Love, Lies, and Loss

Disclaimer: I own no rights to One Tree Hill or any of its characters.

A/N: Hope this chapter turns out okay. I'm still a little hung over from New Years!

A Few Weeks Later

"Any luck finding a place yet?" Lucas questioned Brooke.

"I've found a couple of cute little apartments. I don't want anything to extravagant right now," Brooke sat on the park bench next to Lucas.

"I don't think I've ever heard those words come out of your mouth before. I guess you have changed."

Brooke laughed, "Well there is a lot going on right now. I don't have the time or patients to deal with something big."

"How is everything going?"

"Well, Brad's cooled of a little bit, but he's still bent on taking Tegan from me. I got the divorce papers yesterday. They are already signed and in the works."

"I'm sorry Brooke. That sucks for you."

"Yeah it does, but I'll get through it. Look how well you're doing and you've been through a lot worse than this."

"I'm dealing. Anna has really helped me a lot. You too."

"Awww…thanks Luke," Brooke leaned over and gave him a hug.

"Thanks for coming back. It's been really nice having you here. I'm glad you're not leaving again. I don't know how well I'd take it a second time."

"I've grown kind of partial to the place again. I forgot how much Tree Hill was home to me. Besides, the kids get along great. It's so nice to have someone other than me for Tegan to be around. He's really been missing his father. You and Nathan have helped him with that a lot. He loves you guys to death. Especially when you guys take him to play basketball."

"He's a good kid. I don't mind at all. Actually, it's nice to have someone to teach all of my useless skills to."

"Well, they weren't all useless. I bet if you were never a basketball player then we probably would have never met and then…" Brooke stopped herself before she started trouble.

"Then what?"

"Well, a lot would be different if you never joined the team. Like Haley and Nathan for example."

"I guess you're right. What else do you think would have been different?"

"I don't know really," Brooke contemplated telling Lucas the truth. She couldn't do it. Things were going so well with them. She didn't want to ruin it.

"I think I still know you better than I thought I did."

"Why's that?"

"Ever since you came back it seems like there is something you want to tell me, something you are hiding again."

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not hiding anything," Brooke could not keep eye contact with Lucas.

"Brooke. I know you're hiding something. You should have learned by now that it's not good to keep secrets. Just tell me."

Brooke stood up, "I just remembered. I have a meeting with my lawyer in a little bit."

Brooke gathered Tegan from the playground and walked him to the car.

"Mommy, I don't want to leave. I was playing with Anna," the child complained.

"I'm sorry honey. Maybe you can play with Anna tomorrow. We gotta get back home. You can play with Zach when we get home."

"I don't wanna play with Zach! I wanna play with Anna!"

"Tegan, stop it. We have to go," Brooke buckled him in and started the engine.

"Brooke," Lucas knocked on the window with Anna in his arms.

She rolled down the window, "Yeah?"

"What's wrong with you? Why are you leaving all of a sudden?"

"I told you I have a meeting. I can't miss it. It's about Tegan."

"Sure Brooke. Just remember, lies have ruined enough of your relationships. I don't think you want to make that mistake with me twice."

"I'm sorry Luke, I gotta go," she rolled up the window and drove away leaving Lucas standing there.

Brooke didn't know what to do. She wanted so badly to tell Lucas the truth, but she was so worried that it would ruin their blooming friendship. Then again, if she didn't tell him, she could lose Tegan and Lucas. She wasn't so worried about her abilities to take care of her child. She was a hell of a mother and loved her son more than life itself, but Brad was a powerful man. He could make things happen with the blink of an eye. If he really wanted Tegan, he could find a way to get him.

Lucas pushed his daughter on the swing as he thought to himself. He wondered what Brooke could possibly still be hiding from him. They were getting through everything that was going on and they were doing it together. They had promised each other never to keep a secret between them again. She was hiding something and he knew it. He just didn't know what or how to get it out of her.

"Haley!" Brooke yelled to her best friend as she stormed through the door.

