Part 59

Brooke couldn't believe how well Peyton was playing now. If she didn't know otherwise she would have thought the blonde had never been away from the guitar. She was in a world of her own, having stopped singing along to tunes some time ago, she was just playing by feel, notes melding together and filling the room with a happiness that mirrored the smile on Peyton's face as she concentrated on her finger placements.

Brooke thought it was quite possible Peyton had actually forgotten she was also in the room. But that just made this moment even sweeter for Brooke. She was just as pleased as Peyton looked to see her best friend getting back to something she loved so much.

As the notes and tempo trailed off Brooke grinned and let out a yell and clapped as Peyton's hands stilled and a blush stole over her face as the blonde looked at her with a self-conscious expression.

"Not too awful then?" Peyton asked looking hopeful. She'd had a blast but her left hand, the chord hand, was hurting even though she'd found it was easier making some of the chords now her hands larger. Her timing had been off too in for a bit, but that had come back and she was thrilled by how much of her mothers teachings she still remembered.

"You were brilliant!" Brooke assured her.

Peyton ducked her head and busied herself putting everything back into place. "That's good then." She muttered.

"You know I'm going to be bugging you to play for me again don't you?" Brooke told her watching the blonde close up the guitar case.

Peyton shrugged. "I guess I could do that."

Brooke was quietly elated that Peyton gave in so easily but she didn't add anything other than a wink as Peyton lifted the case and moved by her, touching her hand briefly, as she went to put the guitar back in their bedroom.

Alone for the moment Brooke whispered a quiet, "Awesome." Switching the long forgotten television off she got up then collected Peyton's empty beer bottles that were lying around and took them into the kitchen. Just as she was straightening up two arms slide around her from behind as Peyton snuggled against her back.

"This is nice." Brooke said as Peyton's lips kissed at her neck before her chin rested on her shoulder.

"Hmm." Peyton agreed. She was still buzzing from how well her guitar playing had been, and just the fact she'd even agreed to try for Brooke. Peyton doubted she would have done that for anyone else. In fact she knew she wouldn't have done that for anyone else.

Not even her father.

Which was further proof, not that Peyton needed it, of just how important Brooke was to her.

"I think I broke my hand though." Peyton informed Brooke as she displayed her chord hand to the brunette palm up.

Brooke did her best not to laugh as she heard the pout forming as the blonde spoke, instead she busied herself inspecting said poor hand. Her fingers did have indentations where she'd pressed against the strings.

"Poor baby." She muttered lifting the hand to her lips to kiss each finger tip.

Peyton had to stifle a moan.

"Better?" Brooke asked turning around in Peyton's arms to face the blonde.

"Uh, yeah." Peyton replied feeling flustered at the spark of arousal that coursed through her.

"Well it was much appreciated, even if your hand never recovers." Brooke said with a grin her arms going around Peyton's waist.

Peyton laughed as she held Brooke loosely in her arms. "Thanks." Then she gave in and pressed her lips to Brooke's softly. "Hm. It was fun. Really. I'm glad you asked me to play."

Brooke beamed at her. "That's great." She leaned up and kissed Peyton back, taking her time as their bodies touched.

Peyton sighed as Brooke finally released her and rested her forehead on Brooke's. "My mom's probably pissed I left it so long to pick up her guitar again though."

Brooke's hand caressed Peyton's back soothingly. "She'd understand Peyton."

She would have and Peyton knew it too. While she felt guilty at never having had the courage to try before, her mom would have known it was too hard for her until now.

Until Brooke.

"I love you." Peyton said quietly.

Brooke's grin was so wide her cheeks hurt.

Peyton shrugged a touch embarrassed at the look in Brooke's eyes. It was hard to believe how easily it was to read Brooke's feelings as she gazed at her. She should have noticed so much sooner, it would have saved them both a lot of pain.

"I just...thanks, you know." Peyton muttered feeling shy all of a sudden.

"I know." Brooke assured the blonde quietly. "I love you too."

