Just as Lucas was leaving to get back to his hotel Haley grabbed her cell phone. She needed to talk to somebody and the only person that came to mind was Brooke. As soon as Lucas was out the door Haley dialed Brooke's number hoping that she wouldn't be sleeping or in the shower.

"Hey Hales, what's up?" Brooke answered her phone happily.

"I need to talk to you," Haley answered.

"Dude why do you sound like you're upset?"

"Because I am. That's why I need to talk to you Brooke."

"Ok, I'm listening."

"I slept with Luke."

"I know, you have a daughter remember."

"No, I mean I know that but I slept with Luke again."

"Again? What are you talking about?"

"Brooke, I just slept with him. He's leaving right now."

"Oh god, Hales."

"He took Bella out for the day which ended early because he slammed the car door on her foot. Now I have a 6 year old with a broken foot. Then I made lunch and he followed me into the kitchen. Before I knew it, we were kissing in the kitchen and he had stripped me. We went to the guest bedroom and had sex. I'm a married woman and I had sex with another man. What kind of wife am I?"

"Haley, listen to me. I'm not gonna say I agree with what you did but you can't beat yourself up over it. If you don't want Jake to know you need to shake it off right now. But like you said, you are a married woman. So I think Jake deserves to know but it's totally your call. Just know that whatever you decide, I'm there for you Hales."

"Thanks Brooke. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Ya well. Just don't let it happen again. I'm not sure I could be so understanding if you call me to tell me you slept with Luke again."

"I don't know if I can help it."

"Do you love Jake?"

"What? Of course I do."

"Then you can help it."

Brooke could not believe what Haley was saying to her. She had cheated on her husband with her best friend. That wasn't like Haley. Something was wrong, Brooke could feel it. The only thing was she didn't know exactly what it was. Brooke was silent for a few more minutes before it hit her. Haley had become the woman that Brooke had once been. She didn't want that for her friend. Living her life as the "other woman" wasn't something Brooke ever really enjoyed but being the crazy girl she was in high school that never mattered then. But she wasn't gonna stand back and watch Haley become that woman now. If Haley didn't stop herself then she was gonna end up miserable and Jake would most definitely leave her because he was the one guy that didn't do second chances. If you blew it with Jake, that was it. There was no going back and trying again.

"Brooke I really screwed up. I don't deserve a guy like Jake. He's always been so good to me. Why am I doing this to him?" Haley said breaking their silence.

"I don't know Hales. But I told you, this is something you need to figure out and if you truly love Jake, you need to find a way to make yourself stop. A woman in love does not cheat. A man in love does not cheat either. He doesn't deserve to be treated this way and if the situation was reversed you know I'd say you didn't deserve to be treated that way either. You need to decide what is more important. Your marriage to Jake or your friendship/fling with Lucas."

"Brooke, you're not seriously saying I have to choose between Jake and Luke are you?"

"I'm not telling you to choose anyone. I'm just laying it out there for you to see. Whatever is gonna be decided is gonna be decided because it's what you want and not because I told you what to do."

"Shit, Jake's here. I'll call you later. Thanks Brooke."

"You're welcome Hales."

With that Brooke hung up and went to check on the boys. They had been out of the hospital for three months now and Nate was doing much better than the day they were born. Just like everyone had told Brooke the little boy was a fighter and he didn't give up. Not even for a second. She found herself smiling down at each boy as they slept in their cribs. It was only a matter of time before one or both of them woke up and decided they were hungry or needed a fresh diaper. Brooke slid the door that separated her office from the nursery open and walked over to her desk to sit down. It had been a while since she had written anything and Brooke knew it was time to start getting back into the swing of things.

Brooke was still up in her office when she heard the front door open. She sat up and wiped the corners of her mouth laughing at the fact that she fell asleep at her desk again. It seemed to Brooke that every time she was in her office now, it was inevitable to think she would fall asleep. She was still at her desk when Nathan popped his head into the doorway carrying a dozen white roses. He handed them to Brooke in an over exaggerated manner which made her blush.

"Thanks baby. I missed you today," she said as she accepted the flowers then leaned up to kiss Nathan.

