Disclaimer: I own nothing except the Mac in which I wrote this on…

Breakin' All The Rules

Hedging Your Bets

"You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how."

—Margaret Mitchell

-xx-

Brooke sits huddled under a layer of blankets and comforters on her side of the bed. They'd cranked up the AC last night and now the penthouse feels like a freezer. It's a nice type of cold actually. The kind that makes you wanna stay in bed and cuddle all day. Jax is fast asleep across the brunette's lap.

"Babe," Brooke calls out, "Did you get a chance to check the listings I sent you?"

Luke walks out of the bathroom in boxers and a t-shirt. He stares at his wife for a few seconds - she's not wearing any makeup, her hair is tucked up, messy bangs framing her face, and she's wearing the glasses with the thick brown frames as she goes over the paper. He likes this better. He can recall a time when Brooke hated him seeing her like this. And though he's well aware that the brunette looks beyond stunning when she's all done up in an expensive dress and five-inch heels, he's come to prefer the intimacy of them in the morning.

Brooke kinks her eyebrows, "Okay, either break out into a 'Let It Go' chorus or get in here," she says, pulling back the covers.

Luke jumps in next to her presses a kiss to her cheek, "The cold never bothered me anyway." He grins.

Brooke rolls her eyes, secretly impressed that he actually watches the movies Emma so obsessively recommends. "So did you?"

"Did I what?" Luke nibbles on her neck, sucks on her pulse point.

"Look over the listings." Brooke repeats, attempting not to let his expert mouth distract her from the task at hand. "I'm serious, did think about it?"

Luke nods, "Yeah," he mutters against her soft, alabaster skin. "And after some serious consideration, I still can't think of a single thing I don't want to do to you."

Brooke grabs a fistful of his blonde hair and pulls him up from her chest. "Focus." She says, "We need a house. Like, now. And you know the rule, no sex with the kid in the room."

Luke falls back on his side of the bed chuckling. "You need to stop letting him sleep with us. He needs to get used to the crib."

"And you need to take this seriously," Brooke counters. "We have to find a place to live."

"I am." Luke nods, "I checked out what you sent me. I'm not sure I'm into them. I mean, do we really wanna live in Park Avenue?"

"I am not going to move to Brooklyn." Brooke says, "And besides, it's where I grew up."

"Yeah, and I thought you hated growing up in Manhattan."

"I did not!" Brooke protests, "I hated my parents leaving me behind in an empty house to raise myself, which is something we will definitely not be doing to our son. But I loved growing up in the city."

Luke shrugs, "Look, I just, I don't want our kid to grow up a spoiled little brat."

Brooke rolls her eyes, "Please!" She exclaims, "Spare me the I'm-just-a-poor-boy-I-need-no-sympathy bullshit. In case you've forgotten, I've been to your parents' North Carolina manor. And it may not be an Upper East Side brownstone, but it's no poorhouse either."

Luke raises his palms in surrender, conceding her point. "Fine. But do you really want Jackson to grow up to be like us?" He asks seriously. "'Cause we may have our shit together now, but we certainly didn't before. Okay, it has taken us a long time to get here."

"You scared we're gonna mess him up?"

Luke shrugs, "Aren't you?"

"Yes. All the time. But we won't."

Luke leans forward, resting his forehead against hers. "How can you be so sure?"

Brooke brings her hands up to caress his scruffy cheek. "Because we love him no matter what." She says, "Because we're not our parents. I mean, that's what we're really worried about, isn't it? Do you trust me?"

"With my life." Luke answers without pause.

"Then believe me when I tell you this: you are not your father."

Luke leans forward, pressing his lips against hers softly. "Thank you." He says sincerely, "And you know you're nothing like your mother, right?"

Brooke throws her head back laughing, "My mother hates you."

Luke laughs with her. "Well, there you go. You really are nothing alike."

"Look, our lives are here right now," Brooke says, turning serious for a beat, "Jax is still a baby. We can buy a house somewhere else, too. Maybe move when he gets older. But New York is home for me and it always will be. I want to mark that and make it official. Our first house together. Here. Are you okay with that?"

Luke grins, "I like the one with the big backyard." He says, "I can build a swing set and a tree house, maybe put up a basketball hoop. It'll be home."

Brooke smiles, dimples full-blown. "So I can call the realtor, put in the offer?"

