OK, so I got a bit of backlash for Brooke having a child and that child being a daughter, I'm sorry if you hate that but for the story I have in my mind I needed it to happen! I was almost not gonna bother updating but then a heap of you gave me really positive reviews so I kept writing!
Thanks for reading and reviewing guys I really do appreciate it! Even those who didn't like the whole daughter thing, there is nothing wrong with constructive criticism!
I will try my best not to make this just another 'daughter' fic. This is a Brucas tale!
So, without further ado, here's the new chap. ENJOY!
8 years, 5 months, 6 days
Chapter 2
"Pleasure of love lasts but a moment, Pain of love lasts a lifetime"
- Bette Davis
"She has a CHILD?!?!" Haley opened the front door to her brother-in-law glaring down at her with an expression that could only be described as complete bewilderment.
"Hey Lucas, nice of you to drop by AND with such a warm hello too, it's not like I haven't seen you in five months or anything." She said sarcastically but Lucas just ignored her, walking past into the house.
"SHE HAS A CHILD?!?!" He repeated, this time with a little more volume. Haley followed him as he went towards the kitchen, grabbing a glass, filling it up with water and downing it in two gulps before turning to her. "She has a CHILD" He said again and this time Haley rolled her eyes, realising she wasn't getting a proper hello from him anytime soon.
"I assume your not talking about Angelina Jolie? Cause hate to break it to you Luke but she has six children." Lucas just smacked his lips together in frustration at her words "OK! Alright, not in the mood for a joke, I get it. Yes Lucas, Brooke has a child A-K-A mine and Nathan's goddaughter." The blondes mouth fell open.
"You and Nathan have a goddaughter that just so happens to be Brooke's daughter and no one feels the need to tell me?!?! Am I even part of this family any more?"
"Your not part of Brooke's family anymore." Haley spat back, not angrily but rather defiantly. She loved Lucas but she had never really forgiven him for what he did to Brooke. She had always, to this day, held out hope for the couple, refusing to believe that the whole relationship had was truly over in highschool. At her words, Lucas's stance fell.
"I-I know but you still should have told me. Brooke is.." he stopped, correcting himself "WAS such a big part of my life, it would have been nice to know."
"She made us promise not to tell you." His head snapped to Haley
"What?"
"The first thing she did when she got back after you left, she made us all swear on our lives that we would NEVER talk about her to you. If you asked how she was, we were to say good and that is all. She didn't want you knowing ANYTHING. The first trip out to see you after Kayla was born she made us re-swear not to mention her or the pregnancy." Lucas couldn't believe it.
"Who made the promise?"
"Everyone that might even possibly talk to you. Your mum even, Brooke made her promise it like three times."
"Even mum? God how could you all do that?"
"After what you did? And the state that she was in? How could we not?" Lucas hung his head.
"Why?" He didn't understand why Brooke would want to completely shut him out of every aspect of her life, Haley shrugged
"I dunno, but I've known that girl nearly fifteen years and I still don't know how her mind works. I do know that she wasn't really in her right frame of mind, I think she just didn't want to give you any control over her life."
"Control?"
"Information is power Luke, she was eighteen and heart broken, what did you want her to do?"
"How bad was it back then?"
"Pretty bad."
"What happened?" Haley bit her lip.
"I have already gone way over what I should be saying, if you want anything more, ask her yourself." The idea of seeing Brooke again made Lucas's heart spasm nervously.
"C'mon Hales!"
"Nah-AH! How did you find out anyway?"
"I-ah, Kinda ran into her and Kayla at the fruit shop, she was with-" He stopped, suddenly jumping up from where he was leaning against the bench. Haley's eyes widened in worry. "She got MARRIED!!"
"What? Who got married???" Ok, now she was confused
"Brooke!" Lucas said loudly "Brooke got married!"
"What? No she didn't."
"Yes she did. To that guy... What's his name, dark hair, kind of weasily looking, Kayla's father!"
"Oh Felix? Luke, he's not weasily looking."
"Whatever, he is her husband though!"
"Since when?"
"Since- Since- Ahhh, their not married?"
"No! Their not even dating."
"They seemed pretty together to me."
"Well they have their moments where it seems like that but their just really close cause of Kay." Lucas calmed down.
"So she's not married?"
"No."
"Is she seeing anyone?" Haley kinked an eyebrow.
"Why?"
"Just wondering."
"Lucas" She warned
"What?"
"Why do you care anyway? It's been eight years, seriously, it's like the two of you have no idea how to move on."
"Brooke hasn't moved on?" Haley groaned
"No YOU haven't and apparently you haven't grown up either."
"What are you talking about Hales? I've moved on."
