Thank you for the overwhelming amount of support! The song in the story"Little Girl, Little Girl" is written by me.

MY HEART

"Keith" Lucas looked at Karen, wanting more then anything for her to be lying to him.

"Honey" Karen walked over to Lucas pulled him into a hug"he is going to have surgery tomorrow Luc, we can leave in the morning." Lucas sat on the edge of the bed, and Karen sat beside him, she put an arm around her young son"Honey say something."

" I need to see him."

"I understand honey, but I can't leave until tomorrow, I need to be at the club tonight, we will leave first thing in the morning.

"No Mom, I gotta go now" Lucas jumped up and went straight to his door and swung the door open"Brooke"

" Hey Broody, where ya going" Brooke stood there, in a off shoulder, baby blue, dress, that looked almost like a t-shirt coming only to mid-thigh, but much snugger then a t-shirt. " Are we still going to Tric tonight"

" Brooke, I gotta go."

Brooke put her hand on Lucas's arm"Wait, Lucas what's wrong"

"Keith came up positive for the HCM I gotta go to Charleston to be with him."

"Do you want me to go with you"

" No, it's fine, you go to the club. I'll call you when I get back."

" I'll go with you, we can take my car."

"Brooke are you sure"

" Would I offer if I wasn't? Trust me I'm not that nice, plus I really don't feel like seeing everyone tonight." Lucas noticed that Brooke had her hair parted so that a strand fell covering her bruised eye.

Karen walked over and handed Lucas a Mastercard"Here is the emergency credit card, for a hotel room" she looked Lucas right in the eyes" to sleep in."

Lucas gave a half smile"ok, I give up. "

Brooke gave a full smile "Great! I love road trips! Tell ya what, I'll run home and change a pack my over night bag, you pack one too and I'll be back in half an hour, deal" Brooke stuck her hand out to Lucas. Lucas looked at the hand and gently took it. "Deal."

"I'll walk you to your car Brooke." Karen followed Brooke to her silve bug, she turned to Brooke and gently stroked the strand of hair back" How are you Brooke"

Brook looked up at Karen" I'll be okay." She looked back down and moved the strand back, tears brimming at her eyes.

" What did your parents say"

Brooke looked back up this time the tears started to roll" They haven't, um, really noticed yet. With the troubles they are having, I didn't really think I should bother them."

"Haven't noticed" Karen looked shocked and pulled Brooke against her in a hug. How could a mother not notice something like this? This poor child she put on such a hard external look, but what else could this child do? She pulled Brooke back and let her get in her car"Make sure you take care of my boy, him and Keith are very close."

" I promise" and with that Brooke pulled out and drove off.

-

Peyton pulled out an old Corrs record and set it in a pile of other records, she figured if no one came to perform for open mic, she could else just d.j.. Jenny cooed and she looked down at the baby in the baby high chair next to her. " I know the Corrs are kinda corny, but I what can you do , some people like corny." She pulled out a Zepplin record and Jenny girgled again, Peyton reached down and tickled the little girl""Hey your the one who likes the singing Purple Dinosaur."

" How are you corrupting my daughter now" Jake walked in carrying a box full of clean glasses and started setting up behind the bar.

" Corrupting? I'm introducing her to the finer parts of life. The necessities" Peyton laughed and picked up the little girl from her chair"Jenny is your Daddy being silly"

Jenny giggled, as Peyton lifted her into the air and made a funny face" Pey-pey"

Peyton brought Jenny to her chest, and Jake ran over"What did she just say" Jake took Jenny "what did you say"

Jenny looked at Peyton trying to grab at her curls"Pey pey"

"Is she saying"Peyton"" Peyton laughed in awe, she never had felt such a feeling of happiness and proud, not a sexual sense but a motherly one?

" I think so, wow her first word" Jake handed Jenny back to Peyton and stroked Jenny's fine hair" Good job Jenny, your first word."