"Yeah." Luke says, "I love you, Brooke Davis."

Brooke grabs his face and pulls him into a kiss. "It's Brooke Scott now." She corrects.

"That you are, sweetheart."

-xx-

Rachel Gatina paces around the lobby of the Imperial in her scrubs when she spots her brunette best friend coming out of the elevator.

"Morning, bitch," she greets with a smile.

"Rae!" Brooke exclaims, pulling the redhead in for a hug. "What're you doing here so early?"

"Oh, uh, I, um, I'm meeting Clay for breakfast before my shift. Most important meal of the day and all that."

Brooke furrows her brow, "Oh my god." She declares, "You are doing the walk of shame right now, aren't you?"

"Pssh," Rachel waves a dismissive hand her way, "I am-it's-not-I..." she sighs, "What gave me away?"

"You smell like Clay - same deodorant, same shampoo."

Rachel rolls her eyes, "Nice deducing, Sherlock."

"Well, you know me, I ain't nothin' but a hound dog, cryin' all the time." Brooke smirks, "You can't fool the nose, dude."

"You know what, fuck it - no shame." Rachel says, shrugging it off. "I got laid last night and it was awesome."

Brooke chuckles, "Good for you." She says, "You really waiting on Clay or are you just awkwardly stalking the lobby?"

"Waiting. I forgot my phone upstairs. He's bringing it down."

Clay steps out of the elevator barefoot and shirtless, wearing only soccer shorts that hang low on his hips. "Hey," he flashes his winning lopsided grin. "Funny running into you here." He pecks the redhead's lips. "Your phone." He cuts his eyes to Brooke, "I thought you didn't have to work today."

"I don't." Brooke says, shaking her head. "I'm meeting with the realtor." She realizes that Clay isn't really paying attention to her and is instead making out with Rachel like they're a pair of hormonal teenagers.

Brooke rolls her eyes just as the pair comes up for air. "Jesus, keep it in your pants you two - which is just about all you're wearing, Clay."

Clay wraps his arms around the redhead's waist, pulling her in. "Hey," he grins. "You coming over tonight?"

"Yeah," Rachel nods, linking her wrists around his neck. "Don't forget that you have to pick up Chris this afternoon."

"I won't." Clay leans down, pecking her lips goodbye. "Have a good day, freckles."

Rachel winks at him, "Behave!" She calls over her shoulder as she leaves the Imperial.

Clay wiggles his fingers goodbye, cutting his eyes towards the brunette. "There goes my girl. How badass is she, huh?" he grins widely.

Brooke chuckles, "I'm happy you two idiots are happy." She eyes her best friend from head to toe and then shoves him. "Get dressed! Only you would parade around half-naked around the lobby of a hotel so casually."

"I own it."

Brooke stands on her tip-toes and presses a kiss to his cheek, "I'm late. Be good."

"Where ya going?" Clay asks.

"I just told you. I'm meeting with the realtor. Luke and I finally settled on a house and we are ready to put in an offer."

"Seriously?" Clay wraps his arms around the petite brunette, his chin resting atop her head. "My baby girl's all grown up, she's gonna have a house and everything!" He pulls back, grinning from ear to ear. "I am gonna miss living one floor above you, though. I like having you close by."

Brooke shrugs, "I promise we'll let you visit."

"I'll hold you to that." Clay says, "I'm really happy for you, darlin'."

"Ditto." Brooke smiles, dimples full-blown.

-xx-

"Okay, okay," Hanna raises her hands amidst a fit of giggles, "Seriously, Hotshot - you need to get some furniture. And that ping pong table doesn't count! Tell him, Spence."

Spencer nods, "Han's right, babe," she says.

"C'mon!" Nate smirks. "I have all the basics, all right, I got a fridge full of beer, a bed, and the awesome ping pong table doubles as a pool table as well. Plus my new flat screen is getting delivered today. What more could I possibly need?"

Spencer laughs, "Uh, a couch, a few tables, something other than beer in the fridge," she suggests.

"Just to name a few." Hanna adds. "I remember your L.A. house was in a episode of Cribs once and it was boss! What the hell happened?"

Nate shrugs, "Brooke and Rachel handled all that. They were more than happy to take my new AmEx out for a test drive." He watches the girls exchange a look and sighs. "You two wanna buy the furniture, don't you?"

