1Hey guys! Here's the next chapter written by Michelle (brucas188) as Cristy was unable to do the chapter with a little help from me and Mags as beta. Hope that you enjoy! Please remember to read and review!
Chapter 6
Brooke opened the door to her three-bedroom apartment in Chicago, which was no easy task considering she had a sleeping twin in each arm. The day had been a long one, she had work, then she took the twins out for dinner, feeling like she didn't get to spend enough time with them lately. She put them each in their beds, and made her way into the living room to check her messages.
"Miss. Davis this is Miles Freeman, I'm just calling to let you know the court hearing for the custody of your children has been set for Tuesday. Call me if you have any questions." Brooke sighed and sat down on the couch.
Flashback
"Jake!" Brooke cried following him outside from the reception.
"What?" He yelled.
"I'm sorry." She sobbed. He laughed.
"That's great Brooke! You're sorry! Sorry isn't going to change the fact that you slept with my best friend the night before our wedding! The night before Brooke! What the hell? What did I ever do to you to make you go and do this? I tried to do everything right for you Brooke. God just everything!"
"I know Jake. I know and I'm sorry. Just God I'm so so sorry, I didn't mean for it to happen it just did."
"It just did? How does you having sex with my best friend just happen Brooke? What did your clothes magically fall off and you two tripped and he landed inside of you?"
"That is not fair!"
"What's not fair is that you've lead me on for almost two years! That's what not fair!"
"So what are we going to do?"
"I don't know, and I honestly don't care."
"Fine."
The phone rang snapping Brooke out of her memories and she reached over to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hey." The person sobbed.
"Lucas? Are you okay? What happened?" Brooke asked.
"Its my mom, she…she died Brooke." He said sobbing harder.
"Oh Lucas I'm so sorry, I'll get the first flight out, I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Thank you." He said hanging up the phone. She sank her head into her hands and started to cry, Karen was the closet thing she had ever had to a mother and now she was dead. She didn't know how long she had been sitting there crying when she heard a voice.
"Mommy is you o-tays?" Emma asked sleepily.
"Yeah I'll be fine princess what's the matter?" she asked wiping away her tears and pulling Emma onto her lap.
"Nofings I's firsties." Emma stated yawning.
"Well come on let's go get a drink, then back to bed we have a long couple of days coming up princess."
"Why?" Emma asked cocking her head to the side.
"Because we have to fly out to Tree Hill tomorrow."
"Oh."
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Nathan walked around his apartment, putting away the things that Lynn had forgotten to put away before bed. He came across an old picture of him and Haley from when they were still happy and in high school. He sighed and placed it into a drawer wondering how things got so screwed up between them.
Flashback
"Well that was one hell of a wedding reception." Haley stated walking into the house after the wedding.
"That's an understatement Haley." Nathan spat giving her an evil look.
"Nathan what happened?" Haley asked looking at him like he was crazy.
"So tell me why Joey. D was calling to confirm your tour dates with Christ Keller Haley.'
"Nathan—"
"No I don't want excuses I want the truth Hales."
"I had arranged that before we got back together. I was going to tell you I was but everything was so good between us finally, and I didn't want to ruin it, it had been too long since we had been us again. I didn't want to ruin it Nathan honest." Haley said her eyes filling with tears.
"You know what Haley, this is like high school all over again. You want to go on your tour fine, then go, but know this, I will not take you back this time, you and me, we're finished as far as I'm concerned." Nathan said picking up a sleeping Lynn and storming out of the house while Haley crumbled to the floor sobbing.
Lynn tugged on Nathan's pants pulling him out of his thoughts.
"Dad I thought you were going to read me a story before bed."
"Lynn you are too impatient. I swear you talk to your aunt Brooke too much sometimes. Come on lets go." Nathan sighed. Lynn went running off ahead of him to pick out a book. The phone rang. Lynn groaned.
"Lynn I'll be two minutes, go pick you book. Hello?" he said picking up the phone.
