Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or its characters.

Brooke was in Clothes Over Bros alone, she had her iPod on, blasting through the store. It was opening night and she was touching the place up last minute before the rush of the crowd came in later that night. She was listening to Pictures of You by The Cure, slightly bopping her head and dancing a bit when Peyton walked in with Sawyer in tow.

"You're listening to The Cure?" Peyton asked raising an eyebrow.

Brooke turned around with a smile and placed her hand on her hip. "Hey."

"You never listen to The Cure." Peyton said into Brooke hair as the embraced.

Brooke shrugged her shoulders. "I'm feeling sentimental. And you…" She said looking at Sawyer. "I missed you so much last night."

Sawyer ran and flung her small body into Brooke's welcoming arms. "I missed you too Aunt Brooke."

"Hey, there's a TV in the back room if you want to go watch." Brooke suggested to Sawyer.

She looked to her mother to see if it was alright and Peyton only shrugged. Sawyer ran into the back room without looking back.

"You did great last night. I don't know if I told you, but I'm proud of you." Brooke said seriously to her best friend.

Peyton looked down, her curls falling in front of her face. "Thanks Brooke. You're gonna do great tonight too. I know it."

Brooke smiled but it never reached her eyes. Peyton noticed.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"Victoria. She doesn't think the stores going to make it in Tree Hill." Brooke answered solemnly.

"Victoria doesn't know crap about you or your store." Peyton said pulling her in for a one armed hug. "You're gonna prove her wrong."

"What if I don't? I'm trying to put on this brave face in front of everyone, but what if this store does fail? What if I'm a failure?" Brooke asked getting worked up over nothing.

"Hey look at me. You are Brooke Davis. You had your own clothing line in high school, trust me you're not going to be a failure. If you become a failure what will that make me?" Peyton said trying to make her friend feel better.

"Pretty lame I guess." She chuckled sadly.

"Yeah, really lame." Peyton responded.

-

Haley lay in bed with her arm gently resting atop Jake's chest. She listened to the rhythm of his heartbeat and watched the rise and fall of his chest. After the all age's night they had come back to Haley's apartment, it had been the first time either one of them acted on how they feel for each other.

They stumble into her apartment, lips locked and eyes closed. Haley fumbles around with her keys and her coat as they make their way to her bedroom.

"Do you have to go back tonight?" She asked breathlessly.

Jake looks into her eyes and shakes his head. "Nikki has Jenny for the week."

Haley smiles and grabs his shirt. "Good."

She leads him into her room and shuts the door, as soon as they're inside clothing goes flying. Jake kisses her one last time before pulling away and stopping.

A look of hurt flashes across Haley's eyes before she speaks. "Is there something wrong?"

"No." He answers quickly. "You're beautiful."

She laughs shyly and kisses him gently.

"Are you sure about this?" Jake asks her.

He knows this isn't her first time, and this sure as hell isn't his, but this is their first time together…he needs to be sure that she's sure. It's funny, he feels something that he's never felt before with Peyton and he likes it…maybe it's a crush…but he's pretty sure it's love.

She knows why he's asking, he's a gentlemen. They've both had sex before, that much is obvious, but this is their first time together and he wants to make sure she's sure, it's sweet. She likes this feeling, the butterflies in her stomach, the urge to giggle and jump around…this is different from what she had with Nathan…maybe it's easier, maybe it's not, either way she's pretty sure she's in love.

"I'm sure." She answers as he lowers her to the bed and kisses her passionately; a perfect end to a perfect night.

"This is nice." She said quietly.

Jake looked down at her and smiled contently. "Yeah it is."

She sighed. She knew what was happening next, the all age's night is over and Jake has to go back to Savannah. He's left Jenny in Nikki's care for long enough and needs to get back to his daughter.

"You alright?" He asked.

"Yeah. It's…it's just …I don't want you to go. I mean, I… I know you have to but I don't want you to." Haley admitted.

"I don't want to leave either Haley, but I have Jenny and I can't leave her." Jake said with a sigh.

"I know, and I don't want you to…but…" She said sitting up. "What if you brought her here?"

"What?" He asks incredulously.

She tucks some hair behind her ear. "Yeah, you could, um…bring Jenny here. She'll have Sawyer to keep her company and you could find a job in town. It could work." She says hopefully.

"Haley, it's just not as simple as that." Jake answers getting up from the bed.

Haley sighs. "Jake, we can make it that simple."

He walks over to the bed and gently runs his hand through her hair and down the side of her face. "I like you Haley, and I know I could fall in love with you. But I have Jenny to think about. I can't just uproot her from the place she's called home her whole life."

"What if I go with you?" She asks.

"I can't let you do that." He says shaking his head. "You have a life here…and family and they need you, just like Jenny needs me."

Tears are threatening to escape her eyes and she's not too sure why. She shakes her head in a desperate attempt to hide them. "Someday, right?" She asks, referring to his song.

"Yeah, we'll get our someday." Jake answers.

