As promised, much longer. This is an introduction to the life that was continuing while Brooke was away. Peace.

Since everyone went their separate ways, Brooke assumed all of their dreams had come true. There had to be a reason why they never kept in contact with her. Unfortunately, the dreams faded and reality hit them hard, and reality hurt.

Five hours later Brooke stepped foot in the airport in Tree Hill, North Carolina. She never knew she was going to be gone for that long, but it felt good to be stepping on some solid ground. At the moment she didn't know what the future held for her, but she was looking for some stability, that is all she ever wanted. She was pleased that Millicent had gotten her a decent rental car and everything was set up for her already. Of all the things that her mother had told her to do, she was sure glad that she hadn't listened when Victoria wanted her to fire Millie.

Just to be on the same streets again, Brooke felt at home. She passed her old high school and Karen's café, which had been closed to her dismay. As she kept riding through town she wasn't sure where she was actually going. Since she hadn't spoken with anyone in over four years she didn't even know who was in Tree Hill. Out of her own control she was led to the place that held her heart for a long time, a place where the door was once painted red, a place that was a home for more then simply her heart. When high school ended Lucas was with Peyton, and Brooke had come to a point where she had given up on her true first love. At the moment her heart wasn't pulling her to Lucas' for a chance at renewing an old flame. Her heart just wanted to be home again.

She parked her car on the street, and began the familiar trek. So often in the past she just walked in the door, but there was this unfortunate sense that maybe she didn't belong anymore. So as a stranger would do, she knocked on the door.

No one was coming she decided, so she turned away. She wasn't sure where she was going to go now, but a force turned her back around. The door opened, and she was shocked. It wasn't Lucas. "Can I help you?"

"I'm sorry, I have been gone for awhile, he must have moved," Brooke almost stuttered out, because she was dazed.

"Who were you looking for?" the girl asked.

"Lucas Scott, I am really sorry to have bothered you," she turned to leave.

"Luke still lives here. Hi, I'm Lindsey, Lucas' fiancé," so many thoughts ran through Brooke's head, like what had happened to Peyton, and what else had she missed?

Brooke extended her own hand to Lindsey's, "Brooke Davis."

"Clothes over Bro's Brooke Davis," Lindsey was obvious awestruck.

"Or Tree Hill's former."

"Do you want to come in? Luke should be home soon."

Brooke didn't know what to do, she didn't want to be rude, but she was still taken aback with the new information. A friendship that was as epic as Peyton's and hers should not have dissolved after high school. All she wanted to do was to call her, to hug her, to hold on and never let go. She wanted her childhood back.

"Sure, thank you," Brooke said following Lindsey into Luke's bedroom.

"Not many people come in this entrance, which is why I didn't answer right away."

"Oh, I am sorry, this is the only way I ever came in," she said looking around, seeing all of the changes made since she had been in there last. It was true though, he was no longer a teenager, his room must fit the person he was now. And who was he now?

"You must have gone to high school with Luke," Brooke almost chocked in shock, their relationship was more then simply classmates. Or that is what she thought. "That is the way Haley comes in too."

"Haley," Brooke let out without even realizing it.

"Yes, Haley, you know her too?"

"Yup, I am actually Jamie's godmother."

"Oh, oh, I am so sorry, you are Brooke, the Brooke, the Brooke Davis," a little color returned to Brooke, she was not as forgotten as she had thought.

"Am I infamous around here? Tell me all you know," Brooke tried to joke; it was her only attempt left.

"I want to apologize, I was stunned when I realized who you were, please don't think you have a bad rap around here. You haven't been around since I have come to Tree Hill, so I don't know that much about you. Lucas and Haley have both shared numerous memories – all good, I promise," Lindsey tried to reassure her, but it was evident that Brooke felt neglected.

"It has been a while since I have been home, I know I should have come back sooner, but my life just kind of took off, and I forgot to come down."

"I completely understand," she was going to continue when they both heard the door open, "Lucas, we are in here."

"We?" Lucas said walking into the room where the girls were. He would have never have guessed who was sitting with his fiancé if he had a million chances. Lucas wouldn't completely fault Brooke with losing touch, he didn't reach out either. But it has been four years without a word, Brooke could have died and Lucas wouldn't have known. "Brooke," he said. Though they hadn't seen each other in such a long time, she always would hold a place in his heart, he was his first love, and you never forget that one. He stared at her a little, she was beautiful as always, but he could see past her makeup, apparently happiness did not come with fame. Those eyes failed the pretty girl.