"Hey Nate, I don't know if Luke called you yet but Karen died." Brooke sniffled. Nathan collapsed onto the couch in shock. He sat there in shock until Brooke spoke again. "Nate you okay?"
"Yeah…umm when did it happen."
"I don't know, he just called me and told me. The twins and I are flying out tomorrow. Can you call everyone else? Seeing as Jake and I are not on speaking terms since the custody battle from hell and well Its still weird between Peyton and I."
"Yeah sure, I'll see you there." He mumbled hanging up the phone. He sat there for a few minutes in shock before reaching for the phone again to call Peyton.
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Peyton walked into her house in Tree Hill and threw her keys onto the table. It had been a long day. She had found a small gallery to work at and today had been a busy one. She came home and picked up her phone checking her voice mail.
"Hey Peyton it's me Hales. I know you haven't talked to Luke since well the wedding incident but I thought you should know that Karen died. I'm catching the first flight in and I'll be there in the morning. I'll see you then." Haley's voice said before hanging up. Peyton stood in shock. Sure she had stopped talking to Lucas after the wedding, but when she moved back to Tree Hill, her and Karen had picked up right where they left off. She did however; avoid the hospital or café when Lucas was around. She just simply did not agree with how things went down at the wedding, and she was angry with him for ruining that for Jake, hell even for Brooke. It just wasn't fair, so she avoided him like the plague. She jumped about a mile when she heard the phone ring.
"Hey Nate." She said softly,
"Hey, did you hear?" He asked.
"Yeah um…Haley called me." She almost whispered. She knew how much it hurt Nathan to even hear her name.
"Okay."
"When you getting here with Lynn Nate?"
"We're actually at the airport now, our flight should be in by two am." He explained.
"Okay I'll come pick you and Lynn up."
"Peyton no don't worry. We'll just get a cab and a hotel."
"Nathan no, I'll be up anyway, and it'll be nice to have people around the house again. " Nathan sighed.
"All right Pey, we'll see you then."
"Okay thanks Nate."
"No problem, I have to let you go we're getting close to security."
"Okay I'll see you later."
"Bye."
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The next day Brooke and the twins landed in Tree Hill. She had rented a car for them so she picked it up and drove over to Lucas's house. She got the sleeping twins out of the back of the door and found the spare key under the mat, letting herself in. She lay the twins down in the guest room bed and made her way to Lucas's room. She found him staring off into space. Just sitting there, void, almost lifeless, like a man who had lost everything in life. And in a way he had. She stood in the doorway watching him, debating on whether or not she should go to him. She was still mad at him for ruining her marriage—her babies' chances at a happy normal family. But then again, it was Lucas, her soul mate, and her probably got her out of the biggest mistake of her life pretty much scotch free. Well except for the war zone that was her custody battle. She stood there for a few more minutes, the internal battle waging war inside of her head when finally the softer motherly side of her won.
"Hey." She said softly getting his attention. He offered her a weak smile.
"Hey where are the twins?" He asked.
" I put them down in the guest room. Oh Lucas come here! I'm so sorry!" She said pulling him to her. There in her arms is where he started to weep. As she comforted him, she couldn't help but look around and think about the last time she had been in this room—the night before her now annulled marriage to Jake. Goosebumps raised on her arms with the thought of facing him.
"Lucas, whatever you need, I'm here for you okay?" She muttered.
"I know you are. You always have been Pretty Girl." He replied. She stiffened at the use of her old nickname. She hadn't heard it since he proposed—right before she told him she was having Jake's kid. Lucas noticed her tension and looked at her. "What?" he asked.
"Don't call me that." She hissed breaking away from him. He looked at her with a confused look on his face.
"What are you talking about?" He demanded his voice raising slightly.
