5 days later (Saturday)

Brooke taped up the last box, the house that she'd lived in for 16 years was now empty and would go on the market next week. After the painters had finished with it. Everything that she hadn't wanted to take the beach house with her, she'd put in storage. Her mind drifted to Nathan, he'd been like her rock for the last week, listening to her, helping her plan her father's funeral and with all the arrangements. A light wind whispered through her hair and out the window and through the trees.

Clouds scudded across the sky moving in, a dark shadow covered the town. Brooke shivered and looked out over the horizon, she could hear thunder in the distance. Shutting the window, she carried the last box with her down to her car.

Locking the front door, she sashayed to her car and climbed in starting up the car. Instinct prompted her to drive by Nathan's place. The driveway looked deserted, no cars at all, no lights on. Getting out of the car, she walked up the stairs and knocked on the door. Standing silent for a second, her mind clicked on meeting the social worker last night at Karen's Café.

Flashback

Brooke sipped her milkshake from her pink straw, the door opened, a young woman with dark curly hair and cheery blue eyes walked over to her.

"Brooke Davis?" her stance was easy and light.

"Yeah, that's me, are you Maria Costos?" she asked.

"Yeah, call me Maria," sitting down across from Brooke, she studied the younger girl's face for a second. "How are you holding up?"

Surprise flickered in Brooke's eyes, before she masked it behind cool composure. "Fine," she nodded stiffly.

"I know you're young and you're all alone now, but I'm here if you need me," Maria tried to put across without sounding cliched.

"Thanks," Brooke let her guard down for a second and smiled warmly.

The door opened again and Maria saw a tall dark-haired man walk into the café, his eyes searched the room, stopping on Brooke and lighting up when he saw her.

"Brooke," Nathan came up to the table.

"Nathan, you came," Brooke's eyes shone with a vulnerability for a second, before she hid it behind a friendly smile.

"Of course, I came, you know how I-" he was cut off by noticing Maria for the first time.

"Are you Brooke's social worker?" bluntness was his forte.

"Nathan." Brooke admonished jokingly, rolling her eyes, tossing her hair gently, she pulled him down into the seat next to her. "This is Maria and yes she's my social worker and she's here for me if I need her," Brooke looked over at Nathan.

"I'm here for you if you need someone too," Nathan bit his lip, pouting slightly.

"Of course you are," slugging him softly on the arm, she smiled at Maria, missing Nathan's longing gaze.

Maria saw it and smiled. It's good that she has him, she needs someone.

"Of course, we're both here for you," Nathan said to Brooke.

"I know, I couldn't be more grateful, you know that," Brooke smiled at him sweetly. Tracing his hand with her fingertips, she looked at him longingly.

"I'm going to go get a hot chocolate, you want anything?" he asked Brooke.

"I'll have a hot chocolate too," Brooke watched him walk away.

"He cares about you a lot," Maria said quietly.

"I know," Brooke watched him, her gaze that of lingering want.

"Anyways, I'll be checking on you weekly for the first two months, just to make sure you're okay and then monthly. Is that okay for you?" Maria asked.

"Yeah, how about Fridays here at seven, is that good for you?" Brooke asked, her gaze still partially focused on Nathan as he stood at the counter, talking to Karen.

"Sure. So I'll see you next Friday at seven, if you need anything or need to talk, here's my numbers," Maria handed her a card with her contact numbers.

"Thanks," Brooke smiled at her. "I'm glad I met you," she settled back into her seat.

"Me too," Maria packed up her bag and left, saying goodbye to Nathan.

Nathan settled next to Brooke where he'd been sitting before, "She seems nice."

"She will be," Brooke sipped her hot chocolate slowly and watched Nathan as he sipped his. When he put it down, he had a chocolate moustache on his upper lip.

Lifting her hand, she wiped it off with a careful swipe of her fingers, tasting it from her lips. She closed her eyes in half appreciation, sighing replete from the hot chocolate and the warmth she felt from being with Nathan.

End of Flashback

The door opened and Nathan stood there in his boxer shorts, scratching his hair and his eyes sleepily as he looked at her.

"Brooke, what's wrong?" Nathan looked at her.

"I was just wondering if you were busy?" Brooke looked behind her at the impending thunderstorm. "I don't want to be alone tonight."

Nathan stepped back and let her in. "I was just napping, it's been a long day, my parents just left for a week-long trip to L.A.."

"Oh," Brooke walked up the stairs to his room, seeing his bed with the covers pulled back, she climbed in, taking off her shoes and sweater first. Looking back at the doorway, Nathan stood there watching her. Her eyes shone with vulnerability as she waited for him.

Nathan padded over to the bed and climbed in next to her, pulling her into his arms. Brooke sighed happily and started to drift off.

"Nathan?"

"Yes Brooke?"

"I can only really sleep when I'm in your arms," was whispered against his chest, as she fell off the edge into sleep.