AN: Thank you for the reviews. I know Lucas and Brooke are hurting Peyton. Just note that, even getting hurt, her life is improving dramatically from what she had in Los Angeles, and her relationship with Lucas was pretty dead already, even before the proposal. Lucas and Brooke are not building something new. They are just continuing something they already had, in different basis. As usual, I owe no piece of OTH.

Chapter 6 – Friday

When Peyton came to the living room, Lucas was on the floor, playing with Jamie. He looked up and smiled. "Good morning, aunt Peyton. Brooke is already gone. There is coffee and toast for you, and I'll be happy to cook you some eggs, if you will play with young master Scott here while I do it."

"Well, Mr. Scott, it will be a pleasure to entertain your nephew and godson while you cook me some eggs. Over easy, if you could, please."

"So, how did it go with Oxy and her Morons? What about college?"

"Well, Oxy went rather well, I think. They do want me to produce their record, and we will discuss managing the band later. I do have a problem, as little miss Oxy appears to have a crush on me."

"Well, there does seem to be a pattern there. I remember Anna had a cute crush on you too. So, now what? Can you work with them anyways?"

Peyton blows on Jamie's belly and he giggles. "Sure. It's part of the professional thing. The college interview went well too. I gave them a portfolio, and we discussed previous experience, the comic strip on Thud, running Tric, the benefit album and my internship at SIA. The interviewer seemed very impressed. He said I may get a full academic scholarship and I could take classes in my own rhythm. They should give me an answer in a couple of days."

"Congratulations, Peyton. So you are moving to New York."

"Yes. I've called to give SIA notice. My boss there told me he wants me to continue work part time in their New York studio, as an assistant producer. That really surprised me. They have treated me so badly there, but it appears that I had made some kind of impression, even if I never noticed it. With SIA and Green Cow, I will be making enough money to get my own place. I have to go to LA next week, finish a couple of things I had going at SIA, and pack my apartment."

"Cool. You will be here tomorrow, for our picnic, no?"

"Sure, I'll buy my ticket for tomorrow night. We may even share a cab to the airport, if you want. Which airport are you using?"

"La Guardia. Our flight leaves at eight. We will probably catch a cab at half past five. Talking about this reminded me. I have to call the airline and tell them that I'll be traveling with an infant."

"We still need to talk, Luke. These days here in New York, and taking care of Jamie, really turned things around for me. I am beginning to feel strong enough to deal a little with us, now."

"That's OK, Peyton. I agree. I don't think we have the time now, as I have to meet Lindsay downtown in about one hour. Tomorrow, after the picnic, I'll ask Brooke to bring Jamie back to the penthouse, while the two of us take a walk in the park and talk. Will that work?"

Peyton looks in my eyes and smiles. "That's ok Luke. It's a date."

Lucas gives his nephew a kiss and leaves the room looking downcast, and murmuring to himself. "Oh, boy."

ooooooooooooooo

As Lucas approaches Brooke's receptionist, she gives him a huge smile. "I know, Lucas Scott, and you are expected. You can go right ahead. Actually, in name of all the employees of Clothes over Bros, I have a question for you. What did you do with our boss?"

"What's your name?"

"Miranda."

Lucas looks in her eyes. "Well, Miranda..."

Miranda stares into Lucas' baby blues, and takes in the whole package. "Well, no need to explain, gorgeous. I know just what you did with our boss. One year working for her, and this morning is the first time I saw that grin. Excellent job, man."

Lucas laughs, as he opens the door to Brooke's office. "We aim to please, Miranda."

The reaction he got could not have made him happier. Brooke went into full tigger mode, screaming, jumping up and down, and finally jumping right on Lucas, arms and legs wrapping around him, and planting a big sloppy kiss straight into his mouth. He can't embrace her because he is holding their lunch in his hands, so he turns around with CEO Brooke attached to him and places the two brown bags in her desk. Then he places one hand in the small of her back, another near her neck and bends forward, as he deepens the kiss. When they stop for air, Lucas laughs. "I remember once dreaming of just this greeting. The only difference between what you just did and my dream is that you were wearing a cheerleader uniform."

She laughs and punches him on the side. "I'll let you know that this can easily be arranged, fiancee. I still have my uniforms, and they fit perfectly."

"Hm. You in your old uniform... just give me some warning, pretty girl. We don't want another heart attack. By the way, that's yours. Pastrami on rye, ice tea and a chocolate cheesecake."

"That over there is your tux. You should take it with you when you leave. How was your morning?

"I talked to Peyton over breakfast. There is good news from yesterday. She is going to produce a record for that indie label Green Cow, the meeting with the college went well, she may be getting a full academic scholarship and when she called her boss at SIA to give notice, he offered her a part time position at SIA's New York studio."

"Wow. That's really cool. I haven't told her yet, but a friend of a friend runs a gallery over at the Lower East Side, and, after I sent her images of her work, agreed to give her space on a young artist show they are putting together for next month."

"Nice. I also promised her we would talk after the picnic tomorrow. About me and her."