-

It's been a long night and Nathan hasn't spent much time with his brother. He may have overreacted last night at Tric and never really apologized. So he comes strolling into Lucas's bedroom with sweats on and a basketball in hand.

"Luke." He yells, opening the blinds.

Lucas's sleeping form stirs from the bed and raises the covers over his face.

"Luke man, get up." Nathan laughs.

Lucas lifts his head, he squints and Nathan. "What are you doing here?"

"Wake up, were going to the River Court." He answered, turning his back on Luke and walking out the door.

After Luke gets ready they head over to the River Court. Lucas dribbles the basketball on the asphalt as Nathan looks on from the bleachers.

"So, if you can't play…" Lucas says as he runs and shoots. "…then why did you come and wake me up?"

Nathan gets up and chases after the ball.

"To apologize." Nathan huffed.

"For what?" Lucas asked, both hands on his hips breathing heavily.

"Being a dick." He shrugged. "I was an ass last night at Tric."

"Nah. Man, don't even worry about it…it's not my business, Sawyer's your daughter and you make all the decisions." He said brushing it off.

"But you're right." Nathan says tossing the ball into the hoop with his good hand. "I'm allowing my mom to get to know her, why shouldn't I let Dan."

"Well for one he's Dan…but you lived with Dan your whole life, you know him best…and yeah he's done some horrible things, but Sawyer deserves to know her Grandfather." Lucas said almost choking on the words.

Nathan threw the basketball angrily. "But its Dan!" he yelled. "That's what makes this so frustrating."

"Nate. Whatever you choose, I'll support you…even if I don't agree with you." He promised his brother.

"First to score 10 wins." Nathan said checking the ball at Lucas.

-

It was a big night last night for Deb Scott, for the first time in years a five year old child occupied her night. Between movies and snacks Deb had her work cut out for her and now she was cleaning up the mess. After vacuuming the rug in the living room she went on to wash the dirty cups and dishes in her kitchen sink.

And then there was a knock on her door.

She put down the cup and flung the dish rag over her shoulder as she opened the door.

"Dan." She said.

"Is Sawyer still here?" He asked peering inside her home.

"No, Peyton picked her up an hour ago…what do you want, I have things to do." Deb asked impatiently.

"You mean pills to pop?" Dan questioned snidely.

"Very funny. Are we done?" She said with her hands on her hips.

"Not even close." He responded with a smile.

As Dan said that Nathan and Lucas walked up to the door.

"Is there a problem Mom?" Nathan asked his mother as Lucas stood there with a defensive stance.

"Oh, Nathan. No, there's no problem, your father's just leaving." Deb answered.

"Lucas." Dan said nodding his head at his eldest son.

Lucas rolled his eyes and cocked his head in the opposite direction of Dan.

"Nathan." He said acknowledging his youngest. And Nathan ignored him completely, focusing on his mother.

"Dan, you can leave now." Deb said loudly.

"How are Peyton and her daughter? Which one of my sons is Miss Sawyer dating now?" Dan questioned.

Nathan got all fired up when Dan brought up Peyton, and so did Lucas.

"Dan, you should go." Lucas said through his teeth.

"Oh am I hitting a nerve?" he teased.

"Leave!" Nathan shouted.

Dan laughed, turned around and left, leaving his two sons standing there with his ex-wife.

"I'm sorry." Deb says shaking her head.

"Does he stop by often?" Nathan asked his emotions still high.

"Not…not really. Uh, he came by last night." She replied.

Nathan and Lucas looked at each other.

"Did he do anything to Sawyer?" He asked.

"No, he um…he gave her a hug and uh said 'Grandpa loves you'…but I made him leave Nathan I swear." Deb told him.

Nathan ran his hand through his short hair in frustration.

"I'm sorry Nathan."

"It's fine Mom. Would you be able to watch Sawyer again tonight? I'll pick her up before midnight." Nathan asked.

"Yeah, of course. What's going on tonight?" She questioned the guys.

"Brooke's store opening." Lucas answered.

"Oh how nice." Deb said sincerely. "Good for her, she'll be fine."

"She may appreciate hearing that from you. She's been doubting herself." Luke informed Deb.

"I'll stop by…where is it?" She asked.

"Karen's Café."

Deb smiled. "I'll go see her."

-

Peyton and Brooke sat and chatted on the couch inside Clothes Over Bros and Sawyer sat in the back room watching TV. It's been a while since the two of them actually hung out alone, and even though they still weren't alone, it was better than nothing. Between Peyton being with Nathan and Brooke sleeping over Lucas's house they haven't seen much of each other.

"I miss you buddy." Brooke said randomly, her head resting on her hand.

"I've missed you too…God, it seems like we haven't hung out in years." Peyton said.

"I know. We have boyfriends now." She smiled like a teenager.

"We have boyfriends now." Peyton laughed.

"How's it goin with you and Nathan?" She asked her best friend.

"It's goin." Was her response.

