Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill
Title: Too Bad
Author: ReadingRed
Chapter Five: Let's Walk
Brooke had found her way to Haley's classroom easily. Her feet had taken her there seemingly of their own accord. She reached the classroom before Haley had released her students so she waited outside the door, making sure to stay out of view. She had butterflies in her stomach and she wasn't sure why. Life had changed her, and she was sure it had done the same to Haley. What if Haley didn't understand? What if she didn't want to be around Brooke and her problems? Brooke's mind was going a mile a minute with thoughts of abandonment. She was so far into her own world she didn't see the rush of students piling out of Haley's classroom until one of them plowed into her.
"Oh, sorry ma'am" the teenage boy said with a shy grin.
"It's fine, I was in the way." Brooke managed. 'It was now or never' she thought to herself. Brooke took a deep breath and entered Haley's classroom.
The other woman looked up from her desk and Brooke watched the emotions cross her face. First calm, then surprise as Haley recognized her, and then replacing the surprise, happiness. Haley jumped up from her chair and let the papers she had been reading fall to the desk.
"Tigger!"
"Hey Tutor wife." Brooke greeted her old friend.
"You're back! You're home!" Haley said as she came out from behind the desk and gathered Brooke into a hug. Brooke had to force herself to loosen up and not recoil from the friendly hug. It wasn't that she didn't want to hug Haley, she just wasn't used to being touched, unless it was a fist.
"It's been way too long, where have you been? No one's heard anything from you in so long." Haley questioned with a smile.
"I've been in Charlotte." Brooke answered. Haley's smile lost a little bit of its shine. Brooke knew her friend was hurt that she had been so close and hadn't bothered to visit.
"Oh, well how'd you like it there?" Haley asked, her smile widening again. She never was one to hold a grudge; still Brooke knew that she was a little bothered.
"Not as much as you'd think. I'm back now aren't I?" Brooke thought about telling Haley what all she'd been through since she'd left. She decided not to, there wasn't any reason to ruin this reunion.
"So how's my godson?" Brooke asked.
Haley's face changed in a way that it only did when Jamie was on her mind. He smile widen even further and her eyes shined. The laugh lines, as faint as they were, stood out in a happy way that Brooke found beautiful.
"He's great. He'll be turning six soon. Brooke you have to see him. He's amazing. He'll love to meet you. Luke talks about you to him all the time, I mean, we all do, but Jamie really loves hearing Luke's stories about you." Haley covered, unsure of where Luke and Brooke stood.
"I'd love too. I think about him all the time. I wish I would've been here for him. I should've been a better godmother to him."
"Brooke, you're here now, that's what's important. I'm sure you had a good reason for staying away."
"I did. Well I wish I would've left Charlotte a long time ago I just couldn't." Brooke knew it must sound cryptic to Haley and she hoped Haley wouldn't ask too many questions.
"Haley?"
"Yeah Brooke"
"Do you want to meet my kids?" Brooke asked quietly. So quietly Haley wasn't sure she had heard right.
"You're a mother? Brooke congratulations! I'm so happy for you. How many kids? Where are they?" Haley asked in a rush.
"I have four kids, three boys and one girl, and they're here. Luke's watching them in the gym."
"Well, what're we waiting for then? Let's walk. I've got a niece and a few nephews to meet." Brooke grinned when Haley called Logan and the boys her niece and nephews.
Haley linked her arm with Brooke's and for a little while, as they walked to the gym, Brooke let herself forget all that she had gone though and pretend that she was still in high school.
All too soon they arrived at the gym. Brooke took a deep breath and pulled open the door to the gym. As soon as she did, the sound of her crying children reached her ears. Brooke's heart stopped in her chest. Forgetting about Haley, she raced into the gym.
"Luke?" her voice wobbled out, as she made her way to him. He was struggling to hold both Brennan and Liam who both were crying.
"Ugh oh, mama bears home." One of the basketball players yelled from under the basketball hoop. Brooke shot him a glare and he lost some of his bravado.
"Luke, what happened?" She asked as she reached them. She looked around for her two unaccounted for children. She found Bryce in the arms of a teenage boy, one of Luke's basketball players she guessed. Logan was standing stock still next to the mini basketball hoop Luke had found for her to play with.
"I'm not sure yet" Luke answered. "Liam just started crying, and Logan said Brennan got hit with one of the toy basketballs." He continued.
Brooke reached out and took Brennan into her arms. It was her guess that he wasn't really hurt at all. It was more likely that he was surprised at what happened and had just wanted someone to hold him and give him a little attention. Sure enough after a few moments in her arms, and a kiss to the forehead, Brennan quieted and laid his head on her shoulder.
Luke let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding when he saw that Brennan was unharmed. He readjusted Liam in his arms and he too soon calmed down. When both children were quiet Luke noticed Haley standing behind Brooke.
"I see you found Hales." He said to Brooke.
"What? Oh, yeah." Brooke turned around and looked at Haley.
"Well, I guess if nothing else my kids sure do make a first impression." Brooke said with a smile.
"They're beautiful, Brooke." Haley gushed coming closer.
"This is Brennan Perry. Luke's got Liam Elliot and I'm sorry, what's your name?" Brooke asked the boy holding her son.
"Tommy ma'am. Tommy Reilly." The teenager answered.
"Well then, Tommy Reilly's got Liam's twin Bryce Parker, and my oldest and my only girl is Logan Elizabeth."
"You guys should come over tonight, Nathan will be home and I'm sure he'd love to see you, and Jamie will have a blast playing with your kids." Haley offered.