Title: The Best Deceptions

By: Kat

Chapter Title: When History Repeats Itself

Rating: PG 13

Pairings: Lucas/Brooke, Nathan/Haley, Peyton/Jake and then some.

Timeline: Set four years after How Can You Be Sure?

Disclaimer: I own nothing of One Tree Hill.

Author's Notes: I have never been to North Carolina but I am going to assume it snows there.

Chapter Summary: Brooke is home and still fighting her fears, Nathan feels like his world is in ruins and Lucas is still clueless.

Tree Hill, North Carolina

Two Days Later

There was a pained, slightly terrified look on Nathan's face when he picked Brooke and the boys up at the airport. Brooke immediately recognized it as the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that had stayed ever since Nathan called her.

I'm just better at hiding my feelings. Brooke noted as she and Nathan shared a hug in the crowded baggage claim area. "What is it?" She immediately asked; her voice hoarse and tired.

"Everything's falling apart." Nathan mumbled darkly as Ben outstretched his arms, indicating that he wanted to be held by the older man. Nathan casually pulled him out of Brooke's hold before fondly tousling Cole's dark hair.

The little boy grinned at him and hugged his leg.

Her mind immediately went to Lucas but Brooke stopped herself. "Is it Peyton? Is she-?"

"No. It's everything, Brooke." He replied, angry. "Let's get your bags."

Brooke merely nodded and over half an hour later, her suitcases where in the trunk, the boys were buckled in the back of Nathan's car and they were driving deeper into Tree Hill.

"I'm thinking we'll be here for at least four days if everything goes according to plan, a week at the most." Brooke finally broke the uneasily silence as they entered their old, still well-to-do neighborhood. "I just want to get everything over with and go back to my life." She looked strained, edgy from the thought of having to face Lucas and everyone in Tree Hill again.

What life? Nathan wanted to challenge her. You're alone in your empty house and you pretend that revolving your life around the boys will keep you happy forever.

"I'm sorry about your parents." Nathan said, his eyes on the road.

Brooke nodded, continuing. "Yeah, me too." I didn't know them. They were never there. "What happened, Nate? What happened after you told Haley?"

He shrugged; his shoulders tense, his forehead set on a scowl. "I didn't tell her."

Brooke looked momentarily relieved. "Oh. Thanks."

"It wasn't about you, Brooke." He suddenly snapped. "Not everything is about you, you know."

His voice was harsh and Brooke frowned slightly but did not argue with him. She was finally accustomed to his moodiness, after years of knowing him, and she usually appreciated Nathan's bluntness.

"Okay, something must have happened."

Nathan sighed, shaking his head in dismay. "I was going to tell her but Haley kept cutting me off. She said might be pregnant. Seven tests said yes but she wants a doctor's confirmation." He declared. "She was so happy and I couldn't hurt her. I couldn't do that to her."

Brooke blinked, stunned. "If you want, I won't say anything." She whispered hesitantly, glancing at Ben who was sleeping.

He scoffed at her bitterly. "It doesn't matter what I want. If I don't tell Haley, she'll figure the truth out later and she'll never forgive me. But if I tell her now, there's a good chance she'll pull a Brooke Davis."

"Ouch." Brooke flinched.

"Sorry." He said ruefully. "I just…I can't lose Haley. But I don't want to be my father. Deny one son and love the other, if you could call how he acted towards me as love."

Brooke nodded, remembering a conversation between her and Nathan two years ago. "I don't want you to make any promises. In fact, I don't expect you to do anything." She had said. "But if you treat my son like your father treated your brother, you know I will kill you, right?"

Nathan just smiled wistfully and asked if he could hold Ben.

Brooke bit her bottom lip, snapping out of the memory. "Haley loves you. She will understand." She drawled quietly.

"Yeah, you love Lucas. Look at you now." He was bitter again, probably even angry with Brooke for all the wrong choices that she made. In a way, they were exactly alike and if Brooke could not be saved, then Nathan was hopeless.

"Loved." Brooke corrected, bristling at the mention of Lucas's name. "And we're not talking about me."

Nathan shot her a dubious look but did not press on. "Haley used to joke about it, you know. She said, 'if you have a child out there, you better tell me now.' It wasn't funny."

"No." Brooke murmured.

"Peyton woke up again today and asked if you were coming." Nathan quickly changed the subject, noticing that the tension in the car had gotten so thick if was almost suffocating. "I told her you were."

Brooke nodded silently as they turned into the Davis's driveway. "And I will before I leave Tree Hill."

"No, Brooke, you're going to see her today." Nathan insisted as they stepped out of the car and began unbuckling the boys.

She scowled at him stubbornly. "No. I have funeral arrangements to take care of, Nathan, and who's going to watch Cole and Ben?" She argued.

"I'm going to watch them while you do what you have to but we're dropping them off with my Mom later. You can see Peyton and I can try to somehow save my relationship with Haley." Nathan declared as they entered the Davis house.

Brooke looked slightly startled. "Your mom?" She echoed, feeling slightly panicked. If Deb knew, then she would have told Karen. And Karen Roe would surely not keep this kind of information from Lucas. Brooke suddenly felt like vomiting. "She knows? How long has she known?"

Oh, God. This was not how it was supposed to be.

