Chapter Sixty-Eight: Blast From the Past

Author's note: I apologize in advance...
After Haley, Nathan and Eve settled back into a daily routine, Brooke and Lucas took Devon and Hayden back home, to LA.

Once the four of them had slept off their jet-lag, Lucas volunteered to watch both of their boys for the day while Brooke went out to go shopping.

Walking back home through the park, she dropped onto a bench and watched as three boys played a game of soccer with their father. Mentally, she wished that seeing Eve being born in New York didn't stir up any paternal feelings in Lucas. Brooke didn't want more kids. Peeking happily into the box of a new pair of shoes, she knew she had everything she wanted in life.

Her eyes were drawn to a tall figure, walking past on the path. She frowned in slight recognition, trying to figure out where she recognized him from. Suddenly, it came to her.

"Oh my God, Chris?" she said in amazement.

Chris Keller stopped abruptly and eyed the figure on the bench.

"Shit, Brooke? How are you?" he said. She leapt up and gave him a hug, disregarding the circumstances of him leaving.

"I'm great. God, where have you been? I haven't seen you since you left," she said.

"Here, mostly. I tour around a lot. You married Lucas, right?" he said.

"Yeah. And had two kids. Devon and Hayden," she said proudly.

"I have to say, I'm surprised you're even talking to me," he said, sitting down beside her.

"I am too, kind of. We grew up together. I missed you," she said frankly. He smiled slowly.

"I missed you guys too. I really loved Haley. I was an idiot to mess that up," he said. Brooke's sentimental heart was touched.

"She just had a little girl," said Brooke softly.

"I heard. I was back in Tree Hill last week, and it was big news," he said.

"I'd invite you up to my place, but Lucas would probably kick your ass. Want to go get coffee?" she asked.

"Nah, let's stay here. How is married life?" he asked, leaning back.

Brooke frowned. In some ways, her married life was incredibly ideal. In other ways, they pretended it was ideal to avoid their problems.

"Surprising. Sometimes I feel like Ryan and Jake have a more functional relationship than us," said Brooke.

"Ryan and Jake?"

"Second youngest Scott girl. She and Jake live together. They're ridiculously together," said Brooke.

"When I left, you and Lucas were "ridiculously together"," said Chris.

"Mouth showed up. I kind of slept with him. Led to some emotional repressing."

"And he's still not over that? Brooke, you can't live like this, bound to one person. It's just not you," he said fervently. Brooke smiled at the surprising insight to her character.

"Maybe it wasn't me. I think it is by now," she said.

"Or maybe Lucas is not the only repressive one?" he suggested.

Brooke looked up furtively as Lucas walked into the room, having returned from putting Devon down for a nap.

"I'll call you back," she said into the phone, hanging it up and dropping it on the table.

"Who was that?" he asked.

"Uh, Jake. Did he cooperate?" asked Brooke, lying badly.

"Yeah, he was great. How is Jake?" asked Lucas.

"Perfect. He and Ryan went to see Eve yesterday, she's growing. How was your day?" she asked, guiltily remembering that she hadn't seen him since they'd woken up.

"Uh, fine. Davis called for you, but you were out."

"Oh. Did you talk to her?" she asked carefully.

"Yeah," said Lucas briefly. He glanced down at the frown on Brooke's face.

"What'd you have to talk about?" she asked.

"Her career, mostly. What are you, jealous?" he asked teasingly.

"God no. I'm just trying not to... repress my emotions," she said.

"Good. That's... good," he said in confusion.

"Because you know, that leads to resentment. And resentment makes you bitter," she continued.

"I guess."

"Are you bitter, Luke?"

"No. But I'm also not repressive, or resentful. Are you okay?" he asked.

"I'm totally fine. You're the one that never talks to me any more. You never talk to me. you don't trust me," she said.

"I love you. You're my wife. What makes you think I don't trust you?" he asked in confusion.

"The fact that you don't. You never have."

"I'd love to know when this became an argument. Why wouldn't I trust you?"

"Because I cheated on you a month after we started going out. You've never really gotten over it," she said accusingly. His face grew suddenly stoney.

"I'd really rather not get in to it, Brooke," he said.

"Why not? Devon's already yours. It shouldn't still hurt," she said.

"You hurt me more than I've ever been hurt in my life. I was just supposed to get over it?" he demanded.

"For God's sakes, it's been two years," she yelled.

"Who was really on the phone?" he asked, his voice quiet again. Brooke rolled her eyes and walked out.

His hand shaking, he reached for the phone. His eyes widened in amazement when he saw the name on the display-C Keller. A name he'd hoped never to see again in his life.