"Really?"
"Yep, the only reason I asked is because Brooke has done this huge thing and given life to something and it's just weird finding out like this, I want to know if there are any other skeletons."
"None that spring to mind at the moment."
"Good. I'm still recovering from the whole kid thing."
"Well get used to it cause Kay, Felix and Brooke are all coming to dinner tonight and so are you." Lucas opened his mouth to protest but Haley stopped him. "Absolutely NO complaints, you get no say in the matter. You are coming and that is final."
"That's what she said." Haley rolled her eye's
"Your like a child, you know that?"
"Ahhhh to be a child in Tree Hill again, It's great to be back."
"Why are you back by the way?"
"Tree Hills my home." Haley could tell there was a lot more to it but she wasn't going to press the issue, not yet.
"How long are you here for?"
"Three months hopefully."
"WOW! You haven't been here that long since you were eighteen! Crazy!"
"Good crazy though right?"
"Of course, come here you big Laker's star." She walked around to hug him and Lucas gladly returned the embrace.
"I've missed you Hales."
"You too ...Eugene."
"He's back for OFF SEASON!" Pacing back and forth in front of her couch which Nathan now occupied, Brooke couldn't help but yell "He's back for off season! I mean seriously! That's crazy right? He hasn't been back for longer than a few days in YEARS!"
"Brooke-" Nathan attempted but there was not a chance he was going to get a word in.
"I mean it's been eight years, why now? Did he just wake up one day and decide he would come to Tree Hill? Was it winning the championship? No, I don't think it would be that." Brooke appeared to be talking to herself, so Nathan got up.
"I'll just leave you-"
"SIT DOWN NATHAN ROYAL SCOTT!" Brooke bellowed, not looking up as she pointed a warning finger at Nathan, who gulped and sat back in his place.
"It's been eight years and now he's just randomly back, talking to my daugh- Wait." She stopped in place, her head snapping to Nathan "Did you know he was coming?"
"What?!? No, I just came downstairs to him sitting in my kitchen, we said hi then Haley told me to drop Jamie off here so that he, Kay and Felix could go to the rivercourt."
"How longs he here for?"
"Three months."
"Three MONTHS!"
"Yeah, that's what he said. Why do you care anyway, weren't you like over eight years ago?" Brooke glowered at him.
"Yes Nathan, we have been over for eight years but we also haven't seen each other in that long so excuse me for being a little surprised." She snapped back.
"Woah, sorry." Nathan held his hands up in surrender. "Look, I get it. It's weird him being back bu-"
"Why is he back anyway?"
"He says it's because Tree Hill is his home, but I'm not buying it. Somethings up."
"Whatever it is, he should just go back to L.A. and deal with it." Nathan laughed
"You have always sucked with awkward situations Davis."
"Doesn't everybody?"
"Yeah but most people confront them, you just run. Already booked a flight to New York have we?"
"Don't think I haven't thought about it but unfortunately Kay goes back to school soon, so no running for me." Nathan laughed again, he had expected this exact reaction as soon as Haley had asked him to drop Jamie off. Brooke crossed her arms. "What's he like these days anyway?" Ok, the younger Scott had not seen that question coming.
"Uh, I dunno, I guess he's the same as when you knew him. Maybe a little more mature? But not much. He's not as fun either yet at the same time he refuses to be serious."
"What do you mean?" Brooke asked in confusion.
"Well like, he doesn't really open up and talk about serious things like he used to." Brooke kinked an eyebrow at him. "Haley's words, not mine. She thinks he's shut himself off a lot since moving there. Whenever a conversation gets to serious he will kind of just stop talking or make a joke."
"How does that make him any less fun?"
"It doesn't but he's less fun cause he can't be convinced to try anything new or do anything he doesn't want to. He's a stubborn as all hell."
"Well that's new." Nathan shrugged
"We all changed after highschool I guess." Brooke nodded slowly.
"Yeah, we did." And then in a moment of complete seriousness, she locked eyes with Nathan again. "It's weird that I don't know him at all anymore, it's been so long yet it still feels like highshool was just yesterday."
"Do you miss him?" Brooke shrugged.
"I haven't missed him in a long time. But part of him still misses knowing him." Nathan nodded.
"Then get to know him again."
"I wish it were that simple."
"Why can't it be?"
"Because it's been so long and yet I still don't know if I can forgive him."
"Brooke-"
"It sounds stupid Nathan but he left with no explanation and you know what?" She paused "I think I'm still in love with him." Nathan, looked at her in complete astonishment.
"Wh-what?!?! Really?" Brooke burst into laughter.