Jenny grabbed Jakes finger and pulled it" Da-da"

"Jake she said daddy" Peyto laughed she was so awed and proud of Jenny.

Jake's heart melted and he couldn't help but feel a tear come to his eye"say it again Baby girl, please say Da-da again."

Jenny giggled at the new found attention and threw her pudgy arms in the air"Da-da Pey -pey"

"Da-Da and Pey-Pey" Jake leaned over and kissed Jenny's head and then kissed Peyton on the lips" Dada and Pey-Pey sounds good to me, how about you "

Peyton looked at him in shock, and nodded and then wrapped a her free arm around Jake and kissed him again this time it lasted longer and sweeter, Jenny's giggles broke them up"It sounds real good"Peyton said.

-

"Nathan! Have you seen my hoop earrings" Haley called from the bathroom she had been getting ready for two hours.

Nathan walked in"I think they just walked out"

Haley looked at Nathan"What are you talking about"

"I think Taylor has decided that your stuff is also her stuff."

" GOD! I am trying to get ready and all I want is my friggin earrings and my mooching , lazy sister has to take those too"

Nathan wrapped his arms around Haley"Hey, hey it's ok, are you worried about tonight"

Haley rested her head on Nathan's chest and nodded" I'm just scared."

Nathan held Haley an arms length away" Why? You've done this before, you'll be great."

"I know I hope so." Haley felt so guilty, Nathan was talking about the show, but Haley was a million miles away from that, where was Chris?

"You will trust me" Nathan pulled Haley back and kissed her lips. Haley felt herself melting, as their kiss deepened Haley melted more into her husbands arms.

Haley pulled back a little"ya know we could just stay home." She kissed Nathan again.

Nathan chuckled and pulled back"I don't think so, I'm not letting you get out of this" Nathan walked back to the door frame, and looked at his watch"Come one, we're going to be late."

" Ok, um, just a second." As Nathan walked out she looked in the mirror, and felt a stab in the heart. All day she hadn't heard from Chris, and at this second she was starting to hope that maybe yesterday's phone call had been imaginary. She pulled a pair of earrings out and turned out the light in the bathroom and followed Nathan out of the apartment.

-

"So Lucas, what are you thinking" Brooke looked over at Lucas they had been on the road for 20 minutes and he hadn't said a word.

"About Keith, and what a rock he has been in my life."

"Yeah your lucky to have that."
Lucas looked over at Brooke"yeah I am. What about you? How are you"

Brooke nodded and keeping her eyes now squarely set on the road" I'm okay, I just ...I feel like such an idiot."

" Why"

"Because, I made myself vulnerable."

"Brooke, what do you mean"

"I mean that I let Felix get to close, after you I swore that I'd never let a person get that close and then I screwed upa nd let him in, of course I guess I'm kinda at fault for the outcome of pain."

"Brooke! No your not! I never want to hear you say that again. Felix is an ass for hitting you, there is never a reason for a guy to hit a girl no matter what she does."

Brooke suddenly pulled off the road in a quickly swerving motion causing at least 5 cars behind them to honk.

"Brooke! What are you doing"

Brooke turned off the car and got out walking behind, Lucas got out and followed her"Brook! What's wrong"

"You! You are what is wrong! You broke my heart Lucas! You broke it"

Lucas stood across from Brooke" I know and I am so sorry, but I'm a little lost."

" You broke my heart! I hated you! I moved on"

Lucas felt his heart drop, she was doing it she was telling him that he was an idiot, and that she would never be able to forgive him"Brooke..."

