Lucky and Unlucky Enough To Be Halfway There

~If you're lucky you can get a second chance with the one you love. Sometimes luck isn't enough. (Carol Black and Neal Marlens)

"Hey," Brooke rolled over to find a pair of ocean blue eyes gazing at her as he stroked her hair. "Good morning," she smiled, her dimples in full effect.

"Good morning," he leaned over to kiss her lips softly. "How'd you sleep?"

"Really good," she sat up on her elbow. "I missed you last night; what time did you get in?"

"Pretty late," he smiled apologetically. "When I called I thought I'd be there maybe another hour but we really got to brainstorming."

"So you've decided you're going to do it then?" she asked.

"Yeah I mean," he rubbed the back of his neck self consciously, his apprehensive eyes meeting hers. "You're still okay with this right?"

"Luke, of course I am." She reached over to touch his arm gently, flashing him another one of her trademark smiles. "I'm really happy for you; even though I know you're nervous I can see how excited you are about this." She sat up fully now. "So tell me all about it; who is this guy? What's he like?"

Lucas sat up as well. "He seems to relate to the story which is great. He gets the way I feel when I step on the River Court and he seems to really understand both you and Peyton." He gave her a grin. "Truth be told, I think he has a little crush on the brunette of the story."

"Who?" she quirked an eyebrow. "Nate?"

Lucas laughed. "I'll tell him you said that." He watched her giggle. "He says your character is why he relates to the book. I think you'll like him." He paused briefly. "I-I never really dreamed that someday they'd be making one of my books a movie."

"So it's a done deal then?" she asked excitedly.

"Yeah," Lucas replied. "We signed all the papers last night and he's going to meet us in Tree Hill tomorrow so he can take it all in. It looks like I'll be adding screen play writer to my résumé soon."

"Wow Luke, I'm so proud of you." Brooke looked up at him. "So, what's this fancy producer's name anyway?"

"Julian Baker," Lucas said before deadpanning as he saw her face go blank. "What? Brooke, what is it?"

"Nothing," she shook her head as she let out an ironic laugh. "What is it with all of us and these love triangles or squares or whatever the hell this has become now," she furrowed her brows and pursed her lips as she thought about it. "Pentagram perhaps… well, if you add in Nathan and Haley because of previous relationships and are we counting Lindsay…" she trailed off to herself as she started counting on her fingers.

"What exactly are you saying?" he looked at her, amused. "Wait," his face turned serious. "Did you date this guy Julian?"

"Me?" she pulled back with a shake of her head, laughing once again. "Oh no, try your other lead Broody." She watched his face as realization dawned on him. "Yeah, Julian Baker is none other than P. Sawyer's ex from LA."

Peyton sat in her studio, listening to a demo she'd be sent by one of the aspiring artists who wanted to be signed to her label. She nodded her head to the music, glancing over the name once again that accompanied the cd.

"…Shadows overcast me,
Stealing all the pain.
I am left here waiting.

When I'm almost halfway to the top,
Will you hold me up before I drop.

Cause something always makes us stop,

Halfway…"

As she listened to the melodic words drift through the speakers, the somewhat eerie feeling of the music behind them, Peyton was reminded of her current situation. She wasn't sure what it was but something was causing Jake to distance himself from her. It had always been that way for them, climbing to the top and suddenly finding herself alone because life had found a way to draw them apart through battles with Nicki over Jenny and whispers in her sleep but now, she had no idea what it was.

"Hey," she looked up to find the object of her thoughts standing in the doorway.

"Hey," she smiled tentatively, hoping somehow he hadn't caught it.

"What are you listening to?" he walked slowly in to the room, closing the door behind him.

"Just a new artist," Peyton shrugged before turning the cd off. "Her name is Adrienne Frantz."

"She's good," he said as his eyes drifted around the room.

"Yeah, she is." Peyton spoke before an uncomfortable silence washed over them. "Look Jake," she began after it was too much to take, standing up and coming around her desk. "I know you're a good guy…"

"O-kay," he said slowly, peering at her strangely.

