Hey guys! I'm so sorry that it once again took me a while to update, but I was on a hiking trip earlier this week where obviously I didn't have access to my laptop! But I stopped reading Harry Potter 6 to come update for you guys, which I think shows some dedication! Thank you for all your reviews of the last chapter, I hope you enjoy this one too!

Lucas opened the door to his room and smiled as he saw Brooke standing outside. She beamed at him. "Happy thanksgiving!"

"You too," he said as she came in, glancing at Freddie who appeared to have just woken up. "Happy thanksgiving to you too Freddie!"

He mumbled something in reply and she gave him a stern look. "It's thanksgiving Freddie, you're not nearly cheery enough!"

Freddie groaned and turned to Lucas, "Is she always like this on holidays?" he asked.

Lucas chuckled. "You should see her at Christmas!"

Brooke rolled her eyes at Lucas and flopped down on his bed. "So what are you thankful for this year Frederick."

He gave her a look at the use of his full name, and then thought about it. "Um…peace, love, family, and that scene with Brad Pitt in boxers in 'Mr and Mrs Smith'."

Brooke nodded slowly. "Good choices. How about you Luke?"

He shrugged, sitting down. "I don't know. Coming to New York, fitting in here…" he trailed off and caught Brooke's eye, "lots of stuff."

She smiled. "Yeah, me too."

That evening they went to Haley and Nathan's apartment for dinner. When they entered delicious smells were already wafting from the kitchen, and they found Peyton and Haley surrounded by food at various stages of preparation.

Brooke shook her head as she looked around. "Oh dear, the boy-girl cooking ratio in this room is really bad. What happened to equality between the sexes?" She raised her eyebrows at Nathan and Jake, who were leaning against a counter sipping drinks. "Broody, get cooking and even things out."

Lucas gave her a look but started helping Haley chop carrots, and Brooke smiled, satisfied, and hopped onto a counter to watch. Nathan shook his head, "We did offer," he complained.

Haley looked up at Brooke. "Yeah, it's really not their fault, but if you'd tasted Nathan's cooking you wouldn't complain!"

Brooke laughed. "Okay, well as long as I can stay out of it I don't mind."

"Oh don't worry. We've all tasted your cooking…in fact, it might be better if you left the kitchen entirely…"

Brooke looked indignant. "Hey, I'm not that bad!"

"I was kidding! Your cooking is actually pretty good."

"Well I wouldn't go that far…although my pasta is pretty killer, if I do say so myself. I'm not good with meat and stuff though so I think I'll just let you guys handle it."

"Good choice," Nathan said approvingly, "I'm a firm believer in 'too many cooks spoil the broth'."

"So usually, more than one is too many, hmm Nate?" Haley asked, with a raised eyebrow.

"It's a small kitchen!"

Haley rolled her eyes.

They all continued cooking (or not cooking) until finally Lucas began taking dishes out of the oven and they all went through into the little dining room to eat.

"God I feel old," Nathan said, as he began carving the roast.

"Nate! This is a very important moment of Thanksgiving, don't ruin it!" Haley snapped at him, a twinkle in her eye, and he rolled his eyes.

Brooke smiled as she looked round the table, and caught Haley's eye. Her friend smiled back at her, as the others all began eating. Brooke dug into her food, feeling relaxed and happy. This was what Thanksgiving was meant to be about. Not some fancy meal on a boat in the Caribbean like last year, suffering through forced conversation with her parents. Friends, good food, a big table in a little apartment that felt like a home.

She felt Lucas' foot knock against hers under the table and she looked up at him. He smiled at her and she returned it. She definitely knew what she was thankful for this year.

After dinner they were all too full to do anything other than go into the living room and collapse in front of the TV.

"Okay next year, I'm going to cook," Nathan declared, "And then they'll be no chance of us seriously over-eating again."

Lucas chuckled. "Hales, I think that was the best meal I've ever had."

"Wow, that's really saying something considering your mom is a cook," Nathan said, raising his eyebrows.

"Okay, so maybe not the best," Lucas admitted, "But pretty damn close!"

"Luke, if it was half as good as your mom's I cannot ask for higher praise," Haley said.

Lucas grinned. "I didn't even miss her pumpkin pie!"

Haley reached out a hand from where she was sitting and caught Lucas'. "I'm sorry you couldn't be with her."

"There's nowhere I'd rather be than here," Lucas said honestly.

Haley smiled, and released his hand, settling back into the couch. Nathan was flicking through the channels and found an old movie that was showing.

They were all watching quietly, when Peyton suddenly stood up. "I'm just going to get some air," she said, and headed out through the back door.

Brooke glanced up and caught Jake's eye. He smiled briefly and then stood up as well, following Peyton outside.

