"Luke," Peyton said sitting on the bed, "I can't do it."

He came out of the bathroom and joined her on the bed.

"This is probably going to be the worst day of our lives," he said putting a hand on her knee, "But I want you to know that I am here for you."

"Luke," she stressed, "I can't do it."

"Well you're going to have to try, Peyton," Luke said getting up and walking back into the bathroom.

---

"Good morning guys," Deb said to Haley and Nathan when they walked down for breakfast that morning.

"Morning Deb," Haley said.

"Morning mom."

"Sit down," she said towards the table, "Have some breakfast, then we'll head over to Lucas'."

Haley and Nathan sat down as Deb brought them some orange juice. "It sure is nice to see you back in Tree Hill. Even though is has come to this."

"Well, we're glad to be back. If only for this short time," Haley said.

"Mom," James yelled from around the corner.

"I'm the kitchen Jamie," Haley said as her son came walking in with his tie in his hand.

"Do I have to wear this thing?" he threw the tie at his mother who picked it up of the floor.

"Yes you do," she said trying to put it around his neck.

He backed up before she could put it on him. "James, come here."

"I don't want too," he said then he looked at Nathan, "Daddy?"

"James, please put on the tie," Haley said again with Nathan said nothing, "For Uncle Lucas?"

He quickly stepped forward and allowed his mother to put the tie around his neck and tie it.

"I'm not wearing this for you," he young boy said smartly, "For uncle Luke."

"That's fine baby," she finished and he ran off again.

Haley looked from Nathan to Deb and shrugged. "As long as he's wearing it."

---

"I can't thank you enough for letting us stay here, Karen," Brooke said as they shared a cup of coffee at the dining room table.

"Oh, Brooke," Karen said, "You know you are more than welcome here anytime you need."

"Thank you," Brooke said sipping her coffee, "That means a lot to us."

Karen got up from the table to put her mug in the sink.

"Karen?" Brooke said hesitantly.

Karen turned around.

"I'm sorry we haven't been around here lately, to see Lily," Brooke said looking into her mug, "I guess, until something terrible like this happens, you don't really think about the people you left behind."

"Brooke, no one blames you for getting out of this town as fast as you could. You have a great thing going for you, dear. You're so lucky to have your business and your family."

"Do you miss him?" Brooke asked looking up from her coffee mug, "Keith?"

Karen exhaled slowly. "I don't have the opportunity, to be honest with you, Brooke."

"Every time I look at Lily, I see him. She reminds me so much of him," Karen paused for a minute, "Of course, I miss KEITH, I miss his smile, the way he made me feel. But every time I see her smile, it reminds me that I have to be strong for her, and I am."

"She beautiful, Karen," Brooke said.

Brooke, Karen, Lily, Mouth and Mel walked out of the house a few moments later.

They started to each get in the car. "I think I'm to take a small detour."

Brooke stepped back from the car and smiled.

"Are you sure?" Mouth said, "Babe its ok, if you want to go somewhere first, we'll take you."

"No, really. It's right down the road, I think I'm going to walk," Brooke added when she saw Mouth's worried look, "I'll be fine."

Shut the door and watched the car pull out of the driveway and down the road. When the car disappeared, Brooke walked through the garden and started down the sidewalk.

---

Haley got up to answer the doorbell as Deb brought the dishes to the sink.

"Hey , tutor mom," Brooke said as she walked into the house.

"Oh hey, Brooke," Deb said stepping away from the sink and hugging her.

"Hi, Mrs. Scott," she said with a wide smile.

Haley gasped from the table. "Are we late? Is it time to go?"

"No, no. We still have like 30 minutes before we have to be there," Brooke said waving her hand in the air. "I was just wondering if I could talk to you for a minute, Haley?"

"Oh course, sure," Haley said.

Haley and Brooke began walking through the yard of Debs house and entered the garden.

"So, what's up Brooke?" Haley said as they took a seat on a cement bench in the middle of the yard.

"I just wanted to know how Peyton and Luke are doing," Brooke said turning to Haley.

"We just saw them," Haley said confused, "You were there. Their not doing too good."

"No, tutor mom," Brooke said laughing, "I mean like , How are they doing? You know, as a couple."

"Oh."

"Well, just because you know. I live far away. You lived kind of close to them. I was hoping that maybe you've been a better friend than I have."

"I don't talk to them that often but they're not doing good at all," Haley said shaking her head.

"What do you mean?"

Haley took a deep breathe. "Peyton thinks that Luke is cheating on her."

"You're kidding, right?"

"I wish I was."

"Well," Brooke said, "Is he?"

"It doesn't sound like something he would do," Haley said.

Brooke snorted.

"I just mean that he's changed so much, you know. Like Peyton and the girls really made him grow up fast. He's a different person than he was in high school," Haley defended.

"I sure hope he is. Because if he hasn't changed, he just messed up the best thing that has ever happened to him," Brooke said.

Haley stood up and offered her hands to Brooke. Haley pulled her up and they started walking towards the house.

"We'd better get going or we'll be late," Haley said.

"I don't know how you're late for something that shouldn't even be happening."

---

"I can't do this Luke," Peyton choked. She tried to walk away but Lucas took a firm hold on her arm.

"You have too, Peyton," he said firmly.

"No, I can't," she buried her face in his chest.

He took her by the arms, after hugging her for a moment.

"You have too," he said again, "You have to say goodbye. If you don't, you'll never forgive yourself."

Peyton took a few steps forward to the grave sight, be quickly turned around.

Lucas shook is head, "Don't run away from this."

She took a deep breath in and walked towards the grave.

Before Peyton could say anything, Brooke and Haley walked up beside her and each grabbed one of her hands.

---

After the funeral, everyone went to Peyton and Lucas' house. They gathered in the living room to pay respects to the family.

"I'm going to take you and Ellie shopping tomorrow," Brooke said trying to suppress a smile under her tear soaked cheeks.

"We are going to take you shopping," Haley corrected. She put her arm around Brookes should and hugged her.

"Thank guys," Peyton said, "You have helped more than you know."

"We know P. Scott," Brooke said as she walked closer to her best friend, "But I want you to know that if you ever need anything, I'll be mad at you if you don't call me."

"Yeah," Haley joined them, "Let's not let 5 years come before we see each other again."

Peyton put her arms around her two friends and began to cry again. Just then, Lucas walked into the room and cleared his throat. The three girls looked up from their hug to see Lucas stand with Bevin and Skills.

"Bevin!!!!," Brooke squealed and ran over to her.

"Hey Brooke," she said hugging her.

Haley walked over and hugged Skills and Bevin.

"Yo, Peyton," Skills said making his way over to her, "I'm sorry to hear about what happened. You gunna be alright though, right?"

"Eventually," Peyton hugged him, "Thanks for coming guys."

Bevin and Skills sat in the living room with Nathan and Haley, and Brooke and Mouth.

"Yo Dawg," Skills said, "Mouth, I heard you da biggest pimp in da room, man."

"What?"

"You kickin it wit Brooke Davis, ain'tcha?"

The whole room began to laugh. Mouth grabbed Brookes hand on kissed it.

"Yeah," he smiled, "I guess that was very pimpilicious."

Meanwhile, upstairs, Peyton was sitting on the bed when Lucas walked out of the bathroom.

"Sh She's…gone," Peyton stammered. Lucas walked over to her and took his hands in his. He pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her. He looked deep into her eyes.

"But I'm not."

A singe tear rolled down her face as she leaned in and kissed him.