Alright Brucas lover's! This is the next chapter and I hope you guys like it. There's more reunious, revelations and of course more Brucas so get ready to cry and cheer your favorite couple on! I own nothing of Tree Hill but you guys alread knew that. Special thanks to the reviews on this story, you guys keep me posting this story cause for a second I thought about leaving this one unfinished like so many of great ones I find on this site but don't worry. I am going to write this to the end and hopefully no long waits between updates. No more stalling guys, read on and enjoy!

Chapter 8

Love

Lucas was in much better spirits. He went to bed with the woman he loved in his arms and now he had just woken up with her still there. She was laying on her side and he was right behind her. Her hair was sprawled out across her pillow and to Lucas she looked like a work of art. He couldn't help but angle up just a bit to see her face. She looked like an angel. She had on no makeup, no pricy clothes and most of all no scowl on her face. Lucas had gotten so used to seeing the hatred on her face these last days that he thought he would never see this, have this in his life again. She looked at peace. He laid back down and looked up at the ceiling again and to his surprise Brooke snuggled back into him. He could do nothing but inhale the scent that had long since begun to fade from his bed but was never forgotten. She was his angel and his bed contained his heaven. She stirred a little kind of like on instinct. Their mornings use to consist of him waking first, her waking next, them having the first round of sex, he'd make breakfast while she made coffee, they'd sit and eat at the kitchen table, retreat back to the bedroom and then round it out with round two of sex and then they'd shower and go about their separate days. It was always easy to have those kinds of days being a published author and an up and coming designer. He tightened his arms around her and her hand started a path of circles into his chest.

"Bout time you woke up sleepy head."

"I haven't slept like that in a long time."

"Glad I could be of help."

"Lucas?"

"Yeah babe."

"I don't know what I'm doing here."

"You aren't doing anything. We're just laying here and enjoying the moment."

"But Lucas-"

"Brooke it's okay. We don't have to be anything other than what we are right now."

"And you're okay with that. I mean . . .we were together and-"

"And then we weren't and now I'm just happy to have you any way I can get you."

Brooke lifted her head to gaze into his eyes. It was like his eyes were a comfort zone and his lips were like home. Lucas could tell the moment was getting sexually charged so he decided to take them both down a notch because he knew if she started it he wouldn't be able to stop himself twice. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead and quickly exited the bed leaving her baffled and sitting up in his bed.

"So what's on your mind for breakfast because I was thinking my mom will love to see you."

"Your mom?"

"Yeah.." Then it hit him she wouldn't remember Karen. Lucas was always a little jealous of how quickly Karen took to Brooke when they first started dating back in high school. It was one of the worse days of his life when they held Brooke's funeral, Karen took it pretty hard. Lucas knew she would flip the moment she saw her.

"Tell me about your mom."

"Well, she makes the best pancakes. She loved you more than me sometimes. She made you Lily's honorary god mother."

"I have another god child?"

"Yeah. My little sister Lily. She loves you too. I'm gonna go call her."

The way Lucas lit up talking about his family confused Brooke. In one of her memories he seemed so cold, so detached. If this guy was so sweet, so loving and so caring, why did it feel like he had been such an asshole in that memory. Could it be this was a front or maybe he was happy she was alive and made a change for the better. It was true people didn't know what they had till it was gone but few people got a chance to get something back like a lost loved one. Maybe her coming back was going to be a good thing. For the first time, she was wondering why she was so scared to come back. She watched him as he reentered the room to start to get dressed and she realized she needed to get back to the motel and to Jake so he knew she was okay.

"Uh maybe after you finish getting ready you could take me back to the motel so I could get some clothes."

"What for, your clothes are here."

He said it so quickly he didn't realize how pathetic it sounded. This woman had dumped him a few days before she died and a year later he still had her clothes. Haley had tried to come over to clean out Brooke stuff but Lucas wouldn't open the door. After a while he just stopped using that bathroom so he wouldn't have to walk past the walk in closet and see her stuff anymore. He moved his clothes out and left her things where they were.

"I mean if you want the clothes are right through there. I'm gonna go use the shower downstairs. If you want to use the one up here you can."

