a/n: Since Mark has given up on the concept of time, I haven't a clue what month the show is suppose to be in so for the sake of this chapter let's just say it's February. Also I know that fashion week in NY takes place in Bryant Park but since the C/B show is also a party I've moved it to a hotel. Thanks again to all of my readers for their fabulous reviews, and to my readers of the Breyton fic things are coming along a bit slower than I'd like but I want to come to a close naturally while still being somewhat believable.

I Am Much Too Alone In This World, Yet Not Alone

Disclaimer: Brachel and friends are the property of the CW, the Address Your Heart campaign is licensed by Campbell's Inc.

Chapter 6

Hurrying into the locker room, Nathan wastes no time slipping off his sweat soaked practice jersey and gathers his toiletries to get in the shower.

"Someone's in a rush," a deep voice to his left states, "don't blame you, practice was a bitch today but you're running out of here like the place is on fire. Gotta hot date tonight?"

Nathan pauses, trying to gauge if his teammate is attempting to rattle his cage or is simply making conversation. He's gotten a lukewarm reception since joining the team, many feeling that the only reason he got his spot is because he knows the coach and things only became more tense when he replaced the starting point guard. Granted not everyone seemed upset about the ball-hogger being chucked, most of the guys were happy that the ball was now being passed more frequently, each having a chance to showcase their talents, while a select few are resentful that the new guy is now a starter. But Pettway appears to be okay, so Nate let's out a breath and lowers his guard a bit.

"I've got to catch a plane to New York in a few hours, a friend of mine is hosting this charity thing and I promised I'd help out."

"Oh, what sort of charity thing?" he asks curiously.

"It's the Campbell's Address Your Heart Campaign, you know for heart disease. Brooke's company is putting on a charity fashion show called the Red Hot Ball."

"Wait, Brooke as in the Brooke Davis?"

"Yeah, what about her?" Nathan bristles immediately going into protective big brother mode.

"Man she's hot, half of my girls closet is filled with her clothes, I gotta tell you when it comes to lingerie your friend is an absolute genius!" clapping Nate on the back, his teammate struts off to the showers but turns back around with a grin "Hey Scott, if you happen to find yourself backstage near the models dressing room, don't forget your camera."

Chuckling to himself, Nate grabs his bottle of Axe bodywash, walking in the direction of his new friend.


Out of all of the glamorous shows Rachel has walked in her short modeling career none holds that special place in her heart as the C/B Red Hot Ball. No doubt that's because of the shows origins derive from a conversation between Brooke and herself three years ago, as Brooke sat in the loft they shared thinking up designs for the spring line to wow Victoria, for whatever reason Rachel began to tell her stories of her grandmother who died of heart disease and that February is Heart Disease Awareness month. Around four in the morning Brooke was bouncing on her bed excited about her new sketches and an idea for her fashion week debut to become the Red Hot Ball charity fashion show.

"Hey there, Firebird." a voice whispers in her ear and Rachel cringes in recognition. Turning around slowly she's met with the sight of a tall dark hair blue eyes woman dressed in a form fitting red satin halter dress and lovingly cradling a ten thousand dollar camera. "You don't write, you don't call, one might get the impression that you're avoiding me?" her blood red lips form a seductive pout that Rachel recalls used to cause her to do many moronic things.

"Nicolette," Rachel says, casting a nervous glance around searching for Brooke "what's up?"

"Same old," Nicolette answers with a one shoulder shrug, stepping closer to the redhead she tilts her head to the side, studying Rachel with an predatory look. "I'm a bit surprised to see you here, last I heard you went off the grid after Queen B dropped your contract. How much groveling did you have to do to get back into Her Highness good graces?"

Rachel struggles with herself to keep her balled fist at her side and not punch this bitch's lights out for the derisive tone Nic uses when talking about her lover. It wouldn't do to get into a fight while in a room full of press and the industries higher ups because someone insults the woman you love, especially when no one is suppose to know about your relationship.

"Actually, the runway was getting kinda stale," Rachel says through clenched teeth. "I'm co-head at C/B's headquarters in North Carolina."

"Huh? I never pegged you for a suit, if I remember correctly you were always more than happy to come out of your clothes." raking her azure colored eyes over the other girl, Nicolette licks her lips and steps further into Rachel's personal space. "If your up for it, a bunch of us are meeting up afterwards at this little place in Tribecca. You look like you could unwind a bit, there'll be plenty of party favors and who knows what else…" trailing off, she runs a finger down Rachel's arm and sashays off back into the crowd.

Rachel hasn't thought about getting high in months, but as she watches Nicolette walk away the seed has been planted in her brain. She remembers the old days, the fast paced shows, followed by nights of partying till dawn, waking up in a strangers bed only half recalling how you got there. Being in Tree Hill somehow makes it easier to forget how she royally screwed up her life. Surrounded by wholesome people and her loving new family, Rachel has been able to trick herself into thinking that life can be all sunshine and rainbows.

