Equal But Opposite Reaction

By: Sari

Disclaimer: No, I don't own OTH. If I did Brooke and Lucas would be back together and Felix would be in a ditch somewhere. Haley wouldn't be going insane and she and Nathan would be back together.

Summary: AU Brucas. Successful bachelor Lucas Scott meets hard to get, feminist Brooke Davis and a rollercoaster ride occurs as both begin to fall in love.

Part 20

"To build may have to be the slow and laborious task of years. To destroy can be the thoughtless act of a single day." -Sir Winston Churchill

Entering Promotex that day Nathan knew he was in for it. After waking up this morning on the couch with his hormonal wife yelling obscenities he had known he was in trouble. Haley had shoved him out the house with instructions to go see his brother and that had been the end of their conversation.

Now here he was most likely waiting for a tongue lashing from his brother. It had been this way ever since they had started dating. Being the perpetual mess up that he was, the minute he would do something wrong Haley would complain to Lucas or send him to Lucas so he could straighten him out. By now, it was routine and he figured if Lucas didn't see him at least once a month then his brother got even more worried than usual.

He sat down in one of his brother's office chairs and waited for him to come in. It was almost noon now so he'd be coming in for his lunch break sooner or later. He hadn't bothered to call him because it was pretty much useless to try to reach Lucas during the morning. He was most likely on the phone with some overseas client.

"Hey Nathan!" Lucas exclaimed slightly surprised to see him there. Nathan watched interested as a girl who looked almost exactly like Brooke entered the room behind him. "What are you doing here?"

"The standard discussion on why I shouldn't piss off Haley when she's angry." He said noncommittally still looking at the woman behind his brother.

Lucas shook his head amused. "Well give me a second; I have to go through this website with Eliza."

"Care to introduce me?" Elizabeth asked sarcastically. "I doubt your brother knows who I am even if I know who he is."

Lucas blushed. "Sorry! Nate this is my new web and graphic designer Elizabeth Davis, and yes she is Brooke's sister. Eliza, this is my brother Nathan Scott."

She walked over to shake his hand. "Nice to meet you, I was wondering when I'd meet the rest of the Scott family."

Nathan gave her a lopsided grin sizing her up. "And I was wondering when I'd meet any of the Davis family."

"We're an elusive bunch." She quipped. "I believe you were out of town when Brookie's parents came up. You missed the opportunity." She said with mock sadness.

"Brooke's parents? Are you guy's not full sisters?" He asked.

She shook her head. "We're half sisters and I don't like to claim our mother. I just do it for Brooke's sake."

He nodded. "Understandable. Luke was like that when we were younger."

Lucas looked at the both of them and raised an eyebrow. "Hey Eliza, this won't take too long so why don't I come by your office later and view the prototype okay?"

She looked up at him unable to read his strange expression. "Whatever you say boss and it was nice meeting you Nathan."

He waved slightly. "Likewise Elizabeth."

Waiting until Elizabeth locked and closed the door behind her Lucas looked at his brother with an amused expression and said very clearly: "You're married and Eliza is off limits."

"What did I do now?" Nate asked innocently. "You're giving me the 'Nathan you're a complete asshat' look."

"You forget that I'm your brother and I know how you are." Lucas said. "If I hadn't stopped you two you would have immediately started flirting and you're not going to do that to Haley or Eliza so come off it."

Nathan rolled his eyes. "Of course oh supreme master. I don't know where you get your outrageous accusations from but I wouldn't cheat on Haley with Brooke's sister of all people."

"Just making sure little brother."

"Anyway, Haley's pissed about last night what can I do to make it better?" He asked getting to the point.

Lucas shrugged. "That's between you and Hales. I guess you can apologize and actually sound like you mean it. More than likely she's blowing it out of proportion because of her hormones so lay low until she calms down. Oh yeah, and lay off the drinking would you?"

"You got it." He answered. "Thanks bro and I'll see you later okay?"

Lucas nodded and the phone rang. "Oh god, it's Derek Smith from Canada."

"The needy tennis player?" Nathan asked.

Lucas nodded again while answering it. "This is going to take me awhile. Can you go tell my secretary to tell Eliza that I'll be at least another hour?"