"Please just let me finish," she shook her blonde curls. "I know you're a good guy and that when you said all those things to me during the tornado you meant them but I'll understand Jake if you don't mean them now."

"What?" he stepped forward.

"I can feel you pulling away from me," she replied. "I just can't go through dragging something out again that the other person feels is already over so Jake, if you want out…"

"No, Peyton." He interrupted her as he moved to stand in front of her, grabbing her by the shoulders. "God Peyton, I'm sorry. I know I've been distant lately and I'm so sorry but I love you, you have to know that."

She let out the breath she didn't even realize she was holding before her eyes slowly met his. "Then, what is it?"

"It's my dad," he shook his head. "He's been going through some stuff and he's really been leaning on me." Jake paused briefly. "I just didn't want to lay all this on you and worry you after everything you've been through." He shook his head with a small smile. "It looks like I did the opposite."

"Oh Jake, I'm so sorry." She looked down at the floor. "Now I feel really stupid."

"You're not stupid Peyt, not even close." He put a hand under her chin, tilting her face upwards. "I love you Peyton."

"I love you too," she replied before his lips meet hers in a deep and sensual kiss. Her hands seemed to have a mind of their own as they traced up his abs to the middle of his chest, her fingers nimbly undoing the buttons on his shirt.

"Peyt," he pulled back slight, murmuring against her lips. "Are you sure? I mean, if you want to wait."

She shook her head. "I want to love you with everything I have; my whole heart, my soul, my body." The smile on her face reached her fierce green eyes. "Jake, haven't we waited long enough?"

His response was given only by the crash of his lips against hers as he moved their bodies towards the couch, falling on to it in a frenzy of tangled limbs and ardent kisses.

Nathan sat at the kitchen table, glancing between his mother and long time friend before looking over at his wife who seemed to mirror his expression. "Unbelievable," it was the fourth time he'd said it yet the word still seemed to fit. He looked back at the culprits. "When is it ever going to end with you two; every time I turn around it's something else." Nathan shook his head, realizing somewhere along the way he'd become his mother's parent. "It's the two of you that are giving us gray hair, not Jamie."

"I do not have gray hair," Haley said firmly before receiving a pointed look from her husband. "Look, Nathan is right. We love you both but the decisions you make are so rash. You're going to have a baby soon."

"Exactly," Skills hopped in. "We wanted to be married before our daughter is born."

"This isn't exactly my first time down the parent highway Haley," Deb huffed. "Look, I know that sometimes I seem a little out there but I'm a responsible person; I'm great with Jamie and I'm a good mom."

"I know that," Nathan said. "It's just... it's weird, alright. Your my mom and Skills, I went to school with him. It's weird."

"I know it seems that way man but we love each other, we really do. People thought you two were crazy too but it worked cause it was real. What Deb and I have, it's real." Skills looked to Haley. "Can't you guys just be happy for us?"

She turned to look at Nathan briefly before exhaling. "You know what; if you both are happy then that's all the matters."

"Really?" Deb asked, her eyes focused on her son.

"You know what mom, yeah." Nathan nodded. "I only want you to be happy and if this is what's going to do it, then I'm, I'm on board. Just, no more surprises." He shook his head at her.

"Thank you," she stood up and immediately enveloped him in a hug. "Thank you honey."

"You're welcome," he said before giving Skills a familiar handshake. "Welcome to the family."

"Thanks Nate," he replied. "I really appreciate this. I want us to get back to really being friends man."

"Yeah," he nodded. "Me too."

"Well we should get going," Deb said. "We're going to check out the old house; see what needs to be done."

Nathan nodded as Skills went to hug Haley. "Thank you babygirl."

"Yeah well someone once told me the only people that tear happy people down are unhappy so I got your back," she smiled, "always."

"We'll see you two later," Deb smiled once more as they walked out the door.

"Your mom," she laughed. "Your mom and Skills are married and having a baby…"

"I know right," he shook his head, laughing as well. "It's just… weird."

"Bizarre," she nodded.

"And now they're going to live in the house I grew up in," he threw his arm around his wife. "They do seem really happy though."