" No! I hated you! Your cheated on me with my best friend! I met a great guy! He was rich and he was sexy as hell! We are talking a young Benjamin Bratt sexy"

"Brooke I know but"

"I was over you and then in a moment of pure passion, I said your name! I was over you damnit"

"Brooke I know but I mean I'm sorry I don't know what you want me to do. " God she was beautiful when she was mad. He watched her obviousely very upset as the cars drove by they caused a rush of wind that made her hair move around framing her face, how could he have been so stupid and loose her."Brooke if I could take everything back I would but I can't and all I can ask is that you forgive me and let me try to "
"No! Your done talking! This is me, and I have to get this out! Don't you wonder why I said your name? It's been almost six months since we were together." Lucas shrugged he had wondered. "Well I don't know why I said your name other then that I'm - I'm - I'm "

Lucas looked at Brooke, her face now soaked in tears"You what Brooke" He gently grabbed her by her shoulders"You what"

She looked up at him"I still love you, you son of a " she didn't get a chance to finish her sentence because Lucas had taken it in his own to sweep her up in an kiss of a lifetime, he lifted her off her feet and kissed her, she kissed back just as fiercely and for a moment all the cars rushing by and all the troubles and people of the world were gone and it was just them. He pulled back and looked Brooke in the eyes"I love you too, and if you'll give me the chance, I'll spend everyday trying to prove that to you."

Brooke just nodded, she ran a her hands through her hair and stepped back"Ok, well now that that's settled, I say we go to Charleston."Brooke walked over to her door and started to get in she looked over at Lucas"You coming"

Lucas grinned and nodded his head"Yeah, I'm coming"he wasn't sure what exactly what happened, but he was pretty sure it was good thing, as he he got back in the car, he couldn't help but smile.

"Now tell me exactly what this GCM, thingy is" Brooke asked as she pulled back onto the interstate.

Lucas shook his head, suddenly all the reminders of why they were going came flooding back into his head. "HCM, Hypetrophic cardiomyopathy, it's when the heart muscles become to thick to function properly..." Lucas spent the rest of the trip talking to Brooke about the HCM and what an impact Keith had had on his life. In the 3 hours it took to get Charleston, Lucas could already tell that this time things with Brooke where going to be different.

-

"Ladies and gentlemen! Our first act tonight is a regular here at Tric and we are honored to have her back tonight, give it up for one of my best friends, Haley James Scott" Peyton clapped and walked off the stage. The lights lowered, and Peyton walked over to the table that Jake, Jenny, and Nathan were all seated around.

Haley looked over the audience and took a deep breath "Just breath Haley-Bop" she said to herself and began playing the opening to her new song the soft music filled the room...

(v.1)Little girl little girl

You think your doing okay

Trying to help everyone have a nice day

Little girl little girl

You have to make the grade

Everyone needs you to make an A

(chorus)And those tears get blown away

The winds just carry them away

Your silent sobs full of self-doubt

No one has time to figure them out

(v.2)Little Girl Little Girl

You need to do it just right

Work real hard with all your might

Little Girl Little Girl

Just do your best

To not disappoint the paying fans

(chorus)And those tears get blown away

The winds just carry them away

Your silent sobs so full of self-doubt

No one has time to figure them out

(v.3)Little girl little girl

Where is your smile

We don't have time ask why

Little Girl Little Girl

You look fine

Just iron your dress and wash your face

(chorus)And those tears get blown away

The winds just carry them away

Your silent sobs so full of self-doubt

No one has time to figure them out

(v.4)Little Girl Little Girl

Where do you go?

You were here just a while ago

Little girl little girl

I need you now

Get over your self come help me out

(chorus)And those tears get blown away

The winds just carry them away

Your silent sobs so full of self-doubt

No one has time to figure them out

And those tears get blown away...

At the closing of the song the audience was stunned in silence, Haley's eyes looked over the audience wondering what they had thought, and suddenly an erruption of applause broke out, and Haley couldn't help the smile that came to her lips. She looked for Nathan but when she saw him she was suprised at the amount of unhappiness and anger seemed to fill his face. Had he hated the song that much? She then noticed that he was staring at someone she followed his glance and felt her heart stop as she saw were it ended. Not two tables away was Chris, clapping and staring right at Haley.