Author's Note: I'd just like to thank everyone for all the amazing feedback. I am a Brucas fan but I find it really hard to write for them when they are the main characters of the story. So I took it in a bit of a different direction and I thank you guys for giving it a chance. I have three other fics going on now and an outline for three more and I wasn't quite sure about this one so all the reviews definitely motivated me to keep writing. Hope you all enjoy the chapter and I look forward to hearing your thoughts (good or bad).

Lying beside Lucas had always been such a comfortable and familiar thing for Brooke but as she lay rigidly beside his body, only confusion filled her thoughts. After all the years apart, after such a surprising and tense reunion, she could not believe that they had actually wound up in bed together. Sex was the last thing she had expected and as she pondered the situation. Mere inches away, Luke's thoughts mimicked her own. He had come over her place to talk, to seek a resolution, not for a roll in the sack. Now they had only made matters more complicated.

"Brooke, are you okay?"

"I'm fine", she answered.

"Look, I didn't mean for that to just happen. I don't want you to think I came over here just looking for a piece of ass", he tried to explain.

"I didn't think that."

"I shouldn't have initiated the situation like that. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. I could have stopped you but I didn't. It was just as much my fault."

He sighed heavily and ran his fingers through his hair.

"There's no use in regrets and blames now, Brooke. It's over and done with and you know as well as I do that we can't change the past."

"I know", she whispered as Lucas sat up and put his clothes back on.

"I don't know what to say to you. We need to talk but I don't think that's a good idea for either one of us to do right now. I need to think about a lot of stuff. Your Gran gave me your number so I'll call you next week, okay? It's probably not a good idea that I stay here any longer right now."

She knew he was right. Neither person was thinking rationally at the moment.

"Alright", she sighed as she pulled the thin sheet up to her chin.

"I guess I'll talk to you later, then."

"Yeah...later."

"...Luke!" she cried out as he went to leave the room.

"Yeah?"

"I know it might not matter anymore but I want you to know that I meant it when I said I never stopped loving you. I just wanted you to know that", she said in a weak voice.

He nodded quietly.

"I know."

"And Lucas?"

"Yes?"

"I ...I need to know. Do you still love me?"

"Brooke..."

"Tell me the truth."

"Remember that first time between us in the tent? When I swore to you that no matter what happened that I'd always love you? Well, I meant that, Brooke, and it makes me want to kick myself for still having those feelings for you."

A single tear slid down her cheek as he turned and left, letting himself out of her place. As the door shut, she curled into a little ball and cried herself to sleep. She slept and cried all night and the following day so much that it was impossible to make it to work on time. She called in and around five o'clock when she was sure the office was beginning to clear out, she drove herself to work, hoping to accomplish the few things she still had left to do. The building was nearly empty and Brooke was thankful she could get some work done in peace. She tried as hard as she could but it was difficult to concentrate as thoughts of the previous night consumed her.

"Here."

Brooke jumped at the voice and the person behind her.

"Tarah, what the hell are you still doing here? Jesus Christ, you scared the living shit out of me!" she said as she took a mug of coffee from her friend's hand.

"I had meetings all day with some design firm and there was still stuff I had to get done here. I saw you looking all sad and serious and I figured you could use a cup of coffee and maybe a friend. I put a fresh pot on and I've got all the time in the world. Now what's going on?"

Brooke smiled. Tarah was a good friend and always knew just what to do to make her feel better in times of need. She desperately needed to get the feelings off her chest and Tarah was someone she could confide in. Brooke took a deep breath and spilled the whole story.

"...Oh my God, you fucked him!"

"Tarah, damn! Will you lower your voice? I don't need everybody within a five block radius knowing all my business."

"Sorry, I'm just so shocked."

"Me too. It was so totally unexpected."

"So...was it any good?" Tarah's eyes danced with mischief.

"Tarah!"

"What? Inquiring minds want to know."

Brooke blushed.

"Well of course it was good, I mean, Lucas always has been fantastic in bed. In fact he is the best lover I've ever had but that's beside the point. The sex this time was different. It wasn't like before when it was sweet and slow and meaningful. This time we were so passionate and aggressive...even though it physically was great, at the same time it was so cold and distant."

"I don't know, girl. A lot has happened between you two."

"Yeah and it didn't help that I admitted to him that I still love him."

"You what? Get the fuck out!"

"I'm serious, Tarah and guess what? He said it back."

"You're shitting me."

"I'm not."

"So what's the problem then? What's the big hold up?"

Brooke shrugged.

"It shouldn't have happened like that between us. We need to talk and after sleeping together again, neither one of us was in the right state of mind for a discussion."

"I hear you on that one but this is really getting to you, kid. And I'm willing to bet money that Lucas is just as torn up over this situation as you are. You guys need to talk and work something out once and for all. Who knows, you both still love each other, maybe you can get back together."

"Not likely", Brooke shook her head. "Too much has happened and honestly I don't even know if I could handle being with him again like that. I don't know what I want and he doesn't know what he wants. I guess when or even if he calls me next week, I'll find out."