"You're welcome and I missed you too. How are the boys?" Nathan replied as he poked his head in to check on Jamie and Nate.

"They are perfect little angels. Just like their Mommy."

Nathan rolled his eyes making Brooke laugh. They both knew that Brooke was about as far from being an angel as anyone could get.

"Are you bringing them to the game tonight?"

"Of course. It's not everyday they get to watch their daddy and Uncle Jake play their Uncle Lucas. Plus, I'm excited. I haven't been to any games in a while myself."

"This is true. It'll be a nice treat for me to have my favorite girl and the two most adorable little boys in the stands cheering me on. Not much more a guy could ask for to make him happy."

"Speaking of the game tonight, do you know where the boys' jerseys are? I have their jeans, socks, shoes, turtle necks and hats but I can't find their jerseys."

"Did you check in their closet?"

"Ya but the only jerseys I could find are the ones that Skills, Fergie, Junk, Tim, Jake and Luke sent them."

"Well if you can't find the ones that say Scott on the back for the Nets, just put them in their jerseys from Jake. Same team so it'll be all good."

"All right. Will you come help me look? Maybe they are in the closet and I missed them."

Nathan helped Brooke out of the chair and they walked into Jamie and Nate's bedroom to look for their jerseys. They found both of them in the closet just as Nathan had suggested right as Jamie and Nate woke up.

"Looks like someone's ready for a bottle," Brooke said as she lifted Jamie from his crib.

Nathan walked over to Nate's crib and lifted him out. His nose wrinkled as he caught whiff of someone's dirty diaper.

"Hey Champ, what do you say we get you a clean diaper?" he asked Nate, who just grinned toothlessly at his daddy.

Brooke loved to watch Nathan interact with the twins. If she didn't know better she'd swear that every time she saw Nathan with them her heart melted all over again. As she continued to watch him, she made a mental note to talk to him about trying to have another child. They had both agreed that a big family was what they wanted, 6 or 7 kids. Maybe 8 but definitely no more than that. The phone rang in her office shaking Brooke from her thoughts. She walked into the room still holding Jamie.

"Hello," she said without looking at the caller id.

"Brooke, it's Peyton," she heard her friend say.

"Hey what's going on?"

"Not much. Just wanted to see how you're doing you know with the twins and everything."

"They're great, I'm great, Nathan's great. Peyton life is just great. But there is one thing missing."

"What's that?"

"My best friend! Come visit me."

"Actually, I am."

"Really? When?"

"Now."

Just then the doorbell rang. Brooke jumped to her feet, holding Jamie tightly as she bounded down the stairs and pulled open the front door. A smile lit up her face when she saw Peyton and Joaquin standing there.

"P. Sawyer! I missed you!" Brooke squealed as she ushered them in the house.

"I missed you too, B. Scott," Peyton squealed back, "Diga hola a su Tía Brooke y el primo Jamie."

"Hi," Joaquin said shyly.

Brooke knelt in front of the little boy and smiled at him before she spoke, "This is your cousin Jamie. Uncle Nathan is upstairs with your other little cousin, Nate."

"El tío Nathan es arriba con su primo Nate," Peyton translated for Joaquin. Brooke was impressed. She forgot how well Peyton spoke Spanish now.

"Come on, let's go upstairs. I'm sure Nathan would love to see you guys. And I have to get Jamie ready for the game tonight. Oh gosh! What are you gonna do while I'm at the game," Brooke rambled as she went up the stairs holding Jamie followed by Peyton and Joaquin.

"Joaquin and I are going to the game with you. Nathan knew we were coming in today but I told him not to tell you. I know you don't normally like surprises but I figured this would be ok," Peyton explained.

"This is more than okay. The last time I saw you we were in Tree Hill for the wedding. Nathan! Looks who here to see us."

"Hey Peyton, how are you?" Nathan said as he hugged his wife's friend.

"I'm good Nathan. How are you?" Peyton answered.

"Great. I thought I wasn't gonna be able to handle being a first year ball player, husband and father but so far it seems to be working out perfectly. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I have the best wife in the world."

"Hey, don't ignore your nephew," Brooke said as she nudged Nathan with her hip.

