Here is the last chapter in this four part story. I am sorry it took me so long to update. I had some major computer problems. I thought that the computer fixers would be able to fix it in a day, but it ended up taking them about a week. I just got my computer back yesterday afternoon and wanted to give you all an update so here it is. The last chapter. I hope you enjoy and again I am sorry for its delay. Thanks.

Chapter Four

Lucas walked into the living room and set his glass down before he took a seat in front on the television.

The house was quiet. His mother was still in New Zealand with Andy, so it was only him in the house. Sure the house wasn't big in any way, but when you only have one person there day in and day out it seemed to only get bigger. It also began to get lonely. There really wasn't anyone to talk to. Sure there was Haley, but right now she was dealing with all the Nathan stuff and he didn't want to bother her with his stuff. The same went for Peyton. She was going through losing Jake and he didn't want to burden her with his problems. He used to be able to just walk into a room and have his mother there, but not anymore. Which was hard because he could really use her right now. They used to be able to talk about everything.

There wasn't a day that went by that Lucas didn't wish Brooke was there with him. It would just be the two of them without any interruptions. He would sit and think about what they could do, but really what they would talk about because as much fun as it was to make out with her, he loved just talking with her more. Once he moved back home they would constantly sit in the living room and just talk. Talk for hours about everything and nothing at all. Those were the times he remembered the most. One of the best times he had with her was before they even got together. It was the night Peyton had gotten drugged at a party. That night they stayed up all night and just talked. That night he got to find out what a big heart Brooke had and what an amazing person she was. That night changed everything.

Every time Lucas thought about that night and how it changed everything he found himself thinking about another time that changed everything. The day he went with Peyton to find her dad. That day he and Peyton crossed a line that never should have been crossed. They both thought they were in love with each other, but they were wrong, they weren't. It was all a mistake. If it had been love they felt for each other it would have been hard to give each other up after Brooke found out, but it hadn't been. That's when he knew Peyton wasn't it for him. At the time he didn't know what was, but now he did. It was Brooke.

Lucas knew he loved Brooke because all this time being apart from her was driving him crazy. He missed her like he had never missed anyone before. It was pretty funny how the old sayings were always true. You never know what you have until it's gone. He had Brooke. Brooke was his girlfriend, but he didn't value her like he should have. Yes, he cared about her a lot, but not enough. He hadn't appreciated what they had and now he was paying the price for that. Now that they weren't together he realized just how special being with her made him feel. When they were together she was all about being with him and not just for the sex, she was always talking about how she wanted to know everything about him. She wanted a deeper connection that sex couldn't give them. He only wished that he wanted that too back then, but you can't change the past.

Lucas still to this day regretted the way he acted toward Brooke. Yes, he cared about her, but to him the relationship had been more about the physical aspects then the feelings. His feelings at the time still belonged to Peyton.

Now that he had wised up and finally saw what was always in front of him it was too late and he had already lost her, probably for good, but he still knew what they had together was special. He just hoped that he'd get the chance to prove to her that he knew that. He knew she was special.

One more month and then Brooke would be coming home and hopefully everything would work out for them and they could both be happy. Lucas hoped that their happiness would be together, but if it wasn't he just wanted to know that she was in fact happy. That would be enough for him.

Brooke sat in her seat on the plane. He mind was racing. They were about to land in Tree Hill and she still had no clue on what she was going to say to Lucas.

She thought about just walking into the house and throwing her arms around him and kissing him, but she just could see herself doing that. That was something the old Brooke would do and she was no longer that person. She knew that before anything happened with her and Lucas they needed to talk. The kissing would have to wait even though she wanted more than anything for him to kiss her again. She missed his lips pressed against hers, but still that would have to wait. There was too much at stake to move too quickly. The first time they were together it had basically just been physical and she didn't want that this time. Brooke wanted their relationship to be real, if there was even going to be a relationship, that was what the talk was going to be about. She knew she wanted to be with Lucas and that he wanted to be with her and that they loved each other, but was that going to be enough?

Brooke closed her eyes and leaned back in her seat. She couldn't wait to see Lucas again. She missed him so much more then she ever thought she would. She couldn't wait to be in his arms again. That was the one place she longed to be. When Lucas had his arms around her she always felt like everything was going to work out and that's exactly what she needed right now, to feel like everything would work out.

