Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters- I wish I did. Nor do I own the song. I actually own little so don't sue!

Spoilers: Whole of series one- Fic is set straight after the final episode.

Pairing: Jeyton- Peyton Sawyer and Jake Jagelski,
Brucas- Lucas Scott and Brooke Davis
Naley- Nathan Scott and Haley James

CHAPTER TWO

"Reaching out and reaching in,
Holding out and holding in…
I believe………"

Elsewhere- Bethany Joy Lenz/Sarah McLachlan

Brooke pushed the bar door open. She took up a usual seat surveying the area. Her thoughts weren't in it neither was her heart. She remained thinking about Lucas and Nathan back at the hospital with Dan. Luke had made as if to say something to her before she and Peyton had left. She'd rushed past. Unable to meet her eyes without thinking back to Haley's question. And she couldn't let herself think backwards. Not at all.

There had been a time when the beautiful brunette had thought maybe she'd let Lucas Scott back into her life. It had lasted a few minutes… but she'd thought the same about Peyton and she'd proven… Peyton had shown she was sorry. She'd reached out to Brooke at the time when Brooke had only been reaching in. not wanting a helping hand. Maybe Lucas…

She pushed the idea from her head and ordered a drink from the, fairly cute, bartender.

'Drinking alone?'

'You betchya.' She replied sipping her drink.

'Can't be good…' he said leaning on the counter. Brooke gave him one of her special 'leave-me-alone' smiles and turned away.

'He's a lucky man.' The bartender said. Continuing to ignore Brooke's looks.

'He is no such thing. Not anymore.' She hadn't turned around. If she had she would have seen Lucas stumble sleep deprived into the bar. He sank on to stool across the bar. Not noticing Brooke. The tender served him. A song came onto the system there as if by fate.

"Nobody really knows
Where they're supposed to go
Hiding behind a wall
Afraid that they'll lose it all
But it's alright
Just follow the light
And don't be afraid of the dark"

(Travis Follow the Light
Track Eight Invisible band)

Both Brooke and Lucas began to sing along quietly both of them loved the song Peyton had recommended to them.

"You'll dance till you fall
And always be here in my heart
But nobody wants to know"

Brooke wished restlessly that Lucas would walk through the bar door. She wished her answer to Haley's question would match his.

"'cos nobody even cares
Everyone's on the make
Yeah and everyone's out for themselves"

Luke wished more than anything that things were back as they were with he and Brooke. Just to be there with her…

"You'll dance till you fall
And always be here in my heart
'cos it's alright, alright now
And you're alright
Yeah we're alright now"

Luke looked up. And saw Brooke about the same time she saw him.

'Brooke Davis.'

'Lucas Scott.'

They sat talking for over two hours. They never really touched on anything else important. They joked and laughed until they'd run out of neutral territory.

'How's Dan?' Brooke asked- reaching out tentatively.

'He's going to be ok.' Lucas sighed. Holding out a hope that the look in Brooke's eyes was more than friendship.

'So. How are you?'

'I'm… Alright I think.' Luke paused. 'I'm a mess.'

'Which one?' Brooke asked silently ordering more drinks.

'The last one. I feel like I've got no right to be there. I mean Debs and Nate do. They're his family and Keith of course. But me? I don't WANT to be his family Brooke. I mean I am but…'

'You said it. You are his family.'

'If am I, then why do I feel… like I do? I thought for a moment it would better if… if…'

'Better if he died?' Brooke said shyly.

'Yes. For me. For Debs, for mom and Nathan. Especially now he and Haley are married.'

'There's no shame in that Lucas. It's just human nature.'

'Is it?'

'Yeah. Come Luke. The man's done you no good. In your life he's only abandoned you and made you and your brothers life hell. And don't tell me you don't care about Nate.'

'I wasn't going to.'

'Then you're entitled to a moment of wanting rid. Don't worry about it.'

'You're amazing Brooke.'

'I know it. You seemed to have missed the memo…'

'I want to change. I think… I believe I can…'

'I know. And I believe. That maybe you just need to stop wanting to change and realise that's the only reason you need to.' She grabbed her bag and on impulse gave him a light kiss on the lips. It developed into a tender loving kiss. Luke pulled away…

'Brooke…'

'Night Luke.' She left. Leaning against the wall she thought back. Haley's answer was 'yes.' She'd take Lucas back. If only he knew just how much she wanted to.

"You'll dance till you fall
And always be here in my heart
'cos it's alright, alright now
And you're alright
Yeah we're alright now"