Sorry for the long delay. I have been working on other fics and some personal stuff. I'm not really sure if anyone's still reading this so let me know if you are.

Chapter Six: A Kingdom Divided

Peyton couldn't believe her eyes. Her best friend - Brooke Davis - was sitting down in the library during lunch. Peyton had looked everywhere for the brunette; the usual digs such as the gym, where Bevin and Theresa hung out, and even the mall. But there she was looking over some books and doing work.

She raced into the library, approaching Brooke's table from behind. Peering over her shoulder, Peyton raised an eyebrow.

"Since when did brides-to-be have to do an English essay?" she asked. Brooke jumped in her seat and held a hand to her chest.

"Peyton, geez, you scared me."

The other girl shot a look at the books scattered across the table. "With those, girl, you're scaring me." She dropped down on the closest seat and leant forward. "You should be looking at magazines with dresses and cakes and flowers and suits and-"

Brooke avoided her gaze. "Well, right now, passing seems just a little more important." she smiled up at her best friend, "So how was Florida? Did you, Jake and Jenny have fun?" she asked.

Peyton nodded, "It was good. I have a bitch-load of school work to catch up on though. Plus, I come back and suddenly you're being all studious? Things sure change in two weeks." Brooke just nodded a far-away look on her face.

"What's up, bride?" Peyton asked noticing her friend's current lack of enthusiasm. "You seemed so excited to be planning the wedding before I left."

"I am still excited," Brooke assured, "I'm just sick of looking at it all. Plus, there's not much to be done."

To prove a point, Brooke pulled out her wedding scrapbook and handed it to Peyton.

"When did you do all that?" Peyton asked

Shrugging, Brooke answered; "I went to Nathan's and… forced him into it."

"So you did this all with him?" Brooke nodded, "Wow, you must have spent all your time-"

"You're sounding like Lucas," Brooke commented.

"Can you blame him? I'd be jealous if Jake started hanging around with another girl, especially if he was engaged to me." Brooke gave her best friend a look.

"Nothing is going on. Can't a girl just be friends with a boy?"

Peyton nodded, "Yes, they can... you can't"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Brooke narrowed her eyes and folded her arms over her chest, waiting for Peyton to explain herself, and fast.

"People will talk. Once they find out you're spending all your time with the brother of your fiancé, they're going to assume things and that's the last thing you need."

"Well, Maid of Honor; it's your job to make sure those rumors don't surface. I'm trying to help Nathan - and so far, it's kind of working. He's laughing and eating real food again. The apartment is actually a lot cleaner now!"

"How am I supposed to keep those rumors from surfacing?"

Brooke sighed. "I don't know. I don't care. Either way, I'm not sitting back and letting everyone turn their backs on Nathan when he needs us most."

"Well what about Haley?" Peyton questioned, "Who's looking out for her?"

"My fiancé, for one... and Taylor." She sighed. "She's got more people than Nathan, that's for sure."

"Are you trying to get them back together?" Peyton questioned, "You know, with Lucas working Haley and you with Nathan?"

Brooke offered her friend a weak smile. "Not deliberately trying, no... But, if that were to happen..." She shrugged. "Can't say it wouldn't be good."

"Don't force it, okay?" Peyton advised, "And keep me up to date. I feel like I'm missing you lately."

"I'm sorry, everything's just..." Brooke made a strange noise, and waved her hands in the air, demonstrating the walls falling down around her. "...hectic."

Peyton rubbed Brooke's arm, "Well, don't be a stranger. Do I need to ask what your plans are for tonight?"

At this, the other girl brightened. "Dinner with Lucas, actually." She sighed, and looked away dreamily. "He's cooking. I love it when he cooks." She turned back to her friend. "I was thinking of forcing Nathan to come along...he and Lucas really need to patch things up..."

"That would be one creepy threesome..." Peyton grinned as Broke hit her on the arm. "No, seriously. You should. Lucas wanted Nathan to be his best man, right?"

"Yeah...that was where this all started, actually..." Shoving aside her text book, Brooke leant against the desk in gossip-mode. "You would not believe the state Nathan was living in when I went to ask him..."

-------

It had become a sort of ritual over the last few weeks. Brooke would come over everyday after school - or after cheerleading practice - dump her bags, nag at Nathan about his current living conditions, open up a new batch of magazines and go through them one by one until it was time to leave.

As a result, Nathan had begun to look forward to her visits. No-one else really came to check on him – except Tim and he was, well… Tim. Nathan even begun to pick up after himself, and once or twice, ventured out to pick up some milk and other essentials.

Today, though, he had a surprise.

"Hey Nate!" Brooke called as she walked into Nathan's apartment. He left the door unlocked for her.

Nathan, who had been sitting at the table, stood up as she walked in. "Hey Brooke. Good day at school?"

