Chapter Fifteen– Too Much Mac and Not Enough Cheese

Brooke Scott was not in a good mood. She had just got off the phone with a very, agitated, short, Nathan Scott. She wasn't sure what had gotten his panties in such a bunch, but she knew that whatever it was, it was not going to ruin her evening. For the past week Nathan had been very illusive with her, and never seemed to be really there. Physically and psychotically. None the less, she had apparently caught him at a bad time when she called his cell phone. He had been at the library, again, searching something online, again. For the likes of her, Brooke couldn't figure out why he didn't just use the house computer. Maybe it was because they had dial-up and Tree Hill Library had Road Runner. Who knows! Brooke sighed with a smiled. She figured Nathan would just slip in the front door and sneak past her, like he always did so she would question him about what he was looking for. But not this time. Nope, not this time. This time Brooke had locked the dead bolt on the door so that way when Nathan came home, he would have to see her because she would have to unlock the door for him to get it! It was genius! As Brooke sat reveling in her mischievous thoughts she didn't notice the back door open and Nathan walk in.

"Hey Brooke." Nathan said shaking Brooke out of her thoughts.

Brooke practically jumped out of her socks. "Oh my god!" Brooke sighed with a smile. "Why are you coming in from the back?"

"Front door had the dead bolt on it." Nathan explained leaning in and kissing her cheek. "What's for dinner?"

Brooke nodded towards the stove. "I'm making it right now." Nathan furrowed his eye brow. "It's Mac & Cheese. I know, its not exactly the most fancy meal, but this is as far as my culinary skills go. So, you're going to eat it and enjoy it."

Nathan nodded with a laugh. "Works for me."

"Which reminds me…" Brooke turned back to the stove and emptied a package of cheese into the pot. Adding milk and butter, she stirred the concoction until the butter had melted and the power cheese was liquid. Grabbing a hand towel, she used it to pick up the pot and walked back over to Nathan. Leaning over the counter she smiled at her husband. She held a spoon full of the orange colored food and smiled.

"Too much Mac." Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Not enough cheese."

Brooke rolled her eyes with a laugh and dumped the spare package of powder cheese into the pot. "How was the library?"

"Want me to grab us some cokes?" Nathan said dodging the question.

Brooke took the pot and stirred. "Grab me a beer."

Nathan turned back to him and raised a shoulder. "Whatever you want, Boozy."

"You're hilarious." Brooke said finishing stirring the Mac & Cheese. Grabbing two bowls out of the cabinet and two spoons, he put some of the food into the bowls and waiting for Nathan to return.

Nathan entered the room and set Nathan's beer on the counter. "There you go, Princess."

Brooke smiled. "Thanks Prince Charming."

"That's what I'm here for." Nathan laughed.

"So Chris and Peyton are splitsville." Brooke sighed. "Peyton caught him giving that groupie April, a little more then the backstage tour."

"Again?" Brooke nodded. Nathan sighed for his friend's displeasement. ""Man, see the asshole needs a serious beating. Anything we can do?"

"Well, tomorrow I'm going to her and Chris house to pack up her crap. She's staying in the guest house. Is that fine with you?" Brooke didn't wait for an answer; she simply took another swig of beer before finishing. "Great. She'll be here tomorrow." Brooke belched and giggled. "That was attractive."

"Nice." Nathan laughed. "So I need to talk to you about something."

Brooke took a big bite before responding with a mouth full of Mac & Cheese.

"Really?" Brooke licked her lips. This had been the moment she was waiting for. Nathan was finally going to tell her what in the hell he had been doing at the library for the past week. "What's up?" She swallowed the last bit of her food.

Nathan sighed. "I need to go to Panama City Beach, Florida."

Brooke bit her lip and waited for him to finish. "Why?" Brooke asked when Nathan didn't offer up any explanation as to why he would need to travel hundreds of miles away.

Nathan sighed before answering. "About a week and a half ago, I was cleaning out Dan's basement and found something." Brooke nodded curiously. "It was a pink baby blanket, Brooke. With the name Alexis Nash, and along with it was a wad of pictures of my dad, some mystery chick and a baby."

Brooke raised an eyebrow. "And…?"

