Hey!!!!! here's a chapter really quick.. wanted to get it in before I go continue studying for Biology, which i officially hate now, by the way. So hope you like... review please...

Disclaimer: I Do Not Own One Tree Hill. Nor Am I Affiliated With Any Part Of It

Michelle

Chapter Twenty Eight: Just Another Desperation

"What do you think he wants to talk to her about?" Haley whispered as she tip toed over to the door to try and hear Brooke and Lucas's conversation. Nathan laughed and walked over with her. She thought he was going to listen with her, but instead he grabbed her shoulders and led her back to the chair where she had been sitting.

"Let them do that on their own." He smirked. He knelt in front of her and kissed her hands, then leaned his face into her lap. She laughed and ran her fingers through his hair. He moaned and closed his eyes. Leaning over, she kissed the back of his head and rested her face there. It was uncomfortable for both of them, but they didn't care. They wanted to stay like that for as long as humanly possible. It had been so long since they were able to be together like this, with no worries or complaints, and neither wanted to break it.

"I can't hear any talking." Haley whispered, referring to Lucas and Brooke in the other room.

"Leave it Haley..." Nathan smirked.

"My neck hurts." She finally spoke. Nathan laughed and lifted his head, causing her to lift her's as well.

"So does mine." She laughed back. She gave him a quick kiss and pulled back to look him straight in the eye. She couldn't help but smile at the way he looked at her, as if he knew every inch of her. And he did. She took comfort in this, knowing that her husband knew her so well, when so many other couples struggled to stay together, to know one another.

"Let's go for a walk." Nathan suggested.

"Where?" Haley laughed.

"I don't know... let's just walk." He grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet, then led her out of the house.

Brooke nervously sat on the edge of the couch with her hands between her knees. She ran her fingers through her hair and waited for Lucas to speak. He just stood in front of her, pacing around and sighing. She waited and waited but he couldn't seem to find the words he wanted to say.

"Luke... you dragged me here... to talk..." Brooke complained. "So if you have something to say, say it." She spat out. Lucas looked at her, surprised at her outburst.

He nodded and let out a nervous breath. "Michael misses you." He whispered. Brooke closed her eyes tight and let a shiver pass through her body.

"I miss him too, so much..." Brooke choked out. She stared at Lucas who just seemed to be staring right through her. She shook her head in disappointment. No matter how much she tried to hide it, she loved Lucas more than anything. But she could see it in the way he looked at her, that he just didn't know her.

"Erica misses you too..." He added quickly. Brooke waited for him to say that he missed her as well, but it seemed that the words couldn't manage to fall off his tongue, as if his pride couldn't handle needing someone so much. Brooke didn't respond to him, she couldn't help but wonder if the only reason he was here, was to rub it in her face that she never saw her kids as much as she'd like to.

"Michael's birthday is coming up." Lucas mentioned again. "So is Erica's." He knew he wasn't saying enough. He knew that he should tell her that he was here to bring her home. That he missed her, loved her and simply needed her. But those words that exploded through him seemed quiet on the exterior, and made no sound to Brooke.

"Yeah.. I've been thinking about that." Brooke nodded. She raised her eyebrows at Lucas, as if to suggest that he say what he had to say and get it over with.

"Are you going to be there? Mikey would be disappointed if you weren't."

"Of course!" Brooke gasped, a little offended that he'd think otherwise. "Lucas, I am not going to stick around here forever. Once I get on my feet I'll get my son and we'll get our lives back on track!" She defended herself.

"Our son, and it'll be my life too..." Lucas whispered sadly, unable to understand how she could just leave him out of it.

"I know that, but he'll be staying with me when I get a place and a job." Brooke commanded. She stood up and faced Lucas, a little afraid that he'd even think about taking Michael away from her. She needed him to know that she wasn't going to be this weak forever, and that this was not permanent.

"I get it... Brooke... Why would you think that I'd..." Lucas stopped and stared at Brooke. There was a fear in her eyes that made her look like she had just lost her whole world, or was about to. "I'm not going to take Michael away from you." He said sincerely.

She stepped back after being face to face with him and let her expression fall. She dropped her shoulders and nodded with relief. There was a stillness around them, and Brooke still desperately waited for him to let go of his stupid pride and tell her he needed her as much as she needed him. He reached out and touched the side of her face, his thumb outlining her dimple. Her first instinct was to pull back until he said it, until he actually admitted it. That he can't do any of this without her. But she just stood there, praying he'd say something to make this right, because she was tired of being the one to do it.

"Brooke..." He said in his usual tired voice. He was squinting and it made him look sad and tired, and for a minute, Brooke wanted to give in to him. But she stood tall, only slightly leaning her face into his hand. His voice hung in the air as she waited for him to continue. "Is there anything I can say to change this? To keep you?" He questioned. She raised her eyebrows at him and stepped back. Was there anything he could say? He was actually asking her? Yes, there were many things he could say to change it all, but she wasn't about to write his lines for him. What he said, she wanted him to say it himself, she wanted them to be his own words.

"Yes..." She started nodded. His face lightened a little, as if he suddenly found a sense of hope in her. She hated to be the one to take that away, "But I'm not going to tell you." She stepped away from him and turned her back to him. She stood there and she could feel his eyes burning through her. Turning once more to glance at him, she couldn't believe what she saw. Once more, he looked through her. Sure, he looked like he wanted her back, and she could see a glint of love in his face when he met her eyes. But he couldn't express that. And all while she stared at him she couldn't help but wonder if he had ever seen her at all, of had he just been staring through her the whole time? She turned around again and walked up the stairs, leaving Lucas breathless with disappointment.

Short, I know... but there you go!

Michelle