"What? What happened?" Haley ran from the back of the house.

"He's really going to do it! Brad's really trying to take Tegan from me. He's petitioning for full custody. He's try to convince everyone that I'm an unfit mother. He said that I was never home and he and the nanny have raised Tegan since he was born."

"Brooke, calm down. He can't possibly prove that."

"Want to bet me? Brad knows people. What am I gunna do Hails? I can't let him take away my baby," tears poured down Brooke's pale face.

Haley embraced her, "It's okay. We'll figure something out. You have to tell Lucas."

"I can't. Things are going so well with us. I don't want to ruin it."

"What's more important to you? Your son or your friendship with Lucas? You don't even know how he will react. Maybe it won't be as bad as you think."

"Are you kidding? It's going to be worse, but you're right. I have to tell him. For Tegan. I've told enough lies. I need to come clean with him."

"I'm here for you."

"Thank you for being my best friend. Can you watch Tegan for me?"

"Of course. You can do it Brooke. Just tell him."

Brooke pulled up outside of Lucas's house. She took in a deep breath and took one slow step at a time to the front door. Her face was wet with tears as she rang the doorbell.

"Brooke, what's wrong?" Lucas answered the door, "Come in."

She walked through the door and turned to face Lucas, "I need to tell you something."

"Have a seat and tell me what's up," Lucas guided Brooke to the couch.

"Okay. You are going to hate me, but I can't keep it a secret any longer. You need to know and it's time for you to know…"

"What is it Brooke?" Lucas cut in.

"Just listen okay. I want you to know before I say anything, I'm sorry. I'm so so so sorry that I kept this a secret from you for so long. I couldn't tell you. I didn't know what to do."

"Brooke, just tell me."

"Brad's not Tegan's father. You are."

"Did I just hear you right? So that's what you've been hiding from me." Lucas asked with a look of shock.

"I was pregnant when I left. I couldn't tell you. I didn't want it to ruin your life. You and Peyton were happy."

"So you just left me while carrying our child because I was with Peyton? You're the one that left me. You're the one that broke up with me and pushed for Peyton and I. How could you do that Brooke? You've just been letting another man raise my child for five years? You never thought to even pick up the phone and tell me I had a child?"

Brooke kneeled in front of Lucas and put her hands on his knees.

"I'm sorry Luke! I didn't know what else to do. We were both so young. I didn't want to ruin your life by making you have that responsibility."

"I can't believe you. This is beyond anything you've ever lied about."

"You were happy. I couldn't ruin that for you by throwing a child at you. I wanted to raise him on my own without getting you involved."

"Why Brooke? You didn't think that I'd be responsible enough to care for a child? To care for you? Why are you telling me now? Why not wait until he was all grown up so I could have missed out on his whole childhood?"

"Brad's trying to take him from me. He told me he'd prove me unfit and get my rights taken away. I can't let him do that. I told you because YOU are his father and I need your help. I'm asking you to put all of your negative feelings for me aside and think about your child. I need you Luke, your son needs you."

"He can't take him if he's not his son."

"According to his birth certificate, he is his son."

"That's great Brooke. I'm so glad that you gave my child to another man. Get out."

"Lucas, please. I need your help."

"I said GET OUT," Lucas got up and practically shoved Brooke out the door.

"Luke," Brooke yelled at the closed door. She got no answer. The confrontation went even worse than the worst she expected. It wasn't a surprise that Lucas hated her, but she was sure he would at least step up to the plate for their son. She was wrong. Her stomach ached and her heart raced as she slid down the wall of his house. Her head was in her hands and she hurt worse than after the death phone call. This one was unforgivable. She ran away with his child and let another man raise him. What was she thinking? Lucas was right, this was beyond any lie or mistake she had ever made. Now her son was going to suffer for it.

A/N: Reviews please!

Kelle: Thank you for your ideas! If I didn't have this chapter written I would have tried to incorporate them, but if you have any more I would love to hear them!