Love, Lies, and Loss
Disclaimer: I own no rights to One Tree Hill or any of its characters.
"He won't talk to me. I've tried calling. I've even went to his house. He won't answer the door," Brooke told Haley while they were preparing dinner.
"Give it time. Finding out you've had a child for five years that you never knew about is a big thing to handle," Haley replied as she was pouring the dressing on the salads.
"I know, but I don't have time. The hearing is next week. I don't know what I'll do if Luke isn't there."
"I'll talk to him. I don't know what good it'll do, but I'll talk to him."
"I just wish he would let me talk to him. Just have a conversation about this. I know he's pissed off at me, but I need him so much right now."
"He's hurting and confused, but he'll do the right thing. He always does, eventually."
"I hope you're right," Brooke finished setting the table.
The next morning Brooke awoke to the ringing of her cell phone.
"This better be important," Brooke answered the phone after looking at her alarm clock which read 6:04am.
"It is," the voice on the other end responded.
"Luke!" Brooke sat up in her bed, "I'm so glad you called. We need to talk."
"You need to listen," Luke demanded.
"Okay, I'm listening."
"We apparently have a son together. As much as I dislike you at this moment, I'm not going to turn out like my father. I will help you, but only for my son."
"Thank you so much Luke. You have no idea what this means to me."
"This isn't for you. Just remember that. I'll be at the hearing," Lucas hung up the phone before Brooke could get in another word.
Brooke was shaking from head to toe as she sat at the table in the courtroom. She had already gone through three bottles of water and she had only been there fifteen minutes. The door behind her slammed and she jumped.
"Brooke," Lucas tapped her on the shoulder.
She jumped up and hugged him, "Thank you for showing up Luke. I wasn't sure you would."
He held on to her tight before remembering that he hated her and pushed her off, "I told you I'm not here for you."
"I know, but thank you," a tear rolled down her cheek and she took her seat again.
Brad entered the courtroom and took his seat at the table across the room from her. Brooke took a glance at him and he smirked. She almost went ballistic on his ass before she remembered she was trying to prove herself a fit mother. She remained quiet when the judge entered the courtroom.
"Brooke Davis-Hughes VS. Brad Hughes concerning the custody of their son Tegan Hughes," the judge stated.
"Your honor," Brooke's lawyer stood up, "My client and I have obtained new information concerning the case."
"Councils approach the bench," both lawyers made their way to the front of the courtroom.
"What is this concerning?" the judge asked.
"Brad Hughes is not the biological father of Tegan Hughes. His father is in this courtroom today," Brooke's lawyer nodded to Lucas, "He was not aware of the child's existence at the time of birth up until recently. We ask for further investigation into the case before any rulings are given."
"Is this true? Are you the child's father?" The judge directed her question's at Lucas.
Luke stood up, "Yes, I am his father. I would like to petition for shared custody with Brooke Davis."
Brooke shot him a look and then a smile.
"Your honor, you can't possibly believe this fool. Mrs. Hughes is simply trying to gain custody of her child by presenting this man as Tegan's father. Mr. Hughes is the father on his birth certificate and has raised him since he was born," Brad's lawyer began to argue.
"That's enough," the judge warned, "I'm ordering a paternity test for this alleged father. What is your name?"
"Lucas Scott, your honor," Luke guessed she was speaking to him.
"Mr. Scott, you have twenty-four hours to get the paternity test. This court is adjourned until tomorrow morning. Nine am sharp," the judge ended the hearing and left the room.
Brooke jumped up and ran to Lucas. She practically knocked him over when she jumped him his arms, "Thank you Luke, thank you," tears were now streaming down her face.
Lucas once again remembered that he still hated her, but he didn't want to let go, "Come on. Let's get that test."
Brad approached the couple, "So you think that you can take the child that I've raised?"
"You raised? Whatever Brad. You weren't home long enough to even know Tegan's interests. You never cared about that child. Not the way Luke will care about him," Brooke mouthed off.
"Okay little slut. You go be with your baby's daddy. We'll see who wins in the end."
"You need to get out of our faces," Lucas cut in.
"What are you going to do about it? Go ahead. Start something with me. It won't matter what those results are, I can take him from you too."
"Luke just back off. We can't get into this. It'll only give Brad what he wants. An excuse to take him from us," Brooke grabbed Lucas by the arm and dragged him out of the court.
"He's an ass," Lucas stated as he unlocked the car.
"I made him one. Think about it Luke. You didn't know you had a child, but he had a child and now he's getting him taken away. He might not have been there for much of his life, but he was still his father. He only had five years, but you have a lifetime. I can't imagine what he's feeling," Brooke finally let go of his arm.
"He's still my son. Regardless of who was there when he was born, I will raise him now."
"Well, I'll see you at court tomorrow," Brooke started to walk away.
"Brooke!" Lucas yelled after her.
She turned around, "Yeah?"
"Why don't you ride with me? I can go take the test. I'd really like you to be there with me."
"Okay," Brooke smiled at him, returned to the car and got in on the passenger side.
The test had been taken and the two were on their way for Brooke's car. They returned to the lot and she started to exit the car.
"Hey. You should come over. Tell me about Tegan. I'd like to know my son," Lucas gave Brooke a half smile.
"Are you sure? You don't still hate me?" Brooke had sadness in her eyes when she asked.
"I don't hate you Brooke. I disapprove of the things you've done and the secrets you've kept from me, but I don't hate you. I'm over that. I don't want our son being raised by two parents that can't stand the sight of each other. It's not fair to him. I want to be friends or at least give it a shot."
"I'd really like that. I'll stop by after I check on Tegan," Brooke left to her car.
