Finally an update! I'm sorry I have kind of dropped off the face of the Earth lately. Life has gotten in the way! I moved and didn't have internet and blah blah blah. But! Luckily, I took my last final today, and I have a month to myself! YAY! Well, not completely to myself, but I'll have a lot more time now. And it's snowing A LOT, so I won't be going anyway!

Thank-you to EVERYONE that has review this story! I take them all into consideration. And for those who think that Brooke is acting out of character and stuff. I have to agree. But, she has reason to. I know the show Brooke would never hold this much revenge, but I'm exploring a darker side. Something the show failed to address after the attack. All we got was some scenes with her and a marriage counselor.

Anyway. This chapter has not been betaed so please forgive my mistakes. And don't get mad at me! HA HA

Enjoy!

The sharp trill of a timer can be heard throughout Brooke's house. A soft smile creeps over her lips as she starts towards the bathroom. To her, the walk seems to take forever, but it's only a matter of seconds before she's opening the door to the bathroom, and grabbing the stick that's sitting on the sink. She looks at the results, and has to grab the box it came in to see what the lines mean. As she realizes what it says, both the box and stick slip from her fingers and fall in slow motion towards the floor, and a soft clanking can be heard as they hit. Breath seems to leave her body as she starts to gasp for air, and she has to place her hands onto the sink to hold herself up.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lucas is confused as he drives home. He had left work early today, hoping to get to Brooke's house sooner than normal. Earlier, he had decided he was going to tell her how he was feeling. He had spent all day planning his speech, instead of working on plays for the basketball team. And then he had left, with all the confidence he had, knowing that that afternoon would change his relationship with Brooke, for the better or for the worse, he had no idea, but he hoped for the former. He knows he's an idiot. He has been an idiot for quite some time now. Ever since that night she broke up with him, he's been in idiot mode. It took Brooke getting her ass kicked to wake him up. And really, he knew if he really wanted things to happen with Brooke, he should have at least ended it with Peyton first. But, the part of him that just doesn't want to be alone, couldn't leave Peyton until it knew for sure that Brooke would maybe try to work out a relationship with him. He's an ass. He knows it. He loves Peyton, though. He does. And he can't imagine hurting her unless Brooke really wants to make it work with him. He's just not sure he's in love with Peyton anymore.

It's been three weeks since he had made love to Brooke up against her wall. It's happened a couple times since then, and he knows it's wrong. He is still engaged to Peyton. But, he can't help it. He can't help that every time he's around Brooke he feels this sort of need to be with her. To be inside of her. To be closer to her, and making love to her gets him the closest. And he knows it's not just because she's beautiful, or the strong attraction he feels towards her physically. It's because he needs to be with her. Like his soul is not complete unless he is with her. As if every cell that makes up his body needs her to function. He's never known that love could feel that way. Even when he was with her, he didn't have such a need for her. He knows he loved her back in high school. No, not just loved her. He needed her then. She was his rock after Keith died, and she showed him how to have fun. She truly was his better half back then. She was cheery to his broody. He was boyfriend to pretty girl. And he let her walk out of his life, and has been living in a fog ever since, because he didn't know how much he needed her. A blanket of fog consisting of everyone's thinking that him and Peyton were destined to be together.

Now, he drives home confused as ever. Brooke hasn't left her house since, well, he can't remember. And when he went there, the door was locked. He even tried his key, but it wouldn't work. And, as he walked back to his car, he noticed a for sale sign in the front lawn. Confused. He didn't know whether or not Brooke had left that there from when she had moved in, or if she was selling her house. He's never noticed the sign before. But, why would Brooke be selling her house?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"It's all in there," Brooke hands over a packet full of information. "Everything you need to break the story. And give it to the cops as evidence. I'm sure they'd love to lock her up."

"Why are you doing this?" The woman asks, grasping the manila envelope and squinting her eyes towards Brooke.

Brooke shrugs, and her eyes light up. "Revenge." She says simply, and then walks away. Her cell phone starts to chirp as she heads back towards her car. "Hello?" She answers. There's some woman on the other line, introducing herself and then asking some questions. "Yeah, sell it," Brooke finally speaks. "Everything in it too. I don't need any of it."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Lucas, you have to see this," Peyton grabs his arm as soon as he enters the house. She drags him into the living room where the TV is going. "I turned on the news to see the weather, and this came on."

"CEO turned owner of the clothing company Clothes Over Bros, Victoria Davis, has been indicted on charges of fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion. The reported who first broke the story would not reveal her source, but the evidence is said to be overwhelming. Brooke Davis, daughter of Victoria Davis, recently sold her company to her mother for an undisclosed amount of money, has not been able to be reached, but sources are saying that there is nothing to charge her with. Her hands have been completely clean through everything that Victoria Davis has been doing. No news yet on what will happen to that Clothes Over Bros franchise, but, bankruptcy is certainly in the future."

