There was a two day art expose in California and the first time Brooke would be reunited with her best friend, Peyton, since her romantic marriage to Jake on the beach. But Brooke was excited. Happy for her friend and even more happy to see her. She often missed Peyton and the bond that they had always shared. They fit together like a favorite and comfortable pair of old shoes. Sometimes it was nice to go back to the familiar to the one place and the one person that knew you better than you knew yourself.

"Brooke, what are we doing?" Peyton asked, wearily aware of the answer as the two women walked on the dock.

"You've been on Luke's boat plenty of times", Brooke shrugged.

"Uh yeah usually with Luke and a captain in it. Brooke!"

"Details. It's like driving a car just on water and without a speed limit."

"Brooke!"

"Peyton…look at us. Look at this day. How often do we get days together like this? We are practically a walking beer commercial. It would be wrong not to take it. So let's go."

Peyton shook her head. Some things never changed and Brooke was one of them. It reminded her of the old days in Tree Hill when they were little girls. Even then it was as if Brooke could talk her into anything.

"Now hop on, bestest friend", she cheerily grinned.

Peyton did so uneasily, mouthing a silent prayer that they would once again see the shore as the boat took off sailing with Brooke at the wheel.

"Hey, P. Sawyer or now I guess it's P. Jagielski…anyway, do you hear that?"

"Here what?"

"Silence. It's nice, isn't it?"

Peyton studied the calm look on her friend's face.

"Yeah. Yeah, it is. You okay, Brooke?"

"I'm fine. Never been better actually. Harmony is great and I love spending time with her and believe it or not, I've even started dancing again."

"Dancing?"

"Yeah."

"Brooke, that's awesome! I'm so happy for you."

"Don't get all crazy on me. It's not like I'll be the next Laker girl or anything. It's just a few hours a day a couple days a week at a studio not far from the beach. I just like to go there and practice ballet and work on my choreography. But who cares about me? I want to hear about you and Jake."

A smile and blush of crimson engulfed Peyton's face. She did have that newlywed glow about her.

"Married life is great. Jake is great and so is Jenny. It's cool, you know? I love my career and it gives me lots of time to be with my daughter and Jake just got a promotion and we're happy…things have never been better."

"I'm happy for you, Pey. How about after this, you and I go to Ben and Jerry's and eat ice cream until our tummies hurt and then we can get facials and…"

"Brooke, what's really on your mind? Talk to me."

"Junk food, pedicures and spending the day with my best friend that I don't get to see enough of."

"That's not what I mean, Brooke. I know you. Something's up and I can see it in your eyes. You look sad and so lonely. Talk to me, kid."

"I'm fine…"

"Is this about Lucas?"

"Why does it always have to be about Lucas?"

"Because usually it always is. And that's okay, you know. Brooke, it's okay to love him and miss him and still have feelings for him."

"I do not love him and I do not miss him…okay, maybe a little."

"Maybe a lot?" Peyton grinned.

"You always knew me too well, Friend", Brooke conceded..

"How's it going? You guys getting along better?"

"We haven't really talked since the night of the dinner. There's nothing to say I guess and at the same time there is everything in the world to say. I guess that's what makes it all so hard. And I don't know if I'm ready to face it."

"You guys said a lot, according to what you've told me. I mean, there has been a lot said before and arguments and whining and pouting but you guys actually talked this time and a lot of feelings kind of got put out there. You're gonna have to deal with it at one time or another."

"I know. But what if I don't want to deal with it? What if I can't?" Brooke asked softly.

Peyton sighed and out her arms around her good friend.

"Remember when we used to get up every Tuesday morning in the summers and ride our bikes to the Mall?"

"So you could buy some stupid CD's?" Brooke recalled with a bit of a chuckle.

"Yeah, and you could buy make up Mary wouldn't let you wear. We'd spend

half the day in my bedroom just listening to music and putting on awful eye shadow,

and that was just the Tuesdays. We used to do a lot of really great stuff until guys

got in the way."

"Back when life was simple."

"Then along came Luke and Jake."

"And things got way complicated", Brooke muttered.

"Not at first. Remember? Remember that first summer?"

Brooke's body shuddered involuntarily as she envisioned the sweet memories of a long ago summer. She could smell the North Carolina air and feel the breeze blowing through her hair as the wrecker sped down the country roads. Those were the things she loved and missed the most. The basic things. Riding through the country, cuddling on the couch during a Blockbuster night, eating ice cream cones as they ran through the sprinklers in Karen's yard. It was the simple joys that he had taught her. The pleasure of just being with someone you loved and it didn't always have to involve money or alcohol or sex.

"Yeah", Brooke said softly. "I remember. I remember everything."

"This whole separation thing has been going on for a while and sooner or later, the divorce is either going to happen or isn't. And that's going to be up to you and Lucas. But you have to decide. And it has to be final and you have to quit flip flopping and there are so many things that are just gonna have to remain buried in the past. Either you let some stuff go and you try to work it out or you forget about it all and you move on. Because you can't keep living this way and doing this to yourself. You deserve better, Brooke. You and Lucas both do and so does your daughter."

"It's so hard, Pey. So much has happened. I don't think Lucas and I can ever go back to the way we were."

"Then don't. Maybe you can just start over. Take baby steps and see where it leads but the ultimate goal is rebuilding your relationship. Maybe it won't be like it was but that doesn't mean that it still can't be great."

"I…I don't know. I don't know how I feel. I don't know how Lucas feels."

"You know that you still love him and you have a lot of anger and hurt and confusion to weed through. And you know that more than anything, Lucas wants his marriage and family back."

"Is it that easy?"

"No. And who said it would be? Look you are my best friend and I love you and I will always be loyal to you above anything. You know that, Brooke. But Lucas is my friend, too. I've known him for forever and he's a good guy. When you guys first split up, it kind of sucked because Nathan, Haley, Jake and I were kind of in the middle. Gosh, you have no idea how many times that boy called me begging me to talk to you and try to help. There was really nothing I could do but in a strange way it really touched me. Because I know deep down Luke was being sincere and he was pouring his heart out. Eventually it's like we almost had to take sides. And when the hand was forced, I was on your side like always but in the time that has passed, I've had the chance to fall in love with Luke as a friend all over again. People make mistakes, Brooke but you can't punish them forever."

"Maybe it's not Lucas that I was punishing?"

"What?"

"Never mind. Forget I said anything. I just really need to think right now."

"Okay. Thinking is good. You might want to try using your heart instead of your head though."

"There is so much I never said…"

"It's not too late. Say whatever it is that you have to say before it is too late."

"I don't know if I can."

"I do. Brooke, stop lying to yourself. You can do anything. Lucas is a part of you. He is a part of your soul and your history and by God he is the father of your child. You can't keep denying how you feel about him. You need to face it. You need to talk to him because if you don't, then what little you guys have left is going to slip away. You can't keep running away, Brooke."

"I'm tired, Pey. Oh God, I am so tired of running."

"Then don't anymore. Just stop."

"You're right, Peyton", Brooke said, wiping away at tears. "You're absolutely right. I need to talk to Lucas. I need to see him."

"What are you going to say?"

"If I'm smart, I'll tell him how I feel about everything. And I'll tell him that I love him."