Peyton sighed happily and kissed Brooke sweetly before letting her arms drop to hold Brooke's hand. "So, I was thinking...want to fool around a bit?" She asked with a silly grin and a wiggle of her eyebrows.

Brooke chuckled. "I might."

"Cool." Peyton replied twirling Brooke around then tugging her by her hand and leading her towards their bedroom.

"Back in a minute." Brooke muttered grabbing her night clothes and heading to the bathroom to take care of the essentials.

Left alone Peyton glanced around, most of her things were still stacked in boxes, so too were some of Brooke's. It gave the impression that their stay here was temporary, which it was. Peyton knew they needed to sit down and talk soon and get things sorted out, just to give them both an idea of what they wanted for the future.

Peyton didn't have much to think about, she'd already made that decision sitting at Brooke's bedside in the hospital as she waited on her best friend waking up. She wasn't losing Brooke everything else came in a distant second, even her own plans for her future.

She didn't have a plan now.

But that wasn't necessarily a bad thing, it meant she could give Brooke complete control over what they would do, where they would go. Would she want Peyton tagging along though? Peyton had a suspicion that the brunette just might be okay with that idea.

"What's that grin for?" Brooke asked seeing the blonde staring off into space as she returned.

"Huh?" Peyton asked turning to watch Brooke put her stuff away.

Brooke shook her head at the puzzled expression on her girlfriends face. "Nothing Peyt. You going to stand there all night?" She asked pulling back the covers and climbing into the bed.

"I could, haven't decided yet." Peyton replied grinning.

Brooke pouted. "But I wanna fool around!"

Peyton chuckled and made her way over. She sat down beside Brooke and ran her hand through the other girl's hair. "You not tired?"

Brooke shook her head.

Peyton let out a long suffering sigh. "Well I guess...if you want."

"Peyton!" Brooke narrowed her eyes at the blonde thinking now was the wrong time to be playing games.

Peyton's eyes widened innocently. "What?" Brooke just scowled at her unhappily causing Peyton to lean in and press their lips together. "Sorry." She muttered as they eased apart. "I was trying to play hard to get."

"You already did." Brooke muttered then cupped the back of Peyton's neck and pulled her in for a proper kiss.

"Wow." Peyton eventually opened her eyes and was met with a smug looking Brooke. But she'd already tried her luck and didn't want to entirely kill the mood, so she stole another quick kiss then got up to get her own things together. "Won't be long...think you can stay awake?"

"Peyton!" Brooke threw a pillow at the retreating blonde but she missed. "I'm so talking to Haley about you!" She shouted after her.

Peyton was still grinning as she exited the bathroom.

The alcohol she'd consumed had pretty much worn off but Peyton took a few extra minutes to return to the front room and make sure everything was off and the apartment was locked up tight. It gave her the time to clear her head. As much as she joked with Brooke she was more than a little nervous about 'fooling around'. She wanted Brooke, every fibre of her being wanted Brooke, but her friend wasn't ready for that, and sadly Peyton was worried her body wouldn't behave when things got a little heated.

With a last look around Peyton made her way to the bedroom.

She paused in the doorway as her eyes met Brooke's, she could see the hint of worry there and did her best to smile reassuringly at her girlfriend before closing the door and switching off the light.

Brooke shifted over in the bed as the blonde came towards her.

"Saved you a place." She had to swallow past her nerves as the blonde lifted the cover and slide in beside her.

Peyton grinned visibly in the darkened room. "Kept it warm too." She said as she lay down on her side to face Brooke.

They stared at each other, both waiting for the other to say or do something apparently. Eventually they both giggled.

Peyton shook her head wondering why they were suddenly both so self-conscious. Taking a breath she reached out and gathered the brunette into her arms, shifting onto her back so Brooke was mostly on top of her. "It's okay, we don't have to-" Brooke's lips silenced her. "Or then again, I do seem to recall someone mentioning something about making out? But I could be wrong."