Lucas' jaw drops as the reported heads into different news. This must have been what Brooke has been doing on her computer for so many hours. She found out how scandalous her mother was, and got proof. That still doesn't explain where Brooke is now. And who knew Brooke could be so vengeful. This obviously had something to do with her beating. Lucas could feel his heart start to flutter, and then speed up. He needs to find Brooke.

"I didn't even know Brooke sold the company," Peyton spoke, her eyes wide in a way that reminded Lucas of one of those gold fish with huge eyes.

"I-I d-did," he stutters.

"You did? Why didn't you tell me? Was she upset when she did it?"

"Not really," he shakes his head. And now that he thinks about it, he should have expected Brooke to be a little upset. She was emotionless, just as she had been for so long.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why didn't you ask her?"

"How was I supposed to know she was going to be selling the company? She loved that company. I wouldn't have even thought of it unless someone had told me. And it should have been you."

"Don't blame me because you're not much of a friend."

Peyton's mouth dropped open in that fish way again. "What? Are you saying I'm not a friend to Brooke?"

"Yeah, maybe I am," Lucas nods his head. "How much about Brooke's life do you even know about right now? When's the last time you even went to check on her?"

"She would call me if there was something wrong."

Lucas scoffs. "How long have you known Brooke? And how many times has she actually sought out someone to help her?"

"Wait a minute Lucas, why are we even fighting about Brooke? How much have you been going to see her lately? Is that why you come home so late?"

"I'm not going to fight about this right now. I have to find Brooke. She wasn't home when I went there, and she hasn't left her house in a long time."

"How do you know that?" Peyton asks, tears springing to her eyes. Just how much about Brooke does Lucas know these days, and how could she have not seen how much he had been there for her?

"Just…we'll talk when I get back."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Hey J. Luke," Brooke greets the boy. He's outside on recess, and she knows she probably looks weird showing up at the school, but she wants to see him away from his parents.

"Aunt Brooke!" Jamie shouts, and runs to her, wrapping his arms around her legs. "What are you doing here?"

Brooke kneels down and puts her hands on his arms. "I'm going away for a little while, buddy, and I wanted to say bye to you before I left."

"What? Where are you going?"

"If I tell you, can you promise to keep it a secret? No matter how much your mommy and daddy, or even uncle Lucas ask?" She knows she shouldn't be makig him keep this promise.

"Cross my heart," he makes an X motion across his chest. "Hope to die."

"Stick a needle in your eye?" Brooke giggles, and he nods. "I'm gonna go down south for a bit. Don't worry though, I'll still talk to you and send you things. I just need to get away."

"From what, Aunt Brooke?"

"From a lot of things," she shrugs. "If I tell you something else, will you promise you won't tell that either?" Jamie nods his head rigorously. "You're going to have a cousin."

"I am?" His eyes squint.

"Yep," Brooke nods proudly. "I'm going to have a baby, J. Luke. And I'm going to send you lots of pictures of him or her."

"When will I be able to meet them?"

"I'm not sure, little guy, but I hope sooner rather than later. It all depends on a lot of things."

"Aunt Brooke, are you depressed?"

"Why would you ask that?"

"I heard mommy talking to uncle Luke. He wouldn't tell her much, but she kept asking if you were depressed."

"Not anymore," Brooke smiles and shakes her head.

"Are you and uncle Luke going to be together?"

"What?" Brooke scrunches up her nose. "Why would you think that?"

"I heard mommy saying to daddy that she thinks uncle Luke loves you again, and that she's worried he's going to do something stupid."

Brooke giggles. "No, buddy, we're not going to be together. Uncle Lucas is a really great guy, but he's meant to be with Peyton."

"I don't think so," Jamie looks towards the ground, a little ashamed of what he is saying. "You know how parents are supposed to be together?" Brooke nods. "I think God parents are meant to be together too."

"You're funny," Brooke ruffles his hair. "I have to get going, okay? But, I promise to send you pictures and presents as soon as I can, okay?"

"Okay," Jamie nods. "I'm going to miss you."

"Me too, buddy," Brooke pulls him into her chest and squeezes him. "But, we'll see each other again."

"Okay," Jamie nods as Brooke stands up. She ruffles his hair one more time, and turns away to leave. "Brooke?" She stops, and turns back around. "Who is the daddy to my cousin?"

Brooke smiles, and contemplates telling him. And she loves him so much she can't hold back the truth from him. "Lucas," she answers. She takes one more look at him, hoping to remember every little detail about him, and dreading having to miss the next couple of years.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Have you seen Brooke?" Lucas asks Haley as soon as she opens the door.

"N..no," Haley shakes her head, looking at him weirdly. "Should I of?"

"I don't know. She just wasn't home, and I'm worried about her. Did you see on the news about her mom?"