Brooke took the letter out of her purse, unfolded it and read it again. She couldn't stop reading it. Any time she had a doubt about going home to Lucas and she had about a million on the flight alone, she'd open Lucas' letter and read it. The letter had become like Lucas arms around her, it made her feel as if everything was going to work out. Everything Lucas wrote was so heartfelt and honest. How could she not go to him after reading it. Everything she had ever hoped for him to say he finally had and it was beautiful. She felt the exact way she knew she would, happy and content.

There was nothing left to do, but go to Lucas and tell him she felt the same way. She loved him too. They needed to make things work this time. This time they were both in it one hundred percent and nothing was going to stand in their way.

Brooke pulled up to the house and paid the cab driver. She grabbed her bag and started up the path passing her light blue VW Bug. Her hand lightly grazed its side. She hadn't seen her car in months. She wondered if Lucas had driven her car this summer. She told him before she left that he could as long as he took care of her baby, as she called it. He promised he would so she left him the keys.

Brooke shook all the random thoughts about Lucas an her car from her head and finished her way up to the door. She thought about just walking in, but decided against it. Yes, she had stayed there and was going to stay there again, but she'd been gone for two months, she couldn't just barge in there.

Brooke raised her hand and took a deep breath before gently knocking on the door. This was it, there was no turning back now.

Lucas continued to flip through the channels. There was nothing on. He settled on watching ESPN. Luckily they were replaying a game he missed earlier. He had finally settled into the couch when he heard a knock at the door. He cursed who ever it was for making him get up. Lucas slowly got up and made his way to the door and opened it. His eyes widened when he saw who stood before him.

Brooke. It was Brooke. She was here. In Tree Hill. No, he had to be dreaming she was supposed to still be in California for another month.

Lucas stood in the doorway for a minute and just looked at her before he found his voice."Brooke. What are you doing here?"

Brooke smiled at him."Can I come in?"

"Oh right, sorry."Lucas pushed the door open and motioned for her in."What are you doing back so soon? I didn't expect to see you until next month."

Brooke nodded."I know and I planned on staying in California until then, but then I got this."she held up his letter."I read it and had to come home. Did you mean it Lucas? What you wrote?"she looked him in the eyes and hoped with everything he would say yes.

Lucas stared back at her and knew that she desperately needed to hear his answer."Every word. I wouldn't have wrote it if I didn't mean it Brooke."

Brooke let out the breath she didn't even know she was holding."I was hoping you would say that. Lucas I don't really know what to say. I..."

"You don't have to say anything Brooke. I didn't write you to make you feel like you had to come home. I did it because one night I just couldn't stop thinking about you and I wanted you to know it. I just wanted you to know that I still cared."

Brooke closed her eyes and nodded as a few tears trickled down her cheek."You need to know that getting this letter meant a lot to me. I knew that you said you wanted to be with me before I left, but I didn't know everything else. I didn't know all of your feelings. I have never gotten a letter like this before Lucas. I have never gotten a letter that made me feel both happy and sad at the same time."

"I don't want you to be sad Brooke. That's the last thing I wanted to happen. I have caused you enough pain and I'm sorry."

"I know you are Lucas. I can honestly say that I believe you when you say that. I have wanted to hear everything you said in your letter for a long time and now to hear that you meant everything is pretty amazing."Brooke raised her hand and wiped away a few of her fallen tears.

"I have never meant anything more. I am very sorry for hurting you, but at the same time everything that happened with us made me realize that your the one I want to be with Brooke. Your the one that I love. I don't know, maybe I should just keep my mouth shut. Maybe this is the last thing you want to hear right now."said Lucas looking away.

"No, I want to hear this Lucas. I want to hear everything you have to say.I always have. I would have stayed in California if I didn't."

"Well I for one am happy you didn't stay there. I have missed you so much Brooke. There wasn't a day that went by that I didn't think about you."

"I missed you too Lucas. I thought about you constantly. I thought about the kiss and everything you said to me after it. There were a dozen times when all I wanted to do was come back home and just be with you."Brooke again wiped away her tears, but more fell.

"Then why didn't you?"Lucas knew he shouldn't ask her that, but he couldn't help it. H needed to know."I wanted more then anything for you to do just that."