"I have excellent taste." Spencer assures him.

"That's true." Hanna agrees, tossing her empty coffee cup in the nearest trashcan.

Nate nods, "Right." He pulls his wallet out and hands his credit card over. "Have fun, honey."

Spencer grabs it with a smile. "Thank you, babe." She extends the coffee cup over to him. "Hey, last sip."

Nate leans forward, sucking up the last of the frappuccino through the straw. "Mm, what time are you-"

"-I'll probably get in before you tonight." Spencer says, "I'll pick up that Chinese food from that place on the corner that you like."

Nate grins, "Awesome."

"Bye," Spencer leans forward and pecks his lips.

"Laters, babe." Nate waves, pausing to check his girl out as she walks away.

Hanna crinkles her nose. "Jesus, it's like you two are married." She says, "You share one coffee, he gives you his credit card, and you finish each other's sentences — what else is there?"

"Don't make it weird, Han." Spencer shakes her head.

"Nate is kind and smart. Never mind the fact that he's an incredibly gorgeous guy who also happens to be a professional basketball player." Hanna says offhand, "If you don't marry him, I'm gonna."

Spencer rolls her eyes. "We're taking things slow."

"Hey, when you're shopping, manly stuff only!" Nate calls out. "And I want a futon!"

Spencer whirls around. "It's still a solid 'no' on the futon."

"I really, really want it!" Nate pouts.

Spencer smiles, "Yes, but do you need it?" She whirls around before he can reply, disappearing into another street.

"Well, now you're just making my point for me." Hanna laughs.

-xx-

Brooke sits on the living room couch, feet propped up against the coffee table as she bounces Jax in her lap. "And that, kiddo, is why you should never tell a girlfriend that you're on a break." She says with a serious tone as she queues up the next F.R.I.E.N.D.S. episode on the TiVo.

"Brooke," calls out Haley as she walks out of the elevator. "Where you at, Tigger?"

"Living room!" replies Brooke, scooching over on the couch to make room. "Hi, honey! What're you doing in the city so early?"

"Oh, I was dropping Emma off. This is her weekend with Jake." Haley plops down next to her, grabs the bowl of Sour Patch Kids off the table and starts digging in.

"We're watching the TBS marathon. It's really good so far. Y'know, I love how you can just watch a show over and over and it never gets old." Brooke rambles about tv for a while, then moves on to how she's playing hooky for the day, and then she's making funny faces at Jax as she binges on licorice. "Mm, Spencer texted me about a housewarming party at Nate's new place. I think it's a surprise. Did she tell you about it?"

Haley blurts out, "I slept with someone."

"That took a turn." Mutters Brooke, pausing the tv. "Why'd you say it with such dread? Was it that bad?"

Haley waves a hand dismissively, "No, it was fine. It was more than fine. It was good." She shakes her head, snapping herself out of it. "That's not the point!"

"What is the point?"

"It was the first time since Jake and I got divorced." Haley sighs, "My first time with another guy in years, actually."

"Well, that's great," Brooke chuckles, "No, I'm just saying. I think it's about time." She adds upon seeing her friend's look of confusion.

"Time?" Haley questions.

"Yeah, you know, it's about time that you added someone to the roster, Hales. I mean, two guys?" Brooke asks, raising as many fingers, "Ever? Three sounds a little more rounded, at least."

Haley rolls her eyes in annoyance, "Well, excuse me for believing you should have feelings when you jump into bed with someone!"

Brooke laughs, "Well, come on, details. Spill it. Who was it? How was it?"

"It was...different," Haley shrugs, throwing her head back onto the couch cushions. "Can you put Jackson in his playpen or something? It feels wrong on so many levels to talk about this with a baby sitting in between us."

Brooke returns after parking Jax in his play-chair and leaving him to entertain himself with his toys. She notices Haley staring off blankly into thin air, anxiously knotting her fingers in her lap and chewing on the inside of her cheek. "You have nothing to feel guilty about, honey." She says as if reading her friend's mind, "You are a single, unattached woman. You deserve to have a little fun, you got needs."

"I know." Haley nods, "It just feels weird is all. I thought I wouldn't ever sleep with another man again. But then we went to dinner and one thing led to another and there was wine - a lot of wine..."

