Hey everyone! Here is the update I promised – I'm sorry I left you hanging, but I couldn't resist it!

Also, we had 4 new reviewers for the last chapter (meaning a grand total of 50!)– hello and thanks to you all, and of course thanks to the regulars.

So we've skipped on a bit this chapter and it is now December, meaning Christmas for everyone, but will it be happy or sad? Read on to find out…

"Brooke was a strong, independent, beautiful woman, and she will be sorely missed." Lucas finished his speech, wiped a tear from his eye and steeped down from the altar.

Peyton and Jake passed by the open casket, both of them crying openly. Inside, Brooke lay, looking more beautiful than ever with white flowers threaded through her hair and placed in her hands…

Peyton woke with a start, the cold morning sunlight streaming in through the open window. She hated that dream, that nightmare. Every night she'd had it since that day, it had just brought it all back…

"Hey honey." Jake smiled and gripped Peyton's hand as she came round. Everything was so bright, so clean. She was definitely not at home.

"Jake…" She struggled to sit up but he held her down.

"Just relax. We're at the hospital," he explained. "The man in the apartment opposite Brooke's found both of you and dialled 911. They've taken some bloods for you, just in case it was more serious than fainting, and they're keeping tabs on the twins." He bit his lip.

"And Brooke? Oh God, Jake, is she ok?"

Jake swallowed and gripped Peyton's hand tighter.

"She's not good, Peyt. They're pumping her stomach now."

Peyton started to softly cry.

"I – I'm so scared, Jake."

Peyton shivered. Jake entered the room and sat down next to her on the bed.

"Merry Christmas baby." he gave her a quick kiss. "You look kinda shook up, are you ok?"

"Yeah," Peyton shook her head. "I just had that nightmare again. Just finding her and not knowing what was going to happen and then… It's all still there."

"Oh, Peyton." Jake pulled her close and held her tight. "Hey, Jenny is getting all psyched up downstairs, waiting to open her presents. Shall we go join her and put her out of her misery?"

Peyton wiped her eyes and nodded. "I'll be down in a minute."

OooOOOooo

"Wow Peyton, oil paints? And these are a really good make! Oh, thank you so much!" Jenny leant over and hugged Peyton. "I am going to use these so much. Oh, andyeah, last but most definitely not least, your present from me." She handed Peyton a small box, which she opened.

"Oh, Jen, this must have cost a fortune! It's gorgeous, hun." Peyton smiled, holding up a silver heart pendant up to the light.

"Read the inscription." Jenny turned the pendant over.

"Jeyton forever, December 2018." Peyton read aloud. "Jeyton. Fits, doesn't it?" She ruffled Jenny's hair and checked her watch. "Oh. Sorry, I said I'd go see Brooke at 12. Can you live without me for an hour?"

"If we try really hard." Jake laughed. "Oh, did you take your iron tablets today?"

"Jake, I'm anaemic, and only while I'm pregnant at that. I'm not dying."

"But we don't want you collapsing again, especially not at six months gone."

"Sure." Peyton kissed Jake on the cheek and waved goodbye to Jenny. "See you in a bit."

When she reached Brooke's apartment, she let herself in with the key she'd been given and called out her name. Brooke emerged from the kitchen with a bag of chips, which she emptied onto a plate and offered to Peyton. She looks good, Peyton thought. Since it happened she had not made much effort in the appearance department, but today she had straightened and styled her hair, an dapplied full make up.

"No thanks. Merry Christmas, by the way. Jake and I were wondering if you wanted to come over later for dinner?" Brooke didn't respond. "So, how are you today?"

"I'm ok, I guess. They're still making me have those stupid happy pills." Brooke sat down on the sofa, motioning for Peyton to join her. "Thing is, I don't want to have to take them, but I'm scared of what will happen if I stop." She ran her hand through her hair. "And I miss Jamie. They say I can see him tomorrow, but it's his first Christmas, you know? And they're not going to let me have him back until they know I am "of sound health"." Brooke quoted, making air commas with her fingers.

There was silence for a while in whicheach of them took a few chips. Then Brooke spoke.

"You want to know why I did it, don't you? Why I tried to…" she trailed off.

Peyton was a little taken aback. In almost a month Brooke had not once talked about that day.

"Kind of, kind of not." She replied.

"Honestly, I did it because I was jealous," she sighed."I was jealous of you, and of Haley, and of everyone in this stupid town. So you got back what, eight months ago? And you're already engaged, pregnant, and you're happy. And Haley and Nathan's marriage is perfect, as always. They're even thinking of renewing their vows at some point. And everything was going wrong for me, with Lucas, and with Jamie and Ross." Brooke sighed. "I'm sorry, I know it wasn't your fault, and… I know it was a really stupid thing to do, and I'm so, so sorry that it was you who had to find me, but so glad that you did. I guess I just felt like it was the only way out."

Neither of them did anything for a few moments, until Peyton leant over and gave Brooke a warm hug.

"You know you can always come to me of you ever need anything, yeah? I will always be there for you."

"Mmm, I know." Brooke broke away and smiled a weak smile. "Thank you."

So, what did you think? A relief? A let down? Also, I'm thinking of checking in on everyone else's Christmases next chapter, but I have serious writer's block for anything else after that, so I would really appreciate any ideas you guys have, if you could help.

See you next chapter!