Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill

Title: Too Bad

Author: ReadingRed

Chapter Eight: Time to Rewind

"Woah" Brooke said as they pulling into the driveway of Nathan and Haley's house.

It wasn't a mansion, but it was pretty close.

"It's nice isn't it? I guess four seasons with the NBA can go this for a guy." Luke said putting the car into park.

They got out of the car and each took one of the twins and one of the older children. Brooke had Bryce in the crook of her arm and was holding Logan's hand with her free hand. Luke was mirroring her with Liam and Brennan.

"You ready for this Brooke?" Luke asked.

"Let's do it, better late than never right?"

"That is what they say" Luke answered.

They walked up the pathway to the door and went right in. Brooke loved that Lucas was close enough with his brother that they were able to do stuff like that. There was a time in high school when Brooke didn't like Lucas and Nathan Scott would ever be friends.

"Haley! Nathan! Jamie, we're here!" Luke yelled as they entered the foyer.

"Uncle Lucas!" called a voice from upstairs. It was followed closely by the pounding footsteps of a little boy running down a hallway. Soon enough a little blonde boy appeared at the top of the stairwell. Brooke's breath caught in her chest as she saw her godson for the first time since he was an infant.

He was beautiful. At first Brooke didn't think little Jamie shared any similarities with his parents. Then she saw his eye. They were the same intense, bright blue as his fathers.

Jamie reached the end of the stairs and jumped off onto the marble floors. He raced to Luke and skid to a stop right before him.

"Uncle Lucas?" He questioned. "Who are dey?" He said pointing to Brooke's children.

Brooke and Luke had talked about it on their way over to Nathan and Haley's house and they had both agreed on what they would say.

"These are your cousins. This is Brennan, and Liam, and your Aunt Brooke has Logan and Bryce." Luke introduced his family.

"Oh! You're Uncle Luke's friend Brooke?" Jamie said connecting the dots. "Uncle Luke, you didn't say she was your wife." Jamie said accusingly.

"Well, she isn't my wife yet. We're engaged" Luke explained.

"What?" Nathan asked as he entered the room.

"Hey Nate" Luke greeted.

Nathan nodded a hello to his brother. He was too busy taking in the sight of Luke, Brooke, and the children standing there looking just like a family to say a real greeting. He was wary of this new Brooke. She seemed so different from high school and he wasn't sure why. Nathan worried that Brooke was taking advantage of his brother.

"What, what?" Haley asked as she came into the foyer.

"Uncle Lucas and Aunt Brooke are getting married!" Jamie told his parents.

"You're getting married?" Haley asked smiling.

"Yeah, we are" Brooke and Lucas answered together.

With all the excitement and the new people, Logan was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. She inched closer and closer to her mother until she was pressed up against Brooke's thigh.

She had been fine when Jamie had come over and started talking to Luke; it wasn't until Nathan entered that she started to get scared.

Nathan reminded her of her father.

"You can't be serious Luke!" Nathan yelled. "She's only been back for a month! You can't make a decision like this in a month."

"Nathan!" Haley reprimanded her husband. At least Nathan had the decency to look ashamed.

All the yelling set Logan off. She began to cry and pull on Brooke's arm.

"Mama" Logan wailed.

"Brooke, it's not you, it has nothing to do with you. I just don't want Luke rushing into something." Nathan explained. Brooke and Luke sent him identical looks bordering on contempt.

Brooke pulled Logan up into her arms, struggling to balance both Logan and Bryce. Haley rushed over to help before Luke could even offer to take the infant.

"Here, let me take him" Haley said, reaching for the boy. Brooke gratefully handed Bryce to her.

"Shh, Logan. You're okay. Uncle Nathan isn't going to hurt you. He's sorry for yelling, baby." Brooke hated that she had to say those words again. It was the same thing she'd tell Logan after Julian went on a rampage. She hated that Nathan had put her into this position.

Lucas was quietly fuming. How dare his brother pull a stunt like this?

"Brennan, stay with Mama okay?" Luke said ask he pulled his hand free from Brennan's.

"Nathan, you're coming with me" Lucas order as he walked past his brother. Nathan followed him a few steps behind. When they reached Nathan's office turned and shut the door the moment after Nathan entered.

"Why would you do that Nathan? Brooke has been through hell and she's finally starting to move on, and you go and yell at her in front of her traumatized children? You scared the hell out of Logan. What the fuck man? Do you not understand the environment I found her in? She'd been bruised and beaten. He boyfriend did terrible things to her, and when she finally comes home you tell her she's not good not good enough to have a happy ending to her story?" Luke ranted at his brother, keeping his voice calm, thinking of the baby in his arms.

"I never said she wasn't good enough Luke, I'm just worried that she's trying to take advantage of you. And what do you mean she's been through hell? She looks fine to me." Nathan said, avoiding eye contact with Lucas.

"The only reason she looks fine is because she's had a month to heal and recuperate. I understand that you're wary of her, I get that you're trying to look out for me, but honestly Nathan, you have no idea what you're talking about." Luke paused and looked down at the little boy in his arms. Liam was perfection, and if Luke had anything to do about it, Luke would be there for the rest of his life.

"Brooke Davis has changed the world. She's brought four new lives into it. She kept them safe when they were in a dangerous environment. She put herself in harm's way, to make sure they wouldn't be hurt. Brooke's been protecting her children since they were born, all by herself. She shouldn't have to do it anymore. I've loved her since high school Nathan, and I want to be there for her and for her children."

Now Nathan looked really ashamed, his head was lowered and he was staring at his feet.

"Nate, you're my brother and I love you. I want your support but I don't need it, so decide now. Are you going to be a part of my life, and my family's or not?"

"I'm sorry Luke. I'll apologize to Brooke. I grew up without you as a brother; I don't want to go back to that. I support you."

They left Nate's office and found everyone not in the foyer, but in the kitchen. Brooke had managed to calm Logan down a bit. The nearly three year old girl was clinging to her mother, but wasn't crying any longer. Luke saw her hands clinch tighter when Logan caught sight of Nathan.

"Brooke, I'm sorry. I was a jerk." Brooke nodded her acceptance. She hadn't forgiven him completely though, his actions had scared her child and that wasn't something that was easy to forgive.

"Logan?" Nathan addressed the little girl. Logan turned her head away from the man.

"Logan, I'm very sorry I yelled. I didn't mean to scare you. I promise. Will you forgive me?" Nathan asked, knelling before the little girl so he was down on her level. Logan nodded her head but still didn't turn and look at Nathan. His apology to Logan did much more for Brooke than his apology to her. That was one thing Julian had never done. He had never realized that his actions had an effect on the children, as well as Brooke.

The rest of the dinner went smoothly after that. Jamie who was four and Logan who was two almost three were close enough in age to play nicely together, Brennan doing his best to keep up. Liam and Bryce were passed from adult to adult, spending most of their time in the arms of either Brooke or Luke but also being held by Nathan and Haley.

The night had started off rocky, given Nathan's outburst but by the end of the night all four adults had found their old rhythm and had settled into the friendship they had once all shared.

It was as if they were back in school together, just missing a few friends, and a few extra children running around. Brooke looked around the table, seeing the smiling faces of her friends, her fiancée, her children, and her godson. It was almost too perfect. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was going to ruin all it all.