Title: Waiting on Forever

Author: D Sollers

Subject: Post OTH episode 5x15 BL. Brooke nods her head, yeah because she feels it too. She can't remember a time where it was just the two of them together, trying to be friends. But somehow, it feels right. BL, NH, maybe a little LP and JP.

Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with OTH and honestly, I don't really want to.

Author's Notes: Okay first and for most I just wanted to say thank you for all of the reviews. I love that everyone is enjoying this story and hopefully you will continue to until it's finished. I know exactly where I'm going and you're in for quite a ride. So enjoy the BL, groan at the cheesy Naley (kidding, I am such a fan) laugh at Jamie and continue to read, even when Peyton's involved.
Also I just wanted to add that I am in the process of writing another story, where instead of taking Brooke to Las Vegas Lucas actually takes Peyton. Be on the look out over the next week or so :-)

Chapter Twenty Four

Secret Lovers

"Hey," she said with a wave of her hand.

Brooke was taken by surprise at the familiar sound of her best friends voice and she struggled to pull away from Lucas' grasp. Turning to face the blonde, Brooke struggled with her emotions.

"Hey P Sawyer."

Peyton winced at the familiar nickname and half smiled at her friend, not bothering to say anything as she made her way over to where Nathan and Haley were now sitting. "Decided you could break away from your work?" Nathan asked knowingly.

Peyton nodded her head but ignored the curious looks she was receiving from both him and Haley. Instead, she turned her attention back to the couple in the pool.

"How was Vegas?" She smiled fully, pretending to be okay with the situation.

Brooke shot Lucas a nervous glance and waited for him to say something. "It was fun," he said simply, stepping out of the pool and grabbing a towel to dry off.

In effort not to stare at Lucas, Brooke turned to face her friend. "The shopping was amazing," the brunette added. "I don't think I've ever spent that much money."

Peyton laughed. "Sure," she said and then turned back to Lucas. "What about you, Luke? Did you spend your time shopping too or did you hit the slot machines?"

Lucas glanced back towards the pool, trying to catch Brooke's eye but he wouldn't turn to look at her.

"A little bit of both," he shrugged. "Mostly I just carried her bags."

Nathan and Haley both laughed at his words and Brooke shook her head, pulling herself up from the water. Lucas handed her a towel and the couple exchanged a quick smile, before Brooke began to dry herself off.

"It's getting kind of late. I should be getting back to reality," Brooke said as she yawned. "I'm going to call Millicent and see if she can pick me up, that way we can talk about the store."

Haley smiled at her friend. "If you need anything Brooke, just call okay?"

As Brooke turned to face her friend, she knows she's not talking about the clothing store. It's not Clothes over Bro's that scares Haley, it's Lucas and Brooke's new found friendship. So, with a slight nod of her head, she began to walk towards the house.

"I'll see you at home," Peyton called out over her shoulder. Brooke slipped into the house and Peyton turned her attention back to Lucas. "How is she doing? She must be feeling awful after Angie leaving."

Lucas smiled sadly. "Yeah, it's been hard for her." He responded, his attention focused on Brooke's retreating figure. "But Brooke's a fighter, she is more strong then she gives herself credit for."

Haley locked eyes with Lucas, smiling at how he had described her best friend. She's about to say something when he cuts her off. "I just wish she'd realize that it's okay to break down, to be vulnerable."

"Come on Luke," Peyton sighed. "Brooke hides her heart away in order to protect herself. It's her nature, she's not going to change."

Lucas shook his head. If Peyton and Brooke had been friends for so long, why did it always seem as if the blonde was always trying to belittle the brunette?

And even though he knew Peyton's words were true, he couldn't help the sinking feeling in his gut that he hadn't helped matters. He turned to face Haley, hoping his best friend would magically make the awkward silence disappear.

"I should get going," Lucas said a few minutes later as he stood up from the table.

Nathan turned towards Haley and smiled at his wife. "I'm going to drive him home, I'll be back."

"I can drive him," Peyton offered. She turned towards Lucas and smiled slightly. "I mean it's on my way home, that way you can just stay home with your family Nate."

Lucas shrugged his shoulders and then turned to face his brother.

"She's right, it's stupid for you to take me home when she's driving that way."

Haley glared at Lucas, but he ignored her as he turned to face Peyton. "That way you can take something home to Brooke for me."

"Sure."

--

A half an hour later, Peyton pulled into Lucas driveway and turned off the car. "You're home," she smiled as he glanced out of the car window and towards his house.

"Thanks for the lift," he said as he got out of the car and began to gather his bags from the back seat. After a few minutes, he handed Peyton a gift wrapped box and then shut the passenger door.