She nodded. "I know; they're actually kind of cute," she scrunched her face up. "Weird, but cute."

"Like your poncho," he replied with a short laugh.

"Are you ever going to let that go?" she looked up at him.

"Not a chance." He paused briefly. "So Mrs. Scott, after that what would you say to going out? I could really use a drink after that."

"I say hell yes," she laughed.

Rachel walked inside the apartment, smiling at the sight of Owen and Oriana sprawled out across the floor over coloring books, crayons in hand.

"Hey guys," the red head smiled as she shut the door behind her. "What are you guys up to?"

"Hey Rach," Owen looked up from the page in front of him.

"Hi Rachel," Oriana smiled brightly. "Look what Owen got me." She held up her coloring book proudly before pointing at the other. "And he got me some books too."

"Wow," Rachel said as she sat down next to her as she shifted through the books. "Where'd you guys go?"

"There was a children's book fair downtown," Owen replied. "I'm surprised you didn't hear about it when you went into Clothes Ova Bro's. How'd it go?"

"Great," she nodded. "But I don't want to talk about work," she turned to her daughter. "Did you have fun at the book fair?"

"Oh yes," she nodded happily. "There was this guy there who told stories. He was really old; maybe even fifty and he did the best voices. When he was the princess he smiled like this," she grinned happily. "And when he was the bad man, he scrunched his face up like this." She demonstrated once again.

"It sounds great," Rachel looked at Owen and smiled. "I'm glad you two had such a good time."

"I did," the little girl's face suddenly went from happy to pensive.

"Hey Ori, what is it?" Owen asked, concern written all over his face.

"It's just, I don't want Aunt Casey to feel sad because I'm having fun here," she answered softly.

"Hey kiddo, she's not going to be sad if you're happy. She loves you and people who love you want you to be happy," he paused to hit her nose with his index finger. "Okay?"

"Okay," she nodded. "Do you think I can call her tonight, to make sure; maybe after dinner?"

Owen looked at Rachel, unsure what the answer should be.

"Of course," Rachel nodded. "Speaking of, something smells good. What is that?"

"Spasketti Bologna," Oriana answered proudly.

"Spaghetti Bolognese squirt," Owen corrected with a laugh, already in love with the little girl he hadn't even known existed several months ago.

"Sounds good," the red head smiled. "So, whose gonna share their coloring book with me?" she lay down on the carpet besides her daughter as the little girl pushed the book towards her.

"I'm sitting here with Clothes Ova Bro's creator, CEO, and fashion icon Brooke Davis," Barbara Walters said as they started the interview. "As she fills us in on her new line, her mother Victoria Davis, the new direction her personal life has taken, and shares a story she's never told the public until now. Welcome Brooke."

"Thank you Barbara," she smiled warmly.

"Now, there is a lot of controversy surrounding your mother at this time and her guilty plea." The older blonde leaned towards her guest. "Was that something you expected her to do?"

"That's a hard question," Brooke replied. "Yes and no; I guess I knew she'd want to take responsibility for what she did."

"She was sentenced to four years in prison," the interviewer stated. "Some say that the term is too little; do you agree? Do you feel your celebrity as well as hers played a part in that?"

"Absolutely not; and as for the amount of time, that's not for me to decide," the brunette answered. "The only thing I can say is that once The DA and Judge reviewed the case, that was the sentence they believed fit. It's also not an uncommon sentence."

"Now there were some published reports that the victim was the man who broke into your store late last year," she queried. "We've heard that the store was empty at the time."

"Yes, he was the man that broke in." Brooke nodded before taking a deep breath, "But he was not the only one in the store. I was there that night... for all of it."

"Okay," Barbara nodded. "Take us back to that nigh in early September. What were you doing?"

"I'd let my employee go home a little early and I'd just gotten done unpacking a new shipment," she explained. "I was jotting something down right before I was going to leave when I heard my door open. I thought it was a late customer coming to pick up an outfit or something; I didn't even look up at first. I just said we're closed."

"And when you did look up?" she asked.