"What am I talking about? WHAT AM I TALKING ABOUT? This is great Lucas just fucking great! Don't you get it Lucas? You screwed up my marriage! I didn't deserve that! Jake didn't deserve that, my kids Lucas, MY KIDS Lucas, you ruined their shot at a happy family. They did not deserve that! God now they'll live in a fucking single parent home, and Jake and I are in the middle of the custody battle from freaking hell! And its all your fault! If you would of kept your fucking mouth shut my kids would be in a stable happy home! And I hate you for taking that away from them! From me Lucas! Hell even from Jake!" She yelled.
"You were supposed to tell me I wasn't making a mistake Lucas! You were supposed to tell me everything would be okay if I married Jake! You were not supposed to get me into bed with you, then get drunk and announce it at my WEDDING RECEPTION! HOW COULD YOU?" She yelled, tears streaming down her face, her mascara running.
"How could I Brooke? Why would you come to my door the night before your wedding when you knew, YOU KNEW what would happen with us! Its us Brooke, what did you think would happen? I'd tell you to marry Jake and you'd have your fucking happily ever after? No! You knew you were making a mistake and that's why you came to see me! You knew it! And that's why you let me make love to you, and that's why you came to my doorstep in the first place! I saved you from the hell you would have been in! Sure you're kids would have a typical two parent home, but you'd be miserable and you know it Brooke! You know it!" He yelled back. Brooke stormed up to him and slapped him.
"How dare you say if I would have been miserable or not! You don't know what Jake and I had because you stopped talking to me the day I told you I got pregnant. How dare you Lucas! You have no right, no fucking right to say that I would have been miserable. Do you think that I'm happy now the way things are? A single mother who is in the fucking custody battle from hell. Did you know that Jake is suing me for full custody. He is trying to take my babies away from me and its all your fault because you couldn't keep your fucking pants up Lucas. Don't you dare turn this around on me, this one is on you this time Lucas Scott. I guess you're not the good boy everyone thought you were."
"Mommy!" Jack called from the guest room. Brooke froze for a minute, wiping away the running mascara.
"Excuse me." She muttered going out of the room to get her son while Lucas sank onto his bed.
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Peyton looked up from her sketchbook when her door rang the next day. She looked at her watch—she wasn't supposed to meet up with Nathan and Lynn for another hour. After picking them up at the airport Nathan decided he needed to stay with his mother and father instead and help them through their grief even though he was dealing with grief of his own. So Peyton dropped them off at the Scott Manor and returned home to her childhood home. She walked to the front door and opened it, dropping the drawing she had been working on.
"Jake" she gasped.
"Hey Peyton." HE smiled.
"Well come in," She gestured him inside, hugging him. "So I take it you heard the news about…""Karen? Yeah Nathan called me last night. Its just weird being back you know?" He asked. Peyton laughed sitting next to him on the couch.
"Jake I've lived here since a week after your…"
"Wedding?" He finished when he noticed Peyton trail off.
"Yeah. God Jake I'm so sorry about that. I never saw that coming." She stated, something gleaming in her eyes.
"Thanks but none of us could of ever seen it coming Peyton." He said covering her hand with his own. Peyton smiled at Jake.
"I'm actually on my way to meet Nathan and Lynn, want to come?" She asked smiling for the first time in a long time.
"Yeah sure, umm is Brooke here yet?" Jake asked trying to keep the bitterness out of his voice.
"Nathan mentioned something about her landing around midnight last night.
"OH." Jake silently swore. A part of him, okay a large part of him had been hoping that she wouldn't be able to get the time off of work so that he wouldn't have to deal with her. He honestly could not stand to be in the same room as her, it was just killing him, and to him there was no greater betrayal then what she did. Which is why he was suing for full custody of their children. He knew how much she loved those kids and a part of him wanted to hurt and betray her just as bad as she did to him. Peyton snapped her fingers.
"Jake you still on planet earth? " She asked getting up and slipping on some shoes.
"Yeah sorry I was thinking about something. Come on I haven't seen Lynn in a year."