He walked out leaving Brooke sitting on the bed. She wondered over to the bathroom and looked inside of the walk in closet. Inside was a closet full of gorgeous clothing. She brushed her hand along the many fabrics as she walked by and a smile came to her face as a white and yellow sundress caught her eye. She remembered the dress and it almost brought a tear to her eye. It was the first dress she created. She had been so proud. She turned to see another item that caught her attention. It was a box at the top of the closet and hanging out of the side was a sliver of white fabric. She reached up and brought the box down and to her surprise when she opened the top inside was the most beautiful wedding dress. A Brooke Davis original. She didn't want to drown in her memories in her closet she decided to grab a shower and get dressed but first she wanted to hear Jakes voice. She walked back over to the night stand next to the bed and picked up the phone to call him. It was a total of two rings before it went to his voicemail. She hung up and called again but this time the voicemail was all she got. She called a few more times and then decided maybe he was a little hurt by her shoving him out the door at Nathan's last night. She replaced the phone back to its home and went to get that shower. As the water trickled down she had a flash of a long forgotten Sunday morning. She felt the hot water bouncing off her body and somehow she felt the softness of Lucas' hands caressing her ass. She could see as their lips met underneath the cascading water and couldn't help but feel the warmth that shot through her from the memory. She remembered wanting him so bad that morning. She wanted him that bad pretty much most of the day but that moment was the very definition of want. His hands would always run through her hair till he had enough in his palm and then he'd grip softly and force her head to the side so he could kiss the spot that always got her wet for him. Her fingers raked over his chest, making sure to do it hard enough to leave a mark because nothing made her more proud then when she left her mark on him. In return he nipped at the skin on her neck making sure to do it just hard enough to make her groan and leave a mark on what he knew was his but wanted something to show the world. He pushed her back to the tile and she knew what was coming next. The entrance was smooth and tantalizing and Lucas could tell she was enjoying it from the deep scratches he felt and knew would be deep when all was said and done. Their lips met once again in a passionate force and then like a switch being flipped in the dark she was brought back to reality. Her hand slid through her soaked hair and all she could think about was him. She wanted to walk right out of that bathroom, naked and all, and find him right then but it was good she had at least a little restraint. She finished cleansing her body and hair and stepped out of the bathroom in her towel just in time to see Lucas with a towel hanging dangerously low around his waist and he was using another towel to dry his hair. He didn't realize she was in the room till he was about to remove the towel and Brooke cleared her throat.

"Oh, uh sorry I didn't think you'd be out this soon."

"It's okay. Uh where would I find a clean pair of underwear?"

Lucas pointed to the drawer next to him and she quickly made her way to it. She pulled the drawer out and knew Lucas was staring at her. He backed away with a pair of boxers in his hand and went to the bathroom so he could put them on out of sight.

"Is there any kind of underwear that isn't lacey or racy or…" Brooke said pulling out a particularly sexy piece, "..or sexy."

Lucas smirked in the other room know exactly what she meant. He always loved it when Brooke stripped down for him because there wasn't a time when she didn't wear something sexy underneath.

"Well, you had the body for it and you use to tell me people invented lingerie so women could feel at their most desirable."

Brooke continued to survey the under garments and picked a matching black bra and panty set. Lucas exited the bathroom wearing the boxers and carrying a shirt and jogging shorts

"But I was never one to not desire you."

"Why didn't you want to be with me?"
The question caught him so off guard he almost fell over. He looked away from her and walked over to the bed to sit.

"What makes you think I didn't want to be with you?"

Brooke was hesitant but if there was ever a moment that called for honesty this was it.

"I remembered something."

"What did you remember" he asked hoping it wasn't the worst.

"I had come home from watching Jamie and I was really sad. You didn't ever look up from your computer to look at me. I was going to sleep and you were acting like me being sad was bothering you so I just told you to go back to what you were doing and then I cried. I cried myself to sleep that night and it seemed like you didn't care."

"I did I was just…..I was stupid. I didn't know just how lucky I was to have you but I do now."

He had already gotten up from the bed and was standing in front of her contemplating if he should touch her. Brooke looked into his eyes and then down at his lips and then she got that warm sensation that started to take over her body. She then remembered she was still only on a towel and he was only in a pair of boxers. It wouldn't have taken much time for them to end up in the bed that was just over his shoulder. She backed away and averted her eyes and he took the signal and backed away from her as well. She walked around him and went to the bathroom to get dressed. He looked after her as she closed the door and he heard the lock turn. She probably was right to lock it because the way his blood was pumping he was desperate enough to fake an accidental walk in on her, just to see her in her bra and panties. She was right, he was a perv. He got dressed and waited for her down stairs and when she came down the stairs in one of his favorite dresses he had to scold himself of the dirty things that came to mind, after all that green sundress that fluttered around her legs as she walked had been bunched up around her waist the last time she wore it. He thought about it and it was the time when his mom invited them to the house and Brooke had thought it would be super sexy to have some 'quality time' in his child hood bedroom. He had thought it was a great idea seeing as how his entire junior year had been filled with wet dreams and fantasies that featured no one but her. She hit the bottom step and smiled. Her hair had been dried and swept up into a loose pony tail. He always loved this dress because it brought out the color of her eyes even more. Here he was driven back to mini fantasies about a woman he had loved for so long and all he wanted to do was reach out and touch her again.