She nodded, "P. Sawyer is back."

"Oh, that's good," Nathan replied. Brooke handed him a seashell Peyton had given her.

"Here you go," she said with a grin, "I thought it'd go nicely with that surfboard you have in your bedroom."

He accepted the shell, shaking his head in disbelief. "She goes on holiday and brings back shells?" He rolled his eyes. "Most friends, they'd spend money on you..."

Brooke grinned, relishing in his strange sense of humor. "That's Goldilocks for you."

Nathan placed the shell on the worktop and stood awkwardly in his kitchen, "While we're exchanging gifts..." He took out an envelope and gave it to Brooke.

"What's this?" Brooke asked as she opened it up. Inside were various clippings and some pictures from the internet.

"I was bored and I found a couple of magazines while I was out. I cut out all the stuff I thought you'd like." He paused as he tried to convince himself what he was doing wasn't completely stupid or girly.

"And you know that dress you liked but thought was too expensive?" Brooke nodded, "I found one that looks more or less the same - but a lot cheaper. The phone number is on there." He pointed to it.

She gasped, thumbing through the pictures. In a display of pure femininity, she felt tears prickle at her eyes. "Oh, Nathan, that's so sweet..."

He held his hands up, "I only did it because someone blocked the porn sites on my laptop," he excused - even though they both knew deep down that it wasn't the case – "Plus, you've been doing a lot of work and you seemed a little cut up about the price of it. Especially since you didn't want your parents to pay for anything."

Brooke couldn't help but grin. He'd been paying attention. To every detail. Hell, he even knew her taste in clothing! She hugged him tightly. "Thank you!"

Pulling away, she decided he deserved a reward. And Lucas' cooking would be perfect.

He noticed the gleam in her eye that he'd learnt equated to trouble.

"What are you thinking?"

"Lucas is cooking dinner tonight and I know that he'd love for you to come." She sensed the apprehension in his body, "It'd mean a lot to me..."

"No, Brooke." Nathan backed away, arms folded. "Absolutely not."

"Why not?" Brooke stamped her foot on the floor without meaning to. It was just something she did when she wanted something.

"Oh, because he and I aren't speaking at the moment..." He responded as casually as possible. "That, and the fact that he's off being all buddy buddy with my ex-wife!"

"Nathan, you and Lucas have to make up because this whole thing is ridiculous."

He scowled. "Ridiculous? How is it ridiculous?"

"You're being childish."

"Well, my wife left me for some cocky rock 'musician' - forgive me for not wanting to be so forgiving. Do you even remember Lucas going to see her in New York without telling me?"

"I went too," Brooke reminded him, "And yet, you don't mind talking to me."

That part was true, he mused. But then, Lucas hadn't visited him in months. Lucas hadn't even asked him to be his best man; it had been Brooke to do that, too. And so he told her just that.

"Oh, come on, Nathan." She cried in irritation. "Lucas...he just doesn't want to... you know... put a foot out of line around you." She forced a grin. "I mean, you punched Dan that one time." Nathan smirked slightly at the memory, but it soon faded.

"Plus, neither of you even acknowledged that you were brothers until you began dating Haley-" Nathan turned away in frustration at the reminder, "You know it's true. You owe him a lot."

"Yeah, I do," Nathan said sarcastically, "I owe him for introducing me to Haley and therefore screwing up my whole life after that!"

Brooke took a deep breath and steadied herself. It wouldn't do to go and fight with him. She sighed, and reached out for his hand; a gesture of friendship and support. "You don't really believe that, do you?"

"Before I met Haley... I had everything. Basketball, popularity and friends. Now no-one even remembers me."

Brooke sighed, "That's because they don't know what to say, Nathan. And besides, Haley helped you emancipate yourself from your parents-"

"-And now I have bills to pay-"

"-She changed you into a better person-"

"-Who mopes around all day-"

"-And does incredibly sweet, selfless things for his friends." She finished, holding up her gift as proof. "Whether you want to admit it or not; without Haley you still would have been an angry, cocky basketball star living under your Dad's thumb."

Nathan bit his tongue. Part of him wanted to argue, but the other, more reasonable part, acknowledged that what she said was true.

"Come to dinner," she said gently, "Have some food, talk to Lucas, make amends. Not everyone has given up on you."

"It feels like it."

"I haven't." She said quietly, before straightening her shoulders in determination. "Do you remember when Lucas cheated on me?"

Nathan looked at her, knowing that she hated talking about it. He hadn't really been around Brooke much when that had happened. He'd just heard stuff from Haley.

"Yeah."

"That..." she shook her head, "Those were the darkest months of my life. I'd lost my best friend and my boyfriend in one fell swoop and I had nobody to turn to."