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Haley drove the familiar streets of Tree Hill a nervous wreck. She hadn't been back since before she had Lynn and it was weird driving down the streets she had known so well growing up. She passed Karen's Café and Tric and tears started to fall as she thought about Karen—and how close the six of them used to be. She pulled up to Lucas's—the house she might as well grew up in and climbed out of the car. She walked inside—no one knocked or locked their doors in Tree Hill—and walked into the house. She looked around and smiled, the house hadn't changed a bit, it was exactly as she remembered it growing up. She looked around on the various pictures Karen had scattered across the mantle and she came across the one from their summer before senior year. There they all were happy as can be. The picture was taken at Brooke's beach house, they were all dressed in swimsuits and bathing suit cover ups. Lucas had his arms wrapped securely around Brooke's waist and was looking down at her with such love and adoration that it made Haley smile. Then there was Jake, who had come down for the weekend to see them, and Peyton, laughing about some inside joke they shared. Last, there was her and Nathan, he had his arm wrapped securely around her shoulders and she was leaning into him. The looks on their faces were just so in love that it teared Haley up thinking about how they are now. She surveyed the photograph once more, remembering how it used to be the six of them against the world, and now here they were, torn apart, and broken.
A small brown-haired hazel eyed girl ran into the living room followed by an exhausted looking Brooke.
"Emma please just take a bath for mommy sweetheart. Jack did now its your turn." Brooke said not noticing Haley. Haley cleared her throat. Brooke turned her head and saw her friend standing there.
"Haley!" The brunette said hugging the dark blond.
"Brooke! I missed you!" Haley replied.
"I missed you too Tutor Girl." Brooke said tears forming in her arms. Emma took this opportunity to take off and find her brother.
"Wow Brooke she's gotten so big. She looks just like you."
"I know." Brooke replied smiling sadly, thinking about how her angels might get taken away from her. "You look amazing Hales."
"Thanks so do you. God Brooke I missed you!"
"I missed you too Tutor Girl."
"Where's Luke at?"
"I'm not sure I think he went for a run to relax. He and I kind of aren't exactly on speaking terms right now."
"Okay why?"
"Haley did you really expect us to be after what happened last time we saw each other?"
"Good point."
"Listen I have to go take care of my monsters, you can come help if you want."
"No actually seeing your monsters makes me miss mine. I'm going to go hunt down Lynn I haven't seen her for a few weeks."
"Okay, we'll talk later."
"You know we will Brooke"
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The next few days passed by and everyone managed to avoid everyone they weren't talking to. The day of the funeral came and they had all gathered at Tree Hill's only Church. Brooke walked in, holding a twin's hand in each of her own. She noticed Jake walking towards them and she asked Haley to bring them in for her. The twins did not need to hear her and Jake going at it.
"Can we talk?" Jake asked.
"Fine." Brooke said following him to a room off the entry way to the Church. "What do you want?" She asked crossing her arms across her chest.
"I want you to just give up this custody battle and give me custody of the kids!" Brooke was outraged. He really thought she would give up her kids? The nerve of him!
"Its not going to happen Jake." She stated walking away from him. Jake reached out and grabbed her arm.
"Why won't you give me custody Brooke? Its not like you want them anyway." The echoing sound of a smack could be heart throughout the room.
"HOW DARE YOU! I love those two more then you'll ever know, more then you will ever understand. They are apart of me, they grew inside of me for nine months Jake. Nine fucking months. There is no way in hell I am handing them over without a fight, no fucking way, now if you'll excuse me I am not doing this here, now, or even today. Karen was like the mother I never had and I do not want to ruin this day for ANYONE." She yelled storming out of the room.
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Lucas took a seat next to Haley in the church and she immediately placed her hand in his. "Its all going to be okay Lucas." She whispered. Lucas smiled a sad smile at her and squeezed her hand.
"Thanks for being here Hales. Its meant a lot."
"Lucas you know I would of never missed it. "
"I know." He replied as Brooke took the seat on the other side of Haley.
"You okay?" Haley asked Brooke.
"Yeah I'll be fine Hales don't worry." Haley surveyed Brooke, her cheeks were red and there were tears in her eyes, but Haley decided to let it go until later. The minister came up to the pulpit and started the funeral.
