Part 48

Brooke watched as her toes dipped out of the water at the other end of the tub and wiggled them, creating ripples in the water. She was lying back against Peyton who had her arms wrapped around her middle.

"Do you think this is weird?" She asked, her bad hand resting against the blonde's knee out of the water.

Peyton smirked. "What's weird?" She asked. "You have to be a bit more specific."

Brooke rolled her eyes at her friend. "This." She lifted her hand and gestured up and down the tub. "Us doing this."

Peyton frowned. "We've showered together before."

"We have." Brooke agreed, but this wasn't the same thing. For starters she'd never been pressed back against Peyton's chest before, or spent ten minutes just running her hands up and down Peyton's legs before.

"Does this make you uncomfortable?" Peyton had to ask. She didn't think Brooke was as she seemed perfectly relaxed while they soaked in the cooling water.

"No." Brooke replied quickly.

Peyton nodded slowly behind her. "But?"

Brooke sighed and shrugged.

Peyton nudged her friend after she failed to continue, if something about what they were doing was bothering Brooke then Peyton really needed to know. "Talk to me Brooke." But still Brooke kept quiet which made Peyton upset because she couldn't see Brooke's face given their positions. "Have I done something to make you uncomfortable?"

Brooke swallowed. "No." She hadn't, the fact was Brooke had never felt this at ease before and it was weirding her out.

"You sure?"

"Yes."

Peyton still wasn't sure what was going on but she'd have to let it go for now and hope Brooke would eventually let her know what was bothering her.

She tapped her on the shoulder and started to sit up. "Come on, time to dry off."

Brooke pouted having enjoyed just relaxing but got up and out of the bath without too much complaint. Grabbing for a towel she set about drying her body as much as she could and felt Peyton work at her hair with another towel.

"There all done." Peyton confirmed and helped the brunette pull on a pair of shorts and a top. "You going to try and get some sleep?"

"Yeah." Brooke asked turning to face the blonde. Peyton nodded and they stood there awkwardly for a moment not sure what else to say to each other. Brooke wanted to ask Peyton to come to bed with her, knowing she'd sleep better with her there. But Peyton didn't look likely to make that offer and Brooke felt she couldn't ask.

Peyton gave Brooke a smile as she adjusted the towel she'd rapped around her own body and signalled to the tub. "I'm just going to finish up in here then."

Brooke bit her lip as Peyton turned to pull the plug and drain the bath water away.

"If you need anything give me a shout." Peyton said without looking back feeling the other girl had yet to leave.

Brooke swallowed and with a frown marring her features, turned and headed back to the bedroom.

Peyton sighed once she was alone. She still didn't know what was going on but like Brooke had mentioned earlier, she was definitely feeling 'weird' about things now.

She quickly got the tub scrubbed down and rinsed clean. Then she worked on getting herself dry before realising that even though she'd gone back into the bedroom once Brooke was in the bath to make up the bed with clean sheets, she'd forgotten a clean set of clothes for herself.

Sighing, she slowly made her way to the bedroom, pausing in the doorway to stare at her friend. Brooke was curled up under the covers watching her. Trying her best not to blush Peyton kept a secure hold on the towel covering most of her body, and gestured to the set of drawers. "I'm just gonna get some..."

Aware of the eyes following her every move Peyton picked the first few items she found and rushed back out of the room into the bathroom to get dressed. "Can you be any more of an idiot?" She muttered to herself as she pulled on a t-shirt. Awkward? Not at all. Yeah right, then why do I feel like crap right now?

With a sigh Peyton gathered all the dirty washing and heading into the kitchen, stoically ignoring the open door as she passed.

Once that was taken care of Peyton surveyed the room wondering what to do if she wasn't going to be in the bedroom with Brooke. Maybe she just needs some space, so give her space Sawyer!

With another sigh Peyton noticed her school bag in the corner by the television and headed for it. Pulling out the first book her hand touched Peyton flopped down onto the couch and attempted to do some revision. She still wore a scowl, but she didn't thing she'd be able to change that any time soon so she just tried her best to ignore her own feelings and concentrated on the words on the page she opened her book at.

