Part 52

Peyton pursed her lips as she ignored the whispered conversation Haley and Nathan were engaged in across the kitchen from her as her gut warred between her desire to go after Brooke and make sure she was okay, and staying where she was out of politeness at the presence of guests.

Screw it!

It wasn't a tough decision, but it was made easier by the fact it was unlikely Nathan and Haley would notice she was gone for a while.

Walking up to the bathroom door Peyton knocked on it lightly then opened it. It was empty.

That wasn't a good sign, because it meant Brooke hadn't wanted to return back out front. With a nibble of her lip Peyton eased the bedroom door open slowly and crept inside. Sure enough there was Brooke, curled up into a ball on the middle of the bed.

"Hey." She called out softly figuring Brooke had heard the door opening and wanting to reassure her that it wasn't anyone else. She didn't get a response but she hadn't really expected one either as she crossed the room to the side of the bed Brooke was facing.

Peyton crouched down, taking in the tear stained face and look of defeat as Brooke hugged her knees to her chest. "Not doing too good, huh?" She asked as she smoothed back some hair from the brunette's face.

Brooke tossed her head back and forth. "Sorry," She chocked out miserably. "I just can't go back out there right now."

Peyton swallowed back the need to crawl onto the bed and pull her girlfriend into her arms and attempt to take away all of her pain. Instead she brushed a tear from wet eyelashes and leaned over to leave and lingering kiss on Brooke's forehead. "That's okay honey," She explained. "Back in a bit." She said before standing and walking back towards the door.

Puzzled at her normally overprotective best friend's departure, Brooke couldn't help but pout. She knew it was silly, but she was disappointed Peyton had left her alone so easily.

xxxxxxxxx

Peyton walked confidently back into the kitchen, a look of determination on her face, sure of one thing, that it was time for Haley and Nathan to leave.

The whispered conversation going on stopped the second they heard her footsteps and the couple both looked in her direction expectantly but Peyton just stood there, waiting, as she crossed her arms and eyed the pair.

Nathan's eyes took in the empty space behind her. "Where's Brooke?" He asked.

"Lying down."

"She okay?" Haley asked softly.

Peyton gave the pregnant girl a disbelieving look at the question. "No Haley, she isn't."

Haley blushed and looked down.

Nathan frowned and placed his arm across his wife's shoulders. "She's just asking Peyton."

"I know." Peyton replied, tilting her head back and exhaling. It wasn't all Haley's fault, and she really shouldn't be taking it out on her. She looked back at the pair still wanting them to get out so Brooke wouldn't feel the need to hide away in their bedroom. "You guy's really should have called first." She told them after a minute.

Nathan nodded his head. "Sorry about that."

Haley wasn't sure it was possible to feel any worse over the situation, but apparently it was. "I was only trying to make things right again." She whispered softly.

"I know." Peyton replied, understanding that much. But with Brooke hurting emotionally the way she was right now, it just didn't seem worth the price.

"Hey." Came a soft voice that ratcheted up the tension in the room.

They all turned to see Brooke standing nervously pulling at the sleeves of one of Peyton's hoodies that she'd just thrown on, her face turned down.

Peyton's stomach dropped, she didn't want Brooke to put herself through this, but before she could get to her and convince her to go back to her room, Haley was on her feet.

"Brooke." Haley said standing and reaching to pull the obviously upset girl into her arms.

But Brooke flinched away from her as soon as she noticed how close her pregnant friend was. "Don't." She stuttered out as her hands shot out in front of her and took a step backwards out of her way. "Please don't Haley."

Haley blinked back tears as she retreated from her friend. She kept her eyes on Brooke as she backed into her husband who was quick to put his arms around her and whisper that it'd be okay. She just nodded as she watched Peyton move to stand in front of Brooke. She couldn't hear the pair but she was sure Peyton was attempting to fix the mess she'd made of everything.

"Hey, I thought you wanted to lay down for a while?" Peyton asked Brooke, ducking down to make eye contact as her hands found Brooke's waist.

Brooke wiped her nose on the sleeve of the hoodie she'd put on, then nodded. She had wanted to stay in the bedroom but Peyton had left so quickly she couldn't help but go after her. "I know...I just..." Wanted to be near you.

Peyton gathered Brooke into her arms and hugged her tightly. She hated seeing Brooke like this. "Listen," She whispered. "Why don't you go back to the bedroom and give me a minute to get rid of our well-intentioned friends?" She asked pulling back enough to see Brooke's face. "Yeah?"

Brooke was silent for a few seconds. She really didn't want to but staying meant dealing with Nathan and Haley and she wasn't sure she was ready for that. So with a bob of her head she said, "Okay." In a soft voice and returned to the shelter of the bedroom without even glancing at the others.

Peyton watched her leave until the door closed behind Brooke. Only then did she turn back to her friends. Both of them were staring at her anxiously, Haley with tears in her eyes which caused Peyton's expression to soften. This was hard on everyone.

As the silence continued Nathan sighed, his arms still wrapped around his wife. "I guess you want us to go?"

Peyton nodded. "Sorry, I just think it'd be best for Brooke right now, I'm not sure how much more she can handle right now." She explained with a shrug.

"We get it, Peyton." He replied, giving Haley's shoulder a squeeze.

Haley looked at Nathan who offered a smile then looked over at Peyton again.

