Part 45

"Would you please sit down?" Peyton asked, as she turned on the shower and adjusted the temperature down from scolding hot to warm.

Brooke just continued to shift nervously where she stood in front of the mirror. "It's fine." She replied trying to wave off the blonde's concern.

Of course Peyton wasn't buying it. But instead of calling her on it she just turned back and finished what she was doing then calmly walked over and physically took Brooke by the shoulders and pushed her backwards until her legs collided with the toilet.

"Sit!" She ordered with a fake scowl.

Wide eyed Brooke just did as instructed, but not without giving a grunt of displeasure as she crossed her arms over her chest.

Peyton sighed and knelt down in front of her best friend. "Look, I know your leg is hurting right now Brooke, so can you please just rest it until I get back with a change of clothes for you?" She pleaded with her.

Brooke sighed and just nodded.

"Okay, back in a minute." Peyton said giving Brooke's leg as squeeze as she got to her feet and headed back to the guest room.

Brooke bit her lip as she watched the blonde leave. She didn't want to let her out of her sight right now, because what would she do if Peyton changed her mind? What would she be left with if Peyton realised that she'd made a mistake breaking things off with Lucas?

God, please don't let this be a dream and have me wake up still in my car down by the river!

She sniffled, and wrapped her arms tighter around herself and leaned forward to stare at the floor tiles.

"Got them," Peyton said with a smile, holding the items up just as she locked the bathroom door. "And I borrowed a set from Hales too." She continued, placing the clothes down and turning to the brunette. It was only at this point that she noticed Brooke still hadn't acknowledged her presence.

"Hey, Brooke, everything okay?" She asked softly, moving closer.

Brooke didn't look up.

"Your leg that bad?" She asked, resuming her position in front of the cheerleader.

Brooke shook her head and Peyton reached over and tucked some of her hair behind her ear. Brooke gasped as the hand then moved to cup her cheek and tilt her head up, she was afraid to look at the blonde but she couldn't pull away from the touch either.

It wasn't hard to notice the tears, but it was the lack of eye contacted that really worried Peyton. "Baby, please just tell me what's wrong?" If it's not about her leg then what is she so upset about? We were fine a few minutes ago... but then we came in here. Peyton swallowed. "Do... do you not want me to help you?" She asked, not showing how much it would hurt to hear Brooke ask her to leave her alone. "I could get Haley to-"

"That's not it." Brooke whispered quickly, finally looking her friend in the eye.

Peyton searched Brooke's face hoping to find the answer, it was clear the brunette was upset but she just couldn't work out why, she'd only been gone a few minutes.

She felt her own eyes begin to water. "Did I do something?" She asked fearfully.

That was it. Brooke couldn't stand the look Peyton wore as she asked that question.

Peyton only just managed to keep from being knocked over onto her back as she suddenly found Brooke in her lap hugging her for all she was worth. She licked her lips as she heard the quiet sobs at her neck where Brooke had buried her face. "Hey, it's okay Brooke, everything's okay." She told her as she finally hugged her back.

But Brooke just continued to cry.

Peyton felt the tears falling down her own cheeks as they sat there huddled together on the bathroom floor. The girl in her arms was so broken Peyton wasn't sure if she'd ever be the same girl she'd met as a kid. Hell, I doubt she'll be the same person she was even a few weeks ago!

There was only so much a person could go through and Peyton suspected Brooke was right at her limit. She wasn't blameless by any stretch of the imagination, but she'd make up for every single tear Brooke had shed because of her, no matter how long that would take her.

Brooke was going to get back to who she was, or whoever she wanted to be, and it was Peyton's job to help her. She'd already decided that, not that it was a hard choice, but it did depend solely on whether or not Brooke would let her back into her life after last night.

So far that was looking good.

The crying however wasn't.

Peyton let her head rest on Brooke's and tried to pull her closer, wanting to feel Brooke's body against her own. Not in a sexual way, it would have just made her feel better if the robes they both wore weren't as thick as they were, she could barely feel Brooke's back as her hand moved up and down trying to calm her friend.

Brooke had settled down some, but Peyton didn't want her falling asleep given how wet they'd both ended up.

"Hey," She began, shifting to look at the girl in her arms. "Why don't we grab a quick shower then get some rest? How does that sound?" She asked trying to smile.