"Joaquin, how are you pal? You ready to watch Uncle Nathan and Uncle Jake beat Uncle Lucas?"

"Mommy is teaching me basketball. So I can play like you," Joaquin told Nathan with a grin.

"Peyt you're teaching your son to play basketball? When did you acquire the grace and agility for that?" Nathan laughed.

"Shut up, Scott," Peyton retorted with a playful glare.

"Hey, if Peyton wants to teach Joaquin to play basketball she doesn't have to be graceful. She just has to know what she's talking about," Brooke defended.

"And we all know I can talk about basketball til I'm blue in the face. After all, we did grow up watching you losers play ball all the way through school."

"Stick with me kid and you'll be fine," Nathan said as he put a hand on Joaquin's shoulder. The boy looked up at Nathan and smiled. He had no idea what that meant but it sounded okay so he would go with it for now.

"Hey where's Jaime?" Brooke asked Peyton.

"I don't know. I haven't seen him in a couple months. His PO keeps calling me to check on him and I hate telling him that I don't know where Jaime is. I have a feeling if he doesn't show up in the next couple days there's gonna be a warrant for his arrest or something. But whatever, we split up before he disappeared anyway. So actually I have no reason to know where he is or why. Except for the sake of his son and to get his PO off my back," Peyton answered.

"Geez Peyt."

"Nah it's ok. I think I'm gonna leave Texas all together. I don't like it down there, it's too hot. I was thinking maybe I'd move back to Tree Hill or something. Maybe I could help Karen out at the café or with Tric or both even. I don't know. Nothing is decided other than I know I need to get out of Texas. There's no way I could raise my son around all of Jaime's crazy friends. They'd have him dealing drugs before he gets to the first grade knowing them."

"Wow, well you can stay here as long as you want. I'll help you figure stuff out. I'm a journalist now so I can look into things about Jaime and where he's at and what he's been doing if you need me to."

"La mami que tengo hambre," Joaquin whispered to Peyton.

"Use your English buddy," Peyton answered.

"I'm hungry, Mommy."

"Ok, maybe Auntie Brooke and Uncle Nathan are hungry too. We could go get something to eat."

"Actually, that sounds like a good idea. We can go eat and then I have to get to the arena. Brooke why don't you and Peyton take the kids in my truck and I'll take your car?" Nathan said.

"Sure, makes sense," Brooke answered.

Once they got everything squared away they drove toward the Olive Garden for dinner. Peyton wasn't sure if Joaquin would like the food but when she saw the chicken fingers on the kids menu she quickly shook that thought from her mind.

"Quiero a Mami de licitaciones de pollo," Joaquin told her after she read the choices.

"Okay. Do you want chocolate milk?" Peyton asked.

"No, la sosa."

"How do you ask?"

"Por favor."

Peyton nodded. She was ok with Joaquin drinking soda because he hardly ever had any. It was her way of keeping him from bouncing off the walls all the time. Usually it worked but only if Jaime wasn't around sneaking their son soda behind her back.

An hour and a half later, they were done eating and Nathan had just taken care of the check. Jamie, Nate and Joaquin were getting restless so they decided it was time to go back to the house for a little while before they went to the arena. Nathan kissed Brooke, Nate and Jamie good-bye as he walked to Brooke's Scion and drove to the arena.

"So, I have some pretty shocking news," Brooke said as they drove toward the house.

"What's up?" Peyton asked curiously.

"You know Haley's daughter Bella?"

"Ya? What about her?"

"She's not Chris'."

"What? Are you kidding? Who's kid is she?"

"Luke's."

"No way. How's he taking that?"

"Pretty good. He spent some time with her today and she ended up breaking her foot."

"Wow, Hales must have been pissed."

"She couldn't have been too pissed."

"Why not? What's going on?"

"They slept together."

"Well that would explain Bella."

"No, Peyt. I mean today."

"What?"

"Ya, she called me after he left. She was upset but I told her she has to figure out what she wants to do."

"Why would she do something like that to Jake?"

"I dunno Peyton. Listen, she's gonna be at the game tonight so try not to mention anything about her and Lucas sleeping together."

"All right I won't say anything."

