Woo. 200! Wow, we are impressed with you guys. Thanks so much for reviewing and such. It makes us feel better when we write our chapters. Ashleigh is sorry that she couldn't be here; she was off at a family thing.

Anyways, I know that Peyton is kind of having a big part in the last few chapters but she has to work out her feelings too. Brooke is in the next one the most. Enjoy!

Help Comes Along With a Visit

Peyton smiled into the kiss but after a second of remembering her fiance, she pulled back which surprised Jake. She felt awful when she saw the look on his face; confusion, hurt.

"I.."

Jake sighed heavily. "Just don't say it because I'm not. Just go if you're gonna go." Her face held hurt and she didn't know what to do.

"Jake. I didn't mean for that to happen. You know about-"

"Yes, Peyton, I know all about Lucas."

She glared at him for his angry tone. "Why are you mad? You left me all those years ago and I never got a call, an email, nothing!"

"I had to leave. I came back didn't I?"

She stepped back. "I'm sorry Jake but things are different."

"How? Do you really love him Peyton?"

"Of course I love him. If I didn't, I wouldn't be marrying him!" Jake laughed to himself before looking up.

"Are you sure?" She was confused about where he was going with this. "Are you really sure that you love him or do you love the idea of being with him?" The same thing Haley had asked her only a few months ago.

"I- Jake that's not fair and you know it."

He threw his hands up in the air. "What's not fair to you Peyton? I left and that wasn't something that I could control. I had to get Jenny and..."

She could feel the tears coming. "But no phone call, no email? Why didn't you ever write or call or anything?! I was so worried about you."

He got closer and placed his hand on her cheek comfortingly. "I was fine and I didn't want you to get into any trouble with the law. I promised you that I would come back and here I am."

She took his hand off of her cheek and stepped back an inch. "It's too late Jake."

Brooke opened her eyes when she felt the sun seep through her blinds. She stretched her leg lazily and shifted in the warm bed. She looked over and noticed that the window was open; she would have to remember to close it next time.

She turned her entire body around and hit something hard. She smiled when she saw a little bit of blond hair poking out from under the covers. She pulled the sheet down and her smiled stretched even more at the sight of her husband's face. She quickly placed a chaste kiss on his lips before he pulled her closer.

"Brooke?" She smiled when he muttered her name.

"Brooke?" This time it seemed louder and closer. She pulled back and looked at her husband quizzically. He just shrugged and then his body slowly began to disappear. What the hell? She looked around and noticed that there was a light coming closer until-

"Brooke?" Her eyes snapped open abruptly and she looked confused before she glared at her intruder. But her eyes widened once they landed on the person.

"Rachel?" The red-head nodded and took a seat before placing her purse down on the spot next to her. Brooke was still so surprised at her unexpected visit.

"What are you doing here? I mean...not in a bad way but..."

Rachel rolled her eyes before cutting her off. "I finished with rehab so I decided to come and thank you."

"You finished? That's great Rachel. How did you find me?"

"Were you hiding?" She said in a teasing tone but when Brooke didn't laugh, she got serious. "You were hiding weren't you?"

"Not necessarily." Rachel nodded, not believing her but she let it go for now. She wanted to try to catch up on all the Tree Hill gossip.

"So, anything new?"

Brooke laughed. If you only knew. "Lucas and Peyton are getting married." Rachel's mouth dropped open for a second before she collected herself.

"Really? I always thought that it would be you and Lucas who would get married and have tons of kids."

"Why tons?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I guess since you two couldn't seem to keep your hands off each other in high school..."

Brooke opened her mouth to complain but she didn't have a reason. Rachel was completely right. Rachel laughed a little before she looked straight at Brooke and noticed the dark bruise under her eye.

"Brooke, what happened?" Brooke coughed, forgetting about her bruise. She had put powder on it, so it shouldn't be showing. She grabbed a compact mirror and opened it before she inspected her bruise; it had gotten dark from her leaning on it.

"I fell." Rachel had never been stupid and she didn't believe a word that came out of Brooke's mouth as she explained her "accident".

"Cut the shit Brooke. I know you didn't fall down the stairs."

Brooke's eyebrows scrunched together. "How would you know?"

"Well," she started. "I don't think that you can get an arm print from the stairs." She pointed to Brooke's arm and Brooke pulled her jacket over herself. "Did someone hurt you?"

She knew that Rachel wouldn't judge her but she was afraid to tell anyone. Hell, she couldn't even tell her best friend but she needed someone and Rachel was probably one of the few who understood. Besides, she was caught.

"My store got robbed and the guy..." Rachel quickly went to the other side of the booth and gave her friend a tight hug. "It's hard to talk about."

"I'm sure." Brooke hugged her back and then pulled back. "Have you told anyone else?"

"Only you and Haley know."

"What about Lucas?"

"I think he knows but he won't force it from me," she lied. In truth, Lucas had, on many occasions, tried to force the truth from her.

"Huh, these people are stupid as hell if they believe your bullshit lie," she said.

Brooke rolled her eyes. "Thanks Rachel." Rachel smiled sweetly. "How long are you staying?"

"I can only stay for the rest of the night. I have to leave around midnight."

"Why so late or soon?" She didn't want Rachel leaving again. She missed the fun times that seemed to follow her.

"I have a job interview tomorrow in New York."

Brooke smiled. "That's good." She decided against telling Rachel about Victoria or her store. It would just be her secret for now; she had a long list of them.

"Well, I have to go do a few things but do you want me to meet you at your house later?"

Brooke nodded. "That's fine. I should be heading home anyway." Rachel smiled and stood up as Brooke did before they hugged. Rachel left not a second later and Brooke grabbed her purse before she tightened her jacket and left.

Peyton slowly drove home. She was nervous and guilty and a boat-load of emotions that she couldn't even begin to name off. Once she pulled into her driveway, well Lucas', she turned off the car and took a deep breath.

"It will be fine." She stepped out and walked to her house before she entered it. All the lights were off, which meant that he was either sleeping or out. When she got to his bedroom, she saw that it was empty and part of her was relieved; she could bask in her own thoughts.

She felt terrible for leaving Jake like that but she had no other choice. She had cheated on Lucas and he didn't deserve that. Well, not really cheating on him but she kissed another man and that counted to her.

She sighed and took a seat on the bed. She didn't even know what she wanted anymore and that scared her; she couldn't bare to break either of their hearts but she had to choose one.

She fell back and stared at the ceiling, confused and angry.

Brooke smiled when she heard the doorbell go off after about an hour of being home. She was excited to have Rachel come over and talk; she really had missed her friend.

She headed towards the door but stopped to check herself in the mirror. She had covered up the bruise but the hand-print was useless. It shone bright-red and was probably noticeable from a mile away.

She groaned but figured that it wasn't that bad since Rachel already knew about it. When she heard the doorbell again she closed off her thoughts and went to open it.

The door opened and she suddenly became self-conscience. The person stared at her angrily and she took a step back. But what was more confusing was the fact that they were here this late.

They just stared at each other, both of them not saying a word. Brooke sighed and decided that she would break the ice.

"Lucas, what are you doing here?"

Button? Clicky? Yes? Ha.

Oh, so Peyton is confused, Rachel is back, and Lucas showed up at her house. Big confrontation next chapter? Maybe. This story was only intended to have fifteen chapters, but we don't know yet.

Note: After talking it over with Ashleigh, we decided to have Rachel in two of the chapters. It just fit and we didn't realize it until we wrote this chapter. Her part is small in the next chapter though. Also, there will be more Naley in the next one and Baley; I know we've been leaving that friendship out for a while.