"Sure bro."

Nathan made his way outside of Lucas's office and stopped in front of Angela's desk. "Hey Angie, want to direct me to Elizabeth Davis's office?"

"Of course Mr. Scott, if you would just follow me…" She trailed off standing up and walking towards the elevator.

A few minutes later Nathan was standing in Elizabeth's doorframe simply watching her and waiting to be acknowledged. He wasn't disappointed, she noticed him a couple seconds later.

"At first I was going to wonder why exactly you're in my office but then I figured with a cocky jock like yourself I wouldn't like the answer." She drawled impatiently. "How can I help you Mr. Scott?"

Nathan grinned stepping inside the office and shutting the door behind him. "I just want to get to know you a little bit better Miss Davis. Is that such a crime?"

She raised an eyebrow. "You're married to my boss's best friend. I think that's a crime."

"It's not a crime if all I want to be his friends. You do have male friends don't you? I didn't think you were that much of a nun."

She smiled at him. "You're in luck; I just stopped being a nun a couple of months ago."

He put a hand over his heart plopping into a chair. "You don't know how thankful I am!"

She giggled finally. "Alright Nathan, you want to be friends, then we'll be friends. Tell me about yourself." She requested.

"I'm 24 and I play for the New York Knicks…"

"Tell me something I wouldn't find just by searching the internet." She said interrupting him. "I don't need a profile; I want to know something special."

He pondered that for a moment before speaking again. "If I tell you this you have to promise not to repeat it to anyone." He said seriously.

She nodded eagerly urging him to continue. "Of course."

"When I was in high school I used be so jealous of Lucas. It wasn't because he was more popular or more athletic because he wasn't. Out of the two of us I was more respected in school and every coach in Florida said that my skills were more talent driven than his. I always felt inadequate to him because he was the person that was automatically given the title of 'good guy.' He was the one that you're girlfriend went to when you messed up or your parents referred to as the good example. No matter what he did he could never do any wrong in anyone's eyes." Nathan paused. "I guess I do still feel that way but I've come to understand that he doesn't make himself that way it's just how others perceive him."

Elizabeth leaned back in her chair. "I feel that way about Brookie. She's a great sister and I love her but my parents' think that the moon and sun set on her so it's a little bit annoying."

He smiled easily at her. "I knew you would understand." He shifted in his seat. "So tell me about you. You know an awful lot about me and I know next to nothing about you."

"I'm 21, I'm a graphic and web designer obviously. I'm Bookie's half sister and I never really liked my mother or stepfather. I'm eccentric and sarcastic, and I'm really down to earth."

"So Miss Davis, the graphic designer that is 21, can I take you out to lunch?"

She grinned but shook her head. "You keep forgetting you have a wife Mr. Scott."

"And you keep forgetting that it's okay for a guy to have woman friends."

"I'm sure your wife wouldn't think so. Here you are flirting with your brother's employee while she's at home waiting for you."

He laughed. "Haley's not home waiting for me, I can guarantee that."

Elizabeth smiled. "I'll let you take me out on one condition." She said finally.

He raised an eyebrow ready for her demands.

"I want to know your life story from start to finish when we get to lunch."

"Can't you just pull on your little laptop?" He joked.

"No, but I can pull up she said rolling her eyes. "Goodbye Mr. Scott, I need to get some work done if I'm going to be leaving. I'll see you around 2?"

He nodded. "See you at two then." He walked to the door but then paused. "Don't tell Luke about this okay? He's a worrier and he'll take our friendship the wrong way."

"I'm not going to lie to my boss Mr. Scott, I happen to like my job here." She said. "If this 'friendship' of ours is going to cause problems for either of us then I don't think we should pursue it."

"I didn't say lie to him, just don't offer up the information." He said smiling. "And trust me, our friendship is not going to cause any problems with anyone."

She groaned to herself as he closed her office door. "I really doubt that one." She muttered.

"My brother is married and he's having a baby Eliza." Lucas announced as he walked in her office a half hour later.

"Should I break out the champagne?" She asked sarcastically.

"This isn't a laughing matter, I know Nate came to your office after he left mine."