It was about five o'clock before Brooke arrived at Lucas's. She pranced up the steps, excited to have been forgiven. Before she rang the doorbell, Lucas opened the door.
"Good timing," he said as he walked the trash out to the dumpster, "Come in," he motioned when he returned.
"So, tell me about my son," Lucas poured them both and drink and they began to chat.
Brooke told him everything about Tegan, from his first steps, to his first words, to his motor-mouth, and his bottomless pit.
"Oh my gosh, he eats like no one I've seen. I used to have to lock the cabinets to keep him from eating all of our junk food. He never stops talking either. His attention span isn't very long, but when he gets going there is no stopping him. It's not so much with the adults, most of the time he gets bored having a conversation with anyone above five. He loves to play with other kids and talk, talk, talk even though they have no idea what he's jabbering about. It doesn't stop him, he likes to sound smarter than all the other children," Brooke jabbered on herself.
"He got that from you!" Lucas poked fun at her.
"Whatever," she playfully hit him on the arm, "Okay, so maybe I do talk a lot, but I don't try to sound smarter than everyone."
Lucas busted out in laughter, "Brooke, you are the queen of chatter. How did he not get that from you?"
"Okay fine, but he got his arrogance from you."
Lucas laughed even louder, "Sorry, think that's from you too."
"Well he had to get something from you!"
"My looks, your attitude. He's a damn good basketball player too," Lucas stated as he made them like their fourth or fifth drink.
"Oh great, I'm raising a jock. I remember what those were like in high school. The poor girls better watch out for our little man."
"Brooke?"
"Yeah?"
"I missed you. I missed this. Why did you run away? I know you loved me."
"I couldn't do it anymore. Seeing you and Peyton…I'm sorry…seeing you two together. I just couldn't take it."
"But why did you break up with me?"
"Because she loved you and you loved her."
"Didn't you think that your love for me mattered any? I loved Peyton, but I never loved her the way I loved you."
"Of course it mattered. That's why I left. I don't think anyone is ever going to understand, but I thought I was doing you a favor. After I found out I was pregnant, I didn't want you to put your life on hold me for when you could find a way to be happy with someone else."
"That's dumb Brooke."
"I know Luke. I wish I wouldn't have done it now, but you wouldn't have Anna if I didn't leave. Speaking of, where is she tonight?"
"I asked my mom to keep her for the night."
"Why did you do that?"
"I wanted us to have the night to talk."
"I see. Where's the bathroom?"
"Down the hall and to the left."
"Thanks," Brooke tried to get up. Her hand slipped out from under her and she fell right onto Lucas. They both cracked up.
"I think you've had too much to drink," Lucas helped her off from him.
"Oh, this is nothing!" Brooke laughed and finally made it to the bathroom.
When she returned, Lucas was mixing another drink.
"I thought you said I had too much," she raised and eyebrow at him as she returned to the floor.
"Well, I'd like to see you fall a few more times before the night is over," Lucas carried the drinks over and just before he sat them down Brooke grabbed his leg causing him to fall on her and spill the drinks all over the both of them.
"I think you've had one to many," Brooke was laughing her ass off while trying to wipe off the liquor with napkins.
"I can't believe you just wasted all of that good alcohol!" Lucas sat up, still sitting on her.
"Okay, five year's with no basket ball has made you gain a few pounds," she tried to shove him off from her.
"Well, five year's with no cheerleading hasn't changed you for the better either!"
"Excuse me! I had a child in that five years," she was still trying to shove him off from her.
She had just about succeeded in removing him when all of a sudden his lips crashed into hers and they were embraced in a kiss. Their mouths fit perfect with one another as they both moved to each other's cues.
"Luke," Brooke pulled away, "What was that?"
"I'm sure you've done it before," he sarcastically replied.
"I don't mean that. Why did you kiss me?"
"Because I wanted to."
"After everything I've done you still want to kiss me?"
"Yes."
"What about tomorrow, when you're sober? Are you going to want to kiss me then?"
"We'll see when tomorrow gets here," he tired to go in for another kiss.
"No, Luke. We can't do this. If we do this, things are going to be weird. They'll be even worse than they already are. We aren't teenagers anymore. We have a child to think about now."
"Brooke, I love you."
"How can you love me? After everything I've done to you, you can't love me."
"I can love you and I do. I've tried not to. I tried to hate you, but every time I see you, I just can't. I want to hate you and I should hate you, but I want you."
"You can't want me Luke. You just can't! I should go," Brooke stood up and gathered her stuff.
"You can't drive. You've been drinking."
"I'll walk."
"You'll get hit by a car."
"I'll call a cab."
"This is Tree Hill, not New York."
"Shit Lucas! What the hell?"
"Just stay here. You can have my room. I'll take the couch."
"I can't stay here!"
"Why not?"
"Because Luke. I want you too, and I can't be here like this with you and not have you, but I can't have you."
"Why can't you have me?" Lucas asked as he walked towards her.
"Because I love you to much to hurt you again," Brooke took a step back as Lucas approached her.
"Then don't hurt me," he finally reached her and pulled her in for another steamy kiss.
"Luke!"
"Shhhh," he picked her up and carried her back to the living room. He laid her down next to the fireplace. He was sitting on top of her gazing into her eyes, "I love you Brooke Davis and I can't help it."
"I love you Lucas Scott, I always have," she reached for his neck and pulled him to her. The two ripped off their clothing and bared themselves to each other, all of themselves. Lucas lowered himself onto Brooke and as he entered her they knew that nothing could ever come between them again.
A/N: Okay, I was going to be really mean in the next chapter, but I finally got them together, I don't wanna split them up again!