"You should see the look on your face!" She continued to laugh. "Priceless." Nathan shook his head
"You sound just like him you know that? Just as soon as anything gets serious, you laugh."
"Cause it's so stupid! Nate, I haven't known him in EIGHT years and it's crazy that he's here but I'll get over it. I can't run to New York so I will just have to learn to deal. Who knows? Maybe we can even be friends." Ok, she highly doubted that would happen but it wasn't an impossibility.
"Wow, look at you. Miss Davis, all grown up."
"Funny how that happens when you get older."
You could cut the tension with a knife. The kids upstairs, the five adults all sitting around one dining table, trying their best to keep the small talk going. Lucas would glance at Brooke, Brooke would glance at Felix, Felix would smile at Lucas, Lucas would glower at Felix, Brooke would look at Haley for support, Haley would give her a reassuring smile and Nathan would just stare, smirking at them all. And it had only been five minutes, dinner hadn't even been served yet.
"Sorry it's taking so long." Haley said, apologising for what seemed like the millionth time.
"Seriously Hales, it's fine." Brooke assured her, then more awkward silence set in. Felix placed a reassuring hand on her leg and she smiled at him, Lucas took another swig of wine from his cup.
"So Brooke" he said, finally working up the courage to speak to her for the first time since their awkward hello earlier
"Uh-yes?" She wouldn't look him in the eye.
"What have you been up to lately?" Ok, probably the dumbest question ever but at least it was a start. Brooke shrugged
"Nothing interesting really."
"Oh don't be like that." Felix argued, turning to Lucas "Well since you last saw her, she has given birth to my child, bought an apartment in New York and house in Tree Hill, travelled the globe oh and started up a multi-million dollar company."
"I read about that." Lucas choose to ignore Felix's cocky, sarcastic tone.
"Yeah." Brooke said, still not looking at him.
"It's really impressive. I always knew you were destined for great things." Biting back the bitter taste in her mouth, the brunette shrugged again, not bothering to say anything. Lucas fell silent, not sure what to say next, luckily a buzzer sounded from the kitchen and Haley jumped up .
"Finally!" She said "Brooke, give me a hand?" Brooke got up and followed Haley into the kitchen, glad for the distraction. As they entered, Haley grabbed a lasagne out of the oven before putting it on the bench and turning to Brooke. "Spill." She said, her words were an order, not a question.
"Spill what?" Brooke tried her best to act innocent.
"Cut the crap, what's up with you and Lucas?"
"What? Nothing, other than the fact that he just came storming back into all our lives."
"He wasn't exactly 'storming' Brooke."
"Whatever, he's back and to be honest, I don't know how to deal with it."
"How did you feel when you first saw him?" Haley was getting right to the point and as much as Brooke wanted to avoid it, she knew she couldn't lie to her best friend.
"Shocked, shocked and double shocked?" Haley laughed.
"Okay, how about after that?"
"Well after that, naturally I was even more shocked."
"Brooke."
"Fine, you don't need to use that motherly you-just-stole-a-cookie-from-the-cookie-jar tone with me. I don't know how I felt."
"You must have some idea." Brooke sighed
"To be honest." She ran a hand through her short hair nervously "I felt really angry and sad and I don't know why. It's crazy right? It's been so long and I let all those feelings go a long time ago, I stopped being angry a long time ago. But the second I saw him it's like all the anger and hurt just came right back to the surface." Haley crossed the kitchen to embrace her friend, Brooke laughed, hugging her back. "You don't have to baby me Hales, I'm not going to break."
"I know how hard it was for you the first time round Brooke, I'm here for you okay?" Brooke nodded as Haley moved back.
"I know, and I love you for it Haley J-S, now what the hell am I supposed to do about the blonde sitting out there talking to your husband and the father of my child?"
"Firstly, I hope you were referring to two different people." Brooke laughed as Haley continued "Secondly, you never got to talk to Lucas after everything went down, you never got closure, so naturally you still feel hurt and betrayed. I think you need to talk to him." Brooke grimaced "Come on, where's the strong, brave, mature, independent Brooke Davis I know and love?"
"She flew out the window right about the time Lucas got here."
"Well she's going to have to come back cause Lucas isn't going anywhere anytime soon."
"So you and Nathan keep telling me."
"He's a wise man my husband."
"Yeah, yeah. How am I supposed to even have a mature conversation with Lucas anyway? He lives in L.A. plays sport and parties for a living and the man hasn't even ever had a serious relationship." Haley looked as if she was about to say something but Brooke cut her off. "I swear to god Haley, if you say me, I might just have to kill you." Haley bit her lip. "How am I supposed to sit down and have a mature conversation with him?"