Brooke stood up, unsure of what to do. She knew why she came here, but at the moment she was hesitant if it was the right choice. Lucas looked good, not in an 'I want to make out with you' way, but he aged well. "Lucas," was all she could get out, all of her emotions would fail her if she tried to say more.

Lucas was the one to make the first move, and embraced his former love. To Brooke he felt safe, and the scary world she was living in never gave her this reassurance. He noticed that she was more slender than normal; maybe the fame also took a toll on her health. They let go of their embrace, "Lindsey, this is Brooke, we dated in high school."

That introduction was not one that she thought would fare well with the fiancé, but she was wrong. Lindsey didn't seem to flinch or feel threatened; the love of the two must be secure. The reappearance of an ex-girlfriend never seemed to work out before. But Lucas looked happy, and that is all that Brooke ever wanted for her friends. They were the only family she ever knew, even though she seemed to have lost them along the way.

"Brooke, you never told me what you were doing here," Lindsey spoke up.

Brooke brought herself back to reality; she was caught up in Lucas' presence. She was also startled with the question being presented to her, because in all honesty she didn't know the right answer. "I just needed to come back home, I guess," it was the only answer she could conger up. And it seemed to do the job.

"Well, Brooke, I certainly want to catch up, but tonight happens to be my night with Jamie," with the sound of the little boy's name, she felt sorrow, she was his godmother, and she had yet to spend significant time with him. Haley and Nathan made a bad decision electing her.

"How is he?" Brooke genuinely wanted to know everything.

Lucas face changed slightly, and Brooke picked up on it. Jamie's background story was more in depth than a couple of words. "He's five years old; he loves basketball, and the cutest kid you will ever see. Oh and he definitely gets his good looks from yours truly," Luke's smile was slightly feigned. Jamie's life hadn't been the brightest in the past year, so Lucas felt it was his obligation to lend a hand. "You know what though; he would probably like to meet his godmother."

"Oh, Luke, I couldn't intrude on your night," Brooke said hoping that her attempt at being nice would suffice.

"You must go, Brooke," Lindsey started, "that offer does not come around very often, it is a pretty exclusive club," she ended with a smile.

"I would really like to meet him," she responded with a sad smile. There were so many other things that she wished would happen. But this was the first one. And it was the first smile she experienced in months, no matter how sad it was.

"Well, then, Linds, I will see you later tonight," he gave her a kiss, and led Brooke out to his car. He opened the door for her, the gentleman he was. They drove in silence; neither was sure what to say to the other. Luckily for both of them the drive was short. Lucas ended up in front of an extremely nice house. Nathan must have made it big, Brooke thought to herself. She was glad that her friend had found success.

"Way to go, Nate," she said aloud, but when she looked at Lucas for the details, his face again sunk. "Lucas, I can read your face, is there something I should know?"

"Brooke, Nathan got his life back on track after high school, and his NBA dreams were becoming reality. But one night, changed everything for him."

"Is he okay, Lucas?"

"It depends who you ask. He is alive, and I think that is pretty damn important. He cannot play basketball anymore, and he thinks his life is over. One of the reasons I have this night, is to get Jamie away from it all. Nathan hasn't been a very good husband or father in a while."

Brooke felt guilty all over again, "I should have come home sooner, Luke," she looked into his eyes, and he did not return a look of guilt. They never called her, how was she to know.

"You are home now," he said as he led her towards the house.

They walked right in, something she wished she felt comfortable enough doing at Lucas'. She was all of sudden nervous again, she had no idea what to expect. "Where is my main man, J. Luke?" Lucas called out to his nephew.

"Right here, Uncle Lucas," Jamie said running towards his uncle's opening arms. When Lucas put him down, he looked over at Brooke. If he was a man in the club, Brooke might have slapped him, but he was a little curious boy. "Who is the pretty girl, Uncle Lucas," Jamie asked trying to whisper to Luke.