Brooke eyed her for a moment before awkwardly getting up. "Okay."

Peyton scrambled up after her and checked the water before gesturing to Brooke to go first. "After you."

Brooke hesitated but untied her robe and let it fall. "You just want to stare at my ass, Blondie!" She said before giving Peyton a weak smile and got into the shower.

Peyton let out a laugh and shook her head at Brooke, even as her hand followed behind the other girl as she got in. "Yeah, right." She replied, but could feel her face get warm.

Blowing out a breath, Peyton untied her own rob and joined Brooke under the water. It was a large, fancy shower so they could both have space to wash alone if they wanted to, but that didn't seem the case right now.

Peyton had to step around Brooke just to get into the shower, but that didn't bother her, it meant Brooke was letting her in. And Peyton desperately wanted Brooke to let her back in again, it had been awful at school when Brooke had hated her. Everything had hurt back then, from the moment she woke up alone in her room to going to classes to trying to get through cheer practice. Having Brooke ignore her for the most part or make nasty comments hurt, but strangely those hadn't been the bad days.

No, the bad days were the ones where Brooke never showed up for class, those were the times when Peyton got afraid. Afraid that Brooke had finally had enough of the drama and just up and left. Her parents were always dropping hints that she should be in LA even if they themselves almost never were, and after losing her best friend and then breaking up with her boyfriend, what was left to tie her to Tree Hill?

Peyton rolled her eyes and grabbed the shampoo from the rack and squirted some out into her palm and waited for Brooke to lean towards her before working it into her friends scalp.

"You do know I've seen that backside of yours plenty, right?" Peyton told her with a smirk as she felt hands rest on her hips. "It ain't that special!" She whispered into an ear.

Brooke was too lost in the sensation Peyton's fingers were causing, it bordered on a head massage more than an attempt at washing her hair, and it felt great. She'd hugged a few of her friends in the last few days, but apart from the occasional embraces from Haley, Peyton was the one that touched her the most since she'd been assaulted.

Even if it was just to help her get clean like the nurses from the hospital, Brooke couldn't help but feel that it was just that little bit more intimate with Peyton, and right now her whole body seemed to tingle from the gentle touches to her head.

Peyton just smiled as Brooke hummed with her eyes closed. "There, all done." She said pulling her hands away, ignoring the pout that developed as she set about washing her own hair.

"Can you get washed yourself or would you like a hand?" Peyton asked, trying to keep her tone neutral as she turned her head into the warm spray to rinse her own hair clean. Two days ago she hadn't even asked when they'd showered here together.

But things had changed since then and the last thing Peyton wanted was to make Brooke feel uncomfortable in any way, especially given she still wasn't sure why the brunette had been crying not long ago.

Brooke took the shower gel and began to get washed. "I can do most of myself but if you don't mind?" She replied.

"No problem." Peyton told her as she turned back to face her with a warm smile and quickly scrubbed herself down.

Brooke watched her friend wash herself clean, her eyes automatically trailing along the pale skin as the blonde shifted and bent over to get her legs. There wasn't a mark on her body, it was flawless, beautiful.

A little on the skinny side but that's understandable, she never eats when she's upset.

"You okay?" Peyton asks, noticing Brooke's far off gaze.

Brooke cleared her throat and looked away. "Yeah."

Peyton let it go assuming she was just nervous and stepped closer to the brunette, taking some more gel onto her hand. "You ready?"

Brooke nodded and tried not to think too hard as she felt Peyton's hands on her body. The blonde was always so gentle with her, and even though those hands never drifted close to the more sensitive parts of her body, which she'd already taken care of, she could still feel her body begin to react.

And not in a bad way, which surprised her, she'd been worried that now they'd mentioned the possibility of a 'them' she'd feel the need to pull away. As much as she'd been willing to allow herself to be closer with Peyton over the last week, hugs, holding hands, even sleeping cuddled up together she'd known it was all done in friendship.

She loved Peyton and Peyton above all else was her best friend, the one person in her life that she trusted right now, that she knew she'd be safe with. After being raped, that was what Brooke needed, to feel safe again, and Peyton gave that to her. She gave her the security of knowing that she could drape herself all over the blonde and all she would get was a quirky smile and a raised eyebrow... okay, so maybe she'd get laughed at too, but she wouldn't be rejected.