"Yeah," Haley nods her head and allows Lucas into the house. "I didn't even know Brooke sold the company. What the hell was up with that?"

"I don't know," Lucas answers, not wanting to get into all of it with Haley. "I'm just worried. She hasn't left her house in a long time, and when I went there today she wasn't there and there's a for sale sign on the front lawn."

"A for sale sign?" Haley asks.

"Yeah," Lucas nods and heaves a big sigh.

"Hi uncle Lucas!" Jamie bounds into the room and runs towards his uncle.

"Hey little man," Lucas hugs his nephew and godson. "How was school today?"

"It was okay. Brooke came to see me at recess," he blurts.

"She did?" Lucas asks.

"Yeah," he nods.

"Did she say anything about going somewhere?"

"I'm not supposed to say. But, she's happy. And I think you should be happy too, uncle Luke."

Lucas looks at the child, trying to decipher what he means. "You can't tell us where Brooke was going?"

"She made me promise," Jamie shakes his head. "Please don't make me break a promise, uncle Luke."

Lucas takes a deep breath, and tries to swallow the need to find out where Brooke went. Brooke meant a lot to Jamie, and he could never force Jamie to break a promise. "I won't, buddy," Lucas rubs the top of his head.

"Thanks," Jamie smiles. "Didn't she come say bye to you?"

"No," Lucas shakes his head. "She said she was leaving?"

"Y-yeah," Jamie nods. "But I can't say where, okay? I thought she would come and say bye to you, I think she has something to tell you."

"Oh yeah?" Lucas asks, hopefully.

"Yeah," Jamie nods his head.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Brooke checks her wristwatch as she walks away from Lucas and Peyton's home. She's right on time. She gets into her car, and starts towards the Tree Hill airport. It's an hour before she pulls into the parking lot, and gets out of her car. She pulls out her one suitcase on wheels and wheels it towards the luggage check in. She checks in her luggage and heads for her terminal. As she gets there, a little bit of sadness creeps into her belly. This would be the last time she would be in Tree Hill for a very long time. She stares out the plate glass window, and even though it's only runway she sees, it's still kind of nostalgic. Because she's still in Tree Hill. She hopes those closest to her can understand why she is doing this. And even if they can't, she doesn't care. She's doing this for herself. For the child in her womb.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Lucas enters his home, and is not greeted by Peyton. Which is unusual. Usually, she's waiting at the door for him, ready and eager to try and fix the void that has grown between them. But, after their fight earlier, he doesn't know why he expects her. He finds her in the bedroom, staring intently at the TV. He's about to ask her what she's watching when a black and white, blurry image appears on the screen.

"What's this?" He asks.

"Just watch," Peyton whispers, and her tone is indecipherable. A cross between hurt and sadness and anger and bitterness.

Lucas stares closely at the TV. The words Brooke Davis are apparent on the bottom left hand corner, as well as a date. The image in the middle doesn't look like much, just some blurry black, white, and greyness, and a little bit of a beat. Across the screen an arrow begins to be drawn, and then the word 'Heart' is typed out at the end of it. Lucas is once again confused. Heart? What exactly is this? And why is Brooke's name on it.

"A sonogram," Peyton whispers, answering the questions in Lucas' head.

His heart skips a beat. A sonogram? An ultra sound? Is Brooke pregnant? His fingers begin to tremble, and he falls onto the bed as he knees give out. He stares once again at the TV, trying to decipher if whether or not he can see a baby. He can't see anything, except that it maybe looks like an egg.

"Is-is, Brooke," he can't say it. Brooke would have told him, right?

"Yes," Peyton answers him. "This is her baby."

All of the color drains from Lucas' face. It's his. He knows it's his. Brooke is carrying his child. Brooke is carrying his child. He can feel chunks begin to rise in his throat. And she's left.

The screen switches from the grainy image, and goes to a scene that looks like Brooke's house. It is. Lucas feels his breath catch in his throat. He sees himself blocking Brooke's image from the screen.

"But did you stop loving me?" His voice rings out. His hands begin to sweat, and his whole body starts to shake.

"Stop," she whispers. "Just stop. You can't ask me that."

"Why? Why can't I? Are you, Brooke? Are you still in love with me?"

Lucas attempts to stand up to shut the tape off, but he can't move. He can't find the strength to move himself. He stays rooted on the bed, afraid to look anywhere but at the TV screen. And as he watches himself kiss Brooke, he feels himself start to get light headed. He's sure he's going to pass out. And suddenly the sounds of Peyton whimpering breaks through his haze. And then clothes start to fall from his and Brooke's bodies.

"Peyton," he chokes out.

"Don't!" She yells back. "Just watch the show, Lucas, because this is a good one!"

"Now, Lucas, now." Brooke whimpers on the TV, and Lucas cringes. Why is Peyton torturing herself? Why would Brooke do this? "Mmmm."