"Tell Brooke..." He hesitated and then found himself laughing despite the situation. "Just tell her if she needs anything, to call me."

Peyton watched as Lucas made his way up the sidewalk and into his house and sighed as she looked back at the gift he had left in the car. Maybe she wasn't so crazy after all, thinking that something was going on between Lucas and Brooke.

She shrugged her shoulders and stepped out of the car, as she made her way up the sidewalk. Peyton knocked quietly and Lucas opened the door seconds later.

"Everything okay?" Lucas asked, leaning his body against the door frame.

Peyton nodded her head as she crossed her arms over her chest, trying her best to ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"I just wanted you to know that I'm glad you're home. I've missed you, both of you."

When he didn't say anything, she turned to walk away.

"I just want you to know that no matter how long it takes..." She turned to face him and she stared at him, hopeful. "I'll be here."

He shook his head in frustration.

"Peyton," he called out to her.

She lifted up her hand in effort to silence him and smiled slightly. "Don't say anything Luke, I know it'll take time. I'm just telling you, I'm willing to wait."

"Peyton," he said again, hoping she would give him a chance to talk.

The blonde glanced up at him and a slight smile tugged on her lips. "It's okay Luke, I know you're not ready..."

"No, you don't know."

"Then tell me."

He's frustrated.

He's angry that Brooke's put him in a position that he's forced to lie and he's frustrated with the fact that Peyton is once again spilling out her heart to him when he's attached to someone else. But most of all, he's angry at himself for allowing things to have gotten so carried away back in high school.

"It's not going to happen."

He realized it came out more harsh than he had intended but his voice remains firm. Lucas shook his head. "What we had, it's over Peyton. If you're honest with yourself you'll realize it was over before it even began."

"Luke..."

He pulls at her chin, forcing her to look at him. "I love you Peyton, you're apart of my life that I'll never forget. But I'm not in love with you. Maybe I never was."

His words take her by surprise and she shakes her head in confusion. "You don't mean that..." She said as tears entered her eyes.

"I'm sorry Peyt," he said finally. "But I do."

--

"I'm glad you're home Brooke," Millicent said as the car pulled to a stop in front of Brooke's home.

The brunette nodded her head as she glanced up her driveway towards her house. "It's good to be home. Las Vegas was amazing but Tree Hill's where I belong."

"Good because I don't want to ever be left in charge of the store," her assistant laughed. "I was driving Mouth nuts all week."

There's a part of her that wants to ask her friend about her and Mouth's relationship, to have yet another couple prove to her that love really is enough. Brooke held back a yawn as she turned towards Millicent.

"Are you happy Milly?" She asked quietly.

Millicent turned to face her friend and smiled from ear to ear. "I never thought I could be this happy," the girl admitted and Brooke nodded her head.

"I'm happy for you. Mouth is a great guy."

Millicent nodded her head.

"How's Lucas?"

Brooke smiled slightly.

"He's Lucas, you know?"

And she does know, probably more than she really would. For two years, Millicent had been there for Brooke in a time where all of her other friends were absent. Back during a period of time that her old feelings for Lucas had begun to resurface. The girl had helped her though what Brooke had deemed impossible, thrusting herself into clothes over Bro's and allowing her mother to fully take over the business.

"He's got this amazing heart..." Brooke struggled with trying to find the right words and Millicent nodded her head, a small smile forming on her lips.

"Mouth told me once that he always believed in the two of you, because you're hearts were the same."

Brooke sighed, leaning her head against the seat and nodding her head sadly. "Mouth's one in a million," Brooke replied honestly. And she knows it's true. Her friend had been one of the only ones to support Brooke throughout the breakup with Lucas, who didn't seem to be on the Peyton and Lucas forever bandwagon.

"Yeah, he kinda is."

Brooke smiled at her friend and opened the car door, waving a quick goodbye. "I'll see you tomorrow at the store," she said as she grabbed her suitcases.

"Okay, see you then."

--

An hour or so later, Brooke had managed to unpack all of her clothes. She slipped into a pair of comfortable pajamas before she reached for her carry on bag. When her fingers found the necklace that Lucas had given her, she carefully put it away in her jewelery box.

Brooke reached for her phone and turned it on, preparing for the endless messages she knew she had missed. There were several from Millicent, freaking out over things to do with the store. The next few were from both Haley and Peyton who were worried about her sudden departure. But the final one, was one she wasn't expecting.

"Hey babe, it's me. I know you just left Nathan and Haley's but I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

There's a pause before Lucas continues and Brooke laid down on her bed to listen to the ending of his message. "I know this is going to be hard Brooke but I want you to know I haven't changed my mind and I hope you haven't either. Love you."