Lucas sat there starring at the minister, hearing nothing that was being said. He couldn't believe that his mother was dead. He'd wasted so much time by not forgiving her, for leaving her alone. The guilt had been heavy on his shoulders since he'd found out that she was sick. Once she'd died he couldn't see past the guilt. Maybe if he'd been there she wouldn't have gotten sick, maybe he could've saved her. Now he was left alone to wallow in the guilt, the maybes and the what if's.
He covered his face with his hands, his shoulder shaking as sobs raked through his body. His mother had been his whole world. What was he going to do without her? He was alone with no one to tell his troubles to. He felt an arm slip around him and turning he met Haley's eyes. He did still have one person to turn to. Haley would always be his rock and he would always be her's. He swiped a hand over her cheek, wiping away some of the tears that were streaming down her face.
Haley pulled Lucas closer, feeling comfort from his embrace. Karen had been like another mother to her. She had never made her feel like she had to leave, always welcoming her with open arms. The Roe household had been a second home to her, where she had spent so much of her time. And giving her a job at the café so that she would have some money of her own. Whenever she'd needed a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen Karen had been there for her.
She knew that she had to be strong for Lucas, because he was falling apart. But all she wanted to do was curl up into a ball in the corner and cry. She felt like her heart had been ripped out, the pain almost too much to bear. If she waqs feeling this bad, she couldn't even begin to imagine what Lucas was feeling. She closed her eyes against the pain that rushed over her once again. She buried her head in Lucas's shoulder and cried along with him.
Brooke glanced over at her best friend and ex-boyfriend comforting one another, wishing that she had someone to comfort her. Karen had taken her in, shown her what it was like to have someone who cared. Karen had loved her more than her own parents. Even when she and Lucas hadn't been together Brooke had gone to Karen if she needed anything. Brooke wrapped her arms around herself as the memories overwhelmed her causing the tears to come pouring out.
One less person that cared, one less person to turn to. Why had she died so young? She didn't deserve to get cancer. Karen had been one of the most generous, giving people that Brooke had ever met. Why did she have to die? It wasn't fair. Brooke knew that it was selfish, but she couldn't help but wonder why the one person who'd always been there for her had to be taken away. She lowered her head, trying to get the tears to stop. Closing her eyes, she tried to call on her reserves of strength but found that she had none left. Her head rose and she glanced around her eyes locking with Jake's. No matter their differences they both shared this mutual pain.
Brooke glanced away as the pain of losing Jake added to that of losing Karen. She shook her head, wishing that Karen was here to talk to. Meanwhile Jake had been watching Brooke, wishing that he could go to her. Even after all the pain that she had caused him, he hated to see her hurting. When she looked away he shrugged, turning his attention back to the minister. He'd tuned out everything that was being said. He just couldn't seem to focus on what was going on. He felt so numb. So much was going on around him and yet he felt nothing. He saw his friends falling apart and knew that he should feel something, but he felt hollow. Empty and alone.
He glanced around the church, taking in the crying faces and the lost eyes. Why didn't he feel what they were feeling? Was there something wrong with him? He'd lost so much before, remembered how much it had hurt. So why didn't he feel the pain now? He would welcome the pain over this emptiness, this unfeeling. Had his heart been broken too many times? Did he have nothing left? He glanced at the picture of Karen, remembering how kind she had been to him. Giving him a job at the café and allowing him to bring Jenny with him. Jenny. Even thinking about Jenny, he felt nothing. What was happening to him? Was he turning into some kind of monster? He shook his head, trying to focus once again on the words that the minister was speaking.
Peyton, seated between Jake and Nathan, didn't even notice that Jake was having an internal battle. She was lost in a tidal wave of grief, having lost a third mother. No one person should have to lose that many mothers. The tears flowed down her cheeks, completely unchecked. She hated to show her emotions, but losing another mother was ripping the emotions from her. The pain coursed through her, leaving all of her shields in tatters. She'd been trying to hold it together but the minute that the service began she'd completley lost it. As Nathan's arm slid around her, she buried her face into his chest.