"Is it a crime for your brother to visit me? Am I breaking some kind of unwritten Promotex rule?"

"Eliza, stop with the attitude okay? I'm worried about my brother and I'm worried about you."

She rolled her eyes that were still firmly locked on the computer. "Is this the 'stay away from my brother if you value your job' warning?"

Lucas sat down on the edge of her desk and reached over to shut of her computer monitor so she had no choice but to listen to him. Reluctantly she drew her eyes away from the monitor to face him. "Lucas, I know he's married and I'm not a slut, I'm not going to go after him."

His face softened. "I didn't say you were a slut Eliza."

"But you're implying that I would have an affair with your brother."

"I'm not saying that either!" He exclaimed. "Look, I don't even know what I was doing coming here…"

"Glad you realized that." She snapped.

"Did he ask you out?"

"That isn't any of your business!"

"Anything that has to do with my brother is my business. Did he ask you out?" He asked again.

"He's taking me out for lunch."

His eyes narrowed and the friendly demeanor fell away as he stood up. "Haley is my best friend Eliza, you know that, and I'm not going to let you two hurt her. I know Nathan and he has never acted so blatantly attracted to someone in his life. I trust you to do the right thing and make sure this…friendship…of yours doesn't get too out of hand." He sighed. "Can you promise that for me?"

"Whatever happens…happens…" She said nonchalantly.

"Just make sure the right thing happens Eliza, I really do like the work you do here." Lucas said the threat hanging loosely in the air. He gave a quick wave and exited the room.

Elizabeth sighed heavily as the door shut behind him.

Lunch at Carraba's Italian Eatery became a three person affair when Haley showed up in tears at the Promotex office just as Lucas was about to leave.

"Hales?" He asked. "What's going on?"

She threw herself into his embrace and they stood there in the garage until she had cried herself out. "Nathan canceled on me again…it's not that big of a deal I'm just so damn emotional today." She said waving away Lucas's concern. "I'm sorry I just showed up here. I know you and Brooke usually go out for lunch…"

He cut her off, "no it's fine. I'm sure Brooke would love to see you." He opened the car door for her and then went around to his side. "So how's little Lucas doing?"

She smiled. "He's doing great, he kicked today."

"That's my little man, he's going to be a great basketball player one day."

"I'm sure you and Nathan will make sure of it." Haley said laughing. "How's work? I'm going out of my mind with boredom at the house. Ever since I took time off of work my days have been a drag."

"Not like you did much anyway, you just wrote songs all day!"

"That takes a lot of time and energy I'll have you know." She said haughtily.

They pulled onto the road that would take them to Brooke's office. "I've been meaning to ask you something." He said breaking the silence.

She looked at him expectantly. "Well? Spit it out."

"I want you to go engagement ring shopping with me."

Hazel eyes widened in fright, then surprise, and finally settled in happiness. "Oh Lucas, I'm so happy for you! When'd you decide this?"

"I don't know, a week or so ago. I figured that Brooke's the only one for me and I never want to let her go so the best way to show it is by marrying her." He smiled dreamily. "I really love her Hales."

Her eyes filled with tears. "Lucas Scott, most eligible bachelor, I thought I'd never see you get married."

"Neither did I, but like you told me when you got engaged to Nathan, you can't help it when the right person comes along and you fall in love." He said. "I remember back in college Nancy and I were drunk and knocking around my dorm when she asked me how I would know that I was ready to be married."

"What'd you tell her?" Haley asked truly interested.

"I told her that when I finally found the girl of my dreams it'd be the way she talked, the way she looked, the way she walked, and the way she looked at me. It'd be the way I can't get her off my mind and out of my heart. It'd be the longing I felt when I was without her and the joy I felt when I was with her. It'd be the feeling I got when she laughed or cried and the fluttering of my heart when she smiled." He smiled softly. "I told her it'd be the way I thought that I couldn't imagine anyone in that wedding dress, walking up that aisle, and sharing those vows with me than her."

"Lucas…that's beautiful." Haley said. "I'm so glad you finally found that person."

He nodded parking on the curb in front of Brooke's building. "So am I Hales, so am I."

TBC

A/N: Shorter than usual but I got my point across. Once again, sorry for the late posting.