CHAPTER FOURTEEN

What the Heart Wants

by: D. Sollers

A few days had passed and Brooke wasn't any closer to making a decision. She knew her heart belonged to Lucas but still she was loyal to Nathan. The house phone rang and she rushed to answer it. "Good morning," she said absentmindedly.

"Hi Brooke."

Brooke sat down on her bed, aware that it was Nathan who was on the line and smiled gently. "Hey," she whispered. "How are you?" Her question seemed stupid to her but still wanted him to know that she was worried about him.

"I'm okay."

He paused for a moment before asking her how she was doing and Brooke smiled at his concern. "I'm okay Nate. I just really miss you." She was always honest even if it was going to cause a problem. "Isabella has been asking for you."

"I know and I miss you guys too. I was just calling to let you know I'm okay. And to let you know that I am not holding any of this against you. Or Lucas."

Brooke sighed. "Nate…"

"Brooke, I know we need to talk but I can't right now. I will call you when I'm up to talking."

She nodded her head and said goodbye to him. "Okay, I guess I will talk with you then. Goodbye Nathan."

"Goodbye Brooke."

Brooke hung up the phone and laid her head down on her pillow. Isabella knocked on her bedroom door and called to her mom. "Mom?" Isabella said as she jumped on the bed beside her mother. Brooke brought her into a hug and began to tickle her sides.

"I talked to your uncle. He sends his love and he'll see you soon."

Isabella nodded her head happily and laid down beside Brooke. "Have you talked to dad today?" She asked. Brooke shook her head no and laughed quietly.

"Why would I have talked to your dad?"

Her daughter shrugged her shoulders and sat up. "I just figured you guys are talking now… Maybe things are looking better?" Isabella sent her mother a sly smile and Brooke got up from the bed.

"Izzy, whatever you are up to just forget about it okay? Yeah your dad and I are talking but we are a long way to getting back together," Brooke said. She put her hands on her hips. "A LOONG way, okay?"

Isabella rolled her eyes. "Okay mom."

"Okay?"

Isabella stomped her foot. "Okay."

……

Isabella walked into her bedroom and grabbed a hold of her telephone. "Hey dad?" she whispered quietly into the phone. "Mom's car broke down and normally either uncle Nate or Keith fix it for her. Do you think that you could…" Isabella trailed off but grinned to herself when her father agreed to come and help.

"Okay sweetie, just give me ten minutes. Tell your mom not to worry, I'll fix it."

Isabella clapped her hands. "Okay I will tell her. You're still picking me up from after school right?" She asked.

"Yes."

The two said their goodbyes and Isabella walked back towards her moms room. "Alright, I am leaving." She gave her mom a hug and grabbed her backpack. "I'll see you later tonight."

"Have a good day at school."

Isabella nodded her head. "Have a good day too."

……

Brooke had just finished making her cup of coffee when the doorbell rang. She wasn't expecting any visitors and knew that she was running a little behind schedule. She placed the cup of coffee down and walked towards the door. As she opened it, she smiled. "Lucas?"

"Uh… hey Brooke."

Brooke let him come into the house and she opened the closet door, grabbing her coat. "Is something wrong?" She asked. He shook his head no and smirked at her.

"What did you do to your car now?"

She was confused. What had she done to her car? "What are you talking about?" Brooke asked, placing her hands on her hips. "Nothing's wrong with my car." She grabbed her purse and keys. "I am just getting ready to leave."

"But Isabella…" Lucas laughed. "Isabella played me."

Brooke stifled a giggle and Lucas shot her an annoyed glare. "I'm sorry Luke," Brooke managed to say. "If it makes you feel any better I think she's playing both of us." Lucas laughed and leaned against the door frame.

"Are you going to be late?"

Brooke shook her head no and Lucas stuffed his hands in his jean pockets. He hesitated for a moment but then finally got up the nerve to ask her. "Would you like to get some breakfast with me?"

"Sure, I'll just call the office," Brooke smiled. Breakfast with Lucas seemed like a good idea and she had wanted to talk to him. "Just give me a minute okay?"

Lucas nodded his head and watched as Brooke walked into her kitchen. As soon as she was out of sight, his smile broadened. He knew he had a lot of making up to do with her and was ready and willing to do anything she needed of him. A few minutes later, Brooke joined him at the doorway. "Okay, I'm ready."

He nodded his head and held open the door for her. "Let's go pretty girl."

……

It was lunch time at Tree Hill elementary when Isabella finally saw her uncle. She rushed over to him and hugged him, not bothering to care about the students around them. "Hey Izzy, how are you doing?" He asked, kneeling down so he was at her level. She stood beside him and smiled.

"I'm great. I miss you though."

Nathan nodded his head. "Me too kiddo. But your dad's home and he needs to spend time with you. He has a lot of years to make up for. How's that going?" Nathan asked.

