Author: Selene Romanov
Title: Peace At Last
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I own none of OTH, except for Brandon, since he's my creation.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews, I know this story has kind of wandered away from its original purpose which was Naley. But I will rectify that. I just have to have some closure for Luke and Brandon. As for why Brandon wanted Naley apart, he saw that Luke was close to Haley and he wanted to hurt anything that mattered to Lucas, and Haley was one person. Hope this explains some questions you guys asked.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Lucas pushed Brandon to the ground. "Time for you to die." A murderous rage glittered in his eyes. Raising the wrench to deliver the final blow. Lucas was unprepared for Brandon's kick to his chest.
Lucas fell heavily against the wall, the wrench fell out of his hand and under the bed. Brandon used his arms to lever himself over Lucas. Raising his knife, he looked at the tip and his eyes took on a sadistic glow.
"Time for you to die…………brother, by the same knife that killed our mother. And since my legs are broken, I can pretend to be you." Smiling evilly, Brandon thrust down with the knife.
Lucas grabbed his hand and struggled with him to keep the knife from plunging into his chest. A surreal feeling took over his body and for a second, everything seemed to be in slow motion. He watched himself and Brandon struggle for control of the knife.
Golden light flowed through the window, highlighting the red stains on the silver point of the knife. Blood flowed thickly, his heart pumped fueled by rage, a need to avenge his mother. Closing his eyes, he settled back into his body. A surge of adrenaline gave him a rush of energy enabling him to overpower Brandon.
He leaned over Brandon and plunged the knife into his brother's chest to the hilt. Brandon's body shuddered spasmodically, his arms went limp. His eyes rolled back in his head, his skin paled rapidly, cruel lips darkening to a deathly hue. His body jerked one final time, then he lay still, life leaving his body.
The door flew open. Haley and Nathan stood there, unbelieving of what they saw. One blond man leaned over his twin's body.
**
Red and blue lights flashed, catching the dying light of the sun as it set magnificently over the mountains.
A dark body bag was loaded into the ambulance. Lucas was loaded into another one, Haley and Nathan rode with him.
Lucas lay on the bed, as the ambulance sped to the hospital, he was silent. His eyes were stone cold.
Haley tried to get to talk, but he was silent. Nothing could be prodded from him. Nathan put his arms around her. Haley weakly accepted his warmth and comfort.
Once they were at the hospital, Lucas was put in a different room and checked out by his doctor. He was pronounced fine and left alone.
Haley walked into the room. "Luke are you okay?" Silence greeted her.
"Lucas it's me, can't you talk to me?" tears trailed unnoticed down her cheeks. Cautiously, she reached out to touch his cheek. Lucas turned away from her to look at the white walls.
"Please leave me alone." His words were spoken quietly and with a deadly authority.
Haley backed slowly to the door, willing her best friend to look at her. He didn't move a muscle. Gasping in pain, she closed the door behind her.
Nathan stood in the hall, seeing her reaction, he opened his arms and she walked into them. "Nathan what happened to him, it's as if he's a whole different person."
"He lost his mother and a brother he never knew in one day, how would you react?" Nathan said quietly.
"I don't know, but he's never been so silent before. It's breaking my heart, I've always been able to talk to him and now he's all alone." Haley buried her head against Nathan's chest.
**
The sun rose, greeted by a cold dawn. Birds chirped, flowers bloomed. In one hospital room on the second floor, a young man stared outside at all the beauty and wondered in pain how Mother Nature dare to reveal such beauty and take his mother from him.
"I'll never see her again, and it's all that bastard's fault. How could she not tell me? Why did he have to kill her? Why?" Luke turned his head into his pillow, like an infant seeking its mother breast, finding no comfort.
Emotions warred inside of him, he buried them deep with a vengeance. "Now isn't the time for crying…….I must get better and walk again."
Tentatively, Lucas moved himself so he was sitting on the edge of his bed. Slowly, he eased his weight onto his legs and felt a burning sensation. "I will walk again." His emotions burst free like a waterfall. Tears flowed down his cheek. Tears for losing his mother, for his evil twin brother, and for himself. Yesterday, he had been a boy, today he was a man.
**
Nathan awoke out of a deep sleep, he was leaning back in a plastic chair, his back was numb from the awkward angle, he'd been sleeping in. Gently he moved, trying not to move Haley, who had her head in his lap. Her feet tucked up in the next chair.
Nathan's eyes closed as he remembered the last twenty-four hours. Chaos was one word to describe it, loss was another. His brother had lost his mother and his twin. That was too much pain for one person.
A sudden sight widened his eyes, Keith stood in the hallway, covered head to toe in dirt.
"What happened to you?" Nathan asked.
"I spent last night looking for Luke." Keith looked at Nathan.
"He's in Room 209." Nathan told him. He watched Keith walk down the hall, and disappear into a room.
Looking down at Haley, his heart softened with love. "Haley, time to wake up." Gently, he touched her hair.
"Mom, give me ten more minutes, please." Her drowsy voice echoed in the silent hallway.
"Haley, we're at the hospital."
"Oh god." Haley sat up quickly, touching her hair, then her face. She looked at Nathan. "Look before anything else happens, I have to tell you something."
Bracing himself for the rejection, he tensed up. "I love you."
Nathan blinked twice. "Can you say that again?"
"I love you." Haley repeated it simply.
"Then why did you dump me?" Nathan asked, his tone confused.
"Because the stalker threatened to kill me, if I went near you." Haley said.
Nathan silenced her with a deep tongue-twisting kiss. "Just for the record, I love you too. My sexy Haley."
"Nathan." Pushing at his shoulder, she linked her hand with his. "This is forever."
**
"We are here to honor a person who should not have left so soon." The priest began.
A small crowd stood around a burial plot that contained the casket bearing Karen. As the priest spoke. Lucas looked around the group. Next to him was Keith, clad in dark glasses to shield his pain. Haley and Nathan stood together, a tight unit they were, bound by their love. Peyton stood with her dad, Brooke stood next to them. Dan and Deb stood a little further away. Their heads bowed. Various other people who known her were gathered around the him.
Lucas looked at the casket……You gave me life, your love and I will never forget you……I love you Mom and I will remember you always……..May you rest in peace for eternity. He released a white rose, watching as it slowly descended till it hit the dark mahogany wood that covered the casket.
A glistening tear shone on Haley's cheek, as she remembered all the happy times, she had had at Karen's Café. You were like a second mother to me, I loved you, I will miss you and will remember you. May you be at peace forever.
Dan Scott stood at the end of the plot, a few feet away from his son, Lucas. I can't believe you're gone, Karen, even though we never made peace……….I will miss you and at one time in my life, I did truly love you. May you rest peacefully forever. Closing his eyes, he said a silent prayer for Karen.
**
"It is a time for change," Lucas stood in the middle of the crowd, on his crutches. "I will miss my mother and love her forever. But she wouldn't want us to mourn her forever. Let's go to the café and toast her memory."
Lucas led the pack flanked by Nate and Haley on one side and Keith on the other. The sun shone on them, as they walked out of the cemetery. A peaceful wind rustled through the air.
The End