"Who's your friend?" Lucas asks as he sidles up to Rachel

"No one." Rachel mutters, continuing her search through the clothes rack for the models next change.

"Sure looks like someone to me and I'm guessing Brooke would think the same." Lucas presses

"Is there a reason you're bugging me Scott or are you that desperate for attention that you'd try to create drama where there is none?" Rachel snaps back at the nosy blond

"I'm on to you Gattina, so you had better drop the act now before anyone gets hurt." he threatens in a harsh whisper. Rachel rolls her eyes at his theatrics and hands off a dress to her assistant.

"Enlighten me Scott, what act would that be?"

"From what everyone keeps telling me you and Brooke are supposedly some sort of super couple, totally committed and deeply in love." Lucas scrunches up his face as if he has just tasted a sour ball candy. "Yet here you are flirting with some strange woman…"

"I wasn't flirting with Nicolette nor did I encourage anything, how dare you stand there and accuse me…"

"Look, Brooke is my friend so if this is just a scam to swindle more money out of her I suggest you end this farce right now before I…"

"Before you what, you smug son of a bitch?" Rachel snarls, poking him in the chest, "You know you have got some nerve advising me on my relationship with Brooke, last time I checked you were 0-2 in that department. So why don't you take an interest in your own relationship before blondie realizes she could do much better than your sorry, unemployed ass!" Lucas bristles at the mention of his failed second novel, the movie deal falling through, and the schoolboards decision to appoint Skills as head coach of the Ravens after the parents complained about Lucas' tussle with one of the opposing teams player a few months back. Taking a deep breath he squints his eyes, puffs out his chest and tries his best to look imposing. Rachel shakes her head in annoyance, 'What the hell did Brooke ever see in this idiot? Nate is infinitely the better catch.'

"If you hurt Brooke…"

"Don't worry Lucas, I'm not you." Rachel spares him a disgusted glance as she bypasses him to bring the next wardrobe change to Jessica.


Despite the success of the Ball and the donations they're still raking in for the Cambell's Heart Disease foundation, Rachel is in a foul mood, snapping at just about everyone. When Brooke, in between her emcee duties, asks what's wrong Rachel pushes her hand away and snarks that she'd 'better not let anyone see them standing too close, wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea about them.' A half hour of Rachel's surly behavior and Brooke has had enough, she hands off the mic to Lauren and pulls the red head backstage into a secluded spot.

"I thought that we agreed that our private life would be our own, it's kind of an oxymoron considering our profession constantly draws a spotlight, but that was something that we both agreed on. So why are you making it out to be all my fault?"

"I'm not blaming it all on you, Brooke." Rachel says with a sigh, "A big part of it, is the way our relationship will be portrayed in the media and I don't want that kind of scrutiny aimed at our family. Sam's adoption has just been finalized and she's finally starting to really open herself up and accept that we truly love her, I don't want anything to mess up what we've built."

"Well why are you acting this way, what do you want from me, Rach?" a hint of frustration in her tone

"I want to go out with you in public and not have to hide that fact that we're together. I want to get married and have it legally recognized in more than just a handful of states. I want our children to be ours and not just yours, Brooke I want our family to be real!"

"It is real."

"Try explaining that to your asshat of an ex." Rachel scoffs

"Who, Lucas? Why would I need to, better yet why would he even care who I'm with when he's marrying Peyton?"

"Apparently he missed that memo." Rachel mumbles as she searches through the rack for the next changing, "Come on, you can't tell me you haven't notice that Dr. Broodenstein takes every chance he can get to violently diss our relationship?"

"Honestly, I stopped caring what Lucas thinks of me a long time ago." Rachel gives her a skeptical look so she sighs and continues, "Glenda was the first person who read his book, I know that the majority of the editing he did on the chapters concerning me was at her insistence because when the producers wanted to adapt Ravens into a movie he went back to his original version of me as the 'Fun Whore'." the sadness in her voice over Lucas' description of the girl he once claimed to love pisses Rachel off to no end, "I worked really hard to shed that image.."

"You have Brooke," Rachel says emphatically, cupping Brooke's face gently, "you're not that girl anymore and if Lucas can't realize that then he can shove his quasi best selling book straight up his narrow ass!"

Brooke gives a short laugh and Rachel leans forward to kiss her but at the last minute pulls back, remembering they're in a public place with photographers roaming about.

"Well isn't this…cozy." a venomous voice startles them. "I suppose I can't even say that I'm surprised considering this has been the addicts end game all along but I'd at least assumed you had more sense than this Brooke, obviously you have absolutely no taste when it comes to choosing a suitable paramour." shooting Rachel a disgusted look she snatches up a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and thoroughly enjoys consuming alcohol in front of the redhead.