"It is too soon, Luke. She has made so much progress in a short time. We don't want to lose her. I don't want to lose her."

"I don't know what's going to happen. And I agree it's too soon, but I don't think we have a choice. She feels that her life is back on track, I think she wants to go back with me and her. She is really nervous about it, because she can feel something has changed between me and you. She hasn't seen us together very much the past few days, but we are going out tomorrow morning, and we can't really hide from her. She knows us both too well, and she is no fool. I'll try to be gentle, but I am going to make it clear that I am not going back together with her. Ever. And I know she is going to ask about you. I can't lie to her. We'll keep the engagement to ourselves, but we are going to have to own up to being back together."

"I am afraid, Luke. I don't want to loose her, but I know I might. I knew this was the price for going back with you."

"I'll be there for you, and we will both be there for her, if she allows us. The bottom line is that we both love her, and we want her in our lives. I hope she can see that at the end. I have another girl problem to handle. Lindsay is developing this crush on me. It's sweet, and flattering, and I want to let her down gently because she is really good as an editor, and we work well together. I am glad we will be going public soon, cause that should take care of it."

Brooke sits on Lucas lap and puts her arms around his neck. "I can be a little jealous, if you want, and I will certainly go Brookezilla if some skank tries to put her moves on you in front of me. But right now, you're so mine it doesn't even register. I just feel sorry for girls wasting their time coming after you."

Lucas laughs. "I'll be looking forward to seeing Brookezilla sometime. She sounds sexy."

Brooke pretends to turn serious. "You should be afraid on Brookezilla. She might turn on you, someday."

Lucas laughs harder. "She will certainly turn me on. About turning on me, I hope I don't do anything to deserve it, but that is inevitable, I guess. All I can say is that I will try to keep my arousal to myself and take it like a man."

Brooke wiggles in his lap and says, in little girl voice. "Ahh, Lukie! Don't keep your arousal to yourself, bad boy." She holds his face on her hands and continues. "I want all your arousal..."

Lucas stands up, picking Brooke up bridal style like she weighted nothing. "If you keep this up, I'll either come in my pants, or I'll rip your nice executive ensemble and have my way with you on your desk."

Brooke smiles. "Is that a promise, fiancee?"

Lucas walks around Brooke's table and places her carefully on her chair, kissing her as he does it. "I will have my way with you on your desk some other time, pretty girl, I promise. Right now I have to go, take care of our godson. I'll see you tonight. By the way, there is only one brunette in my life that is allowed to call me "Lukie", and her name is not Brooke Davis."

Brooke smiles, straightens her clothes and her hair. She is looks a little flushed, but very happy. "Hm. You're mine, and I'll call you what I want. I'll negotiate this with Lily, after she learns how to talk." After a pause, "I am so looking forward to our date tonight, handsome. I'll enjoy watching all the pretty models drool over you. You know, I haven't really wrapped my head around it yet. I'm going to spend the rest of my life doing this. Going to fancy parties, and have all the girls dying inside because you are all mine. I am so going to enjoy this..."

Lucas picks up the package with his tux and as he turns around to leave, he looks back at Brooke.

"I don't think I'm going find such a joy in going out with you and having all the straight guys and gay girls around drooling over you. But I will enjoy having the hottest girl going home with me after the party. Every time."

ooooooooooooooooooo

When Lucas arrived back at the penthouse, Peyton was leaving, and Jamie was asleep. "How was your morning, Peyt?"

"It was great. We went to the park for a bit and we played ball. He ate around half past eleven, I read him a little and he fell asleep about forty minutes ago. I'm going now, I have to stop by Green Cow and SIA to sign contracts and check the facilities. I should be back around seven."

"That's perfect. I should have him fed and bathed by then. Good luck with the new jobs."

"Thanks Luke. Be seeing ya."

A few minutes later, Lucas heard noises from his room, and found Jamie lying down wide awake, quietly talking to himself. Lucas picked him up, checked his diaper and placed him in the floor with some blocks and figures to play. While Jamie plays, Lucas calls Haley on her cell.

"Hey Hales, just checking in. Jamie is right in front of me, playing with his blocks. Here, talk to him." Lucas puts his cell phone in speaker mode and sets it in the ground near Jamie.

"Hi baby boy, mamma misses you sooo much... "

Jamie perks up when he hears Haley's voice and looks at the phone. He says "Ma-ma, ma-ma"

Lucas and Haley start yelling. "I can't believe it!" "Oh, my god, he is talking" Haley starts bawling in the phone. "I can't believe he says his first word and I can't even be there to hug him."

Lucas picks him up and twirls him around. "Well done, well done Jluke, good job. Jamie appears confused with the fuss, but he is still in a good mood. "ma-ma?" Finally Lucas says "I believe he misses his ma-ma, Hales. Hey, congratulations. Let me hang up and try to capture some of this moment on a video. Lucas sets Jamie in the floor and takes a short video, still managing to immortalize a "ma-ma" for his parents to watch. Lucas then calls Brooke, and Miranda answers the phone. "Brooke Davis office, Miranda speaking. How can I help you?"

