Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill or any of its characters.

Chapter Five: I Could SO Know Nick Carter

It had been two weeks since Mouth's revelation and although Brooke didn't feel like the world's number one friend she had gotten used to keeping the secret from Lucas. She just focused on how happy he was now and how devastated he was when he thought his old friend Jimmy had killed Keith, who knew how he would take it when he found out it was his own father.

The downside to keeping the secret however was that she was lying to Lucas, she was looking him in the face everyday and wanting to scream "Dan did it, Dan killed Keith!" but she couldn't, she was also becoming increasingly scared for Karen. When she got the chance to speak to Lucas, which was rare as she tried to avoid him as best she could, she felt ever so worried for Karen especially when Lucas would tell her about Karen getting closer to Dan. She had been feeling so guilty and could only imagine how Mouth felt….

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It was 8.30pm. The time Dan Scott usually went round to Karen's to help her with… whatever he went to help with. Mouth didn't know and didn't really care as long as Dan was out the house so he could get in. Although he did feel worried allowing a murderer to walk around freely, he knew Dan wouldn't kill again, well… at least he hoped. Dan hurried out the house, a little later than usual but looking as smug as ever.

Mouth could never understand how he did it. He had been breaking into Dan's house for the last three months now, less frequently ever since he told Brooke that he knew Dan killed Keith, and not once had Dan ever shown he was affected. As Dan's car pulled out of the driveway and down the road, Mouth waited a few minutes before going along the side of the house and through the side window. For a lying, manipulative murderer; Dan really didn't have his home security in check. My guess is he didn't want the police being called round once, maybe twice every week to see words such as "Murder" painted on Mayor Dan Scott's wall. Sure Mouth wasn't a detective or whatever but he was pretty sure that the police would become a little suspicious. Just as well. He didn't want Dan to go down like that; he knew Dan would worm his way out, if he was arrested. All he'd do is get the best attorney in town, no make that the country (which he could definitely afford) or pay someone off to dismiss the charge. No. Mouth wanted to crack Dan, it had to be Dan who went to the police, it had to be Dan who would hand himself in.

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Two hours earlier ……

"I just want to see how Karen's doing that's all" Brooke said to herself as she made her way to Karen's café. "You haven't spoken to her in quite a while and it would be nice to see how she's getting along, even though you know she's fine"

Denial wasn't one of Brooke's strong points. She had tried to convince herself all evening that Dan wouldn't do anything to hurt Karen, she had also tried to convince herself that she was doing the right thing, keeping Mouth's secret but she wasn't believing either. All she wanted to do now was see Karen. Just to say hi, maybe get a coffee and talk; just make sure she was okay. Plus she had a limited amount of people to talk to these days, what with her ex-best friend being a boyfriend stealing whore.

Finally reaching Karen's Café she took a deep breath before going in, expecting to see the usual hustle bustle of this local café, except that's not what she saw. Karen was there alright, but so was her ex-boyfriend who was a cheating, lying, sweet, kind, frustrating, blue-eyed, annoying….guy she was totally in love with!

SHIT!! She thought to herself. Maybe I could turn around right now, right now, maybe they didn't see me. Her thoughts swirling in her head. Of course they saw you dumbass, you're the only ones here!

The café was completely empty, apart from Lucas and Karen, who were talking across the counter. Brooke looked down at her watch, she couldn't have come that late could she.

"Brooke, hi. What a lovely surprise" Karen came out from behind the counter and gave Brooke a hug. Brooke hugged her back. She had always missed the time she had stayed at Lucas's. Even though adjusting to Karen's rules were hard at first she loved having a real mum, even if it was only for a few months, someone who cared if she arrived home late or didn't do her share of the chores.

"Did you close early or something" Brooke said looking around

"No" Karen said "Come sit down"

Brooke went over to sit next to Lucas "Hey" she said

"Hey" Lucas replied, surprised to see her here.

"So………" Brooke asked placing her purse on the counter

"Oh, there's another all ages night at Tric" Karen explained walking round the counter.

"I see, how come you're not over there?" Brooke asked facing Lucas, Had he and Peyton had a fight?

"I just wanted to hang out here for a little bit"

"Oh, sorry I didn't mean to intrude, I'll just…" Brooke apologised, reaching for her purse

"Hey, don't go" Lucas said "We were just going to have something to eat. You should stay"

Brooke looked at Lucas, kind of unsure about all of this. I mean Peyton was at Tric and she was here with Lucas. Karen looked from Brooke to Lucas who were both smiling awkwardly waiting for Karen to say something. "I'll just get on with that food"

"Do you need a hand?" Brooke asked.