Brooke nodded as they pulled into the driveway. She smiled when she looked in the mirror and saw that all three kids were sound asleep. Peyton got out of the car and helped Brooke get the kids out of the backseat and into the house. They had just put the boys in their cribs and Joaquin was in the guest bedroom with the door open. Brooke watched as Peyton leaned over to kiss him. That's when she caught sight of what looked like a bruise to her. She tried to shake it off. If Peyton wanted her to know, she would tell her. Maybe she was reading too much into it. Brooke didn't know exactly, she only knew that if Jaime had done anything to hurt Peyton she would find him and kill him with her bare hands.

"Brooke why are you looking at me like that?" Peyton asked when she turned around to see Brooke was staring intently at her.

"What?" Brooke asked.

"You were staring at me just now. Why?"

"I was? I'm sorry."

"Brooke." Peyton knew Brooke was lying. She could hear it in her voice.

"Why do you really need to get out of Texas?"

"Huh?"

"Don't play games with me Peyt. What's really going on?"

"No, Brooke. Please. I can't think about it."

"Think about what? What can't you think about?" Brooke knew she was probably pushing too hard but something told her to keep pushing till Peyton talked to her.

"Brooke don't. Not now. I can't do this."

"Peyton, what's going on?" Brooke felt bad for pushing but that instinct wouldn't let her give up. The desperation in Peyton's tone made her want to know more anyway.

"Nothing's going on. I'm fine."

"Don't lie to me. You're not fine."

Peyton walked out of the guest room and ran down the stairs. She couldn't take anymore of Brooke's persistence to talk. It would destroy her again if she had to think about the real truth to why her and Jaime split up and the physical pain it caused her for weeks. Brooke, ever the persistent one, followed Peyton down the stairs. She grabbed her by the arm and turned her around.

"Peyton, I swear. If you don't tell me what's going on right now," Brooke whispered evenly.

"Brooke, don't do this to me. Please, it's too much. I can't think about it. I can't talk about it. No, it can't happen. If I do then it's real and not some nightmare that I can't shake," Peyton pleaded.

"What's too much? Why won't you talk to me?"

"Because. I can't. Please, just let it go."

"I can't. Not when I can see pain in your eyes. What did Jaime do to you?"

Peyton glared at Brooke. She was upset that Brooke would automatically assume that Jaime had done something to her. The truth was though, he had done something to her. She just didn't want to talk about it. Not with the shrink, not with Jeff, and definitely not with Brooke. Stubbornly Peyton kept her mouth shut. This was one thing she wasn't gonna tell Brooke. Even if it meant she died because of it.

"Damn it Peyton! Why can't you tell me?" Brooke shrieked.

Peyton didn't answer. She stared at Brooke with a blank look on her face. Brooke saw the blank look on Peyton's face and threw her hands in the air.

"Fine, don't tell me," Brooke snapped. She didn't actually need Peyton to say anything for her to figure out what Jaime had done. The bruise she had seen was evidence enough that he beat her. What Brooke couldn't make sense of was why Peyton would let something like that happen or why she wouldn't get help. But if Peyton wasn't talking Brooke had no proof that she wasn't talking to anyone or getting help. The only proof Brooke had was that Peyton was refusing to talk to her.

"Welcome to the life of Brooke Scott," she whispered bitterly as she flopped onto the couch in frustration. They would have to leave for the game soon but Brooke didn't care. She wasn't really in the mood to go anymore. But of course, she would because no matter what her mood was, she would always be there for Nathan. After all she was his biggest fan. And always would be. Sighing she stood up again.

"We gotta get going. I don't feel like parking in God's country and Nathan will get mad if I do," Brooke told Peyton.

"Ok," Peyton answered flatly.

They went upstairs to get the kids ready and then were in Nathan's truck heading to the arena for the game. It didn't come as any surprise to Brooke that Haley had pulled into the same lot as they did.

"Hey Hales," she said happily as she threw her arms around her friend in a hug.

"Hey Brooke," Haley said returning the hug.

She had just let go when she saw Peyton emerge from the passenger seat. Brooke looked from Haley to Peyton and back again unsure of what was gonna go down between the two.

"Peyton," Haley said.

"Hey Hales," Peyton said.