Author's note: Yes, I know, I suck. It's been a looong time since the last update, but I am finally here with the new chapter! It was a hard chapter to write, and I wanted it to be somewhat good before I posted it. lol. I hope you like it, and I hope you remember this story. lol.

Also, a huge thanks to Ellie and Christina for beta'ing this! I heart you girls! Thanks to Mara for the beautiful banner!

Disclaimer; I don't own anything with one tree hill. That's all Mark's "brilliant" idea

Chapter 2: Dividing His And Hers

She hardly could believe it; their love had come to this.

Dividing and deciding his and hers.

"Mommy, don't you love Daddy anymore?"

The sound of her youngest son's voice kept ringing in her ear, the childish tone evident, but at the same time it was drifting away with each word spoken. She knew that this transition would make her children grow up fast. She knew that they would now want to act like the men she had told them to be in the past.

Brooke shivered, and wrapped the thin jacket tighter around her, as she struggled to move forward through the wind with her heavy bag on her shoulder.

Her eyes filled with tears, as she watched Kevin's tearstained cheeks.

"I still love your Dad, Kevin." She saw Lucas flinch slightly at her words. Never in a million years would she have thought that the words I love you could hurt more than they did good. "But sometimes love isn't enough. We need to spend some time apart to figure things out. You know how you need to be away from Bryan sometimes, right?" She scooped him up in her lap, and brushed away a few tears with her thumb. Kevin scrunched his nose.

"Yes, he does get on my nerves sometimes." Brooke let out a small chuckle. "Does Dad get on your nerves?"

"Sometimes," Brooke said with a smile, as she looked over at Lucas. Her smile faded as she saw his tight lips, and his eyes fixated on the carpet. "But that's not why we're doing this."

"Why you're doing this," Lucas muttered from his position in his chair. Brooke's head snapped to him, her eyes narrowing as she understood what he was doing. He wanted her to be the bad guy, while he was the saint. The thought made her want to laugh, but she managed to restrain herself.

"What's that, Lucas?" Her voice was dripping with resentment. Kevin looked confused between his parents, and Brooke quickly covered up her hard appearance. She didn't want her children to choose sides; it wasn't fair to either of the parties.

"I just said... I'm sorry that it has to be this way, but it's for the best, and I promise you that everything will be okay." Brooke sighed in relief. She was glad he wasn't starting anything in front of Kevin and Bryan. They didn't deserve to see them fighting, not again.

"Your dad and I have talked it over, and he will move out tomorrow." Another flinch ran over Lucas' features at the words moving out. It was true, they had talked it over, but it hurt to actually hear her say it. "But he's not going too far. He will stay with Grandma Karen for this week, and then he will find an apartment so he can stay close to you guys." Brooke nudged Kevin's and Bryan's shoulder.

"Isn't that right, Lucas?" Brooke continued softly, her hand lingering on Bryan's shoulder. When Lucas didn't answer, she asked again. This time more harshly than the first, and she felt Bryan squirm under her grasp as her hand had tightened on his shoulder.

"Yes, that is correct," Lucas, answered mockingly. He didn't want to act that way, but still, he couldn't help it. Maybe he was naive to think that they would have worked through it somehow, that their love would not alter, as she had so nicely put it all those years ago.

Brooke watched as Lucas shifted uncomfortably in the chair. His hands were in desperate need to find something to hold, and his eyes were shifting through the room. As she sensed the coldness in his voice every time he responded to something she said, she couldn't help but think that this was it, it was really the end. How could anything be okay after this?

Lucas looked over at Bryan, who hadn't said anything since they first told them the news. He didn't cry, he didn't move at all.

"How are you there, Bry?" Lucas said softly, and reached over to nudge the six year old's knee. He shifted at his Daddy's touch, and scooted closer to his Mom. Brooke saw the hurt flash through Lucas' eyes, and as their eyes met, she saw the resentment they held towards her.

"Answer your father, Bryan," Brooke said, in hope of trying to make something right.

"No," he answered, his eyes fixed on the new sneakers Lucas had bought him the day before.

"No?" Brooke replied, a little shocked of the tone Bryan used towards his parents. She had taught him to be better than this.