Brooke throws an arm around Haley's shoulders, pulling her in close. "Look, sweetie, I'm not even going to pretend to understand what it is you're going through. I know you have a lot of feelings right now and I'm guessing that's normal. My guess is that the best thing to do is to ride it out." She presses a kiss atop her copper-colored locks, "I'm sure it can only get easier with time; and no matter what, I got your back."

"You're a good friend, Brooke Davis."

"I do have another question, though."

"Ask how good it was again and I'll scream." Haley warns.

Brooke smiles, "I was gonna ask, was it nice?"

Haley pulls back, lips pouted deep in thought. The comparisons happened automatically that night and they happen again now. For so many years, Jake's agile musician's fingers had made her body hum like a tightened guitar string, and it was never long before he had her clutching at his shoulders, arching her back, and crying out his name. She wonders when that will stop or if it will ever stop.

"Yes." Haley says after a pause. "Yes, it was nice."

"Then I'm happy for you." Brooke nudges her, "Though I will confess that I'm dying to find out who's the lucky stud."

"Well, you'll meet him soon enough." Haley sighs, "I invited him to come to Nate's party." She's says matter-of-factly, "He's handsome, well-mannered, smart - I could do a lot worse for a divorcé with a daughter. And to be honest, I'm tired of being dateless."

Brooke wraps her around her shoulders, pulling her in for a hug, "Hey! Don't say it like that, sweetie. You are a complete catch. Any guy should consider himself lucky to go out with you."

Haley lets out a wry chuckle, "At least one of us thinks so."

-xx-

Luke walks into the penthouse early from work. "Babe," he calls out, shrugging off his jacket. "You home?"

He finds her in their bed atop a mess of blankets wearing one of his old Duke t-shirts; she's upside down, her legs stretched out and propped up against the wall behind the headboard. The TV's on and ignored as she reads a tattered copy of Atlas Shrugged, which she sets aside when she spots him.

"You're home!" She greets with a dimpled smile.

"I am," he nods, "and I got your favorite, babe." He says, leaning in for an upside-down kiss, feeling a little bit like Spider-Man.

Brooke shakes the coffee cup. "Half-empty." She says, taking a sip.

"I got thirsty," Luke shrugs.

Brooke rolls her eyes, "Of course you did." She says, "Hey, I bought your brother a blender."

"For what?"

"Housewarming present. Spencer called and texted. I got the sitter. You confirmed all this with me when I called you at noon, no? None of this is ringing any bells?"

Luke smiles, "What would I do without you, sweetheart?"

"Trust me when I tell you, you do not want to have to find out."

"I certainly do not." Luke agrees, "Should we get ready?"

Brooke bites her lips, "Well, since you're home early, I figure we have time for a little..." she lets her voice trail off, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.

"I love the way your brain works." Luke says, moving on top of her before planting his mouth on hers.

God, I love Brooke Davis-Scott.

-xx-

"Okay, you are way too excited about this," Nate walks into his new place lead by Spencer. She's blindfolded him and set everything up as a big surprise. Truthfully, Nate's not all that enthused - furniture shopping isn't really his thing.

Spencer grins, "Trust me, babe, you're gonna love it." She assures him.

"Yeah, speaking of, you should totally save this blindfold - I have an idea about how to use it later on tonight."

Spencer rolls her eyes and smacks his arm, but doesn't say no, which Nate considers a small victory. "Ta-da!" She exclaims, sliding off the blindfold for the big reveal.

Nate frowns as he looks around his still empty apartment. "Wow... You shouldn't have?"

"All the new furniture arrives tomorrow. Tonight, we're doing it up old school with a housewarming kegger. I invited all your friends and I called all your local frat boy buddies." Spencer takes his hand and leads him towards the kitchen where there's an assortment of liquor bottles spread out atop the island, four kegs ready to go, and two big vats. "I also talked to this guy, Basher, and he helped me get Jungle Juice ready for the party."

Nate grins like a giddy little boy. "No way!" He exclaims, clapping his hands and dipping a cup into the vat for a taste. The 151 Proof rum burns his throat in an old, familiar way. It tastes like memories. It takes like bad decisions and good times. "Holy shit!" His strong arms circle the brunette's waist and he lifts her up, spinning her around. "My girl is definitely amazing."

"Don't you forget it," Spencer winks, bending down for a kiss.