Brooke smiled down at the blonde as their breaths mingled. "I don't think you're wrong."

"Cool."

Brooke giggled and dropped her head onto Peyton's shoulder.

Peyton screwed her eyes shut and tried to concentrate on her hands stroking back and forth along the expanse of Brooke's back but it was hard. Making it all the more difficult for her was the feel of Brooke's breasts pressed against her not to mention the leg that had found purchase between both of her own.

She's not evil, she just has no idea what effect she has on me. Peyton thought to herself as she took a calming breath and tried to ignore her bodies reaction.

"You okay?" Brooke asked in amusement as she stared down at the blonde. Her girlfriend wasn't looking at her and she was starting to sweat.

"Uh huh." Peyton muttered.

"You sure?" Brooke asked shifting her body and almost laughing out loud as the blonde stiffened below her. "You look like you need a hand with something." She said softly. "Maybe I could help."

That did it. Peyton's eyes shot open as she stared up at Brooke in shock. "You did that on purpose." She accused.

"Did what?" Brooke asked trying to look like she had no idea what Peyton could be talking about. Then she grinned wickedly and pressed her knee higher into the blonde.

The air rushed out of Peyton's mouth.

"Someone's turned on." Brooke said with a laugh which only increased as Peyton blushed.

Brooke eased her leg away not wanting to torture the blonde too much. Now that Peyton could breathe again Brooke lowered her head and rubbed her nose against Peyton's before kissing her hard. It didn't take Peyton long to return the kiss and soon they were both getting lost in the emotions of the last few hours.

"I love kissing you." Peyton whispered against Brooke's lips and was rewarded with another kiss just as breath taking. She sighed as Brooke released her and willed her body to calm down a notch or two. She was a bit embarrassed at how transparent she was to Brooke. She didn't want the brunette to think she was angling for more out of this than Brooke had offered.

Brooke didn't tease Peyton, instead she shifted onto her side to give the blonde some space. She could see the desire in Peyton's eyes and knew she was holding back for her, which she was grateful for, but at the same time it excited her so much to see her best friend finally look at her like that. Not too long ago the mere idea would have had her in tears because she knew it would never happen. Not when Peyton had Lucas Scott.

"Sorry."

The misery in Peyton's voice brought Brooke back to the present. Her world may have tumbled off balance but having the blonde with her through it all made it okay, made it something she didn't have to fear because she knew she'd never have to navigate this new world hers on her on.

Brooke frowned as her fingers danced across Peyton's face. "What do you have to be sorry about?" She questioned.

Peyton blinked rapidly to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. Her chest heaved as her breathing came quicker as she feared she'd ruined things but Brooke wasn't looking at her like she was upset or angry. Peyton studied her girlfriend.

Brooke could see the confusion in Peyton's eyes and had to smile. It was touching how hard the blonde tried to look out for her but she didn't need protected from Peyton herself. "I love knowing that you want me Peyton." She said softly.

Peyton felt her body relax. "I just don't want to hurt you." She explained.

Brooke grinned. Peyton hurt her? Wasn't possible. "You won't." She said resting her hand on the blonde's belly.

Peyton swallowed. "How can you be so sure?"

Brooke shrugged. "I just do." She replied unconcerned. "Now didn't you mention making out? Don't think you're getting off so easily."

A burst of laughter filled the air as Peyton reacted to Brooke's choice of words.

"Wouldn't want to make it easy now would we?" Peyton said inching closer to her girlfriend once more.

Brooke grinned her fingers scratching Peyton's stomach, just were her tee exposed some skin. "Now you're getting it Blondie."

"Is that so?" Peyton asked, her hands tightening their hold on the material on the back of Brooke's top as the older girl once more eased on top of her.

As their lips crashed together again and their tongues duelled, Peyton wasn't stupid enough to hope Brooke was wrong.

xxxxxxx

AN/ Another chapter lots more to go, no idea when that'll happen but I live in hope.

Next chapter won't be all Breyton. Sadly.

Anyway thanks for reading!