"Well, Jamie Scott, I want to introduce you to a very special person, this here," he said pointing up at Brooke, "is your godmother…"

Before Lucas could say her name, Haley walked over, "Brooke," she said looking Brooke over as well. "Brooke," she said again, and tried to compose herself, "Jamie, this is your godmother, Brooke, do you remember me telling you about her?"

"You make boy's clothing," Jamie told them, causing them all to laugh.

"Very close, I am a designer, and most importantly I am your godmother."

"Where have you been all my life?" The question caught everyone off guard, and it literally broke Brooke's heart.

"Some place I shouldn't have been. I hope that you let me make up for it."

"Will you buy me ice cream?" The little boy's face lit up, and Brooke felt better about being away.

"Brooke is buying me ice cream tonight too, she is coming with us, is that okay?"

"Can Momma come too?"

Everyone attention averted to Haley. Brooke hadn't noticed it until now, but Haley was timid, she almost appeared fearful. What had happened to cause her former jubilant friend to hold so much pain in her eyes? She almost felt she was looking into a mirror. "Oh, Honey, you know that this is your night with your Uncle Lucas."

"But Brooke is coming, Momma."

"C'mon, Haley, I am buying," Brooke tried.

"I really can't, you guys, I have to stay here…"

"To babysit me, no one wants me to escape or do any harm to myself," Nathan came in with a cane to help him walk. "Look who it is, the most famous person to ever emerge from Tree Hill."

The tension rose so high in the room, that Lucas butted in, before Jamie would be completely scared for life, "Hey, buddy, how about you go get your cape, and we will go get some ice cream."

Brooke looked over at Haley, and her demeanor sunk further, had Nathan damaged her friend. "Hi, Nate, how are you doing," she soon realized this was definitely the wrong question to ask him.

"Oh, just great, I mean I have an amazing career, my own shoe contract, a 2009 convertible, and wait, everything is gone," he had so much anger it scared Brooke, she backed up from his presence because it was overwhelming.

"Nathan, she didn't know," she put a hand on his chest because it was evident that Brooke was taken aback, "just go back and I will have dinner ready in a few minutes," Haley tried to take control of the situation, but Nathan's harshness won over.

He grabbed Haley's hand, and pushed it off of him, "I am not hungry. You go out and have some damn ice cream, I don't need you to babysit me," as he stormed off.

Haley tried to compose herself, this was a normal occurrence, but she didn't want to bring more attention to herself. She looked at Luke, and avoided Brooke's eye contact. Lucas was not surprised by Nathan's reaction, but this version of Nathan was brand new to Brooke. "Luke, do you think that Jamie can stay over tonight?"

"Hales, let me talk to him, I don't want to leave you when he is like this."

She put her hand on Lucas' chest as she did with Nathan, "Go take my son and get some ice cream," she tried to give him a little shove.

"Okay, Hales," he embraced her, "I will bring him to school tomorrow," he kissed her on the forehead, "I love you."

As Haley tore away from Lucas, she turned to Brooke, she hadn't really said more then a word to her, and this was her first impression of her new life. Not really a good sign. "I'm really sorry about that, he has been drinking and he just…"

Brooke put a hand up to stop her, "I am sorry I haven't been here," she took a hold of her old friend. Haley was trembling, Brooke noticed, but she didn't know what to say. There was nothing she could say.

Haley wanted to hold on to Brooke, she wanted to hold onto something. She knew that it was best that everyone else left the house, but she was afraid to be left alone. Though she knew what to expect, the fear never went away. "No more than two scoops," Haley indicated with two fingers, "wait, a second, he is yours tonight, Luke, as many as he wants," she tried a smile.

Jamie came running down in his adorable cape, "Bye, Momma," he said jumping into her arms, "I love you."

"I love you too, baby boy, I love you so much," he let go, and Haley saw them out.

"Shouldn't Jamie grab some pajamas," Brooke pondered.

"I'm staying with you tonight, Uncle Lucas," a new smile emerged on the boy's face.

Lucas looked at Brooke to answer her question, "He has a plenty at my house, don't worry." This means that this happens a lot. Why hadn't she been around to watch this little boy grow up, and been there when her friends needed her the most? It all seemed normal to them too, how could any of this be normal? Haley was scared. Nathan was changed. And a little boy stuck in the middle of it all.