"Why should I? He's leaving, and he's not coming back. Nothing's ever going to be the same again. I hate you both!" Bryan screamed through his angry tears that had finally started to fall, before he stomped out of the room. Brooke's eyes filled with tears once again, and she saw through the blur that Lucas was breathing heavily to keep his from falling too. She opened her mouth to say something to him, just anything would do. But she couldn't, nothing would come out. There wasn't anything to say that would make the hurt that the foursome was feeling right.

She looked pleadingly at Lucas, willing him to understand. He looked at her harshly, before he picked up his keys and walked out.

Brooke was left, hanging on to her sobbing son in her lap.

Brooke wiped away the tears that had fallen as she thought about the day before. It seemed like a lifetime ago she had hurt the two most precious little people in her life, but she couldn't take it back either. Today was the day he was moving out, and she couldn't be there to watch him empty their house.

She walked up the driveway, and tried to pull her jacket even closer around her. It was too big, and no matter how much she tried, it just wouldn't hug her thin form in the way that it should.

She walked carefully up the steps, making sure that she wouldn't slip on the remnants of the rain that had fallen earlier that morning. Her heels were clicking against the pavement, and she damned herself for being there so early. But she had needed to get out, to get away from the big division that was taking place.

Her fingers were shaking as she desperately blew at them to try to get some warmth in them. It was useless. She reached her index finger up to the doorbell, and lightly pushed it. She quickly walked a few steps back, before she waited to see if she was home.

She had to be. She had said that she usually was at this time.

She saw lights turning on in various places, making signs of where she was moving through the house. Brooke silently cursed under her breath; of course it was too early to visit someone.

The door creaked as it opened, and a tall girl with messy blonde curly hair stepped out. She was wearing a simple tank top, and jeans. Her clothes and arms were covered with paint stains of various colors.

Peyton looked curiously over at Brooke, who hadn't said anything yet. She watched the sadness that engrossed her features, and her simple standing with her arms crossed. Something was wrong; Brooke had never been simple. As Peyton saw the bag that laid next Brooke's feet, she understood why only the shadow of the former Brooke was standing at her doorstep at 6 am.

"It's really over, Peyton," Brooke said. She looked down on the ground, and bit her lip as she tightened the grip around herself. "He's moving out."

Peyton watched as the tears started rolling down her cheeks. She walked gently over to Brooke, and wiped away at them, before she enveloped her in a hug. She felt her whole body grow limp, as her silent tears were replaced with quiet sobbing.

"Shhh, it's going to be okay," Peyton cooed, but deep down she knew that her words were empty. None of this was okay, nor would it ever be.

She wasn't so sure that Brooke could just bounce back this time.

--

Lucas walked into their house next day, only to find that it was empty. He tiptoed through the house, opening doors and checking in closets to see if anything had happened to his children, and Brooke. He couldn't bare it if it had. Everything was left exactly as it had been when he had walked out the day before, and he felt a lump grow in his chest. It tightened, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

What if while he was out, worrying about himself and his issues, he had failed to support the family that he loved?

He knew the answer to that; he had failed at his task a long time ago. He had always loved his kids, and he had really thought that he had been a great father. But as he walked through the house, the sound of his voice echoing through the room as the only response, he realised that he had never been a father. He had only been a man in their life, the thorn in Brooke's side and the reason for her heartbreak.

He had been his father.

He reached the kitchen, and saw a white note with his name on it. He sighed in relief as he saw Brooke's signature heart on it, and couldn't help but smile at the little gesture. Even in a time like this, he was glad to see that there were traces of Brooke left in her.

The note said that she had gone away. She loved him, and she probably always would, but she couldn't be there for him in the way she wished she could. She would see him later when he could bring the kids home to her, but after she had finished setting up their 'new' home. They didn't deserve to come home to an empty house. Lucas understood that, right?

Lucas folded the note, and put it back on the counter. He hung his head, before he nodded slightly to himself.

Of course he understood.