She turned her phone off and shut her eyes, wishing more than anything to be back in Las Vegas and in Lucas' arms. There was a knock on her bedroom door and it opened partially, allowing Peyton to pop her head in.

"Brooke... Can we talk?"

Brooke wants to say no, to tell her that she's not up for a late night heart to heart and that they'll have plenty of time to catch up in the morning. But there is sadness in Peyton's eyes and she knows that the blonde deserved better than that.

So, against her better judgment she patted the bed beside her. "What's up Peyt?" She asked, as the blonde made her way across the room. Peyton didn't say anything as Brooke watched the tears enter her friends eyes. "Peyt?"

"Did Luke say anything about me, when you two were away?" Peyton questioned, pushing away the tears from her face and turning to face her friend.

Brooke glanced away before shaking her head no.

"I just don't understand," Peyton admitted quietly.

Brooke ran her hand across her friends shoulder in a small effort to comfort her friend. "What's going on Peyton?" She asked, this time turning back around to face her friend.

"Lucas said some pretty harsh things to me," Peyton explained.

For a moment, Brooke felt betrayed all over again. Had Lucas and Peyton been alone together, so soon after their arrival back into Tree Hill? But she remained calm as she waited for Peyton to continue.

"He told me that he was never in love with me."

The statement took Brooke by surprise and she has to struggle to not burst with excitement. Instead, she continued to rub her friends back. "I'm sure he didn't mean that..." She tried her best to say anything that would make her happy.

"But that's the thing," Peyton said in exasperation. "I think he did."

Brooke sighed. "What else did he say?"

"That no matter what happens, it's too late for us."

There's something about the way Peyton said the words, that made Brooke feel a little bit more secure. Perhaps after all this time, Lucas had really made up his mind. Maybe there was a chance for the two of them after all.

"And the thing is, I'm starting to wonder why I keep trying."

But Brooke already knew the answer.

Because he's Lucas.

And despite the time that had passed between her and Luke's breakup, Brooke herself was never able to let him go. "When you're in love it's hard to walk away."

"Yeah," Peyton agreed quietly.

A few minutes of silence passed, before Peyton turned to look at her friend. "Oh I forgot," she said as she walked towards the bedroom door and picked up the present that was on the table.

"Lucas wanted me to give this to you."

Brooke raised an eye brow and stared at the box in amazement. "What is it?" She asked, knowing fully that Peyton herself had no idea.

The blonde shrugged her shoulders and motioned for the brunette to open the package. "Open it and see," she instructed before heading towards the door. Once in the doorway, she turned to face her friend.

"I'm glad you're home Brooke. I've missed my best friend."

Brooke watched as her friend left the room and glanced back down at the present. She pulled it open carefully, trying her best not to rip the paper. As she stared down at the silver picture frame, complete with a picture of Brooke the night of her store opening.

Engraved at the bottom were the words brilliant, beautiful and brave. There was a note inside and Brooke began to read it out loud. "I always knew you'd change the world, I just never knew you'd be changing mine."

Brooke fought back tears as her phone rang and she quickly opened it. "Lucas," she smiled into the phone. "It's beautiful."

"I'm glad you like it."

Brooke nodded her head, a smile forming on her lips. "I just feel guilty. That's the second time in less than a week that you've bought me something and I haven't gotten you anything."

"I can think of a few things you can give me," he said suggestively.

There's a tap at her bedroom window and it startled her. "What the hell," Brooke said as she moved towards the window and pulled back the curtains. She was surprised to see Lucas on the other side, cell phone still in hand.

Brooke hung up the phone and opened the window. "What are you doing here?" She managed to ask as Lucas wrapped his arms around his girlfriend and brought her into a kiss.

"I've missed you," he explained as he pulled away from her.

Brooke smiled at his words and shook her head. "You can't be here Lucas, Peyton could come in any minute."

"That doesn't scare me Brooke," he said, his fingers playing with the material of her pajamas. "It shouldn't bother you either."

Brooke sighed. "But it does Luke. She's really upset."

Lucas made his way across the room to shut her door. He made his way back towards his girlfriend and kissed her again.

"Better?" He questioned.

Brooke pulled at the buttons of his shirt and allowed it to fall to the floor. "Now that's better," she said, leaning up to kiss him again.

"Make love to me," she whispered in his ear.

TBC.
So as of right now, Peyton has realized that it's too late for her and Lucas.

But what about Brooke's insecurities? What happens when she gets a hold of his book?

IF BL ever get together in season six, Brooke needs to face her insecurities or they'll never last.

Hope everyone is still enjoying this story and I will be updating real soon.

Don't forget to review!!