And I hated this book the first time I read the damn thing.

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"So, what?" Nathan asked stunned by what his wife had just told him. "They're like together, together?"

"Yes." Haley sighed as she finished clearing the last of the clean dishes away. Karen and Deb had disappeared off somewhere to talk about baby stuff and Lucas had left straight after breakfast saying he was going to catch up on some sleep. She hadn't really believed him but didn't have it in her to ask him to stay so she just hoped he wasn't going to cause any more trouble for Peyton or Brooke.

Nathan frowned as he watched Haley. Hadn't they thought this last night? They'd both half expected to look out the window last night and see their friends in some sort of compromising position. So then why was Haley acting like this was a bad thing?

"I don't get it Haley, you said it yourself that there was something going on between those two, why are you acting upset now you know it's true?" He asked her.

Haley glared at him and glanced around hoping his mother and Karen hadn't overheard him just now. "Will you keep your voice down?" She hissed at him.

Nathan just stood there and crossed his arms over his chest. "Shouldn't you be happy for them?"

That was it, Haley threw her hands up. "Who exactly should I be 'happy' for Nathan?" She asked him hotly. "Peyton? Whose gone from Lucas' bed to Brooke's in less than a few hours. Or Brooke, who never seems to know who the hell it is she wants, you, Lucas, or Peyton? And don't get me started on Lucas, who in case you've forgotten is your brother and he has no idea what's going on with Brooke and Peyton behind his back!"

Nathan opened his mouth to reply but Haley just shook her head angrily and walked away.

"I'm going to get some studying done."

He watched her storm passed Karen and his mom, only just managing to avoid crashing into them.

Deb looked at the retreating form before sharing a look with Karen as they both turned to Nathan for an explanation.

Nathan sighed and followed after his wife. "Don't ask." He advised them.

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Brooke tried her best to close her eyes and sleep but it just wasn't going to work. Her mind was too busy telling her she'd freaked Peyton out in the bathroom and her body was telling her the presence of a certain blonde was required if she ever hoped to get some rest.

With an aggrieved sigh Brooke got out of the bed, gathered the cover up around her and headed off in search of her pillow.

Peyton glanced up from her book as Brooke shuffled into the room, not looking the least bit amused and sat down only to pull the cover around her and lean her head down in her lap.

"Hi there." Peyton greeted her.

Brooke just sighed happily and closed her eyes, she had what she wanted Peyton could keep reading for all she cared.

Peyton waited but Brooke didn't seem inclined to want to start a conversation with her. Looking down at her friend Peyton could still make out the bruise under her eye and traced it gently with a finger before tucking some stray hair out of the way.

"You okay Brooke?" Peyton asked quietly, concerned that there may be something else going on with her friend.

Brooke blinked her eyes open and then shifted to look up at the blonde seeing nothing but love reflected back at her. "Sorry if I freaked you out back there."

Peyton just continued letting her fingers run through the still damp hair. "You didn't. Not exactly." After she was given a very sceptical look from the brunette she added, "It just made me think that I'd maybe pushed you a little too far."

"You hadn't." Brooke replied with a shake of her head.

Peyton smiled down at her wistfully. "Didn't I?" As far as Peyton could tell that was just what she'd done.

"No." Brooke scowled trying to work out her feelings well enough to put them into words for her friend. "It's just...it felt weird that it didn't feel weird...does that make any sense?"

Peyton gave it a thought then tentatively asked, "It really didn't make you feel weird?"

"No."

"Not even sharing the bath with me?"

Brooke smirked a little this time. "No. Not kissing you, not the bath or the showers. None of that felt strange at all." She told her before adding, "Or you gabbing my ass for that matter." She smiled as the blonde blushed.

Peyton resolutely tried to refrain form remembering that particular moment, having enjoyed it a little too much at the time.

Brooke giggled.