--

Peyton looked carefully over at Brooke, and took a moment to study her features. Her eyes were an unnoticeable shade of dull brown, and she struggled to keep them open. Her cheekbones were more visible than before, and as Brooke clung on to the cup of coffee, she couldn't help but notice that her wedding band was too big on her finger. Peyton furrowed her brows, as Brooke continued to stare a hole in the wall.

"It's okay to miss him." Peyton said softly, before taking a sip of her coffee. Brooke looked almost harshly at her, before she softened.

"No, no it's not," she whispered. "Not after what I've done."

"Brooke, you haven't done anything. It was inevitable."

"Maybe so... But maybe there was something I could have done? Maybe...I could have talked to him." Her eyes were glistening, and her hands were shaking as they tried to hold on to the cup.

"The day I told him I wanted a divorce, do you know what he said?" Peyton shook her head; her soft curls dancing around her shoulders.

"He said that..." She breathed in shakily, before she continued. "He said that he was with the other woman because she loved him. What does that say about me? Maybe it's true, maybe somewhere down the line I got so wrapped up in hating him that I forgot to love him. Can I really blame him for wanting something that I should've given him, something that I promised to do for the rest of my life?" She looked questioningly at Peyton, who wasn't sure if she should answer or not.

"I don't think I can, Peyton... It's all my fault," She whispered. She dropped the cup of coffee down on the table, making the coffee spill everywhere. Brooke frantically started looking for a washing cloth, with maniac motions she started wiping away the stains, while she repeated the words I'm sorry over and over. Peyton covered Brooke's hand with her own, and gently urged her to stop.

"It's going to be okay," Peyton said, her eyes dancing with the usual determination she had kept from her high school days. Brooke stopped her movement, and looked over at Peyton, her eyes read and her cheeks wet.

"How do you know that?" Brooke asked before she licked away a tear that had landed on her lips.

"You want to know why?" Peyton asked with a smile tugging at her lips. Brooke nodded hesitantly.

"Because I'm going to help you through it. Brooke P. Davis does not break down for anyone. I'm going to make you remember." Peyton nudged Brooke's shoulders, before she nearly attacked the frail brunette with a hug.

"You know, I never did return the favor of your piggy back ride all those years ago…" A luminous smile lit up the blonde's face.

"Peyton-" Brooke started, but was cut off by Peyton. "You want a ride?" She pointed at the staircase that led to the upstairs guest room. Brooke wiped away the last of the tears, before her lips turned into a genuine smile, one she hadn't used in a long time.

"Yeah... Yeah, I do." She answered, and got ready for the ride she knew would never let her fall alone.

--

Lucas paced around the living room, picking various items to put in the boxes that were scattered on the floor. There wasn't a pattern in what he did, and the fact that he wasn't able to consistently pick the things he wanted to bring, was driving Nathan crazy. Items were packed, then unpacked, and then packed again. Nathan knew he had to get him to talk, and saw an opportunity when Lucas was lingering at the last family photo that was taken.

"It's okay to miss her, you know," Nathan started. Lucas gently touched the family photo, before he went back to pick up a set of chandeliers from one of the boxes.

"Nathan, I called you to help me move, not to be my shrink." Lucas answered Nathan harshly.

"I'm not trying to be your shrink. I'm just... trying to get you to face this. Why this had to happen, and why you're packing or unpacking or whatever it is you're doing." Nathan managed to remain calm, as he told himself over and over that Lucas had the right to act that way, he was hurting.

"I know exactly what happened, thank you," Lucas answered clearly annoyed.

"I don't know if you do, Lucas. Do you know just why Brooke asked for that divorce?" Nathan knew he was walking on dangerous territory, but he knew more than anyone that Lucas needed to hear this. Even though he probably would wake up with a black eye the next morning.

"Because I cheated." Lucas replied shortly, as he contemplated whether or not to pack one of the many family portraits taken.

"I don't think that's it. And deep down, you know that's not the real reason either."

Lucas sighed, before he plopped down on his chair that stood in the corner. Brooke had placed it there because it was too ugly to be the center of the room. Lucas had just been happy that he for once had halfway won an argument.

"Yeah, I know, I just... I want to get her back, I want to make things right. But I... I don't know how."