"I found a man in a ski mask standing there," she shuddered at the thought, her eyes began to water. "I tried to just give him the money but he charged towards me." She had to stop as she chocked back tears.

Barbara immediately handed her a box of tissues. "Do you need a minute?" she watched the brunette shake her head in the negative as she wiped at her eyes. "Tell us what happened next."

"We, " she paused briefly as she pulled herself together, "we struggled, fought; and then he pulled out a knife and he began..." Brooke let out a sob before looking up, "he raped me."

Barbara reached over to reach out a comforting hand. "And you lost consciousness how many times during the attack?" she of course already knew the details.

"Twice I believe," she reached up to wipe away a stray tear.

"So you've been beaten and robbed, lying unconscious on the floor of one of your stores." She summarized. "What happens next?"

"I eventually wake up and I call my mother who immediately begins damage control," Brooke answers.

"Damage control," she repeats. "What kind of injuries do you have at this point? I think we have some photos that were taken."

"I hate lots of bruises, a deep cut in my forehead, busted lip, my eyes were swollen shut, shallow cuts from the knife, a couple fractured ribs," she lists off as the teleprompter shows pictures of her injuries.

"And with these horrific injuries, you're thinking about damage control?" she asked, shocked.

"My company is my baby," she replied. "My first thought was how I protect my baby from the tabloids. I know it may not sound rational but that's where my mind was at the time."

"And so you let your mother make a statement that no one was hurt," she surmised.

"Yes," the brunette nodded. "You have to understand that after something like that, you're not thinking clearly. You feel incredibly alone and guilty, ashamed, dirty. You don't… at least I didn't know how to share that with anyone, much less the public."

"But you've chosen to share it now," Barbara said.

"I'm in a different place now, thanks to the amazing people I have in my life." Brooke replied. "It's important to me to tell my story so that if there's someone feeling as alone as I was maybe they'll feel a little less lonely. We have to realize that we don't have to be victims; that we can be survivors and that starts by breaking the silence."

Nathan and Haley strolled down the walkway, finding themselves near a familiar bench.

"Oh my gosh Nate," Haley pointed. "Look at where we are?"

"It's where you used to tutor me," he laughed. "It's also where I gave you that Cracker Jack bracelet."

"You were so cute then," she snuggled up to him. "Can you believe it's been seven years?"

"Feels like it's been longer and shorter than that, if that makes any sense." He shrugged. "Did you ever think we'd get here back then?"

"No way," she shook her head with a laugh before bumping him with her hip. "I guess somewhere deep inside I always knew though."

"Yeah," he nodded. "Me too."

"You have something else on your mind husband?" she looked over at him.

"I guess I'm just thinking about the scouts," he said, "When I'll be called up. Tony Bishop got an offer to play overseas."

"And is that something you'd want to do?" she asked.

He let out a deep breath. "Leaving Tree Hill is one thing but the continent is another. I just don't know. I told Bobby I wasn't interested in any offers like that."

"Well you can always tell him you changed your mind," Haley said.

"You'd want to do that?" he raised a brow at his wife. "Just pick up and move to a foreign country?"

She twirled herself in front of him, stopping him in his tracks so she could look up into his eyes. "Nathan, if that's what would make you happy then yes, I would follow you anywhere. But if you don't, if you want to wait for The NBA then I'm fine with that too."

"I just don't know how much longer I can wait," he said frustratingly.

"Just think of how fantastic it will be to finally get there when you do," her eyes were warm and soft, just like her encouraging voice. "You're almost there Nathan; I can feel it. You just have to have some patience."

"You always know what to say," he smiled down at her before giving her a soft kiss.

"Mmm," Peyton stretched before leaning her chin on Jake's chest to look up at him, her green eyes glistening at him. "Today has been very productive."

"Yes it has," he ran a hand through her golden tresses. "I hate to leave…"

"But you have to go pick up Jenny," she finished for him. "It's okay Jake."

"Yeah my dad's got this thing tonight and my mom's going with him," he explained. "But I was thinking dinner..."