"Do you mind taking me by the motel first before we go anywhere else?"

"Sure why" he asked with a smile.

"I wanted to see Jake."

The smile he sported quickly fell and gave way to some serious pangs of jealousy, he hated it back then when she got close to guys and it seemed he still hated it. He turned away so she wouldn't see the frown that had formed across his face but it was too late, she had.

"I just want to make sure he's okay. When he left last night he seemed kind of left out and-"

"It's okay, you don't have to explain."

"Thanks. It's just I really care about him-"

"I get it. Let's go."

He walked her out the front door and Brooke had no trouble feeling the sudden change in Lucas' demeanor. She hadn't wanted to hurt his feelings but she had to see Jake. She hated she hadn't called him last night and was beginning to feel that guilt to eat away at her till she felt Lucas' hand on her knee. He squeezed it to reassure her he wasn't mad but somehow his reassurance fell short. They drove back to the motel and when Brooke got there she walked in and the room was empty. Lucas walked in behind her and sat at the table by the door as she looked around to see if Jake had left her any indication of where he had gone. Lucas on the other had had a different thought in mind. His eyes drifted to the bed and his mind began to wonder if there was something between this guy and Brooke. Had she slept with Jake? Was she in love with Jake? Did she still love him at all? Did she feel anything for him? These were the questions that bounced around in his mind till his focus was shifted to a sad looking Brooke who had just plopped down on the bed and looked near tears.

"What's the matter?"

"He's gone" she said flinging a piece of paper on the bed.

"What do you mean?"

"He's gone. He left me that letter telling me I'm back where I belong and he doesn't belong here."

Lucas took notice of the tears and crossed the room and sat next to her. It kind of broke his heart to see her torn up about someone leaving her, someone other than him.

"Maybe he just wanted to give you some space to get to know your family again."

"No. He told me he was thinking of leaving me here and last night I all but pushed him out of the door. I feel so…so…alone."

Lucas gathered her into his arms and allowed her to cry.

"It's okay. You have us now. I know it may seem like crap but we love you Brooke, we all love you so much. I promise in a little while you won't feel so scared or lonely. You have us now."

Brooke scooted up to see his eyes were focused on her.

"Come on, I have someone I want you to meet…again."

As they got closer to the front door of this sweet little one level home Brooke got nervous, not the bad kind of nervous but the kind of butterflies you get when you're with someone you love. Lucas' hand tightened around hers as they got closer to the door. He knocked and for a moment she wanted to bolt but the moment she saw Karen she knew she was right where she was supposed to be. She remembered the talk Karen had with her on that very porch about her being sure Lucas would marry her someday. She remembered holding Karen the night they found out Keith didn't make it and they cried together. She remembered telling Karen she was in love with Lucas before she even told him. It was at that moment that Brooke truly felt like she was home. Karen's eyes where wide with amazement as she looked at the young woman she loved with all her heart. Brooke had been like a daughter to her and when she lost her it was like they all lost her. Karen stepped forward but hesitated with open arms. She had that ardent look of wonder on her face as her mind tried to reason away the miracle standing in front of her. She finally engulfed Brooke into an embrace of love and adoration that Brooke could feel spread through her. Karen's eyes were shut tight at first as she tried to wake from the dream she knew she was in but when she opened them and still felt the girl in her arms and saw the smile on her son's face she knew this had to be real.

"How is this happening? How are you alive?" Karen said through heavy tears.

"Mom not so hard, you'll break her."

"Oh shut up Lucas, she can hug me as hard as she wants."

Just like old times he thought. He knew now this was the right place to bring her to get rid of any feeling of being alone. Karen escorted them in and the whole time she couldn't stop smiling at Brooke. Lucas explained everything to her about Brooke's memory gaps but she shocked him when she started talking about her new memories she had just gotten back.

"Where's Lily ma?"

"She's at a friend's for a play date. She is not going to believe this."

"I almost didn't either. I come up here and all of a sudden, I remember you."