"YO!" - "What up, mo-fo!" - "Party in the house!"

The woops and claps echo throughout the apartment as people start arriving and letting themselves in. Spencer had rounded up all the usual suspects and a few other guys from Duke - Wilke, Chase, Basher, Logan, Dick and Tim Riggins. Piz takes over DJ-ing duties, laying out the soundtrack for the evening.

"Bow down, bitches!" Exclaims Brooke, raising her arms triumphantly as she holds court over the ping pong table. "I am still the one and only Beer Pong Queen!" She dons a cardboard crown make out of a box of Coronas that Luke had fashioned for her.

It's unclear who drags whom out to dance, but Logan and Veronica have taken over the living room with their crazy ass dance moves.

Rachel and Spencer own the poker table. They'd managed to get Dick, Clay and Wilke down to their boxers before they caved and folded.

But it's Haley who brings the biggest surprise of the night: she arrives with a tall, blonde and handsome guy on her arm. "Hey, guys," she greets with a small wave. "Sorry I'm late. This is Nate Archibald."

The guy is familiar to them all, but they don't actually know him. He's the owner of The Spectator; the guy who calls for scoops and leads and public statements.

"It's great to meet you all," Nate Archibald says with a winning smile. He dons an expensive suit and tie, his dirty-blonde hair slicked back, and his hands tucked into his pants' pockets. "Come on, lets keep this party going, huh," he claps. He takes off the jacket and tie, rolling up his shirt-sleeves.

Brooke, Rachel, Spencer and Veronica take to him immediately - he's handsome and polite, and he seems to be infatuated with Haley - and tease him about being Nate 2.0.

The guys are a harder sell, but as the night progresses (and they get more drinks down) they begin to warm up to him. Nate Archibald knows how to win people over. He talks lax with Clay, discusses March Madness with Nate, and debates sailing Logan and Dick. His ability to keep up seems to do the trick with the rest of the guys. When it comes to worthless frat-boy skills, it turns out Nate Archibald is second to none. He kicks ass at pool, darts and almost threatens to de-trone Brooke as Beer Pong Queen.

Predictably enough, there's only one guy he doesn't manage to impress...

-xx-

Brooke watches Jake shove his way towards the balcony. "Excuse you!" She calls out, sipping her drink. "What's wrong with him?"

Rachel shrugs in an I-don't-know way, "He's acting like an ass."

"Oh." Brooke frowns.

Haley adds, "He does that." She sighs, "I'm gonna go talk to him."

Brooke and Rachel exchange concerned looks. "You sure that's a good idea, Hales?"

Haley nods, "Trust me, I still know how to handle Jake Jaglieski." She steps out onto the balcony and closes the sliding door behind her.

Jake sits on a table, his feet propped up against the railing, and an unlit cigarette dangling from his lips. Haley steps forward, plucks the cigarette out of his mouth and tosses over the balcony. "Want to talk about it?" She asks, taking a seat across from him.

"Who the hell is that guy, Hales?"

Haley sighs, "His name is Nate Archibald. I met him a few days ago, he was a guest lecturer for one of the journalism classes. We got to talking and we hit it off. It's just a date."

"Yeah, I know who he is - the guy who plasters our friends' lives all over his newspaper!" Jake jumps up, runs his fingers through his hair. "I thought we were starting to go somewhere! I mean, we definitely had a moment!"

"There was - we did!" Haley agrees, "But I can't live my entire life hoping for a moment or a stolen glance to get me by. I deserve more than that."

Jake licks his lips, "I thought we - you and I - were headed towards more than that."

"I don't know that, Jake! A couple of months ago, you were kissing Rachel - I figured that meant we were finally moving on!"

"JESUS!" Jake throws his head back, "Is that what this is all about? Getting back to me for the thing with Rachel? It was one kiss, one time, one moment of doubt - after being alone for so many months, I reached out to a friend and we crosses a line, true. But as soon as we did, I pulled back."

Haley stands up, too. "I'm not trying to get back at you for anything. We are divorced. You are free to kiss whoever you please. So am I. I'm doing my best to move on. I thought that was what you wanted."

Jake sighs, "Hales, I just want you..." he admits. "No matter what or when or who I'm with, it's always you."

"What am I supposed to do with that, Jake?"

"Give us another chance."