"Dinner sounds great," she sat up, reaching for her clothes as he did the same. "I have to stop at home and shower but then we can meet up; you, me, and Jenny."

"I'm sure she'll love that," he said while pulling up his pants. "We can go to that Thai place off of Marstellar Street."

"Okay," she smiled before giving him a quick kiss. "I'll see you later."

She watched Jake leave before grabbing a few papers she planned on taking home tonight along with the CD she was listening to earlier before heading out of Red Bedroom Records and locking up.

"See 'ya later Chase," she waved to the fill in bartender.

"See you tomorrow," he said before he went to serve two female patrons.

"Peyton," a gruff, snarky voice called out to her. "Peyton Sawyer; now what are the chances?" He gave her his signature grin the minute she turned around. "You look even more beautiful than I remember."

"Julian?" the blonde's eyes went wide, her heart sinking to the stomach as every moment of their life together seemed to come back to her. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"…Christina put the beautiful new doll in a corner of her room. Then she crept downstairs as picked up dear old Lucy. She took Lucy up to bed and held her tighter than ever until they both fell asleep." Rachel finished reading and closed the book. "The end." She looked down at her daughter. "What'd you think?"

"She's been sleeping for about five minutes now," Owen whispered from the doorway.

"Why didn't you tell me," Rachel said quietly as she got off the bed and pulled the covers up, bending over to give her Oriana a kiss.

"I didn't want to ruin the moment," he replied before kissing their sleeping child on the forehead and looking back over at the redhead. "The two of you together… it just looked right."

She smiled at him before ushering him out. "We should let her sleep." Rachel cracked the door before they made their way to the living room. "Who would have ever thought you and me would be parents?"

"Yeah," he nodded as he sat in the chair. "I never even wanted kids but when I look at her Rach…"

"I know," she agreed before they both turned at the sound of the intercom being buzed. "Who the hell would be coming over." She went to the small white box and pressed the button. "Yes."

"Ms. Gattina, someone has left something at the front desk for you, I signed for it." Raul from the front desk spoke.

"Okay, send it up." Rachel replied before heading to the kitchen to grab a drink. "You want something?"

"No," he shook his head. "What do you think that's about?"

"Probably something from C/B," she answered unfazed before going to the door at the knock. "Thank you," she said as she received the envelope and then closed the door, scrunching at the name of some law office. "I've never heard of these people before."

Owen stood up immediately, making his way to her as she opened the letter and read over it quickly, water bottle still in hand.

"Oh my god!" she said as the bottle seemed to fall from her hand in slow motion, the water pouring out all over the floor. "No," she shook her head.

"Rachel baby, what is it?" his eyes were glued to her as he grabbed her by the shoulders.

"It's my Aunt Casey," her liquid caramel orbs staring up into his chocolate ones. "She wants our baby; she's suing us for custody of Ori."

"It's going to be okay Rachel," he pulled her against him. "No one's going to take Orianna from us again."

"Lucas," Brooke called from the front door. "Come on; we're going to be late." She tapped her foot impatiently.

"Coming," he yelled from the back bedroom. He couldn't believe he'd almost left it here but he and Brooke hadn't spent a minute apart since her interview and there was no way he was going to pack it away with her around.

"If we miss this flight Lucas I am going to kill you," she huffed. "We need to get there before Julian does tomorrow and warn her. Plus, I want to be out of the city by the time the interview hits or it's going to be insane."

"I know," he said as he open the black velvet box, looking at the 3ct. Tacori princess cut diamond with ruby accent stones on a white gold band. "I think I got it." He said as he shut the lid before shoving the small box inside his computer bag.

"You found you watch," relief washed over her face as he stepped into the living room.

"Yeah, he smiled as he turned off the lights, shutting the door behind them. "I definitely found it again."

Carol Black and Neal Marlens wrote, "Sometimes to keep growing together, you have to grow apart. If you're lucky you can get a second chance with the one you love. Sometimes luck isn't enough. Love can kill you. It can tear you apart. But it can bring you back together. Love is unpredictable, you have to go with your heart and hope for the best."