Jake slowly made his way down the steps of the back porch and sat down next to Peyton. She continued looking out at the stars, but leant her head against his shoulder. He kissed the top of it and Peyton felt her throat tighten.

Jake hesitated, and then reached out, turning her face towards him. He wiped away a tear that had escaped down her cheek and looked at her sadly.

"What's happening to us Jake?" she whispered.

He looked down and she sighed. "You never talk to me anymore. You're keeping stuff bottled up."

He looked up at her, and opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it again.

"I can see it," she continued. "I can see something's wrong but when I ask you about it you pretend it's nothing." She paused. "Tell me what's going on."

"I've just been worrying about Jenny and…if me being at college is having a bad effect on her. I'm…getting behind on my work and stuff but I don't want to spend any less time with her than I already do."

Peyton looked at him frustratedly. "Why didn't you tell me you were getting behind? Jake you don't have to hide this kind of stuff from me, I can help."

"I just…I hate having to burden you with all these things that you shouldn't have to deal with."

Peyton sighed and looked at Jake sadly. "I thought we got through all this. Jake, I want to be Jenny's mother. I want to be burdened with this stuff. Because I love her so much, and no matter what it is, I want to help her in any way I can, and help you."

Jake furrowed his eyebrows. "But it's not fair on you that you should have to spend your college years looking after my kid."

Peyton took his hand. "I wouldn't want it any other way."

"Are you sure?"

She smiled. "Yes. As sure as I was when we decided to be together, to go to the same college, to live together. Jake, everything we've been through has just made me more sure of that."

He hesitated, and then nodded, smiling as well. "Okay…Thank you Peyton."

She cupped his cheek and kissed him gently. "My pleasure."

The others looked up from where they were all sitting as Peyton and Jake came back inside. Brooke grinned broadly as she saw they were both smiling as they sat down in one of the big armchairs.

Jake dropped a kiss on Peyton's head as she curled up in his lap.

"Where's Lucas?" he asked after a minute, as he noticed he wasn't there.

Haley smirked and replied, without looking away from the TV. "He went to buy some chocolate."

Peyton gave Brooke a look, and here eyes widened innocently. "What!"

"I didn't know Lucas got chocolate cravings at 10 O'clock at night!"

Brooke searched for an excuse but found none, so just waved it away with a 'whatever!'. Peyton shook her head and turned back to the TV. "What are we watching by the way?" she asked.

"Well, I've been trying to work it out," Nathan said. "And I think, this person," he pointed to someone on the screen, "Is mad because that person killed their mother…but it may have been their girlfriend…I haven't really been following," he explained. Peyton raised an eyebrow. "Sounds a little twisted."

"I think that's just Nate making it up. As far as I can see it's a really dull 18th century drama," Brooke said.

Haley turned from the screen to look at them. "Guys, it's obviously 'Hamlet'!"

Brooke and Peyton exchanged looks. "It is?"

"No, I have no idea! But shush I'm trying to watch."

Brooke laughed but did as she was told, and settled back into the couch as she continued watching. She saw Haley lean back against Nathan, and Peyton intertwine her fingers in Jake's. She wrapped her arms round herself.

Suddenly they heard the front door open and after a few second Lucas came in. Brooke looked over the back of the couch and smiled at him, and he returned it as he came and sat down, resting a hand on her knee. "What have I missed?" he asked quietly, as he handed her a bar of Hershey's cookies and cream.

"We're not sure, but we think the tall guy killed the short guys mother…or girlfriend…"

Lucas gave her a confused look but nodded.

"And thank you," she added, kissing him on the cheek, "You're the best."

He shrugged and wrapped an arm round her, "No problem."

She broke of a piece of her chocolate and settled against him, handing him a piece as well.

The movie ended with none of them any the wiser about the plot, but they had enjoyed it all the same. Haley reached for the remote and flicked of the TV.

"Hales! There's gonna be highlights from the game soon."

She turned round to look at him. "Nate, you watched the whole thing earlier."

"No I didn't, I kept missing bits when you made me chop stuff."

"That was like two minutes because you complained so much I let you go back."

Nathan pouted and Haley kissed him on the nose. "You can watch more later. Right now we all haven't said what we're thankful for yet."

"Do we really have to go through that charade? Can't we all just assume we're all thankful for each other?" He looked round the others, his eyebrows raised. "Is everyone good with that?"

The other all looked at each other, smiling.

"Yup, I think we're good," Brooke said.

Haley rolled her eyes. "Fine, you can watch the highlights!"

Nathan smiled and switched the TV back on, kissing the top of Haley's head afterwards. "Thank you."

"Brooke, would you hurry up?" Lucas moaned, standing in the doorway to her room.

"No, I need my shoes!" She stuck her head under her bed, and came up again frowning.

"We're going to Haley and Nathan's – you can wear any shoes. You've got enough to chose from!"