She couldn't handle this again. How many deaths was one person supposed to deal with before she even hit the age of thirty? There was only so much that could be expected of one person. She sobbed, her body shaking. Death seemed to follow her around, taking and threatening to take all of those so dear to her. She couldn't keep dealing with this. The life that she had been dealt had been too hard and too many great women had been ripped from it. Glancing up, her eyes fell on the picture of Karen and she thought of how the women had excepted her without question. Had loved her, even though she'd hurt Lucas, her own son. She'd helped her find her place, allowing Tric to have a teen night and letting her to have a part in it. Karen Roe had affected each and every one of them in some way and now she was gone.
Nathan ran his hand over Peyton's hair, wishing that he could take away her pain. Her pain, his pain, Lucas's pain and Haley's pain. Oh, how it hurt to sit there and watch Lucas comfort his wife. But she had made her choice and he couldn't allow his love to cloud the fact that she had lied to him again. He turned his head away, trying to convince himself to stay focused on the ceremony. He loved Karen. She'd always been so accepting of him, even though he was the child that Dan chose to raise. She'd understood that life wasn't easy for him and once he was willing to accept her, she'd loved him.
He closed his eyes for a moment, allowing the pain to flow through him. It hurt to think about what life had been like then. The happy, carefree lives that they had lived until the day of the shooting. That was the beginning of the end. It was the day that everything changed. He opened his eyes, knowing that he needed to go to his brother and soon. Lucas would need him to be there for him. He had to be strong for both of them. He shook it off, trying to pull himself together for what was about to come. It was time for people to speak, telling their stories and memories of Karen. He'd volunteered to go first, knowing that no one else would want to go first.
He quickly stood, handing Peyton off to Jake before heading to the front. He took his place in front of people he'd known for most, if not all, of his life. His eyes locked on Lucas's and he tilted his head in acknowldgement. "Karen Roe was a wonderful woman who accepted everyone into her life. Even though I looked down on her and Lucas at first, when I needed help I could always go to her." His eyes glistened with unshed tears. "She was always there whenever any of us needed her. Even when we didn't listen to her." He shook his head, thinking of the day she'd met Karen at the River Court and talked to her about Haley leaving. Karen had told him to have a little faith that Haley would make the right decision and come back. She'd been right, Haley had come back. Too bad she'd left him again. "I will miss her. I will miss being able to walk into the café or Tric and see her and my mother working side by side. It'll never be the same without her." He closed his eyes for a moment before heading back to his seat.
Peyton was the next one to speak and although she couldn't get herself to stop crying she tried her best to get the words out. "I've already buried two mothers and now I'm burying a third. Karen was like another mother to me after I met her. She helped me through so much, especially after I found out about Ellie and then lost her." She sighed, bringing her hands to her face. "She's the one person that was always there for me." She tried to continue, but she crumbled. She stumbled back to her seat, unable to finish.
Brooke watched Peyton go, knowing exactly how she felt. She didn't want to get up ther but knew that she needed to. She took a deep breath, shookting Haley a when she squeezed her hand. She stood behind the podium, looking around at all the faces. "Karen touched every one of our lives, otherwise we wouldn't be here. There was no one else in the world like her. She took me into her home so that I wouldn't have to leave behind everything that I knew and loved when my parents moved to California. She took care of me, treating me like her own child. She was more of a mother to me than my own mother. She actually cared. She cared enough to yell at me, to give me rules." She swiped a hand across her face, trying unsuccessfully to wipe away the tears. "The world will be an emptier place without her in it. I know that we will all survive this, but it will never be the same. I will remember Karen and the effect that she had on my life, for as long as I live." With a sad smile she headed back to her seat.