"And, that's the reason I've been at the library the past week. Trying to find out more about her. I looked up Alexis Nash in the Tree Hill Residence Book, but only found another person." Nathan pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and checked the name. "Kelly Nash." He read. "So I've been looking up information on her instead, but all I've managed to find is an old address, which I checked out by the way, it's now a parking lot for Dan Scott Motors. Which is extremely weird, and then I couldn't find a forwarding address."

Brooke thought about what her husband had just shared with her before answering. "And what does all that have to do with you going to Florida?"

"The only real information I've found on Alexis, besides the photos and blanket, was that night when I got back to the house. I looked her name up on the search registry, and it gave me her address." Nathan waited for Brooke to respond.

"And you think what? That this girl is your sister?" Brooke asked confused as to why her husband cared so much. "Look Nathan, Dan Scott is an asshole and I admit he has a pretty shitty record of being a father, but I seriously doubt that he would just have a kid and never mention it."

"What about Lucas?" Nathan countered. "He basically blocked him out of his and my life until I was in junior high and had to deal with him."

"Yeah, but…I don't know…this seems a little too cruel for even Dan." Brooke sighed. "And besides, your dad has always wanted a daughter." Nathan gave her a confused look. "At least that's what he told me when we got married." She laughed.

"He just wants to get in your pants." Nathan laughed.

"Take that back, right now!" Brooke laughed.

"You're just upset because you know its true."

"So when were you planning on going?" Brooke rolled her eyes changing the subject.

"Tomorrow." Nathan answered.

"Tomorrow?" Brooke cried. "I haven't even started packing!"

"That's the thing…I was going to go just alone." Nathan could see Brooke about to protest and cut her off. "It'll only be for a few days…a week at the most, and I promise I'll call everyday."

"Nathan Scott!" Brooke's eyes widened. "You can't seriously think you are leaving me here, alone, for a whole week!" Brooke complained.

"You're a tough girl. You'll be just fine." Nathan laughed.

"What if someone breaks in? What if they kill me?"

Nathan rolled his eyes. "Have Peyton come stay with you. Or Haley, now that you two are best buds again, it will be great."

"Nathan…" Brooke sighed worriedly.

"It's fine." Nathan brushed it off. "Look, if you're that scared I'll just call Lucas and he can stay here while I'm gone. Keep an eye on things."

Brookes eyes widened. "No, I'll be fine."

"You were just-" Nathan started.

Brooke cut him off. "Nope. I changed my mind. I'll be fine. And if I need someone I'll call Haley. I know you don't like her, but I do."

"I guess that's fine." Nathan sighed. "But I'm still going to call Luke and have him come check up on you girls, alright."

Brooke sighed. "Fine."

"Well then that's settled. I'm going to go pack."

"Okay." Brooke said putting their empty bowls in the sink and grabbed the house phone. Dialing in Haley's number she waited for her to pick up.

Haley answered on the second ring. "Hello."

"Hey Haley! Guess what?" Brooke laughed. "I'll tell you what. Pack a bag. You are coming to stay in the Scott manner for the next week."

Haley laughed. "I am?"

"Yep. Nathan's going to Florida for a week, don't ask, its complicated." Brooke explained. "And pigs will fly before I stay in this house alone for a week, so you, my friend, are coming to stay."

"Alright." Haley laughed. "And Nathan is ok with this?"

"Yep." Brooke replied. "He's leaving tomorrow so come over around noonish, ok?"

"Works for me. Is Peyton coming too?"

"She and Chris are having some drama, so probably."

"Fine by me." Haley sighed. "And Rachel?"

"I seriously doubt that one. I haven't heard much from her or Jake."

"Martial problems?"

"Except with out the rings." Brooke laughed in agreement.

"I have some…stuff to do here."

"They're not married?"

"Nope. Just living together."

"Go Jake." Haley laughed. "Fine by me."

"This is going to be awesome!" Brooke giggled. "Hos over Bros reunion sleep over!"

"Sounds…interesting!" Haley smiled.

"Good! It's going to be!" Brooke laughed. "I'll see you then."

"See you then."

Brooke hung up the phone and smiled. This is going to be so great!