the cheek, "and thanks for helping me with all this." She hugged Lucas.
"Anytime kiddo," he replied. "Have fun."
"But not too much," Brooke added. "And thanks for dinner," she called just as her teenage sister flew out the door. "And thank you," she looked at the man sitting across from her, "for the dinner and the massage and for spending time with Sam."
"She's a great girl, he nodded. "I was happy to do it; especially if it helped you forgive me."
"And here I thought you said I could stay mad at you for as long as I wanted," she countered.
"I did but I was hoping you wouldn't," Lucas took a bite of his desert. "I am sorry Brooke; I know how much that project means to you and I shouldn't have gotten you to that meeting just for our personal reasons. I just, I feel you slipping away and it scares me."
"It scares me too Luke," she said softly as she stared down at the table. "But I'm not sure what you and I are doing anymore." She sighed deeply. "We had gotten so good at being amicable exes and then the lines stared blurring again."
"Then let's erase them," h reached over to grab her hand. "Brooke," he waited for her eyes to meet his. "I love you and I know you love me and I've missed you like crazy."
"We've done this before Luke and it doesn't work," she shook her head as the tears began to fill her eyes. "We've lost so much."
"We have but somehow we still haven't lost each other," he paused briefly. "Do you know how many times I've tried to tell myself to move on and I tried but no one else could ever compare to you."
"Lucas," she let out an exasperated breath.
"I'm not going to pressure you or say anymore after this, I just want you to think about it." His blue eyes looked deeply into her hazel green.
"Okay," she nodded. "I'll clean up."
"Okay," sensing that as his cue he stood up. "Call you tomorrow?"
"Absolutely," she smiled before his lips met hers in a soft, brief kiss. "Drive safe."
"I will," he reached up to stroke her hair gently before turning to leave, shutting the door quietly behind himself.
Brooke looked back down at the ruminants of the amazing meal he'd prepared before her eyes drifted to the sliding glass of her balcony and out to the night sky at the moon that shone brilliantly, knowing sooner or later something had to give.