"Hi Miranda, it's Lucas. Can I have a quick word with Brooke?"

"She is in a meeting."

"I think you can interrupt it. It's fast, and she will want to hear this."

Miranda transfers the call. Brooke answers. "Hi Luke, make it fast, I'm in the middle of something here."

"He spoke, pretty girl! He said mama!"

"Wow! This is really great. How did it happen?"

"I was talking to Hales on the phone, and I put her on speaker and when she talked to him, he looked at the phone and said "ma-ma". He recognized her voice! That boy is a genius, he is brilliant! I have some of it on video, too."

Brooke is just laughing, both at the news and at Lucas' reaction. "Wow, that was exciting. Thanks for calling, sweety, but I need to get back to work. See ya later, bye."

"Bye, Aunt Brooke."

Lucas fires up his computer, downloads the little video and sends it by e-mail to Nathan, Haley, Brooke, Peyton, Deb, Karen, Skills and Mouth. He then picks up Jamie and tells him. "This deserves a celebration, little man. How about some ice cream?" The rest of the afternoon is a bit of a daze, Jamie and Lucas share some ice cream, everybody calls, including Nathan who spends fifteen minutes on speaker trying to get Jamie to say da-da, without success. Lucas is still up in the clouds when Brooke get home around six. When she walks in Lucas grabs her in a bear hug, lifts her up and twirls her around. Then he sets her down and plants a big sloppy kiss in her lips.

"Hi Pretty girl. Big, exciting afternoon here in your penthouse."

Brooke drops her purse, a shopping bag and her coat on a chair and picks up Jamie. "Congratulations, tutorbaby! Well done." and she gives him a big kiss in the cheek. "Did you celebrate?"

"We had some ice cream. Do you want some?"

"Sure, chunky monkey, please. It's the only ice cream for first words,"

Lucas serves her a bowl of ice cream, with two spoons. "You might want to share with the first word boy over yonder. He seems to like it. Did you see the video?"

"Yup. It's good that you documented it."

A few minutes later, Peyton comes in. "Hey Peyt, did you see the video?"

"What video? I was out of touch most of the afternoon. Everything went great, though. I signed both contracts and I begin in ten days." She realizes at the silly faces Lucas and Brooke are making. What? What happened?

"Jamie said "ma-ma". Several times."

"Wow! That's huge! When? What happened?"

Lucas shows the video in his computer, and tells Peyton the story.

"I'm sorry, with all the excitement, I haven't given him dinner or bathed him yet. Well, he had a bunch of ice cream, so dinner might actually wait a bit."

"Never mind, Luke. I'll take care of him. What time are you guys leaving?"

Brooke replies, "Around eight. I have to put myself together, but Lucas still has some time."

Brooke touches Lucas' arm and says softly. "You should eat something before we leave. Food at these things is hit-or-miss, but there is always too much booze."

"What about you, do you want something? Scrambled egg on toast? Glass of milk? I'll take it to your room in a few minutes, to square you up before you start your make up."

"Sure. Thanks Luke."

Peyton is a little bewildered by the vibe between Lucas and Brooke. It's not that they are into each other. Even when they were broken up and not talking they had at least a bit of that. It's the old married couple thing. It is actually very sweet, but really confusing.

An hour later, Lucas comes to the living room already in his tux, but with the bow tie undone.

"Sorry, Peyt. Do you know how to do this?"

"Yup." She takes a good look at him and smiles. It's a black three piece, cut to acccentuate Lucas' fine figure, a white shirt and a deep purple bow tie, in, what is probably the precise tone of Brooke's dress. "Very nice." With her tongue between her lips, she arranges Lucas' tie. Lucas looks at her, this beautiful, fragile looking girl, standing too close to him and looking a little unconfortable. He feels a wave of tenderness that reminds him how much she has meant to him. He knows this will confuse her, but he can't help himself. He holds her face between his hands and gives her a slow, sweet kiss in her forehead.

"Thank you Peyt. For everything."

She takes a step back and looks at him skeptically.

"You are welcome, Luke." and with a thin smile. "Brooke sure knows how to dress a man. She should consider adding a bro's line."

Finally the diva makes her entrance. Brooke's dress is a strapless purple thing, edged in silver, that hugs every curve in her body and has a long slit on the left. She is using long platinum earrings and a platinum choker with a huge cabochon garnet in her throat. Her hair is piled up, with two loose strands framing her face. The ensemble is completed with a tiny silver purse, a cream colored silk wrap and silver stilettos.

Lucas stares at her. "Stunning..."

Brooke turns around for a full view and gives him a soft smile. She checks him out. "Thanks, Luke. You don't look bad yourself. Good job with the tie, goldilocks."

Peyton takes an appraising look at the two of them. "You guys look incredible. Have fun." She knows these two are going to be the big new item in the tabloids tomorrow, and she feels her tears coming. "All right, guys, get out of here. Don't do anything I wouldn't."