Dan made his way to the front of the room. "Karen was my first love." He glanced at Lucas. "She gave me a son that I love dearly. I don't think that I ever stopped loving her. She was one of the kindest people that I'd ever known. She lost her way for a short time after Keith was killed, but eventually she became the woman that I remembered."
Haley stiffened as she listened to Dan talk about Karen and about Keith. She thought back to the night that she'd found him at the beach house, drunk and talking to himself.
"Keith, will you please leave me alone?" Dan was sitting on the porch by himself, a bottle in his hand.
Haley, not knowing what was going on stood in the shadows. Was Dan having such a hard time dealing with Keith's deaht taht he was seeing him? That didn't sound good. She figured she'd stand there for a few moments and make sure that he was okay. It was obvious that he was in no condition to talk to her so she'd come back another day, but first she wanted to make sure that he wasn't completely losing it.
"I didn't know that it wasn't you who tried to kill me in the dealership." His shoulders shook as the tears fell from his eyes. "I never would have killed you if I'd known that it had been Deb. I just wanted to get back at you. I figured an eye for an eye." He ran his hands over his face. "I wouldn't have shot you if I'd have known. Oh, I'm so sorry, Keith. So sorry..."
Haley's eyes widened as she realized just what she'd overheard. She turned and hurried away, not sure what to do with the information that she'd just heard.
"Karen will always be a part of me and I will always think of her when I see my sun. I regret not having spent more time with her. Had I known our time would be so short I would've made more of an effort. I'll miss you, Karen." With that he hung his head and took his seat.
Haley was shaking, she was so upset by Dan's act. He cared about no one but himself. She stood and headed for the front, facing people that she hadn't seen in such a long time. Her eyes locked on Nathan's for a moment before he lowered his head. She shrugged before looking back to Lucas. "Karen was the most wonderful woman that I ever met. She took me in from day one, because I was Lucas's friend. Her son meant the world to her and since I meant the world to him, she accepted me unconditionally. She gave me a job when I needed money and loved me, although she didn't have to. She always told me to live my dreams. There was no point in dreaming if you didn't work towards those dreams. She was one of the few who told me to pursue my singing career if that's what I wanted. But she always knew that I wouldn't be able to stay gone for long, since Tree Hill was my home. It was my home, not because my family was here but because she was here." Haley closed her eyes as the pain washed over her again. It was so hard to talk about, the wound so fresh. "She always believed in me, even when I didn't. I'm eternally grateful to her for that and for always being there." Haley sighed and blew a kiss to the picture that sat not to far from where she stood. "I love you, Karen."
When Haley sat, Lucas made himself stand. He owed this to his mother. It was all that he had left to give her. He stood facing all of those who had known and loved his mother. "My mom was the most amazing woman. As most of you already know, she got pregnant with me at eighteen and she raised me by herself. Now that alone is pretty amazing but what else is amazing is that she still found time to help out each and every one of my friends as well. She was always there for us whenever we needed someone. I remember back when I was in senior year, and she told me that the best way to get over someone was to get under someone else, she thought she was being philosophical, and she didn't get what it meant until she said it, but my point here is that she always made time for everyone. She always has a hand to hold or a hug to give, I couldn't of asked for a better person to be my mother." Lucas paused as he began to choke up.
"With that I'd like to end with a quote. Washington Irving once said, 'A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.' And that was Karen Roe, my mother, my friend, my everything."
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Haley walked up to Jake at the reception.
"Jake tell me honestly, why can't you and Brooke just have joint custody, this custody battle is killing her." Haley stated taking a drink of white wine. Jake felt a twinge of guilt.
"Because…"Jake replied trailing off. Haley put her hands on her hips.
"Because why Jake? She hurt you so bad that you want her to hurt equally as bad? Now I know what she did to you was awful, no one is denying that, not even her or Lucas, but trying to take her kids away from her forever is even worse Jake. You're a good guy Jake. Do not do this to her. She doesn't really deserve it. You don't have to talk to her but don't take away her kids. If you won't do it for Brooke then do it for me. She's my best friend and if you take away those kids you'll break her, and I don't want to see Brooke broken again. And I think that deep down you don't either." Haley explained walking off leaving a stunned Jake behind. Haley found Brooke crouched down in a corner wiping off Jack's mouth. Haley walked over to Brooke and the two hugged, no words were needed, they just hugged both feeling the loss of Karen.