"No it's fine, I've got it" Karen said as she disappeared round into the back, leaving Lucas and Brooke alone.

"So how did your essay turn out?" Brooke asked, hoping to break the silence

"What essay?" Lucas asked

"Mr Harrison's essay"

"Oh right, yeah I handed that in yesterday"

"Cool, well I just got this killer essay to do for him as well, haven't even started" Brooke said fiddling with the salts on the counter.

"When is it due?"

"Two weeks, but I'll probably leave it to the last minute" she joked

"Well, if you like…I could always help you with it" Lucas offered, looking at Brooke.

"Yeah, sure thanks" they both smiled. "So, I was thinking…" Brooke started

"Oh no…" Lucas teased

"Hey" Brooke giggled hitting Lucas on the shoulder.

"Sorry" he laughed "You were saying"

"Yes I was saying…" she began again, flashing Lucas a playful glare "I was thinking that when we said we'd be friends…"

"Hmm, you were thinking we should actually be friends"

"Yeah" she smiled looking at Lucas

"That'd be nice" he smiled back. Looking into her eyes he felt like there was still so much between the two of them, so much they hadn't said or didn't say, even right now.

"Hey guys, foods here" Karen said as she reappeared with their food placing it on the nearest table.

Brooke broke their gaze "Wow, this looks amazing, thanks Karen" she said as she walked over to the table and sat down, followed by Lucas who did the same.

"You welcome Brooke" Karen said, sitting down. "So Lucas and I were just talking about names for the baby right before you came in" Karen said, looking over at Lucas.

"Awh, really" Brooke looked up, really excited "What name's were you thinking of?"

"Well Keith if it was a boy" said Karen

"Awh, that's lovely" Brooke nodded

"And for a middle name Luke was thinking Samuel"

Brooke scrunched her nose "Mmmmm"

"What?" Lucas laughed "What so wrong with Samuel"

"I don't know, I was thinking of a name like… like" Brooke said looking around as if to think intensely.

"What… Carter" Lucas said

Brooke began to laugh "Yes, Carter, yes I like the name Carter"

"We are not starting this again" said playfully rolling his eyes

"What it's a good name and…"

Lucas tilted his head back "Uh, who do you know that's called Carter"

"Aaron Carter, Nick Carter…."

Lucas just looked at her. She couldn't help but laugh, she loved winding him up like that "I could so, know Nick Carter" she said. She remembered back when they were together and…..

Flash Back…………………………………..

Lucas turned over to see Brooke lying next to him. How he loved waking up with her. She made the mornings special. "Morning pretty girl" Lucas said as placed his arms round Brooke waist kissing her on her shoulder.

"Morning, Boyfriend" Brooke said, turning to face Lucas. She loved the mornings with him, she felt so safe in his arms and when she looked into those blue eyes, even for a few minutes she could forget about the rest of the world, her parents, and school. As if it was only the two of them.

"I had the weirdest dream last night" she said snuggling closer to him.

"Really?" Lucas asked, placing the tips of his hands on her check and pulling her into a kiss.

"Really. I woke up and you were lying next to me and…"

"This was your dream?" Lucas asked looking at her confused. Brooke nodded

"That you woke up and I was lying next to you? Yeah sounds pretty strange to me" Lucas said sarcastically

"No" Brooke laughed, hitting Lucas playfully. "If you'll just let me finish"

"Okay, continue"

"Well, like I was saying, I woke up and you were lying next to me and I turn over to look at my alarm clock. It isn't going off or anything but I know I'm late for something. So I decide to wake you up but just as I'm doing that three kids come running in and they're saying "Daddy, daddy look at Mommy's new designs" And they hold up these really amazing sketches of couture clothes and stuff, and I'm thinking wow, I am really good and the little boy says "We just finished drawing them now" And I don't know what to say, but before I get a chance to say thanks or something.. Guess who comes in?" Brooke looked at Lucas expecting him to guess. Lucas shrugged his shoulders, for all he knew it could be Justin Timberlake who walked in so Brooke continued.