She willed for tears not to fall, "Every time I looked at Peyton, I wanted to approach her and talk to her, but then I'd see her looking at Lucas and all I could see was them together."

She sighed unsteadily, "And then there was this... incident, where I had to turn back to Lucas. Even though I was angry and upset, and he was the last person I wanted to see - he was there for me when I needed him. He's always been there for me. And there for Peyton, and Jake, and Haley... there's no reason why he can't be there for you too. He wants to be. You just have to... let him."

"It's not that simple..." Nathan tried, feeling as though he was losing the battle.

"Why?" She queried. "Why can't it be?"

"Because... it just is, okay?"

"He was there when you had your accident." Brooke reminded him.

"Yeah, but he called Haley against my wishes."

Brooke could sense that they were going round in circles.

"Okay, fine."

He almost grinned.

"You're still coming to dinner."

"Brooke-"

"Because he's cooking and no-one's lived until they've tried his food!"

"Who's to say I haven't?" He argued haughtily.

"Just grab your coat, smart ass, and get in the car."

He sighed. This was going to be a long evening.

--------

The two pulled up to Brooke's apartment and whistled at the size of it, "I think my apartment could fit into just one of your rooms."

"It's not that big," Brooke told him, "Only two bedrooms - but we only use the one," she winked. "Plus, my parents thought it was the least they could do since they're all the way in California."

Nathan had no idea how to reply to that, so he merely nodded.

As the two walked up to the door, Brooke gave him an encouraging smile as she took her key and placed it in the lock, turning it a little slower than usual.

"Honey, I'm home, and I brought a gu-"

She stopped in her tracks, Nathan bumping into her back.

"What's the hold up?" He asked, craning his neck around hers. After a split-second, he regretted it. "Haley." He said, his voice flat.

In his mind, he was forming links that, in reality, didn't exist. Brooke and Lucas had set him up. He was fuming.

"What kind of sick joke are you playing here?" He demanded of his brother's fiancée. "Build me up and tear me down again?"

"Uh, Nathan, what?" Brooke was still shocked at the sight of Haley James-Scott or whatever she was now sitting down at the table. And now Nathan was throwing accusations.

"All that crap you spouted to get me here!" He yelled, backing away. "To think, I actually believed you." He shook his head in self-derision. "I bet you're going to have a good laugh about this afterwards."

Brooke watched as Nathan started walking away, "Nathan, wait!" she called.

"Leave it," Nathan bit out as he disappeared from view. Brooke faced her fiancé and the woman in the kitchen.

"What's going on?" she asked the pair.

Lucas was frowning at her. "I should ask you the same thing."

"I thought I'd invite him to dinner so you could-- what is she doing here?" Brooke didn't mean to sound rude - it just came out like that.

"She," her fiancé sneered, still out of sorts from his brother's outburst, "-was invited. And she has a name, Brooke."

"I know, I'm sorry but... I invited Nathan. I didn't know you were inviting Haley. Oh god..." Brooke put a hand to her mouth, "I've got to go after him."

"Your dinner..." Lucas reminded her. Brooke looked between the two.

"Uh... you both eat it. I'm going to..." she just vaguely pointed to the space Nathan had vacated several minutes ago.

"Brooke!" Lucas called as she ran to the door. She spun, reeling back a little at the anger in his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Broody, but I have to fix this."

She didn't hear what he said afterwards since she was darting towards her car in a bid to catch up with Nathan who was probably heading towards his own apartment.

Brooke scanned the roads for any signs of the brooding teenager. She noticed a familiar figure just up ahead and drove her Beetle up besides him.

"Nathan!" She cried, having wound down the window. He ignored her and continued onwards. She crept the car forward. "Nathan, please, listen."

"To what? Your big master plan to manipulate me into getting back together with Haley? Not happening. I thought you understood."

She felt her insides churning with guilt. "Honestly, I had no idea she'd be there. I thought it would just be the three of us. If I'd known... in hindsight maybe I should have called to check but I wasn't expecting it. I was as shocked as you are."

"Bullshit." He spat, then kept on walking.

"Nathan..." Brooke pleaded again.

"Leave it Brooke. Just go back to your happy life and keep me out of it. Don't come around anymore."

She stopped the car and slumped her shoulders, feeling unwanted tears prickle at her eyes then cascade down her cheeks. She felt awful. Nathan had become such a strong fixture in her recent routine - if she was to be completely honest with herself - and then everything had gone to hell. No, it hadn't been her fault, but she couldn't blame Lucas either.

Reluctantly, she turned around and drove away, leaving Nathan behind.

She didn't want to go back home just yet.

She drove for a while, letting her instincts take control, and soon enough she found herself at an all-too-familiar saloon.

"Where did the cowboy go?" one of the waitresses asked as Brooke appeared on her own.