"He's the same Lucas as in highschool Brooke, he's just a bit older now. You both are."
"I guess it's just that-" A 'bing' sounded from Haley's pocket and she reached into her jeans, withdrawing her phone and looking down at it before laughing and handing it to Brooke.
From: Nathan
Haley James-Scott and Brooke Penelope Davis! Get your asses back into this room right NOW. No one has talked since you left and I'm scared if I leave to come find you world war three will break out. Stop gossiping and get back to the dining room!
Brooke laughed "That's our cue." She said, walking over to pick up the lasagne.
"You gonna be OK?" Haley asked, Brooke smiled at her.
"Hey" she said "I'm strong, brave, mature Brooke Davis remember? There's nothing I can't handle." She winked at he friend before walking out of the kitchen.
After they had all started eating it had been slightly less awkward, Lucas, Felix and Nathan had gotten into a lively debate about basketball. Brooke and Haley had laughed about how over all the sports talk they were. Brooke chatted about the new men's line the company was bringing in. Nathan talked about how his team was going to take down the Lakers next year whilst his brother dared him to give it a shot. Felix talked about how excited he was to be having Kayla back with him in New York for the next week and Lucas sat awkwardly by as the other four chatted away about the high and lows of parenting. All together it had been a good night yet Brooke had still refused to look Lucas in the eye, rarely asking him questions, but laughing in time with everyone else when he cracked a good joke. Lucas had just watched Brooke all night, he could tell that she had matured a lot, but the same fun, easy going Brooke he had always loved was still inside her. She had cut her hair short, he didn't love it but it defiantly gave her a more business-like-edge.
As the adults finished desert a cry came from upstairs "AUNT HALEY!" Kayla called "GRANDMA KAREN IS ON THE PHONE!!!" Lucas looked after the cry in puzzlement for a second, frowning slightly before he turned to Haley.
"I can't believe she's in New Zealand while I'm here, it sucks." Haley nodded, getting up
"She will be back soon enough, I'll tell her you say Hi."
"I talked to her like three hours ago." Haley shrugged, before turning to the rest.
"I better take this, be back in a sec."
"Actually Haley, I better go. Gotta do a bit of work before tomorrow." Haley nodded, moving over to give Felix a brief hug.
"Thanks for coming Felix."
"Anytime James." He smiled at her.
"I should probably get going too." Brooke chimed in and Lucas looked up, this was his last chance for the night.
"Err, actually Brooke, I was wondering if I could maybe talk to you. In private?" Haley looked between Brooke and Lucas as Felix looked at Brooke to see if she was OK.
"Brooke-" He said but Brooke cut him off.
"It's okay, Felix, I'll see you tomorrow."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, it's fine." Felix shrugged, heading upstairs to go say goodbye to his daughter. Haley followed to answer her phone call and not long after Nathan excused himself from the table with some lame excuse of needing to go find something upstairs. And for the first time in nearly nine years, Lucas and Brooke were alone together.
"Soo..." Lucas said, awkwardly "How have you been?" Brooke rolled her eye's
"Fine." She said shortly and the two feel into silence again.
"I'm just a little confused here Brooke to be perfectly honest." He tried to start the conversation again.
"Confused? What is it that has confused you Lucas?" Brooke asked, bitterness in her voice.
"You have a child that I had no idea about." He didn't mean to make it sound angry but that had been the way it had come out.
"Yeah well with all the whores I'm sure you've been with, you probably have a child you have no idea about as well." Lucas was taken aback by her answer.
"That's not fair."
"I'm sorry, what would you like me to say?" The brunette said sarcastically.
"I'd like you to just be yourself."
"And how the hell would you know what myself is Lucas? I haven't talked to you in eight years." Lucas swallowed, trying to change the subject.
"I don't want to fight with you Brooke, I just don't understand why you couldn't have told me you have a daughter."
"Why would I tell you anything? Your not part of my life any more."
"But making everyone swear not to tell me anything, making my friend and brother swear never to mention you."
"How is that your concern?" Lucas was getting angry now, Brooke wasn't acting like herself, he knew that much.
"It's my concern because I had the right to know." Brooke eyes squinted into slits.
"YOU had the right to know?" She hissed "YOU had the right to know?" She said louder. "You had and HAVE NO right to know anything about me Lucas!"
"When you have a child that also happens to be my brother's and best friends godson, I deserve to know."
"You deserve to know nothing." Lucas banged his hand down on the table in annoyance, Brooke didn't even flinch.
"For gods sake Brooke! She calls MY mother Grandma Karen!"
"Well I'm sorry but after my mother died Karen was there for me AND Kayla. I don't know why your complaining, Karen was quite flattered when Kayla started calling her that."