"I was scared Lucas. I still am."Brooke convulsively sighed, but continued through her tears."The last time we were together it didn't end so well for me."she paused."I wasn't ready to just jump into something that could lead me back to that pain. I can't do that again Lucas. I don't think I could take it, not a second time."she closed her eyes and just let her tears fall. There was no use in trying to wipe them away now.

Lucas walked closer to Brooke and raised his hands to her face and used his thumbs to wipe away some of her tears. He hated seeing her cry and he knew he was the cause of all her hurt."That is the last thing I want to happen Brooke. I never want to hurt you again. There is a major difference this time. The last time we were together I didn't feel the way I do about you now. I knew I cared about you, but there was still somebody else."

Brooke closed her eyes and scoffed."Yeah, I know. Peyton, my best friend."

"Yeah, but not this time."Lucas lowered his his arms and placed his hands on both of her arms and just held them."This time it's only you Brooke. I love you. There is nobody else."

"How do I know that you aren't going to change your mind? You've done it before."

"Because this time I know what I'd be losing. Brooke you mean everything to me."

"You mean everything to me too Lucas and that's what scares me. You say that you love me and I believe you. The thing is, I love you too. More then I think I should. I never actually stopped loving you Lucas. Even after everything you did to me I still loved you. If you would have come to me back then and told me you made a mistake and wanted to be with me I would have taken you back. That's how pathetic I was. I don't want to become that person again Lucas. I don't want to feel that without you I am nothing."she continued to cry.

Lucas cupped her face in his hands."I don't want that either Brooke, but you need to know that you were never pathetic, just in love with a jerk who was too stupid to see how amazing you were, but I do now. Right now you are a strong and independent person who doesn't take crap from anyone and I want you to stay that way. I love the person you've become Brooke and your gonna stay that person. You didn't deserve what I did to you and again I am sorry for that. Look there are no guarantees Brooke. I don't know if things are going to work out for us this time. I know I want them to, but you never know what's going to happen, but what I do know is that I will never hurt you that way again. If you give me the chance to show you just how much you mean to me I promise I won't let you down, not again."

Brooke placed her hands on his which were still on her face and held them."I want that so much Lucas. I know that you love me and I love you and that we want to be together, but is that enough to make this work?"

Lucas nodded."It's more then enough to start off with. It's more then we had last time."Lucas removed his hands from her face and took her hands in his and held them."I don't want to force you into anything your not ready for. You know the way I feel about you, you know that I want to be with you. I am willing to wait as long as it takes for you. If right now all you want to do is be friends, then I'll take that. I will do anything to make you see that you can trust me again."

"I do trust you Lucas. I know that you would never hurt me like you did before. I got to know you a lot better the last couple of months before I left and I fell in love with you all over again. I realized that I did trust you again. Lucas I want to be with you more then you'll ever know. I want to give us another chance. I don't want to wait anymore. Just please don't hurt me again."

"I won't."Lucas pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her tight."The last thing I want to do is hurt you Brooke. I love you too damn much to do that."

Brooke pulled away slightly."I love you too Lucas."

Lucas leaned his head down and slowly placed his lips on hers and kissed her. It was slow and gentle and full of love. He had never kissed anyone that way before and he never would again. He now had everything he could hope for. Brooke was back and they were going to be together again. This time it was going to work out.

Brooke pulled away from the kiss and placed her head on Lucas' chest and smiled. They were together again and in love. This was more then she ever thought possible for them. This was a turning point for her. She was no longer going to be that scared girl who wouldn't let anyone in in fear that they would just hurt her. She was opening her heart again and it felt good. She was right where she wanted to be, with the person she wanted to be with. In Lucas' arms everything looked like it was going to work out. They were together again and only good things were to come now that all their feelings had been expressed.

The End

Thank you all for reading and reviewing my fourth story. I love each and every review I have gotten.This story all started because of a challenge posted at the writers group I belong to(I tied with cheerybroody for the win) and a lot of you wanted to know how Brooke would react to Lucas' letter so I turned the challenge into a mini story and I loved doing it. I loved writing this little story and I hope we all get our Brucas in S3. Well this was the last part in the story and I hope you all enjoyed it. Again I am sorry for the delay in the update, but it couldn't be helped. Please let me know one last time what you thought of this story. Please read and review. Thanks.