"Jenny! Jenny walked in and get this, she's our babysitter and she's telling us she can't do Friday night because she's got something she has to do. I was going to ask her how Jake was doing but I woke up. Really woke up and that was it" Brooke smiled snuggling further into Lucas's arms "Can you believe our kids were little genius's"

"Hmm" Lucas paused looking around "Since when did you start defining a genius as someone who could sketch a dress"

"Okay, fine I get it" Brooke said putting on a innocent pouting face "You think my dream was silly" she said turning to face the ceiling

"No, I don't" Lucas laughed

"Hmm,, whatever" Brooke said continuing to pout

""Brooke…" Lucas said putting his arms up to her waist "Brooke…" He said, tickling her waist and stomach "Cheery, you still mad at me?"

Brooke tried not to laugh but he knew exactly where she was ticklish "Lucas Scott, if you don't stop… that right… now, I'm going to..." She could barely breathe she was laughing so hard "Fine" she screeched "You win, I'm not mad at you" she said catching her breath as Lucas finally stopped tickling her.

"Oh really?" Lucas said wrapping his arms around Brooke waist.

"Yup" Brooke giggled, snuggling further into his arms as he pulled her into a kiss. Lucas smiled at Brooke "What?" she asked

"What were they called?" he asked

"The children?"

"Yeah, what were their names?"

"I don't know. I didn't stay there long enough to find out" She said looking, once again into Lucas's blue eyes. In her dream all their children had his blue eyes. "What would you think their names were? There was a boy and a girl, what would you name the boy?"

"Hmm, well…" Lucas paused putting on his fake 'serious-thinking face'

"Luke!" Brooke hit him playfully "Come on. I always liked the name Carter"

"What!"

"Carter" Brooke repeated

"No" Lucas protested

"Carter's a great name, what wrong with the name Carter?"

"What isn't?" Lucas said

Brooke giggled "Well what name do you think Lucas"

"I don't know"

"Well, then Carter it is"

"No"

"Yep, I'm sorry.. Carter' the name, don't wear it out." She giggled. "Look Carter can have a second name and which ever name Carter likes best Carter can pick"

Lucas laughed, humorously rolling his eyes. "Fine, what about a girl?"

"Hmmm" Brooke paused trying to think

"I like the name Ava" Lucas said

Brooke smiled "Awh, that such a beautiful name. I like Ava. Ava and Carter.. perfect!"

"No… Not Carter" Lucas said pulling the covers over his head

Brooke burst into a fit of laughter. She loved winding him up like that.

End of Flash Back …………………………………

Karen just laughed. "Okay, so the second name still hasn't been decided, but if it was a girl Luke thought of the name Ava"

"Anything wrong with that name Brooke" Lucas teased

"You know I like that name Lucas" She said smiling to Lucas and herself, more to herself than anyone. She'd forgotten how much she loved hanging out with him, having fun with him.

"Right guys, while you finish up, I'm going to get us some ice-cream" Karen got up, again, but before she disappeared around the back, she turned back to look at the sight in front of her. Sure, she thought Peyton was a great girl and Lucas had, had a crush on her for a long time, but there was just something about Brooke. When Lucas was around, he seemed whole. Sure they were different; unlike Peyton who was scarily similar to Lucas but, that was it. Brooke was his other half. Karen watched as Brooke stole two French fries of Lucas's plate, sticking her tongue out before putting the fries in her mouth. Lucas just shook his head playfully.

"So, I'm guessing your mom doesn't want to know whether she's having a boy or a girl"

"Nope" Lucas said

"What about you Luke, do you want to know whether you're going to have a little brother or sister"

"I don't know, it's going to be different though. I mean with me and Nathan, it was never… we never…" Brooke turned to look at Lucas giving him a 'what's on your mind' stare "When Nathan and I first got know each other, we hated each other, I just..."

"Look Luke," Brooke began placing her hand on Lucas's arm. "You're going to make an amazing older brother okay, you are. The circumstances are totally different; you and Nathan never got a chance. He grew up learning to hate you because of something Dan did..."

Dan. His name alone made Brooke's skin crawl.

"But look what happened when you and Nathan really got to know each other, when Nathan got to know the real you, not the lie Dan was feeding him. You guys are great friends now, great brothers. And the same goes for your new brother or sister, except this time you won't have to catch up because you're always going to be his or her older brother no matter what."

Lucas just nodded looking down. Brooke knew he didn't like being vulnerable. That was the reason why he could never let her all the way in; or at least that's what she told herself. That or he didn't love her enough.

End Notes: So this was a much longer chapter. Hope you liked it. lol. Anyway, comment and tell me what you think!