A/N: I know it's been a while since I updated and I really apologize. I've had this written for a while but just haven't had the time to type it up until now. Also, you might have noticed that the last couple of chapters have been light and fluffy but that was just the calm before the storm.

Chapter Nine

Christmas Eve

"I should never have let you talk me into buying an SUV." Peyton complained to Luke as she stepped awkwardly into the passenger side of their new Cadillac Escalade. Climbing into the seat of a 4x4 is not an easy task when you are 5 months pregnant. A crisp gust of winter air rushed into the car right before she closed the door. Lucas was busy strapping Cameran, Gavin and Ben into the back seat.

The family had arrived in Tree Hill a few days earlier. Instead of flying down, they took the car in order to bring all of the Christmas presents. The trip down was over 12 hours and to make matters worse Gavin got sick halfway through the ride. Somehow Peyton and Luke managed to keep their sanity. Their final stop was at the beach house that they rented for the week. Ironically it was only two doors down from Dan Scott's old residence.

The time seemed to be flying by, but the savored every bit of time that they could spend with their family. Nathan and Haley joined them in Tree Hill shortly after. Haley was only 6 weeks further along in her pregnancy than Peyton but because she was so petite it seemed like she would burst any second. She couldn't imagine how big her stomach would be in two and a half more months but Peyton assured her that everything would be okay and calmed a lot of the other worries that came along with being a first time mother. Nobody could deny the fact that these two best friends had the pregnancy glow.

Earlier that day Lucas and Nathan had taken the kids to the river court. They enjoyed watching children learn the game almost as much as they enjoyed playing their own games. Meanwhile Peyton and Haley sat on the picnic table looking on as their husbands bonded. It had taken years for their relationship to come this far but to a stranger it would never appear that they were once mortal enemies. Before they knew it, it was time to go to Karen's house for dinner. It was a tradition for Karen, Luke and Keith to open their presents at midnight and everyone agreed to keep the custom alive.

At 6 o'clock the whole family sat down at the table for dinner. No one ever ceased to be amazed by Karen's cooking. Apparently all of the segments and conventions she had been attending were really paying off. Cameran, taking after her mother, refused to the dress that had been picked out for her. Instead she wore a pair of black pants, a red shirt and her favorite pair of purple converse- she wasn't the matching type, but as long as she had her book she was content.

Cameran had started first grade in September but while her classmates were struggling over "The Cat in the Hat" she was breezing through every book on the first grade reading level. The teacher did not fail to notice her ability and promptly recommended her be moved to a second grade class. Peyton silently thanked Luke for giving their daughter his intelligence gene.

After dinner everyone sat in the living room to relax and watch some of the Christmas specials that were on television. Cameran, Gavin and Ben were running around the house on a sugar high from the chocolate cake that they had for desert.

"I would like to propose a toast to." Nathan stood up. "I am so grateful to be able to spend this Christmas surrounded by family. Growing up I never really had this and so I can appreciate having my brother, my sister-in-law, my nieces and nephews, my uncle, Karen and especially my beautiful wife."

"Cheers!" All the adults tapped their glasses of champagne together, except for Peyton and Haley who had sparkling cider.

"Well while we are on the topic of family I would like to say something." Keith approached Karen and got down on one knee. "We've been dating for more than two years now and I've never been more in love with anyone in my life. Karen will you marry me?"

"Oh Keith...Of course I'll marry you." Karen replied with tears streaming down her cheeks. She gladly accepted to diamond ring that Keith had pulled from his pocket. The rest of the family just stood in awe, watching as the newly engaged couple hugged.

"Congratulations you guys. I'm so happy for you." Haley was the first one to speak. They all exchanged hugs sat back down. Peyton fell asleep with her head on Luke's shoulder and Haley slept with her head on Nathan's lap.

Keith and Karen felt like teenagers again. They would look at each other and then look away. They were both smiling like idiots and Karen couldn't keep her eyes off of the ring.

The ringing of the doorbell interrupted their serenity. Karen stood up and made her way to the door.