"Oh uncle Nate, you and mom weren't lying! My dad is so great. I mean I haven't completely let go of the fact that he hasn't been around but…" Isabella got quiet for a moment. "I have a feeling he really wants to try and work this out."

Nathan agreed with her. "I'm sure he does. He loves you a lot and your mom."

"How's aunt Haley?" Isabella asked. Truth was she wanted to change the subject as fast as possible. She didn't want to hurt her uncle anymore than she wanted her family to be split apart. But most of all, she wanted her mother to be happy and she knew her father would give her that.

The smile on Nathan's face didn't go unnoticed by his ten year old niece at the mention of Haley's name. "Your aunt is great. She wants to have dinner at the apartment for everyone as soon as all her furniture arrives." Isabella nodded her head and turned around to her friends. They were calling her name and she turned back to her uncle.

"I gotta go. I love you Nate."

Nathan watched as the little girl ran off towards her friends. He saw Jenny pull her to the table with her friends and smiled. His niece really did love him and he knew he would always have a place in her life.

"Mr. Scott."

Nathan turned around to the voice of his old couch Whitey and smiled up at the old man. "Whitey, it's good to see you." He brought the man into a hug and turned to the school building. "I have class in ten minutes, you want to walk me there?" Whitey nodded his head and the two grown men walked off towards the gymnasium.

……

"Are you seeing anyone?"

Lucas looked up at Brooke and shook his head no. "I'm single. I've been single since I left Tree Hill," he said honestly. Brooke smiled sadly and looked down at her plate. They were in one of their old favorite restaurants and Brooke had ordered her usual but couldn't bring herself to eat it. Sitting across the table from Lucas stirred up emotions in her and without her daughter around… she knew it was the time to broach subjects they had been avoiding.

"Lucas…" Brooke looked up at him.

He drank a sip of his coffee and sat it back down on the table. "It's not that I didn't date anyone Brooke. I just never settled down. How could I?" He asked simply. Lucas hadn't been able to settle down because each time he tried, he would remember Tree Hill and everything he left behind. "Is this thing with Nathan serious?"

Brooke looked down at her plate. What did serious mean? Was she in love with Nathan? She knew that answer. But they had been living together for over ten years and she cared for him deeply. "I can't answer that."

"I think I deserve an answer Brooke."

Brooke laughed. "You deserve an answer? Sorry but that's funny. If anybody deserves answers it's me."

"What does that mean?"

Lucas tried his hardest to lower his voice but he could see the anger on Brooke's face. She rolled her eyes. "You left me Lucas! Before you get any answers about Nathan, maybe you should answer mine."

"Okay, what do you want to know?"

Brooke shook her head. She couldn't believe that he wasn't understanding where her hostility was coming from. "Why Luke? Why'd you leave? Why'd you stay away? Hell- why'd you come back now?" Tears entered her eyes. She didn't want to cry, she didn't want to give him the satisfaction but still her emotions got the better of her. "What do you want from me?"

"I want you," Lucas replied simply.

Brooke looked down at the table. "It's not that easy Lucas. You can't just go and erase the last ten years. I've raised her by myself," she reminded him.

"You had help," Lucas said bitterly.

She threw her napkin on the table and stood up carefully. "You're right Lucas, I did have help. Your brother has been amazing but he wouldn't even have been around if you hadn't been a coward."

Lucas watched as Brooke walked towards the door and he grabbed money from his wallet. Leaving enough money to cover the bill and the tip, he exited the restaurant and towards his car. Brooke was leaning against it with her eyes shut when he approached. "Brooke, I'm sorry."

"Sorry isn't good enough Lucas. It won't get those years back."

He nodded his head. "I know baby. I know," he said as he pulled her towards him. He wrapped his arms around her and she cried into his chest. His fingers were tangled in her hair and he took a deep breath, loving the ability to have her in his arms. He pulled away so that she could see his face and she looked up at him. "I promise you Brooke, if you give me one more chance… I'll never let you go."

"Lucas…" Brooke pleaded for him to stop.

He cut her off and cupped her face. "I love you Brooke Davis, I've loved you since high school and nothing is going to change that. I know I hurt you but…"

"I love you too."

She looked down at the ground and cried. "I try not to but I can't help it. I've loved you for so long it hurts."

Lucas nodded his head knowing the feeling all too well. "Give me a chance Brooke, I promise not to hurt you."

"Take me home Lucas," she asked him.

He pulled away from her and nodded his head sadly. Lucas knew not to push the issue any further. He opened the passenger side door for her and allowed her to get in. Before he got in on his side- he took a deep breath.

'I can do this,' he mumbled to himself.

'I can.'

TBC…
Wow, another update the next day? I am on a roll! Hope you're enjoying the story, I can't wait to see your thoughts and opinions. R&R everyone!