"What are you doing here Victoria? I had your pass revoked." Brooke fumes

"Oh my dutiful daughter, surely you didn't think your little company was the only game in town." she replies with a condescending tone "I am the new VP at Heidi Weisel designs, what with it being Fashion Week I would say that I'm here to check out the competition but there doesn't appear to be any, pity."

"You're at Heidi Weisel, who exactly did you have to sleep with to get that position and are they aware that your kind tends to bite off the head of their bedmate after consummation?" Charles asks as he and his new wife Diane make their way over to the group, kissing Brooke's cheek and sending a warning glare to his ex-wife. "The show was incredible sweetheart, the preliminary tally has already exceeded our original goal. You two should be very proud of yourselves."

"Thanks dad I'm so glad you and Diane could make it."

"Please, is this performance for your new bimbos benefit?" Victoria snorts, "I'm not buying your proud papa act for a second, Charles."

"Unlike some Victoria, I am capable of conveying admiration for all of my daughters accomplishments."

"Right, and this would be the same daughter that you whored out to your prospective business associates at the tender age of 14? How you have not been nominated for 'Father of the Year' is still a mystery to me?"

"You're a mean drunk Victoria and if you had any sense of decorum you wouldn't spread your malicious lies in a room full of reporters." Charles warns his ex-wife

"Oh, they're lies now are they?" Victoria laughs spitefully, "Because I distinctly remember you offering your precious daughter to several of your clients sons, a sure thing is what you'd say, and I'll be damned if a couple of hours of Brooke on her back didn't set you on the fast track up the corporate ladder. Too bad she decided to become the neighborhood chew toy, maybe then you wouldn't have lost your job." lifting her glass to her smirking lips she is momentarily shocked when that redhead's hand strikes out, quick as lightening and jabs her throat, effectively cutting off her air supply. The motion was so fast if you blinked you would have missed it but it was enough to render Victoria speechless. She staggers backwards stunned, gasping for breath and nearly toppling over but Rachel reaches out grabbing her arm.

"Shut your mouth you bitter old hag or I will shut it for you…permanently." Rachel growls, gripping the older women's wrist with enough force to break it. "Now there are two ways we can do this, option A: You can apologize to Brooke for every hateful, vindictive word that has ever spewed from your twisted mouth and calmly be escorted out by security never to bother her again or option B: I beat your pathetic lopsided ass to a bloody pulp and let the janitorial crew toss you out with the rest of the trash. If you're smart you'll choose A but I gotta tell you I'm dying for you to say B."

"Rachel stop," Brooke's husky voice cuts through the tense atmosphere, "just let her go."

Rachel's eyes shift back and forth between Brooke and Victoria with uncertainty. Brooke straightens her back, lifts her chin in defiance and once Rachel sees the steel resolve in her lover's eyes she drops her hold on Victoria and takes her place at Brooke's side.

"Pitiful, one word from her master and she heels like a well trained animal. What other tricks can you make her do Brooke, balance a crack pipe on her nose?"

"You know Victoria, a month ago your words might have hurt me. I would have spent hours agonizing over every single insult but now," shaking her head sadly Brooke blinks back the tears threatening to fall "listening to you speak to your own child this way all I can do is feel sorry for you. How lonely your life must be, sure you've got a fancy new job but who's there to share in your triumphs? Who's there to reassure you when things get rough? Where are your true friends and not just a bunch of yes-men you pay to say what you want them to. You are my mother and no matter what you say or do a part of me will always love you, but that doesn't mean I have to like you." signaling to a burly young man dressed from head to toe in black "Parkman, my mother has had a bit too much to drink. Would you please escort her to her car and make sure that you tell the driver to wait until she is safely in her building before pulling off?"

"Of course Ms. Davis." Parkman reaches out a hand to steady a shocked Victoria and firmly ushers her towards the exit.

"This is far from over, Brooke." Victoria hisses

"You can say whatever you want Victoria but you no longer have any power over me."

"Good riddance." Rachel mutters at Victoria's retreating back

"Brooke," Charles hangs his head contritely "I'm afraid that I have no excuse for my actions. I know that I haven't been the most supportive father, I've missed out on too much of your life. I'm so proud of the caring and generous woman you have become and it saddens me to know that I can't take credit for it. All that I am asking is that we start over, I want to be in your life, your new family's life," he says with a cautious glance to Rachel, "I'd like to get a chance to know and love my grandchildren."

a/n: A weird place to end things, I know but this chapter was getting really long and that's with me cutting out all of the runway scenes. The next part will close this chapter and probably jump ahead a bit since all of my notes seem to be about six months into the future.