"Brooke?" She was partly surprised by the fact that Brooke was even at her door but mostly surprised by her appearance. One eye was swollen and starting to bruise. Her lip was cut and she had bruises on her neck and arms. Karen quickly took baby Ava out of Brooke's arms and ushered her into the house.

Lucas and Nathan jumped out of their seat at the sight of their former friend causing Peyton and Haley to awaken abruptly. None of them knew how to react to Brooke's presence. She had virtually disappeared after graduation until Nathan and Haley's wedding.

Haley, always the caring type, rushed over and simply gave her a hug. Brooke burst into tears at this sign of affection. At that moment she realized how much she missed having her friends. Even after she tortured her at her wedding, Haley would still help her. Karen handed the baby to Keith, and Luke and Nathan went into the kitchen to get ice, leaving the girls in the living room.

"Brooke honey, can you tell us what happened?" Karen asked while rubbing her back gently.

"It was Dan...he hit me." She managed to say between sobs. All of them were shocked to here the confession. Dan had always been the quintessential SOB, but they never expected him to sink that low.

"How did it happen?" Karen asked but Brooke just shook her head. "You can tell us, it's okay." She assured.

"He came home from work...and I told him I was pregnant again...He just went off about how he didn't want more babies and that I couldn't make him any money as a model if I was pregnant. He started to hit me and I could smell the alcohol on his breath. I finally got away and I took Ava and locked myself in the bathroom. When I came out he was asleep on the couch. I just grabbed as much as I could and left. I didn't know where I was going but somehow I ended up here." She explained through tears. Karen, Peyton and Haley were in shock. Nobody, even Brooke, deserved that kind of treatment.

"We need to take pictures of this for evidence if you press charges. Then we can get you cleaned up." Haley, being a lawyer, knew how to handle cases involving spousal abuse. One of her first cases had been representing a woman who had been beaten by her boyfriend.

Kitchen- Keith, Nathan and Lucas

"Damnit!" Keith pounded the counter with his fist as he walked into the kitchen. "I can't believe that he would do such a thing." He hadn't heard any of the conversation between Brooke and the girls but he knew as soon as he saw her what had happened. He foresaw it coming the day of the wedding, the way Dan spoke so harshly at her. Dan never had any respect for women; it was only time before he laid a hand on one.

"Why would she come back here?" Luke asked. His expression was a mixture of anger and bewilderment. "After the way she treated us in high school and then at the wedding, why would she expect us to help her?"

"Lucas I know you are probably upset right now. She made yours and Peyton's life a lot harder than ours but she needs us right now. This is most likely the only place she feels safe right now." Nathan explained calmly. He even surprised himself sometimes at how wise he could be.

Later that Night

Peyton climbed out of bed for the third time that night. Being pregnant really does a number on your bladder. She made her way down the hallway and looked in on Brooke sleeping in the living room.

By the time they had gotten her cleaned up it was past midnight. The kids had fallen asleep in the guest room everyone had forgotten about the presents. Haley and Nathan offered to let Brooke sleep at their house but before they could even ask her she had already fallen asleep on the couch.

When Peyton walked out of the bathroom she was surprised to hear a light whimper coming from the living room. As she got closer she realized that it was Brooke crying in the dark.

"I'm sorry did I wake you?" She asked as she approached her former best friend.

"No, it was Ava. She woke up and I just realized how much she looks like Dan." Brooke told her wiping away tears.

"It's okay to be upset. You've been through a lot." Peyton tried to hug her but was pushed away.

"It's not okay! It's all my fault. I deserve it." She burst out. "I guess it's like the old saying- what comes around goes around, right?"

"Brooke nobody deserves to be go through what you did."

"How can you say I don't deserve it? I was such a bitch to you when I found out about you and Lucas. Then after 6 years I come and crash Nathan and Haley's wedding. When I came back here tonight all of you helped me. I took so much for granted- I practically spit in your face. You could have turned me away but you didn't."

"Brooke, it's okay. I forgive you." Peyton told her and finally managed to hug her friend after nearly ten years of hostility.