"No, I need my green all stars, otherwise the whole outfit doesn't work, and then I have to change."

"No! Do not change. Just…find your shoes quickly." He sighed and leant against the doorframe. He knew there was no point in trying to persuade her that any shoes would be fine with her outfit, because she was very particular about these kinds of things, and would just hit him and tell him he didn't understand. Which he didn't.

"Found one!"

"Half way there," Lucas muttered, checking his watch.

Brooke stuck her head out form under her desk and tipped it on one side. "Would it be totally weird to wear one black shoe and one green, if they're in exactly the same style?"

"No, it would be fine. Any shoes at all would be fine."

Brooke looked down at the two shoes she held, and then shook her head and threw the black one back where she'd found it. Lucas groaned but then she jumped up, grinning, "Got it!" She shoved her feet into them and went past him out the door, calling over her shoulder. "You wanna hurry it up Broody? We're late."

Lucas just shook his head and followed her outside.

They had decided to just hang out altogether for Jake and Peyton's last night in New York. Haley opened the door and hugged Brooke and Lucas before they all went through to the sitting room.

"Sorry we're late," Lucas said, "We had a…shoe hold up…" He frowned at his sentence, and then shook his head.

Brooke glared at him. "It only took like four minutes."

Haley just rolled her eyes. "Okay, well the take-out should be arriving in a little while, so we can do whatever you want till then."

"I would suggest truth or dare," Brooke said, as she sat down on the couch next to Peyton, "But I think we know all each other's truths by now!"

Peyton laughed. "Yeah I think you're right about that."

Brooke leant her head against Peyton's shoulder and sighed. "I can't believe you guys are leaving tomorrow. It's been way too short."

"I know."

"We'll see you again at Christmas," Jake reassured them, as he slipped a hand into Peyton's.

"Where's Jenny?" Brooke asked, looking around.

"Sleeping in Hales' room," Peyton explained. "We did a little more sight-seeing today and it really tired her out."

Brooke nodded. "Has she enjoyed New York?"

Peyton laughed. "Oh my god, so much! Seriously all we hear now is: 'can I live here? Can I stay with Brooke? I don't want to go back home…'"

Brooke chuckled. "See, she wants to stay here! I think you guys have to move here."

"Sorry Brooke, but not all of us can just switch colleges whenever we want," Jake said, looking pointedly at Lucas.

"What? I got onto to the training programme, I had to move."

"Uh huh, because it's not like you were totally planning to go to New York anyway," Peyton said, raising her eyebrows.

Brooke looked at Lucas, but he just shrugged innocently.

Haley came in with Nathan at that moment. "So do you guys want to watch a movie?" she asked.

Jake and Peyton both readily agreed, Brooke was still looking at Lucas but he just gave her a little smile before turning to Haley to agree.

"So what are we going to watch?" Peyton asked, as she went over to the shelf that housed a row of DVDs and videos.

Brooke looked over from where she was sitting and tried to read the titles. She gave up, and waved a hand aimlessly. "Whatever everyone else decides."

Peyton gave her a look. "Brooke, you're meant to be the decision maker. These two are hopeless," she said, waving a hand in the direction of Jake and Lucas, who both shrugged in agreement, "And Hales and Nate can never agree, so I'm not even going to let them have a choice. So it's up to you babe, what's it going to be?"

Brooke sighed and stood up, "Well if I must…"

Lucas chuckled, and Brooke shot him a glare.

"Um…something scary…Hales you have no decent horror movies."

"Well they're not exactly my thing."

"Ooh I have some!" Nathan said, jumping up. Haley groaned as Nathan went over to the shelf, searching through the stack. "Here… 'The Others', 'The Ring', 'The Blair Witch Project'…"

"Any that don't start with 'the'?"

Nathan looked. "Oddly not actually…"

"Let's have 'The Others'. That's really not that bad Hales."

"Uh hello! The bit with the girl, and the woman, and she's not her daughter…" Haley gesticulated vaguely and then gave up as Brooke gave her a look. "Fine, whatever. Nate, get over here." She pulled him into the armchair where she was sitting, and crawled into his lap.

Peyton put the video in, and Jake went to check on Jenny quickly before they started.

Lucas held out an arm for Brooke. She gave him a look. "What?" he said, "It's scary."

She grinned and sat down next to him on the couch, curling up in his arms. She was perfectly happy to sit with him, and usually would have been the first to pull him over to her, but she'd wanted him to admit that he'd get scared without her.

Lucas felt Brooke's fingers dig into him as the movie progressed, and tightened his hold on her.

Nathan looked around the room in the flickering light from the TV screen. The scene before him was like so many from their years in high school that he couldn't help but smile. It comforted him that some things remained the same amidst all the current changes in their lives.