She shrugged her shoulders and ordered a beer; using the fake I.D. she kept in her wallet.

But when it was brought to her - she didn't drink it. She just looked at it until she swallowed her pride and drove slowly back home.

Walking inside took more courage than she thought necessary. On most occasions, she'd be racing in to throw herself into Lucas' arms, or lap, or both. But not this particular evening. Nope. She dawdled. She procrastinated. She all-out refused to walk anywhere further than the front door.

"So, you're back," He was sitting on the couch, waiting for her. She nodded.

"Where's-"

"She didn't stay. She felt unwelcome."

"Well, that makes two of them, doesn't it?"

"Brooke-"

"Don't 'Brooke' me," she cut him off. "Just... you could have told me."

He frowned. "You could have told me, too, you know."

"Talk about miscommunication." She muttered.

"Did you catch up with him?" Lucas asked, still a little sore at having his fiancée run out on him for his brother.

"Yeah but the damage was already done. He's convinced this was a set-up and he's alone." She rubbed the bridge of her nose.

"Yeah, well, Haley's feeling the same." He knew that, as he said it, it was a mistake.

"Oh, I'm sure," Brooke said clapping her hands, "What with all the support she's been getting lately, no wonder she's so hurt and confused."

Sarcasm irked Lucas. Especially when it was from Brooke. "Hey, what's she done to you?"

"Well, I could list a thousand and one things she's done to Nathan!"

"It wasn't so long ago that you, Haley and Peyton were all best friends."

"It was two years ago, actually, I remember. Especially how she left without so much of an… auf weidersen or a sayonara!"

"In New York you both seemed pretty chummy."

"That was then! This is now! This is after she didn't come back. This is after she forgot all of us and became some sort of... diva!" Brooke waved her arms about.

Lucas' expression darkened. "You're one to talk!" He replied.

"What?" she huffed?

"So far tonight, Brooke, I've seen only one diva...and that's not Haley."

"Excuse me?" Brooke's mouth fell open, "I ran after a friend because the last thing I wanted to happen was for him to really think he was alone. And thanks to you, he does think that."

"If it wasn't for me, Peyton and Haley, you wouldn't even know him!" Came the response. "You'd still be little miss cheerleader up on her high horse, not giving a damn about anyone but herself!"

"Oh don't you dare pull that on me," Brooke jabbed a finger towards him, "You haven't exactly been St. Lucas yourself, you know. What with all your manwhoring ways..."

"Manwhoring?" he echoed.

She stared back in defiance. "Naturally you'd side with Haley...Tigers run with tigers...Cheaters with other cheaters..."

The pun, though lame, was intentional.

"Haley didn't cheat on anybody," Lucas defended, "She went for the music - not Chris."

"It didn't look that way to me or Nathan or every other person on the planet."

"Maybe because you're all blind and stupid!"

They both gasped at that. Lucas brought his hand to his mouth. He'd never called her stupid before.

"Oh, I'm stupid? Well, when I'm cheating on somebody, I don't generally leave the freakin' webcam on!"

"Are we on this again?"

"Yeah, we are! Are you sleeping with Haley? I mean, you made out with my best friend before, there's not reason why you wouldn't make out with yours!" she didn't even know where the accusation came from; it just felt good saying it, especially now when he'd upset her.

Lucas blinked in surprise. "You know what?" He said, "I'm leaving. Until you can grow up and realize your mistake, I'm going home."

Brooke was stung. This was his home. Even though they were fighting. She forced herself to calm down. "Lucas..."

"Screw it, Brooke. All I wanted to do was cook dinner for the woman I love and my best friend. We all got along before, so forgive me for thinking we could get along again. I missed you, Brooke." he told her, "For the last few weeks you've been coming home late and spending all your time with Nathan."

"Because he has no-one else!" She whimpered. "Haley seems to have so many people...but Nathan..." She trailed off. "I thought you'd understand."

"I do understand. I'm trying to do the same thing for Haley - but none of it's going to work if we don't talk to each other or even spend time together. We're getting married, and so far, I bet Nathan knows more about the plans than I do."

Brooke averted her gaze, telling her fiancé everything that he needed to know.

"Well," he started, awkwardly taking her by the hand, "We're going to fix that right now. Show me your book," he told her, "You know, the one where you stick all those little clippings in. Have you picked out a dress yet?" he was clearly making an effort.

She smiled, feeling a lot of the tension drain away. Certainly, she wasn't about to tell him that his brother had picked her dress, but she'd divulge a few tidbits. "Well...I think I have..."

She searched for her scrapbook, before realizing what she'd done. She held her hand to her mouth.

"What is it?"

"Um... the book... is at Nathan's..."

Lucas took a deep breath. Well then, it seemed that there was only one thing for it. They were going for a visit.

To Be Continued…