And she didn't want that to suddenly change now that their relationship was changing into something more than friends.

She needed Peyton to still be her safe place.

Can I have it both ways? Can I expect her to be there for me even if I'm not ready to...

"Hey, you're not falling asleep on me now are you?" Peyton asked as she finished helping her friend.

The blonde frowned as Brooke didn't respond.

Brooke felt hands drift up her sides and hold her in place.

"Brooke?" Peyton asked, ducking her head lower to catch the brown eyes that were avoiding her again. "Look at me Brooke." She ordered, hoping to calm the storm that was going on inside her friends head, but she couldn't help if Brooke wouldn't let her.

Peyton just waited, keeping them standing there under the warm spray as Brooke continued to look just below her eye line. She could be patient when she needed to be.

Okay maybe I'm not that patient!

Sighing Peyton pulled Brooke into her arms. "C'mere." She whispered, relieved when Brooke's arms slipped around her shoulders.

Okay, so I don't think she's mad at me for something, but she's still acting all skitterish with me.

They stayed that way for a few minutes, Brooke just enjoying being held and Peyton trying to work out how to ask what was wrong.

Eventually Brooke couldn't take not knowing, "Is this real?" She whispered into an ear.

Peyton pulled back and looked at her with a puzzled expression. "Is what re-"

"Us." Brooke replied. "Whatever 'us' means now... is it real?" She asked again, still not looking directly at the blonde as she trailed a hand over skin and down Peyton's chest to rest over her heart.

Peyton swallowed hard. "Do you want it to be?" She questioned carefully, aware that it was a lot for Brooke to get her head around given she'd walked into their bedroom to find her alone with Lucas less than twelve hours ago.

Now Peyton was telling her that she wanted them to be together.

Maybe it's too soon.

"Yes."

Peyton breathed out a sigh of relief and gathered Brooke back into her arms, and rocked them side to side gently trying not to hold Brooke too tightly.

Then she pulled back but didn't let Brooke out of her hold. "We'll take things really slow okay? As slow as you want, no pressure." She told her.

Brooke nodded then lent forward and rested her head on the blonde's shoulder as they just held each other. "Thanks."

Peyton laughed. "No, I should be the one thanking you!" She said only to have Brooke raise an eyebrow at her.

"Please Brooke, exactly how long have you been waiting, hoping this dumb blonde was finally going to wake up and realise just exactly what was in front of her the whole time?"

Brooke smirked at her. "I knew you'd work it out eventually, the rug doesn't match the curtains remember?"

Peyton took a few seconds to work out just what that meant before she blushed deep red and had to resist the urge to cover up.

Brooke just laughed.

"You are so mean to me." Peyton said quietly as the tension seemed to just drain away.

She was also now painfully aware, thanks to Brooke, that they were both holding each other naked. And they didn't have the excuse of washing anymore, so why were they still just standing there?

"Okay, let's get out and dried." Peyton said and turned off the water. "Think you can manage that without being any meaner to me?"

"Can't make any promises."

Peyton rolled her eyes as she help Brooke out of the shower, making sure she didn't slip on the now wet tile.

At least Brooke didn't seem to be upset anymore, and she'd admitted she wanted them to be a 'them' so things were definitely looking up.

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"So do you think things are okay with them? Shouldn't you maybe go see if they need something, what if Brooke wants Peyton to sleep somewhere else and she's just not said anything yet?" Nathan asked, concern etched on his face.

God, maybe I should be thankful we're having a boy, if he's acting this way with Brooke and Peyton just think how he'd be with a daughter! She'd be thirty before she ever went on a first date. Haley thought to herself as she ignored Nathan as he paced at the side of the bed and turned over to the next page in the textbook she was going over.

Tomorrow was their first final and she was going to continue to study until something more important happened. And right now her husband's ramblings were not important.

"Haley, did you hear what I just said?"

Annoying, that was one word for them.

"Haley?"

Eye's narrowed and the book finally closed over slowly. "Look Nathan," She began not moved in the slightest by his show of concern, as far as she could tell from earlier Brooke and Peyton didn't need them butting in to whatever they did have to work out between them.

"If you have no intention of coming back to sleep then I suggest you find something else to do!"