"But-" Lucas went to argue but then stopped himself, calming his tone. "Your mother died?" He asked in shock. Brooke blinked back tears, nodding.
"Yeah."
"When?" Lucas knew that Brooke and her mother never had the best relationship but throughout senior year the two had started to grow closer.
"A few months after Kayla was born."
"I'm so sorry, I-I wish... I didn't know." He reached across the table to take her hand but she snatched it away.
"Well you didn't so it's fine. Lets just not talk about it OK?" Lucas nodded.
"OK" he agreed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled."
"Me either."
"I get it your angry, your allowed to feel that way after what I did-"
"That was a long time ago."
"That doesn't make it right."
"But it makes anything you have to say pointless."
"I want you to understand why though, why I left, Brooke it was never because I didn't want to be with you-"
"Lucas, it doesn't matter, not anymore, can we just move on please?" Lucas looked down at his hands.
"If that's what you want."
"It is."
"Okay then." He paused. "Look, I know it's probably way to soon but I was wondering. Umm, would you maybe consider going out with me again. Like nothing serious, just to dinner or something, when your ready." Brooke couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"No Lucas, it's not something I would even be close to considering." Lucas nodded.
"I understand. It's just that" he looked back up at Brooke "I didn't come back to Tree Hill because it's my home , I mean it is but, that's not why I'm back." Brooke really wished he would stop talking.
"I don't need to know why you came back Lucas." But that didn't stop him.
"I came back for you Brooke. It's been eight and a half years and not a day has gone by that I don't miss you." Brooke paused for a moment, taking in his words, Lucas watched her for any type of reaction.
"Well I don't miss you, not anymore Lucas. I haven't missed you in years." It hurt to hear but he wasn't giving up that easily.
"Then why can't you just give me a shot?" And suddenly Brooke was mad, so mad that she swore she could have been back in that apartment all those years ago, watching him walk out the door.
"BECASUE YOU BROKE MY HEART!" She screamed, catching Lucas off guard. "You broke my heart Lucas, you crushed me when you walked out that door. I thought- I thought you loved me and you left! Cast me aside like I was nothing."
"I did love you Brooke, I do-" Brooke ignored him.
"You don't get to do this Lucas, you don't get to do this, not after all this time. Not when I'm happy. You don't get to walk back into my life like nothings changed and expect me to jump into bed with you."
"I don't expect-"
"You don't get to walk back into my life that easily! I gave you five years of my life, FIVE YEARS that I can't even think about without wanting to throw up. I can never get those years back Lucas, I hate you for taking them from me." She breathed heavily, she had waited so long to say these words to him."It took me two years, TWO YEARS! To realise you weren't coming back. Two years of waiting for some sign that maybe I was wrong, maybe you did love me. But you know what I did after that? I grew up and got over you. Now your stupid lines might work on those other woman but they ill never again work on me!"
"See that's the thing Brooke, I didn't get over you! I do love you, I never stopped. I've missed you everyday for eight and a half years! Those woman are nothing, your the one that I love." Brooke laughed, but it wasn't her normal laugh, it was an almost crazed sound and Lucas looked at her with concern. This was not how he had seen this conversation going.
"Even if that was true Lucas, it doesn't matter. Not anymore, too little too late. I don't love you Luke, not anymore. Maybe I never did, who knows?"
"Don't say that-" Lucas was completely broken, devastated by her words.
"Why not? The man I thought I loved never would have done what you did to me. I don't love you Lucas, I don't miss you, I don't think about you anymore" OK, that last one might have been a bit of a lie but she was trying her best to keep it together. "and mostly, I don't want to be with you and I never will. I promised myself a long time ago, I would never let you anywhere near my life or my heart again. I thought maybe we could move past all this and tolerate each other but I can see now that will never happen. If you really came to Tree Hill for me then you may as well make both of our lives easier and just get on the next plane back to L.A." With that Brooke stood up, taking one last look at Lucas before turning and walking out the door, she had said all she needed to say, heard all she needed to hear. Lucas heard her calling for Kayla and saying goodbye to Nathan and Haley, he heard the front door close and her car drive off. He stood up, slowly starting to gather the plates on the table. He felt numb, he couldn't believe everything he had just heard. He was Lucas Scott, star player of the Los Angeles Lakers and wet dream of half the girls in the country. He was Lucas Scott, the man who could get any thing or any girl he ever wanted. He was Lucas Scott and the only girl he had ever truly loved had just broken his heart.
So don't be mad! It has been eight and half years and Brooke never had closure so it's only natural she would be angry!
Thanks for reading! Make sure you let me know what you think (good and bad!).