Brooke furrowed her eyebrows. "What's that mean?"

Peyton sighed. "I don't know. Last night at Tric when Haley was singing…they way he looked at her and the thing he said."

"What did he say?" Brooke pried.

"It's nothing, I'm probably overreacting."She said waving her hands.

"Peyton, what did he say?" Brooke asked again.

"I said something like, 'Oh, Haley sounds great' and he said 'Haley always sounds great'." Peyton answered with a frown.

"Honey, he was probably just reminiscing. Haley and Chris were there singing, and that's what caused their divorce…and Jake was there too. I know you had to be thinking things too." Brooke said.

"I know, and that's why I'm overreacting." Peyton said sitting up straighter.

"He loves you Peyton. He doesn't want Haley…he wants you." She said putting a hand in her knee.

"I know…and I don't want Jake…or Lucas." Peyton added.

Brooke smiled. "Well I would hope not."

The door opened and the bell rang. The girls heard that clanking on heels hitting the hardwood floor; they faced the door and noticed Deb.

"Hey!" Peyton said greeting Deb.

"Hey Peyton." She replied.

"Deb! Hey, what are you doing here?" Brooke asked getting up from her seat to greet the older woman.

"Lucas told me you're opening your own store…I figured I drop by and check it out before it opens." Deb explained.

"It's good to see you. How've you been?" Brooke asked leading her to the couch.

"I've been good. I'm sober now and have my family back. How about you?" She asked.

"I'm good. Lucas and I are back together, I'm opening my own store. Life is good." Brooke replied.

Sawyer stepped out of the back room and was cradling her broken arm. Peyton immediately got up and ran over to her daughter.

"What's wrong baby?" She asked her gently.

"My arm is bothering me." She said with a pout.

"Okay, you want to go home and take a nap for a bit?" Peyton suggested.

"Mmmm humm." Sawyer answered nodding her head.

Peyton lifted her from the ground and placed a protective hand on her back.

"Her arm's bothering her. I'm gonna head home...I'll see you later Brooke." Peyton said.

"Okay P. See ya later."

"Bye Deb." Peyton said walking over to hug her future mother-in-law.

"Bye, you can drop her off at my house whenever." Deb informed her.

Peyton looked at her in confusion.

"Nathan said you needed me to watch her tonight for the store opening." She said.

"Oh...oh okay. See ya." Peyton said waving one last time before leaving.

Once Peyton left, Deb knew she can finally ask Brooke the questions she came here to ask.

"How are you really doing Brooke?" Deb asked sympathetically.

Brooke smiled and cocked her head. "What are you talking about?"

"Anything. How do you feel about the store opening, how do you feel about Lucas. I'm here if you want to talk." She said in a motherly tone.

"I'm nervous." Brooke admitted.

"About what?"

"Everything." she said throwing her hands up. "I'm nervous about the store doing well....and I'm nervous about falling too hard for Lucas because it hurt so bad the last time, and then there's Peyton and Sawyer."

"What about Peyton and Sawyer?" Deb questioned.

"I'm scared I'm going to lose them. Nathan is back in their lives and I'm scared...I'm scared they aren't going to need me anymore." Brooke said wiping a stray tear that fell from her eye.

"Brooke, I..I know I'm not your mother, but I'm proud of you." She told the brunette fashionista. "Your store is going to do fine, you are going to do fine. And call it a mothers intuition, but Nathan and Peyton are very much in love, and I saw it in Lucas's eyes that he is very much in love with you...you don't have to worry about that."

"Thanks Deb. I really needed to hear that." She said shaking her head.

"And as for Peyton and Sawyer, I have a feeling that they are always going to need you. You took care of them while my son became his father. So thank you." Deb said resting her hand on Brooke's knee.

Brooke shrugged her shoulders. "I'd do it again in a heart beat."

-

Haley sat on her bed and watched as Jake put on his coat, a muffled sigh escaped her lips.

"What's wrong?" Jake asked noticing her mood.

"It's nothing." Haley said brushing it off. She stood from the bed and slipped on her shoes. "You can't stay for Brooke's store opening? I know she would love it if you came....I would love it if you came."

Jake licked his lips and sighed. "I'll call Nikki and ask if she can keep Jenny one more night."

Haley smiled, she went up on her tippy-toes and kissed him softly on the cheek.

"I meant it when I said that I could fall in love with you Haley James." He whispered.

"Oh....I could fall in love you too." She whispered back.

-

Peyton entered her childhood home with her daughter in her arms. It has been a rough month and the madness is finally starting to die down. She brings her sleeping daughter upstairs and places her gently into her bed. What was going through her mind last night when Jake was singing, why did she think of the things she did? The All Age's Night was successful and that's all that matters, they made a great amount of money and everyone loved the performances. Tonight is Brooke's turn to shine and she is going to help her best friend make it the most memorable night ever.

Okay, not my best work, but I hate not posting for weeks at a time. So this is chapter 25...read & review. =)