A/N: This is my first Brucas fic ever. I've dreamed it few nights in a row and I've decided it to finally write it here. I hope you like it. :)

Story: AU where everything after Season 4, Episode 1 never happened... or happened in a different way.

Chapter 5

Brooke woke up early the next morning. She thought she could visit Karen's Café before school. It was empty, just as she was expecting. Only Karen was there, drinking her morning coffee. She looked at Brook as soon as the young woman walked into the café. She smiled wide. Brooke was the daughter Karen always wanted to have. At least she accepted her in this way.

"Hey, Brooke." Karen welcomed her with a nice smile. "What brings you here so early?"

"I wanted to talk to you for something." Brooke paused. "I need advice."

Karen nodded at the free chair at the bar and poured her a cup of coffee. She even put a plate with just baked muffin in front of her. Brooke just smiled with gratitude, although she felt too nervous to eat.

"What's wrong?" Karen went to sit right next to Brooke. "You can't call your mom and talk to her?"

Brooke shook her head. "Nah, I don't wanna talk to my mother, thanks. She only cares about her money."

"Oh, honey." Karen rub Brooke's arm soothingly. "I'm sure she loves you in her own way."

Brooke shrugged. "It's okay. That's my family, what can I say? But… I wanted to ask you something."

"Sure, ask." Karen nodded and looked at her carefully.

"What made you decide to have Lucas?" Brooke almost whispered. "You could've just… moved on with your life after Dan left you."

"So… it's true then?" Karen sighed. "I asked Lucas about that test he found in your purse, but he said he's not sure."

"I wasn't sure until recently." Brooke gathered her hair behind her ear. "So? What made you have Lucas?"

"Well… It wasn't an easy decision." Karen took a moment to look to the window. "But, I thought I just can't do it. I can't take a life like this. I couldn't kill my baby. Besides, Dan called me at some point and her told me that he's gonna come back and marry me." Karen chuckled bitterly. "I've waited… but he never came back. You know what happened instead."

"Yeah." Brooke nodded. "He married Nathan's mom."

Karen nodded."Exactly, but I've never felt regret for having Lucas. I fought for him. I wanted him to be a better man. I didn't want him to repeat his father's mistakes."

"I hope he won't do it." Brooke bit her lower lip and looked down at her laced hands."But I don't want to force him to be with me just because I'm going to have his baby."

"So you're going to keep the baby then?" Karen looked at her carefully. "You do realize that's a big decision. You have to give up the college at least for now. You have to give up from your dreams, Brooke. Your life is going to change completely."

"What was your dream, Karen?" Brooke tilted her head and looked back at Lucas' mom.

"To have my own café." Karen laughed quietly. "I think my dream came true. What about your dreams, Brooke?"

"I'm not sure." Brooke sighed. "Maybe to have a small boutique with my own clothes. I'm pretty good at being a designer."

"I know, Lucas told me." Karen smiled softly.

"She really is, mom." Lucas walked out from the kitchen and Brooke looked at him with surprise in her eyes. "I'm sorry I overheard everything." He put up his hands.

"I don't want to see you right now." Brooke got off her chair and looked at Karen. "Thanks for listening to me, Karen. I think I know what I want to do now."

"Brooke!" Lucas called her when she turned to the door. "Brooke!" He shouted when she ran out the café.

"Lucas…" Karen called him, but he followed Brooke outside. She wasn't so far away.

Lucas ran after her and grabbed her elbow. "Brooke!"

"Let me go, Lucas!" She stopped and tried to release herself, but he was stronger. "I'm serious!"

"So am I!" Lucas scoffed and turned Brooke around so she could face him. "I want you to listen to me, okay? Just once!"

"I don't have to! I'm not your girlfriend anymore."

"Damn it, Brooke!" Lucas looked angry. "Give me a break, okay? How many times I have to tell you that I love you? How many times I have to run after you? Tell me! Just one kiss and you're willing to give up on us?"

"Like I've said, a kiss always means something Lucas!" Brooke scoffed.

"Peyton kissed me!" Lucas frowned. "Just let me explain it to you!"

"You don't have to!"

"I don't love, Peyton!" Lucas almost shouted. "I'm not in love with her, okay? I love you!"

Brooke blinked. "What?"

"You've heard me." Lucas lowered his voice. "I love you, always have."

"But…"

"Peyton said she loves me the other night." Lucas paused. "I hugged her and told her that I care about her, but I don't feel the same. She was sad and I took her out. We went to the store and there I met you. She's with me these days, because I'm helping her to find her brother."

"She has a brother?" Brooke felt lightheaded for a moment and grabbed Lucas' arm. "Mhm…" She closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath.

"Hey, are you okay?" Lucas slid his free hand under her chin. "You look pale."

"I was too nervous to have a breakfast this morning." She tried to smile.

"Let's go back to the café. There is a muffin waiting for you." Lucas waited for her to nod and supported her back to the café. His arm wrapped around her waist and she let herself to lean on him.

Karen saw them walking back and looked at Brooke. "What happened?"

"I skipped the breakfast this morning." Brooke smiled apologetically while Lucas helped her sit back on her place at the bar.

"Did you feel nauseous?" Karen placed a glass of water close to Brooke and watched her attempts to eat the muffin.

Brooke shook her head. "Nope. This thing is awesome by the way!" She nodded at her already empty plate.

"Thanks." Lucas chuckled. "I made it."

Brooke furrowed her brow with confusion. "What?"

"Oh, he can cook." Karen laughed quietly. "Or should I say, bake?"

Lucas just shrugged and sat close to Brooke. His hand lay on her back and rubbed her carefully. Brooke's heart skipped a beat at that touch, trying to focus over her coffee right now. She didn't want to put her hopes up too much right now. However, Lucas sounded convincing.

"I have an appointment tomorrow." She looked at Lucas. Her voice was normal now. Maybe they could do it step by step. Brooke let her guard down a bit. "Would you want to come with me?"

"Are you sure?" Lucas almost whispered and looked at his mother briefly. Karen only smiled and hid in the kitchen. "I mean…" He coughed. "I don't want to push you into anything."

"They're going to ask me about my decision." Brooke sighed, staring at the coffee. "My heart knows what I want to do, but I'm still… I'm still not sure."

"I'll be there whatever you decide." Lucas said carefully. "I'm serious, Brooke. I'm not my father and also… I'm in love with you. Just think about it carefully, okay?"

Brooke nodded. "Okay. So, tomorrow after school then?"

"Sure." Lucas nodded again and looked at his watch. "And I think we have to go if we want to be late. You feel better?"

"Yeah." Brook took a deep breath and looked at him with a small smile. "I feel much better now."