"This isn't how I wanted things to turn out." She said apologetically.

"I know Haley."

Haley took a deep breath and let it out. Staying while Brooke was so upset would only make things worse. "You'll call us if you need anything?"

Peyton smiled at her and together they moved towards the door. "Of course."

As they exited the apartment Nathan turned back. "We mean it Peyton, call us if you need us."

"Promise." Peyton replied. She stood there watching them go down the stairs and make their way to the jeep she hadn't noticed earlier and raised her hand up as they got in and drove off. The honk of the horn returned her goodbye.

With a groan she eyed the drizzle that was starting to come down again before she retreated back inside the apartment.

"That them gone?" Brooke asked softly as Peyton closed and locked the door. She hadn't been able to lie back down, instead she's stood next to the door trying to listen to what was being said, she hadn't really heard much but she recognise the front door being opened.

Peyton nodded and gave her a smile. "Yeah."

Brooke looked around wondering what would happen now.

Now that Nathan and Haley knew.

When Peyton had told her to go find a plaster for her hand she'd gone with the intention of coming straight back but as she left the bathroom she could hear a hushed conversation and knowing it centred on her had sent her into her bedroom. She didn't want to hear what was being said, what they were thinking about her.

She didn't want to deal with any of it.

Not the looks, not the questions and definitely not the pity, or worse, fear.

So instead she'd gone into her bedroom and curled up into a ball on the bed and cried. It hadn't taken long for Peyton to come looking for her, but the blonde had accepted her excuse and had left her to deal with Nathan and Haley alone.

"Come here." Peyton said softly, walking over and opening her arms up to her girlfriend who gladly sank into her.

After a minute Peyton pulled back and smoothed her hand through Brooke's hair, smiling to herself as her girlfriend let out a sigh at the touch. "Not the way you expected this afternoon to go, huh?"

Brooke gave her a pointed look and then cuddled back into the blonde, feeling her chest vibrate as she chuckled.

Peyton tightened her hold, giving the brunette a good squeeze but not enough to hurt her really.

"So, what do you want to do now?" Peyton asked thinking that moving on completely from the revelations that came about by Haley and Nathans impromptu visit was a good idea. Brooke would talk to her if and when she needed to.

"I can order take-out and we can watch a movie?" Peyton offered. "Or...I guess we could study...exams tomorrow."

Brooke looked up at her through dark lashes and poked her bottom lip out at the mention of studying and pleaded with her eyes.

Peyton let a breath rumble past her lips, as she pretended to think it over. Then she rolled her eyes. "A movie it is."

Brooke grinned. That had been her plans for the evening at any rate. "Good idea." She agreed with a nod of satisfaction.

Peyton smiled, her arms still rapped around Brooke. She swayed Brooke a little, enjoying the fact she was able to make Brooke smile. "You okay?"

Brooke sighed and rested her head on Peyton's shoulder as they moved gently together. She wasn't sure she knew how to answer that question anymore. She shrugged a shoulder and quirked a half smile at the blonde.

"Forget I asked then." Peyton continued before dropping a kiss to Brooke's forehead.

That got another smile from the brunette. "Done." Brooke replied, her voice taking on a happier tone.

"So, moving on...what do you feel like watching?" Peyton asked, her arms still holding Brooke against her and she was in no rush to cut the moment short, not if it calmed Brooke the way it was calming her.

Peyton indulged herself in another few moments of just holding Brooke tightly against her own body. This was real, what they had together, the love they had finally confessed to each other, it was real, and wonderful and precious. And Peyton wanted it to last a lifetime. But the future held so many uncertainties right now that Peyton refused to think too much on things she had no power to change.

One day at a time.

That was how Brooke was trying to deal with the sudden derailment of her life caused by a crazed psycho that had left her dying in a pool of her own blood.

So that's how Peyton would handle things, one day at a time, one moment after the next, all focused on making life just that little bit easier for Brooke to cope with. And if that meant tell all their friends to get lost, then that's what she'd do.

"No romances, or horrors." Brooke replied softly after some thought, her head still snug against the blonde. It was peaceful being held like this. Her eyes were closed and she could hear the thump of Peyton's heart beat, it was a slow steady rhythm, and she briefly wondered if it was possible to fall asleep in this position.

Peyton probably wouldn't even mind if she did.

"Gotcha." Peyton whispered back as she looked down indulgently at the girl in her arms. Brooke's breathing was slowing down, and it didn't take a genius to work out the last few hours had to have taken a lot out of Brooke.

And no... Brooke wasn't sure what they were talking about anymore, but she didn't think it mattered. Not when Peyton was all around her like this. In her touch, in every breath, in every thought... it was her safest place in the world.

Her home.

xxxxxxx

AN/

THE END?

No, actually, it really isn't but I've had one or two pm's asking if it is, this is me saying it ISN'T. Big fat no, to the end of this. Of course one day my friends it really will be time to put this in the completed section, it just won't be for a very long time, bright side? it could be another two years with the time it takes me to update :D

Hmm, that was meant to make you guys smile but I guess some of you would probably like me to update quicker, I don't blame you, hell, I wish I could update quicker, but it'd mean shorter chapters, and that'd bug me so...be patient and I'll post as soon as the next chapter is ready.

And stop panicking please.