Decode

The girls were very excited but apprehensive to what Haley had to tell them. They made sure they bought a couple of bottles of Haley's favourite wine. Peyton, who was driving, pulled up to the driveway and noticed Skills walking up to the house. She looked over to Brooke, who was just as surprised.

"Haley never mentioned Skills was coming too." Peyton said while taking her seatbelt off.

Brooke looked back at the house and replied. "I guess there's a bit of a party going on tonight."

Both girls exited the car and they were greeted at the door by Nathan, who was still standing there having let Skills in previously.

"Hey, glad you both made it." He gave them both a hug and showed them inside the house. They spotted Skills standing near Haley and they proceeded in their direction. They put the wine down and hugged the both of them.

"Great, now everyone is here." Haley announced. This made Brooke question her. "What's going on, Hales?"

Jamie came bouncing in from another room getting very excited. "Aunt Brooke, you're here." He jumped into her arms and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I want a rematch Jamie." Both Brooke and Peyton turned their head to see Lucas walking in from where Jamie had come from. The smile on his face instantly turned into a grimace at the sight of the two girls. He looked to both Nathan and Haley. "What are they doing here?"

"I invited them over too." Haley responded, trying to emphasise the importance in her words.

"Well, I'm going to go then." Lucas said angrily, already making his way towards the door.

"Please don't." Nathan walked towards him to prevent him from leaving. "We have news that we want to share with all of you."

"Is everything ok Hales?" Brooke asked with concern, stepping closer to her.

"Everything is more than ok." Nathan said smiling at his wife.

"Daddy, can I tell everyone?" Jamie pleaded, showing off his cutest smile. Nathan looked at Haley and she just nodded. "Go on and tell them Jamie."

Still in Brooke's arms, Jamie blurted out the news. "I'm going to have a brother or sister."

All eyes turned to Nathan and Haley who couldn't help hide the big grin on their faces. A chorus of congratulations followed with hugs and kisses. After the initial congratulations were given, Lucas quietly walked out to the pool. Brooke had noticed this and after putting Jamie down, she followed him.

Peyton's POV

I watched Brooke follow Lucas out to the pool and I hoped that he wouldn't be as cold and angry towards her as he was to me. I was tempted to follow her but I thought it was best that she spoke to him alone, as she hasn't had the chance to. Plus after our last conversation, it was best I stay away. I turned my attention back to Nathan, Haley and Skills.

"How has Lucas been?" I ask, as I know they have been spending the most time with him since he came back from his trip.

"He's been quite low and drinking a lot." Skills answered. I can tell by his demeanour that he's really worried.

"He is starting to get better. He just has to deal with the anger he's carrying around." Nathan added. "I've been there and it's the anger that eats you up the most." Nathan turned to Haley and put his arm around her, kissing her forehead after.

"You guys have come so far since then. Congratulations again. We need some good news around here." Life in Tree Hill always seems to bring the drama; I for one know that personally.

"We're really excited. I guess it's partly down to the fact that we're more prepared this time around." I could really see the excitement in Haley's eyes and pure pride radiating from Nathan.

"Let's hope your waters don't break at this years graduation." I said laughing as I recall the moment she told everyone during her valedictorian speech. It brings me back to a point where Brooke and I had finally mended our friendship and Lucas and I were together. I wonder how the two of them are doing outside.

Brooke's POV

Lucas looked round from where he was sitting, he must have heard the door open. I was a bit hesitant; but that was an understatement. "What are you doing out here?" I don't recall a time when I've heard him talk with such disgust.

"Grabbing some fresh air and I want to talk to you." Once the words have passed through my lips, I berate myself for sounding so timid.

"I don't want to talk to you." Lucas gets up from his seat but before he could walk past, I stop him, both verbally and physically by placing my hand on his shoulder. He shrugs my hand off. "Lucas wait. Just please hear me out."

"Why? What do you possibly have to say?" He turns around and that's when I see it, the hurt and anger in his eyes.

"I'm sorry." There's more that I want to say but I need to at least start with this.

"Wow, I'm so glad I stuck around for that." Now I get the sarcasm but I have to let it pass me by. I just need to at least tell him my side of the story.

"None of this was planned."

He chuckles a bit but I know this is no joke for him. "Excuse me if I don't believe you."

"It's the truth. I was as shocked as you were when she walked out on you."

"Save it." He steps closer to me and shows more anger, with his voice raised slightly. "You planned this all to humiliate me and it worked."

"It was never like that. As far as I was concerned, she was gonna marry you."

"So you never told her how you felt." I feel like, just for this brief moment, that he might actually believe that I'm telling the truth.

"No and she never told me. There was no plan." I plead, hoping that I'm getting through to him.

"Are you trying to tell me that you were going to let her marry me without telling her how you felt?" His voice has softened for the first time since we started talking.

"Yes. If that was what she wanted and was happy."

He stops for a moment and gives me a look; one that he used to give before all of this happened. "I'm not sure why I'm asking this but why didn't you tell her?"

"I had no intention to tell her. The two of you seemed so in love and I didn't want to spoil that and I didn't want to ruin my friendship with her or with you."

"It's just hard to take all of this in. I can't wrap my head round the fact that she didn't want to marry me let alone you two together."

I place my hand on his arm and he doesn't flinch away. "I really am sorry that we hurt you."

"I'm gonna go."

"Please don't go because of us." I try to find an alternative to change his mind. "We can leave instead."

"No, you guys stay. I just need to be alone right now." Instead of walking into the house, he just walks out the gate. I don't even know how we didn't notice his car when we drove in. I stay outside for a little bit longer before returning back into the house.

It had been a couple of hours before we headed home. I couldn't shake the conversation I had with Lucas off; I hope he'll be ok and knows that none of this was planned. I guess you can't help who you fall in love with; he couldn't help it and neither could Peyton and I. Happiness is all I wish for him.

We were currently relaxing on the sofa, she has her arm round me and we're watching something that I wasn't paying much attention to. I couldn't tell if Peyton was paying attention either. I hear her speak and it's barely a whisper. "Brooke."

I turn to her and she looks like there's something on her mind. "Yeah."

"How was Lucas?"

I turn to look at her before I answer. "At first he was really angry; I guess I now understand what you were feeling when you spoke to him. He actually calmed down while I explained that we weren't doing anything behind his back."

"The guys said he's been drinking a lot. I'm worried about him."

"I know, so I'm I, but he'll get it through it. Naley won't allow it." I move to give her a quick kiss and settle back to my original spot. She pulls me closer and kisses the top of my head.

"Have you ever thought about having kids?" I wasn't expecting that question especially since we were talking about Lucas. I have to admit that the thought had crossed my mind before. "Yes I have. I would love to have kids. Have you?"

"Yes. I had this image in my head of our children being best friends, like us. Looking out for each other; of course this is when I thought that you and I would both have husbands." She has this dreamy look in her eyes that I can't help raising my eyebrows to. It's weird that we've never had this conversation before.

"Seeing as you've got this image already, how many kids were there?"

"I had two and you had four."

I looked at her in disbelief at the number of kids she saw me with. "You seriously thought that I would have four kids."

"Yes. Especially how you are with Jamie. You love it, don't deny it."

"I can't deny that I love that boy." Just thinking about him makes me smile; in fact he was part of the reason that got me seriously thinking about having kids. "Maybe four isn't so bad."