Nathan noticed the small desperation his voice held, and couldn't help but feel sorry for his older brother.

"I don't either... But together we will figure it out, okay? I'll help you." Nathan said softly, and nudged Lucas' shoulder.

Lucas remained still, but his slight nodding showed that he appreciated it. Nathan smiled, before it faltered when he saw how empty their house looked.

"Uhm... Is everything done? Have you packed what you need?"

"Yeah, everything but... this," Lucas said, before he patted the arms on the chair. He hesitated for a second, before he gently rose from the chair and started to get a hold of it so he could carry it outside. Nathan stood in his spot, watching Lucas struggling with getting a good grasp on it. He watched him curse under his breath, and tears clouding his vision, which Nathan knew was because of Brooke. The chair only added to the stress that he knew Lucas' heart didn't need at the moment.

"Are you going to help me, or just stand there staring at my ass all day?" Lucas said annoyed, breaking through Nathan's thoughts. Nathan nodded and walked over to the chair to help Lucas out.

"I wasn't looking at your ass, by the way" Nathan muttered under his breath, smiling slightly.

"Yes you were. I can't blame you, it is pretty fine," Lucas replied, gently stroking his hand over his ass. Nathan closed his eyes and frowned.

" Ew, just put that fine ass away, and help me take out this chair." Lucas chuckled and shook his head, before he once again turned his attention towards the chair.

When all the boxes had been carried outside, Nathan stood by the front door, waiting for Lucas to take one last tour of his house.

"Err...are we done here?" Nathan said gently. He knew that Lucas was stalling, but it was inevitable. He was moving out, and now was the time to say goodbye. Lucas reached in his pocket and felt the rough paper against the sweaty palm of his hands.

"Just a second," he said as he lightly jogged into his bedroom. He quickly came back, and placed himself next to Nathan as he took in one last glance of his house.

"Now I'm ready," he said, before he walked out the front door, and down the stairs. Nathan patted his back as he followed his brother, closing the door and letting the darkness engross the faded whispers in the house of the once happy family of his brother.

--

Brooke hesitantly walked up the stairs to her house, her best friend following behind her. She had gotten the call; he was ready, and he was out of the house. She could come back now, and continue her life...without him.

She opened the front door, and took in the new look of her once beautiful house. He had left a hole. And not just a hole in the metaphorical 'hole in my heart' kind of deal, he really had left a hole. Like, in their living room, where his recliner used to be; or in their closet, where his suits used to be lined up, after colour and occasion. And in their medicine cabinet, where his favourite after shave and cologne were neatly lined up next to the perfume he had bought her for their anniversary.

Most importantly, he had left a hole in her pride, which was much more bigger than her cheesy hole in her heart. She was now separated, waiting to be divorced. She was the statistics. She was a joke.

She walked alone around the house. Peyton understood that this was something she needed to do alone, but when she was ready, she would be the first one there to help her stand on her own two feet again. Brooke walked in the bedroom, and looked under her bed where she had kept the 82 letters she had written that summer years ago. It had been filled with more letters and love notes over the years, until it had stopped when they stopped loving each other. She took it out, and looked through it, she wanted to make sure that everything was there. As she looked through it, she noticed a new letter. The pale blue color of the envelope stood out from the other white and baby pink colored envelopes, and the writing was mature, and curly, and it was messy in the way that showed nervousness.

She clutched the letter to her heart, before she fell down on her knees, and cried. She cried not for the present, but the past they had shared. She cried for her two boys that would be just a pawn in the pathetic life of their parents. She cried for the 'I love you's' she had wasted on him, and the sweet nothings he had wasted on her. She cried for the wasted trip down the aisle.

And she cried for herself.

Peyton walked in and took the brunette in her lap. She brushed away a few tendrils of hair from her face, and wiped her cheeks free from her salty tears. She whispered soft, soothing words. Not just words she knew Brooke wanted to hear and would make her feel better, but also words she knew were true, because she knew Lucas.

As Brooke's sobs had subsided, and her breathing had fallen in a steady rhythm, she softly kissed her forehead before she whispered in her ear,

"It's going to be okay, Brooke. He's going to fight to get you back."