"But..."

"Something," She cut in. "That doesn't involve sticking your nose into our friends business, when and if they have something to tell us, they will."

She opened the book back to the page she was still reading through, and continued her revision.

Nathan pouted, he really wanted to know what was going on down the hall, but Haley wasn't in the mood to listen to him. But what if they're fighting again?

"Nathan I'm sure they'd be happy you want to help but as there isn't a single thing that I can think that they'd want you to be doing for them at this very minute... go find something else to do." She said not once looking up at him.

"But?"

Really, he's like a dog with a damn bone, why can't he just let this go for now?

She sighed, shifting in her seat as the baby shifted.

With another sigh she put her book down again and patted the space beside her. "Sit."

Impatiently, he sat down where she indicated and waited for her to continue.

"What time is it?"

He looked across at the alarm clock wondering why she didn't just look for herself. "Almost half six?"

"Right, and was Peyton sleeping when you found her?" She asked.

"No, she was in her room, I already-" He paused as Haley shot him a very unhappy look, he didn't like that one, it always meant he was in trouble for something. He decided just to answer the question like a good husband. "No."

Haley tried not to smile at him, he was learning. "So, Peyton's probably been up since yesterday morning, and I don't think Brooke got much sleep last night either. Can't you just let them get some rest for now?" She asked him hopefully, otherwise she was seriously considering heading into another room just to get away from him. And if he then chose to go bother their friends he'd be on his own with the fallout.

Haley had lived with Brooke before, she'd learned not to be that stupid.

He sighed. "I suppose." He conceded.

Finally!!

She smiled brightly at him and gave his head a pat. "Good boy!"

They shared a laugh and then Haley pulled him by his t-shirt into a quick kiss. "Tell you what? Since you don't seem to want to get some sleep or study right now, you can fix up some breakfast for Junior here, he's hungry." She said as they separated.

Looking aggrieved at the chores he was being given Nathan stood up and slowly made his way out of the room. "Fine. I know when I'm not wanted." He moaned as he disappeared.

Shaking her head Haley waited until she heard him make his way downstairs before completely relaxing, she wouldn't have put it past him to knock on the guest room door to ask if Brooke or Peyton were hungry.

She had to admit that she was curious as to what was going on with their friends, but unlike Nathan she could wait a few hours to find out. And by then she was pretty sure Brooke and Peyton would have most things sorted and would be happy to share any news they might have with her.

It was also nice to know that there were some brains left in that pretty head of her husbands. It gave their son a better chance in life if he'd didn't have to rely on her completely for his smarts.

She gave her stomach a rub as she felt her son kick and move about some more.

Well, he could always just remember to not do what his father does. Nah, I'm just being mean, Nathan really can be smart when he wants to be, he's just too used to being a Jock.

Just them Nathan came running back into the room.

"What's wrong?" She asked, but he just opened and closed his mouth. "What?"

Panicked, and a little scared for his life, he tossed what he had in his hand over to Haley and watched her pick it up and read what it said.

It didn't take long for his wife to share his fear.

"Tell me you didn't?"

But he had.

Maybe it won't be that bad? He thought hopefully.

"You invited Lucas over for breakfast?!" Haley shrieked at him.

Well, when she says it like that, I just feel soo much better! He thinks to himself sarcastically but wisely keeps his mouth shut.

"Are you INSANE!!"

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AN/

So, okay, maybe not the shower scene some (probably more like all) of you were wanting but when have I ever given you guys what you wanted, when you wanted it?

Right, never!

Hmm, but lets take a minute and discuss this folks. I'm sure you all want things between the girls to progress that far, and don't get me wrong I do to, but the question is will it actually happen in this story?

The truth is I just don't know right now.

I know the story arc, specific things that happen and when the story ends, but this stuff?

It's just kinda going to move along bit by bit and where they end up... you'll just have to wait and see. But I can tell you that this is them getting together and they might have a bump or two to get over (outside influences) they are a couple and they'll stay that way.

That's the best I can give you, so I hope it's enough.

Thanks for reading as always!

I love getting reviews, please feel free to say anything you want, I can take it ;) And the replies to the last chapter ones will get done over the weekend, sorry guys just wanted to get this posted.

Next time.

'Glitch My Ass!'