"What did you say to Jake?" Brooke asked a few minutes after they had broken the hug.
"I just asked him to not take away the twins from you. Whether or not he does it is up to him."
"Thanks Haley."
"Hey its what I'm here for."
"Now if only we could fix you and Nathan." Haley sighed a look of sadness passing over her face.
"If only." She said as Lynn came running up to her.
"Mommy, will you get me some juice please?" Lynn asked as Haley scooped her up.
"Sure babe come on." Haley replied taking off towards the kitchen. Brooke found herself standing alone. She watched Peyton and Nathan talking about something. Brooke smiled, even if her and Peyton didn't really talk anymore, she was glad that her and Nathan were still friends. Lucas was talking with Mouth who had flown in from Manhattan to be there. And there was Jake, who appeared to be having a serious conversation with Emma. Brooke smiled at the interaction. Even though she knew now that her and Jake were never meant to be, she did miss seeing Jake interact with their kids. Peyton excused herself from Nathan and walked over to talk with Brooke.
"Hey can we talk?" Peyton asked her. Brooke sighed. That phrase had been way overused this week.
"Sure, but let's go outside, its getting too hot in here anyway." Brooke replied opening the front door. The two walked outside in a silence that they had never experienced before. It was an uncomfortable silence, it used to be that they couldn't do anything without talking and on the rare occasion they were silent it was a comfortable silence but there was too much resentment built up between the two now.
"Peyton what do you want?" Brooke asked crossing her arms. She was tired, it had been a long day, and she just wanted to crawl into a hot bath and not come out for an hour or two.
"I think you should give full custody to Jake." Brooke's jaw dropped open. How dare she!
"Excuse me?"
"I think—"
"I heard you Peyton I'm just trying to wrap my head around the fact that you want me to give up my children forever."
"So? Its not fair to them to be with one parent during the week and the other during the weekend.
"This is none of your business Peyton." Brooke stated beginning to storm away. Peyton grabbed Brooke's arm, swinging her around to face her.
"Yeah it is. How could you do what you did to Jake? He is an amazing guy!"
"Don't you think I get that? Don't you think that I don't feel guilty everyday for what went down and how it happened last year?"
"No."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Come on Brooke, you had us fooled for a while that you were a relationship kind of girl but in reality, you've just been covering up what you really are—a slut" Brooke slapped Peyton.
"How dare you! You were supposed to be my best friend! Don't you ever talk to me again Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer! We are done!" Brooke screamed storming away.
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The next day everyone returned home, Peyton to her childhood home, Brooke, Jake and the twins to Chicago for their custody hearing, Haley on tour, and Nathan and Lynn to California. Before Brooke could even blink Tuesday rolled around and she was in the courtroom waiting for court to start. Haley had flown in for moral support and she noticed Peyton there too. Both of their lawyers stated their case and the judge called a recess to reach his decision. Brooke was pacing, nervous as hell, those were here babies and if they got taken away from her then she would die. The judge returned.
"Miss Davis, Mr. Jagelski, after through thought and consideration, I have decided to grant you two joint custody, the twins will live with Miss Davis for the week and with you on weekends and every other month during holidays. Mr. Jagelski you may also take the twins once a week on a date that the two of you both agree on. Court is dismissed." Brooke started crying tears of relief and Peyton scowled across the court room. Jake smiled a weak smile at her and walked over.
"Does uh Wednesdays work for you?" He muttered thankful that at least he still got to see his children. Brooke nodded, too shocked to say anything and Peyton and Jake left. Haley walked over to Brooke and hugged her.
"This is good Brooke."
"I know it is Hales. Thanks for being here."
"I've always been here and always will be."