"How much do you remember sweetheart" Karen asked, loving the fact she had Brooke back and by extension, she had her son back.

"I remember you telling me you loved me like a daughter."

"Very true. I do. Brooke honey, where have you been?"

"I've-"

"Let's leave that for another time" Lucas interrupted not wanting to bring Jake up too much.

"Well if you say so my boy, oh hey are you hungry?"

"Starving." Both Lucas and Brooke answered.

"Okay then I'm gonna get a move on." She said getting up from the couch but not before embracing Brooke one more time. She felt the urge to cook the biggest breakfast ever.

"My god sweetie, looks like Keith answered our prayers." Karen was already near tears talking about her lost love but seeing Brooke sitting in her living room alive and well made the moment that much more special. Karen left for the kitchen while Brooke looked around studying her surroundings. Lucas watched her as she scanned the photos. Her eyes settled on a particular photo of her and Lucas.

"Pretty picture."

"Yeah it was a pretty day. That was the day Keith married my mom."

Brooke traced her finger tip over the faces that smiled up at her, trying to recapture the moment. She so desperately wanted to have all her memories back. Lucas came up behind her to capitalize on the moment. He didn't want to push but if this Jake guy had a piece of her heart, he was going to fight like hell to get it back.

"We've had some pretty good times here."

"Really, Like what?" She said turning around to face him.

"You told me you loved me for the first time right on this couch."

Brooke paused. She wanted to shy away but something about him made her want to just be close to him. She wanted to not want him but it was just as impossible for the sun not to shine or the sky to not be blue. She smiled at the thought and wanted to know more.

"What did you say?"

"I told you I had strong feelings for you."

"Ouch."

"Yeah. You didn't talk to me for a week after that."

"And how was that a good time?"

"Well that one wasn't come to think of it but about eight days later I convinced Haley to help me to trick you in to meeting her at the café and when you showed up she lured you to the back where she locked you in the pantry with me."

"Can't wait to hear this one."

"Well you ended up throwing anything that was breakable at me, you cursed the day Haley was born and you swore that no matter what we did you would never like me again."

"Wow, sounds like I was pissed."

"You were. I ended up dodging a jar of peanut butter and caught you in my arms and kissed you and told you I loved you. You slapped me."

"Sounds about right."

"I figure if I could get the words out you'd forgive me because…the whole week we didn't speak I missed you like crazy. I couldn't sleep, think, eat or anything without you somehow coming to mind."

"But how did you know you really loved me?"

"There was a pool party at Nathan's that Haley drug me to and it was right after you said the 'L' word and I knew you were going to be there so against my better judgment I went. So it was around that time Haley and Nathan were getting serious that she wanted to spend time with him so as soon as we got there she ditched me. Well I slinked back into the shadows and just watched people and then I saw you. You were in that red bikini I liked so much and you were busy throwing water balloons at some of the other kids there and you were just smiling, laughing and having fun and then it hit me. I was so in love with you I didn't know what to do with myself. Your smile was like light to me. Watching you laugh and smile and me not be there to make you do it, it just made me realize….I was just as much in love with you as you were with me."

"And I assume that's when you had the plan to trap me in the pantry."

"Yep."

"So how did that work out for you?"

"That night was great. It was the night we said I love you to each other and it was also the night we…made love for the first time."

"Oh."

Their eyes met and were locked in this intense gaze that if they hadn't been in his mother's living room they might be doing some of the things that were running through her mind.

"Okay kids well I'm kind of out of a few things so why don't we just head to the café?"

"Sounds like a plan ma. I'll call Haley and Nathan and have them meet us there."

"So they know too huh? Was I the last one to know about this? I can't believe it."

"Oh ma, don't be mad."

"I'm not mad Lucas, quite the opposite, I'm pretty happy."

The group showed up at the café pretty much at the same time with food on their minds. Haley ordered her pancake special with sausage, Nathan got his Karen special that included everything but the kitchen sink, Lucas got his usual bacon, eggs hash browns and coffee while Brooke and Jamie picked off of everyone's plate. The conversations they had were full of happy memories and great times. The whole time while Brooke listened intently to everyone Lucas was busy watching her. He loved the way her face lit up when jokes were told or they were reminiscing about the good old high school days. Everything was picture perfect till she walked in. Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer walked into that café fully expecting to grab a cup of coffee and head back to the club but she stopped dead in her tracks when the sight of the brunette beauty caught her eye. Lucas was first to see her and he was now thankful more than ever now that Brooke sat with her back to the door. Haley saw her next as she followed Lucas' eyes to the blonde at the door. Their faces said it all and in seconds Lucas was excusing himself while Brooke was busy talking to Karen. He grabbed the stunned woman by the arm and led her out the door as quickly as he could and got her out of sight. Haley looked like she had seen a ghost and Brooke noticed the sudden change.