Or, almost the same, he thought, as his eyes drifted to Brooke and Lucas. Eighteen months ago by this time they would be making out quietly, or at least whispering to each other, their foreheads leaning against each other.

But now they were both just watching the movie, although Lucas was holding his ex-girlfriend closely in his arms, and Nathan chuckled to himself as he saw she held a fistful of his hoody in her hand. It had always been a security thing with Brooke, whenever they watched scary movies she would end up clutching Lucas' shirt.

The food arrived about half way through the film, and Haley jumped up to go and get it, glad for an excuse to leave the room. They shared it out when she came back in, and the rest of the movie played against a background of loud munching, and Brooke's giggles: Lucas had never really mastered the use of chopsticks.

When it was over they all started talking; the week had been so hectic that they had had very little time altogether, and as they had a lot to talk about it was long past midnight when Nathan noticed Haley had fallen asleep against his shoulder.

The other all gradually followed, sleeping where they were draped over the couches and armchairs.

Lucas leaned back against one arm of the couch and Brooke wrapped an arm round him, her fingers grazing his neck. Lucas was surprised to feel his skin tingle at the contact. It had been so long since she had touched him there, although she used to caress his neck the whole time; somehow when they were kissing her fingers would always find their way there.

Brooke had noticed it too. She remembered why she had always loved the softness of his skin and the smell of his neck when she'd leant her head against it. She felt Lucas wrap a hand round her waist, his fingers slipping under the edge of her top. She smiled to herself; he had obviously been thinking about the same things she had. He always used to do that: slip a hand onto her lower back whenever he held her against him.

She looked up at him and saw he was already watching her. He gave her a small smile, and she returned it. Their faces were inches apart and he saw her lick her lips. But then she looked down and rested her head on his shoulder again. She felt him kiss her forehead, and whisper goodnight.

"Goodnight Luke," she replied, and hesitated for a second before closing her eyes, her fingers resting against his neck once more.

Brooke woke up suddenly and looked around. She heard a cry from somewhere else in the apartment and realised that must have been what had woken her. Jenny was crying, but Peyton appeared to be awake as well. "It's okay, I'll get her," she said to Jake, and carefully got up and crept out of the room. Brooke felt Lucas shift next to her, and she kissed the side of his head and watched as he settled back into sleep as Jenny's cries abated.

Brooke hesitated and then got up, careful not to wake Lucas, and went into the bedroom where Peyton was sitting on the bed holding Jenny.

"Sorry, did she wake you? She just had a bad dream, didn't you baby."

Jenny nodded and buried her head into Peyton's shoulder, and Brooke smiled. "It's okay." She came over and sat down next to them, rubbing Jenny's shoulder.

Peyton looked up at her and smiled. "I can't believe we're leaving tomorrow."

Brooke nodded sadly. "It's been too short Peyt!"

"We'll come for longer next time. Actually, since we're both up, I might finally have a chance to have a proper talk with you."

Brooke raised an eyebrow and Peyton grinned. "When are you going to get back together with Lucas?"

Brooke half smiled, and stopped herself from rolling her eyes. "I was wondering when that was coming."

"Yeah, you should've been. And don't give me any rubbish excuses, I've seen you two this week, and I know you, okay? He makes you happy Brooke, and I can tell that you want to be with him."

Brooke opened her mouth to argue, and then shut it, realising she didn't want to. Then she sighed, "I just keep thinking, he's my high school boyfriend…those relationships are never meant to last." She'd talked about this issue endlessly with Carrie, but after seeing Peyton struggling with her relationship with Jake this week, she wanted to hear what she thought.

Peyton raised an eyebrow, "Um…what about Haley and Nathan, or me and Jake?"

"Well they're married…and you guys practically have a kid so…"

"Exactly. No matter what we've been through we've never been happier. I wouldn't want it any other way. Just because he was your first love it doesn't mean there's automatically someone else out there. Just forget about the past, and the future. The question is, how do you feel about him now?"

Brooke was silent for a second. "I love him," she said finally.

"Then be with him."

Brooke bit her lip and a small smile formed on her face.

"Do you think you're ready for that?" Peyton prompted.

Brooke sighed, "I don't know. When we broke up last time I thought I'd come to college, and have a chance to…you know, party and date a load of guys and…"

"Sow your wild oats," Peyton joked.

Brooke chuckled, "Yeah. But…I kind of did that last year and now…maybe now I'm ready to…to be with him again…for good." She paused, "I'm just not sure he is."

Peyton hesitated. "Brooke I can't speak for him but I'm pretty sure he is. From the way he looks at you…and the way he talks about you, I think it's pretty obvious he wants to be with you again."

Brooke looked up at her, "So what should I do?"

Peyton smiled. "Tell him."

Please review! I'll try to UD soon. No spoilers, although I will tell you one scene of the next chapter has been written for a very long time…