Brooke silently entered the cafe. Haley didn't look up.

"Sit anywhere, I'll be right with you."Brooke waited for the other girl to turn towards her. "What can I get- Brooke, Jake's not here." she started to walk away.

"Wait Haley! I wanna talk to you."

"I can't talk to you."

"You just need to listen, ok? Come on, I called ahead. They know you're taking a break." Brooke held Haley's hand as she pulled her outside. Jake was waiting for them. "I've talked everything over with Jake and I know all about 'the plan'. But I'm not mad. I want you to know that." Haley nodded. "Lucas on the other hand is acting liike a two year old."

"I lied to-"

"I don't care. You're his best friend. So you kept one thing from him that ultimatly ended our relationship. You guys love each other, you have to get passed this."

"How are we supposed to do that? He's not talking to me, Tristan or Rory and he barely speaks to his mom these days."

"That's why we're here." Jake explained.

"If he was willing to listen, what would you say?"

"That I-" she noticed something in Jake's hand. "What- Is that a tape recorder?"

"I've been doing my homework; I know you've already tried talking to him, so using Peyton's plan to get us back together won't work with the two of you. I figured I could take your words to him and give it a shot."

"That's really nice, but-"

"So, tell us, what would you say to Lucas, given the chance?" Brooke asked again as Jake extended his arm. Haley hesitated for a moment before taking the small device in her hands and walking a way alittle.

"Luke, I will never be able to express how truely sorry I am for doing things the way I did. But one thing I can not and will not apologise for, is how happy you made me while we were together. You are the one person I could always turn to, no matter what was going on. You're not there no though, because I was an idiot.And the one person who I never expected support from just asked me how she could help us. I know she can't force you to listen to me, but the fact that she just wants to help is more than i could have asked for. Lucas Scott, I love you. I just want to see you smile again."

she stopped the tape and returned to the couple waiting on the hood of Jake's car.

"How'd that feel?"

"I'd feel even better if he was here to listen to me."

"Well he will be soon enouh. I'm sure of it." Brooke replied, putting the tape away.

"Thanks you guys, but I really don't like the chances."

"Tutorgirl, I can be very persausiive."

"It's true." Jake nodded with a small smile.

"I'm sure it is. I should get back to work."

"I'll see you later." Jake called as Haley waved over her shoulder. "So now we go to Lucas?"

"Yeah, about that..." Brooke bit her lip.

"Now I'll drop you at Lucas' and wait for you to call?" Jake rephrased.

"I think it might be better that way, you know?"

"Yeah sure. He doesn't want to see me."

"We'll work that out next I promise." He nodded, they kissed and climbed into the car.

"Hey Luke, have you got a sec?" Brooke asked from his doorway. Lucas looked up from the box in front of him. She saw a picture of Haley fall from his hand onto a pile of random items.

This is not good

"Sure Brooke. What's up?" she entered the room and sat beside him. Before she could speak, he was off the bed, picking up other things to put in the box.

"It's about this actually." she tapped the box with her foot.

"I don't want to talk about it." he replied, closing it up and pushing it under his bed.

"That's too bad, because I do."

"Brooke-"

"No. Lucas, you have to listen to me. I know you love Haley, and she loves you. And I can't let you go on hurting. I talked to her and she has something to say to you."

"I can't beleive you brought her here. Why would you do that?"

"I didn't. Not all of her, just her voice."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"She recorded an apology. Listen to her."

"Was this your idea or Jake's?" she stopped at the door and turned around.

"Mine."

"But you discussed it with him."

"Of course I did. He wants to see you happy just as much as I do."

"Funny way of showing it. How can you trust him after what he did? What they all did?"

"You and I never would have worked Lucas. You knw that. But you and Haley have a really god chance. I watched you guys togrther and you were happy. Why can't you just fiorgive her?" he looked at her but didn't say anything. ""Look, whatever has happened in the past, Jake, Haley and Tristan all care about you. So do I. Just listen to the tape and grow up." she slammed the door on the way out and waite on the back porch for a few minutes until she heard Haley's voice.

"Luke, I will never be able to express how truely sorry..."she walked down the steps and slowly made her way to Jake's.

Lucas listened to Haley's tape four times. Finally he stood up and left the room.

He knew exactly where she would be. /he found her clearing a table at the cafe.

"Got any new jokes?" he asked, coming up behind her. Haley turned around with a confused look on her fac.

"What?" she was completly lost.

"You want a smile, I need a joke." he replied, cracking a small smile.

"You listened to the tape."

"A couple of times, yeah."

"Does that mean you forgive me?" Tristan and Rory entered and stood behind Lucas.

"I'm trying. I do love you. I just don't love the way we started. But life's too short to hold a grudge against someone you love. Which is why I think we should start over."

"Start over how?"

"Haley James, would you like to be my girlfriend?" Haley grinned and threw her arms around Lucas' neck.

"Yes! Definatley." she kissed him softly before turning him around to face his brother and Rory. She left the three of them as she returned to work.

"I've been an idiot you guys. You just wanted to help Haley and I guess in a way you helped everyone, coz Brooke seems happy with Jake too. I'm really sorry for the way I spoke to you Rory." he added before looking at Tristan. "And for not talking to you at all."

Rory smiled. "It's ok."

"Yeah. It's cool. We probably shouldn't-"

"Let's forget it, ok? We'll all just be happy from now on. Deal?"

"Deal." they both nodded and the three of them sat at a table.

"It looks like the war is over." Karen obsereved as she and Lorelai sat at the counter.

"Finally. Rory's been impossible the last few days. Now she can go back to being the perfect daughter."

"She is pretty great isn't she?"

"The best. But Karen, you're boys are-"

"In high scool. I heard bout that game."

"My God! I wasn't serious. All I said was-"

"I'm kidding Lorelai. But, actually, I happen to agree with you. With the right players that game can look pretty good."

"Why, Mrs. Scott I had no idea we had so much in common." they laughed together as their kids sat happily across the room.

I think the story's coming to an end. There will be a couple more chapters, but I'm not sure how many. I've really enjoyed writing this, but I feel like I need a little bit of a break. Hopfully I can get back to the PDLD sequel I was planning.