"Haley what's up?"

"Oh…uh…nothing. Just felt a little sick for a sec is all. Who wants more coffee cause I could really use some."

"I'll get it for you Hal-"

"Don't worry Karen. I'll grab it."

Haley made a beeline to the back to try and catch a glimpse of Lucas and Peyton. She went out the back and walked to the edge of the building to listen in on what she hoped was not a repeat of the past.

"Is that her! Oh my god, when-where did she-"

"You need to leave." Lucas said like a stone wall void of emotion.

"Lucas I...does she...is she...when did this happen!"

Peyton was all over the place with emotion right now. She was trying to wrap her head around Brooke being back from the dead and no one bothering to tell her. She was struggling to not cry so she held back all the tears she could as some spilled out.

"No you don't, you need to stay away and I mean it Peyton."

"She was my friend Lucas…I…she and I need-"

"Peyton she doesn't remember you."

"What?"

Peyton was a little heartbroken by that fact. Brooke didn't remember her, their friendship? Although it wasn't too farfetched since she had conveniently forgot it when she slept with the girl's boyfriend.

"She doesn't remember everything about us, about what happened or about you."

"Lucas-"

"No Peyton. I just got her back and I am not going to let you take her away from me again!"

"I don't want to do that Lucas, I just want her to know that I'm sorry" Peyton said pleading for the chance to make things right but she had no way of knowing her very presence could be the catalyst to losing the woman she claimed to want to make amends to. She had sins to atone for.

"No."

"Lucas you can't keep me away from her."

"I can and I will. Leave us alone Peyton. I mean it."

Haley had heard enough. She needed to make sure that Peyton's ass was out of there and fast before Brooke noticed they were gone. There was no way in hell she was going to let that back stabbing bitch get anywhere near Brooke.

"You heard him Peyton. Go away."

"Haley come on, you have to know that-"

"What I know is that Brooke is back and alive and I do not want you anywhere near her."

"I'm her friend Haley."

"No you are not. I am her friend, you are the person who swore to me that sleeping with Lucas was a huge mistake that you would NEVER do again and then low and behold you do it the very next night!"

"It was a mistake!"

"No Peyton, my son spilling his milk is a mistake, sleeping with your supposed best friends boyfriend is a choice, one you made twice I might add."

Lucas decided to cut in. Haley arguing with Peyton was beginning to draw attention he didn't need.

"Haley, go back inside. I'll take care of this."

"No. You need to go back inside to your girlfriend and let ME handle this."

"Haley I got it."

"No Lucas you don't, but I do."

Lucas looked between the women and walked back to the door to join his family. Peyton watched as he walked away and Haley watched her as she did. She snapped her fingers in Peyton's face to draw her attention because what she was about to say she wanted to make sure she was heard.

"I want you to listen real close okay? You will stay away from Lucas and you will stay the hell away from Brooke or so help me Peyton….you will regret it. I know you want to absolve yourself of the guilt, we all do, but YOU WILL NOT hurt her so you can feel better."

"Haley that's not what I want."

"I don't care what you want Peyton, that is unless it's Lucas-"

"that is-"

Haley interrupted her pathetic plea by grabbing Peyton by the chin and forcing her to look her in the eye.

"And if it is I suggest you stop wanting it because if he can't keep you away I sure as hell will. You won't get the chance to hurt her again Peyton, you won't."

Haley walked away leaving a bewildered Peyton in her wake. Haley was furious and was not about to let things go down like she did before. When she got back inside she watched from the counter at her happy family. Everyone was smiling, everyone was laughing, everyone was finally at peace and Haley James Scott was going to make sure it stayed that way….at least as much as she could.

So how do we feel about Haley coming to the rescue? Can't say I didn't feel that scene write itself but hey some may have wanted Lucas to shoe backbone and put Peyton in her place but I just felt like Haley needed to play mama bear for Brooke. So I hope everyone loved the reunion for Brooke and Karen, maybe a few tears out there perhaps. Anyway sorry for not putting this up last night but after I reviewed the new chapter for STOMPG I was tired and sleepy so I flaked. I promise to TRY and not let it happen again. Love you guys for reading. REVIEW!