"After Haley told me about the pregnancy, I told my Mom everything. I didn't know who else to turn to. She's not going to say anything to Karen or Lucas because that's your responsibility."

Brooke nodded silently, willing herself to calm down. "I'm not ready, Nate. I don't think I can face Lucas just yet and tell him the whole truth but-"

"Stop being selfish!" Nathan hissed.

Her eyes darkened as she continued. "But you should go and tell Haley and if Lucas finds out, then I'll just have to deal. I'm not happy to be here and I sure as hell am not happy about having to face Lucas after everything but I guess I don't really have a choice, huh?"

"No, you don't." Nathan replied tightly. "We have to stop being cowards, Brooke."

"Yeah."

Tree Hill Hospital

Brooke stood by the doorway of Peyton's room, taken aback by her best friend's condition. Peyton Sawyer looked small and fragile as she lied motionless on the bed, swathed in bandages and engulfed by a sea of pillows and blankets.

Jake Jagielski sat on the chair beside Peyton, his head resting on the bed. Silently, Brooke walked over to the other side and pulled a chair up. Jake's head jerked up and he looked at her with startled, bleary eyes.

"Sorry."

"Brooke." He said. "You're here. I didn't know you were coming."

Brooke nodded, sitting down. "Neither did I. How is she?"

"The doctors have kept her heavily sedated." Jake quickly replied with a sad look in his eyes.

"But is she okay?" Brooke insisted, frowning.

He shook his head, a loud sigh escaping his lips. "No, she's not okay. They don't know if Peyton's going to walk again." Hot unshed tears stung Brooke's eyes as she listened to him in disbelief. How could Nathan not tell me this? "We're hoping for the best-"

"And she will have the best." She quickly declared. Even if I have to drag her ass to Switzerland and wherever else to get her the best doctors. "Peyton doesn't give anything less."

Jake smiled and rose from his seat. "I'm going to call Jenny and get some coffee from the cafeteria. Do you want anything?"

Brooke shook her head and Jake left, leaving her with Peyton.

"Hey, best friend." She began; her voice soft, low and full of sadness. Past mistakes were suddenly forgotten. "The boy-toy has gotten seriously hotter. I should have nabbed the young daddy in high school." Brooke laughed, brushing a limp strand of curly blonde hair away from Peyton's face. "So, I was thinking, the minute you're strong enough, I'm taking you out of Tree Hill and we're going to California. There's the sun, the beach and Jake forever shirtless. I don't think you would pass that up. And his baby girl, Jenny, could come too. You guys could stay at the house and make out like teenagers again. The boys would love that-not the making out but you guys being there-especially Cole. You remember him? He's four now and has more girlfriends than he can count-"

Peyton's eyelids fluttered open and she stared at Brooke groggily. "Hey, bitch." She mumbled, chuckling. "About time you got here."

"Hey, yourself." Brooke grinned happily. "Jake's in the cafeteria. Want some water?" Peyton nodded and Brooke immediately filled a cup and helped Peyton drink it.

"Are you okay, Brooke?" Peyton asked, seeing through the happy pretense.

Brooke rolled her eyes playfully, not in the mood to talk about her problems. "Brooke's fine. Worry about yourself, babe."

"You're referring to yourself in the third person. Obviously not fine." Peyton insisted tiredly. "I'm sorry about your parents. I saw them before I fell-"

"Peyton, it's okay." Brooke quickly cut her off, suddenly very exhausted. Brooke watched as Peyton blinked back hot tears, the fear from the accident still raw. "Try to rest."

"The painkillers are beginning to wear off so I'll be resting later. Have you talked to Luke?"

"No." Brooke whispered, her chest tightening with fear at the mention of Lucas's name. "Do you need anything? Shouldn't a doctor be checking you? Where's the nurse?"

"Brooke, are you going to talk to Lucas?" Peyton persisted.

Brooke shrugged indecisively. "No. Maybe. If I really have to, I will."

"Aren't you going to tell him about Cole? Aren't you going to let Lucas see him?"

Brooke suddenly became defensive, anger ebbing inside of her. "Why? Never mind, Peyton. You have to rest."

Peyton sighed. "Cole is his son."

Brooke shrugged again, her lips pressed tightly together and an annoyed look had settle on her face. "I'm not denying that but I'm not here for Lucas. I came because I was worried about you and because of my parents."

"You can't avoid him. When he hears about you being home, he won't just let you walk away again and he-"

"I think Lucas will be a little distracted." Brooke interrupted sharply, her eyes glued to the hallway. Lucas was walking straight to them, a leggy curly-haired brunette draped on his arm. Her jaw immediately tightened and hot unshed tears prickled in the corner of her eyes. "I…I have to go. I can't be here, Peyt."

Peyton suddenly looked just as frantic as Brooke felt. "Don't go. She's not-"

"No, I can't stay." Brooke sighed sharply, hastily gathering her things. Don't cry. Don't you dare cry. You're not hurt because he doesn't mean anything. Brooke silently yelled at herself as she gave Peyton a hasty kiss on the cheek before bolting out of the room.

But Lucas has seen her and he stopped dead in his tracks for a few seconds before he regained his senses and chased after Brooke.

Author's Notes: Nathan is Ben's father, obviously. And Lucas has a girlfriend. But there is a reason for my madness.

Please review!