Love, Lies, and Loss

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

"Talk," the voice on the phone demanded.

"Chris?" Brooke asked.

"Well, you called my phone. Who were you expecting?"

"It's Brooke."

"Brooke?"

"Yeh, Brooke from Tree Hill."

"I'm just joking with you. I know who you are. So, what's up? Want me back for more?"

"Gross…seriously. Will you quit being an ass for one second please? I have something important I need to discuss with you."

"Could you hurry this up, I'm about to go on stage."

"Here's the thing. That horrible, disgusting, extremely regretful night that we had five years ago, well, I have a child. He's four and a half and Lucas is not his father. So, I'm looking at this like you need to come here and get a paternity test so that you can sign over your rights to me. I wouldn't even be asking you to get this test, but if I don't, my husband or soon to be ex won't quit until I do and he'll have the courts breathing down my neck until I find my son's father."

"Okay, I'll leave after the show."

"That's it? You have nothing else to say about this?"

"Not really. This gives me an excuse to come back to town. Maybe stir up some old troubles."

"Look Chris. This does not give you the right to come here and mess up peoples lives again. Haley and Nathan are happy and if you so much as come near them while you're here, I'll make sure you can never father a child again."

"Okay doll, I got it. I'll be there tomorrow. Gotta go," the phone hung up before Brooke could say goodbye.

There were so many thoughts sifting through her head. She wondered why Chris wasn't so freak out by this. He seemed so willing to get the test, but what if he wouldn't sign up his right? Then she would have a fight with him. Well, he was a rock star, but he had less power than Brad, so that might actually be better for her. What about Lucas? Things were getting so much better for them. That unforgettable night that they spent together. She wanted that so bad, but once again, she screwed it up. She'd go see him in the morning. They'd figure things out and they'd find a way to be together.

Brooke knocked on the door of Lucas Scott. It was obviously too early for him when he answered the door shirtless and in his boxers.

"Hey Brooke," he greeted her not so happily.

"Can we talk?" She pushed her way into the house.

"What do you want to talk about? I told you this isn't my fight anymore."

"But the other night."

"The other night was great and I would love to do it again, but I just can't Brooke. Not right now. I mean I'm still getting over all of this stuff myself, now you have this whole custody thing to deal with. It's just too much for the both of us to handle right now."

"I need you Luke. I was here for you when you needed me, now I need you to be here for me."

"I'm right here Brooke. I'm not going anywhere. I am here when you need me, but I can't have a relationship with you right now."

"Why Luke? Tegan's father doesn't change what he had the other night. That was you and I together like we should have been years ago."

"I can't. Not now. Give it time please. Everything is happening way to fast. I need to get to know you again before I can give you my heart. Please understand. I love you Brooke, but we both need to get our own live together before we can create one for us."

"Okay. I need to you be here with me through this. Even if we are just friends right now."

"I'm here and I'll support you through everything."

Brooke hugged him, "Thanks Luke. Oh, I forgot to tell you. Chris is coming to town. Now, I know everyone hates him and trust me I loath him, but he has to get the paternity test. If there was a way to get around it, I would, but I have no other choice. I already warned him to stay out of everyone's lives, but you remember Chris, he does what he wants to. I just hope he doesn't mess things up even worse than they already are."

"Don't worry about him. If he gets in anybody's way, I'll kill him, after the test of course. Hey look at it that way, if I kill him, you won't have to worry about him signing over his rights," Lucas laughed.

"Oh no, then I'd just have to figure out how to get you out of prison."

"Who said I'd get caught?"

"Just don't do anything stupid. I'm sure he'll do enough of that for everyone."

"Oh, I'm sure too."

Brooke pecked Lucas on the cheek and went home. Chris called her that night and informed her that he would be arriving by bus at nine the next morning. As usual, he harassed her some and hung up.

It was nine-o-five as Brooke stood at the bus stop. When she saw his face she almost puked on the spot. As much as she wanted to run the other direction, her feet approached him.

"Hi Chris," she said with a look of horror.

"Hey gorgeous. Where's our kid?" Chris smirked.

"First of all, that has yet to be proven. Second, call me gorgeous or anything remotely close a compliment or pick up line again and you'll be eating your teeth. Got it?"

"Sure babe. If you say so," Chris smacked his lips at Brooke.

"Oh my god, I'm gunna be sick," Brooke rolled her eyes and shoved Chris in the right direction.

A/N: Another short chapter. I'm sorry again, but I've been busy and I wanted to get at least a little something out there for you guys!