"Peyton," Lucas tries again. "I didn't mean for you to find out this way."

"Did you mean for me to find out at all?" She screams. "She's pregnant by you, Lucas?!"

"Peyton, I-"

"Don't!" She stops him, her head shaking. "Don't try to apologize! Just don't! How could you? How could you sleep with her? Is this what you have been doing every night? You said there was some kid you were trying to help, but were you going to her house? Where you?! You were!"

"Peyton, I was," Lucas speaks at a calm level. "But you have to understand. I never meant for this to happen. It just did!"

"You could have ended our engagement first! You could have told me you wanted to be with her! How did it start?"

"Peyton,"

"HOW DID IT START?!" She screams.

"I..I..it was a while ago," he stutters, looking towards the ground. "I went over there, because I knew those bruises she had didn't come from her falling down the stairs. And I was right. She got attacked in her store! And everybody believed that she had fallen down some stairs! YOU believed her when she said she fell down the stairs. How could you not notice the hand print on her?"

"So this is my fault?!"

"NO! No. She needed a friend. She needed someone to take care of her. And I did. It just happened."

"Just happened? Just happened! Are you kidding me? What, all her clothes fell off and you landed inside of her?"

"I love her! Okay! Are you happy now?! I love her! I think I always have and I've just been fooling myself in believing that we were meant to be together! Because I think we both know we're not!"

"You got that right! You and Brooke are scum! Neither of you deserve me! I am so much better than both of you!"

"Peyton, it's not her-"

"You want to read the letter she left? Here, I'll read it for you. Dear Peyton, I am going away for a while, but please understand that this is something I needed you to know before I left. I'm sorry. Well, no, really, I'm not. You'll understand once you watch the video. But, I will never say I regret what has happened, because it has given me the chance at experiencing unconditional love from a child from the only person I could ever really imagine having a baby with. Please just know that these last few years have not been for nothing, and I have enjoyed your friendship, but, you were never really there for me like a real friend should have been. Not ever since he came into your life. You've always chosen him over me. So I made a choice, and I am going to live happily with my choice. Now, I am leaving, and don't think it's because I am scared. It's not. I needed a fresh start. A new beginning. For me and for my child. If you want to call me, I will still have the same number, but just know that nothing will come of it. But, if it could make you feel better to yell at me, then go for it. But, no amount of yelling or guilt trips will ever make me regret has been done. Please tell Lucas I am sorry. And that I will always love him. And give him my letter for me. I'll always love you Peyton, and care for you, and cherish our memories, but this has to be the end. Love Brooke."

Lucas' world is crushing down around him. Brooke is pregnant with his child, and has left to god knows where. Peyton will leave him after another argument, and he will be left alone to wallow in all that he has done. All he has is a letter from Brooke.

"Where's my letter?" He asks, and as soon as it leaves his lips, he knows it's a mistake to ask.

"Are you serious? You worried about the letter? Here!" She tosses a seal envelope at him. "I can't be here anymore, Lucas. We can't be together. Not after this. I thought our love could conquer all, but obviously it can't."

"Okay," he concedes.

"That's it?" She asks hopefully. "You're not going to beg me to stay? To tell me that it was all a mistake?"

"No," he shakes his head.

Tears fall from her eyes, and she stares at him for a moment, before storming from the room. Lucas breathes in deeply, and starts to tear open the envelope that holds his letter. Slowly, he unfolds the paper and his eyes begin to skim the page.

Dear Lucas,

I know you won't be able to understand why I did this. I think something in the attack knocked something loose, and all of this revenge that's been building up since high school took over everything. I really am thankful for everything you have done for me for the past couple of months. You proved that I was someone you cared deeply for. And for that, I thank you. I don't regret trying to get pregnant with your child. You're the only man I could ever imagine having a baby with. I'm sorry for lying to you about being on the pill, but I wanted this so bad. I'm going away to bring our child up in a good home with all the love in the world. Unconditional love. Love that I have never been able to experience, and love that you've only received from one parent and an uncle. Please don't come for us, Lucas. I am begging you to let me do this on my own. I don't think I would be able to tell you no if you did come and want to be in our child's life. And I don't think I would be able to watch as you picked our child up on weekends and took him or her home to be a family with you and Peyton. I can't see you two together, anymore. I have always loved you Lucas Scott, more than I should have. And these last few months has only proved that to me. It would just never work between us, though. Because you'll always love her, and I'll never be able to get over you. This is the way it has to be. I can send you pictures if you want them. I only wish that our child has your blue eyes, and intelligence. I love you, Lucas Scott.

Love,

Brooke Davis

Now! You guys have some options. I can either end it here, and leave it like this. Or, I could do one maybe two more chapters and have more of a happy ending. Tell me what you think. Press the review button!