Peyton bit her lip then tried hard to continue with the conversation. "But that felt weird right?" She watched Brooke nod and was surprised that was what all the fuss had been about. "But you've had feeling for me for a while Brooke." More than a while actually. "So why would-"

"I never thought it would happen though Peyton." Brooke cut in to explain.

Peyton frowned. "Why?"

Brooke shrugged.

"But you had to think about this. About what it'd be like if we ever got together." Peyton asked her.

"Uh, well, not really." Brooke admitted reluctantly.

"You're kidding right?"

Brooke blushed and shook her head at the astonishment in Peyton's voice. It wasn't that she'd never thought about Peyton that way it was just she'd never contemplated an actual relationship, which as far as she could tell this was going to be. Her thoughts had been more along the lines of something a little like dare night only less tame. She'd thought that the only way she would have ever got the chance to be with Peyton was if there was a way to blow it off the next day as things getting out of control. Something Peyton wouldn't necessarily regret, but wouldn't be rushing to repeat either.

Brooke sighed and closed her eyes as Peyton's hand smoothed back her hair and her fingers rubbed relaxingly into her scalp.

Peyton smiled down at her as they fell silent, keeping up her massage as her free hand sought out Brooke's hand and laced their fingers together.

Brooke tightened the hold Peyton had of her hand and smiled up at her happily.

"This doesn't feel too weird does it?" Peyton asked still smiling at her and let her hand move from her hair to trail lightly over Brooke's face.

Brooke shook her head. "No."

"How about this?" Peyton asked leaning down slowly and nipping at Brooke's nose.

Brooke giggled then rubbed at her nose as Peyton gave it a quick swipe with the tip of her tongue. "Yes! That feels totally weird Peyton, yuck!"

With a smirk Peyton relented and tweaked her nose before wiping it dry herself.

"Baby." She muttered quietly but saw Brooke poke her lower lip out so she leaned over again only to get a weary look from those brown eyes as Brooke waited to see what she was going to do this time.

Peyton gave the hand she still held a soft squeeze, trying to let Brooke know she wasn't going to do anything mean. "How about this?" And then she kissed her.

It was supposed to be a peck but Peyton soon found a hand on the back of her head keeping her in place as Brooke took control and deepened the contact. Who was she to complain?

After a few leisurely kisses Brooke let Peyton escape and sighed happily as she stared up at her. "Nope, that felt fine to me."

Peyton tried not to laugh at Brooke's expression as she replied, "Good to hear I didn't disappoint."

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"Nathan can we just not do this?" Haley asks not wanting to get into an argument with her husband. "You were the one thinking Peyton shouldn't have stayed-"

"When I thought they were trying to kill each other yeah, but I was also the one that brought Peyton over because I knew they needed to work things out." Nathan told her. "And by the sounds of things they obviously have."

Haley scrubbed her hands over her face trying to calm down feeling her son kicking at her stomach. "How can you be okay with this?" She had to ask. Nathan had been upset the other night when Peyton hadn't acknowledged Lucas while they all had dinner here, now he was acting like...

"Argh!" Frustrated Haley got up off the bed where she'd been sitting and started to pace. "Why are you okay with this?" She asked as he still hadn't answered her.

"Because..." He said looking at her seriously. "I remember what it felt like in that hospital when I thought I was going to lose you...both of you." He told her, swallowing hard as all the emotions of that night came rushing back.

Haley's heart clenched as she watched Nathan duck his head and run a hand over her eyes. It was enough to have her going over and pulling his hand into both of hers. "Hey, I'm still here, and so is this one." She smiled, placing his hand onto their son, letting him feel how active he was being.

Nathan sighed and shared a smile with Haley as they spent a few moments enjoying the life they had created together. He hadn't really thought all of this through before now, but he was okay with Peyton and Brooke.

He'd watched Peyton change after the death of her mother, she'd lost her innocence way too young causing her to close herself off to the outside world, even her relationship with her father had suffered as he returned to his job.

But that had never happened with Brooke.

He never knew if that was because Brooke simply wouldn't allow Peyton to get away with shutting her out or if Peyton had chosen to give Brooke the kind of access no one else would ever have, not even he had been given that courtesy when they dated years later.

Brooke he'd always assumed was searching for the love her parents had never provide her with, but now he thought perhaps she had found it, she was only waiting for Peyton to realise the same thing.

Nathan lifted one of Haley's hands and kissed her palm. "We saw her that night Haley, we saw her before anyone else did." He told her watching a tear fall from her face and he reached over and wiped it away. "We saw her when she was covered in Brooke's blood Haley."

Haley closed her eyes but nodded, that had been one of the single most terrifying nights in her life. Even seeing that car heading towards her was nothing compared to seeing Peyton in a bloodied dress, shaking, and frightened Brooke wasn't going to make it through surgery.

"Do you really think that if Brooke had died that night that she and Lucas would be living happily ever after?" He asked her softly.

That took the last shred of fight away and Haley's shoulders dropped. "Maybe not."

"Maybe?"

Haley rolled her eyes at him.

"After going through that I can get why Peyton might never want Brooke out of her sight." He said smiling as he pulled Haley into his arms.

She couldn't help but smile back at him. "Oh do you?"

"Yup." He said leaning back and taking her with him so they were now both reclining on the bed.

"Speaking from personal experience here?" She asked.

Nathan laughed. "Well Brooke does have th-"

Haley covered his mouth with her hand and scowled at him. "Don't you dare finish that sentence Mister, or you'll find yourself sleeping somewhere that isn't here." She threatened him, still not at the point where she could joke about that.

Nathan gently eased her hand away. "Sorry." He told her then leaned up into her. "Let me make it up to you." He said before kissing her with as much passion as he felt, never wanting her to question who it was he was in love with.

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"We really should study." Peyton says as she pulls back from a very heated kiss.

Brooke pouted, "Do we have to?" She asked snuggling into Peyton as they both lay stretched out on the couch.

Peyton was very tempted to just continue with the heavy make out session they were enjoying but a quick glance to the clock had her shaking her head and unwrapping herself from around Brooke.

"Yes we do, and it's time for your meds." She informed her getting up and going in search of Brooke's bag she'd brought back from Nathan and Haley's.

"Spoilsport." Brooke grumbled as she sat up properly.

Peyton returned and handed her three small pills along with a glace of water. "Here, and do you need any of the pain meds?" She asked willing to go back and get them but Brooke just shook her head as she swallowed the pills down with a grimace and handed the glass back over.

"No thanks."

"You sure?" Peyton asked sitting back down beside her and letting Brooke cuddle into her again. "Still tired?"

"Yes. To both." Brooke replied feeling exhausted all of a sudden. "Now be a good pillow and shut up."

Peyton giggled silently to herself and let Brooke have her way, leaning back so they both ended up lying down again only this time at the other end of the couch.

"Happy now?" Peyton asked once Brooke settled down on top of her.

"Yes." Brooke replied as Peyton arms came around her, holding her in place.

Peyton could tell Brooke was almost asleep but there was one thing she had to ask, "Do you think she told Nathan?"

"What do you think?" Brooke asked thinking and sounding like the answer should have been obvious to Peyton. Of course Haley would have told Nathan.

Peyton nodded to herself having thought that she would have. "How do you think he would have taken it?"

Brooke smirked and rested on her elbows to stare at Peyton. "The question you should be asking Pey is how do you think Lucas will take it?" And with that she stole a quick kiss and snuggled back down into position with a smirk on her face.

"Uh..."

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AN/

Hello again!!

Seems like some of you are still around so maybe I will continue with this... :P

That was a joke by the way don't all have heart attacks, geez!

Aww, but you love me really.

:D

I know you guys do, don't lie.

Next time.

Which will be... yeah, not a clue.

Oh, oh!!

Come back!

I almost forgot, thanks to everyone reading and hello to the newbies!!

Right, now you can go.