Disclaimer: I do not, as much as I wish I did, own OTH or any of the songs in this story. All I own is the plot of the story, and I barely own that.

AN: Okay, sorry that I didn't really write much of a bonding scene at all. There was just so much that I wanted to do with this, but I really wanted to get a chapter to you guys. I hope you like this despite it's suckiness.

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Chapter 12: Just Friends

To say that the dinner was awkward would be an understatement, a lie even; to say it was a tragic ending to a beautiful day would a fact. Haley and Nathan sat at either end of the table, Jamie and Jenny were next to each other on the ride side of the table, and on the left side sat Brooke, Julian on her left and Jake on her right. The children were chattering away incessantly; they were already best friends, as is the custom of children, but the adults didn't speak.

Julian's eyes were wary the whole time. He knew that something had happened between Jake and Brooke when they'd been friends in New York; he could see every feeling they'd ever shared in the meaningful glances they sent to each other and the way his lips softened every time she said something silly that only he could hear. Julian Baker was officially jealous, and he felt ridiculous.

Nathan sighed, his glance shifting from the eyes of his gorgeous wife to the looks the producer was sending toward Jake. Nathan knew that look too well; it had been his for a long time, and he wondered idly if Jake would be Julian's Chris Keller.

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Twenty minutes later the children were upstairs in Jamie's room playing, while the five adults were sitting in the living room, still mostly silent as they eyes one another. Haley and Nathan sat next to each other on the loveseat, their fingers clasped tightly. Brooke and Julian sat next to each other on the couch, while Jake had pulled a chair from the kitchen and was currently sitting between both couples.

Haley sighed, leaning her forward, and began tapping her nails on the coffee table, while Brooke was busy bouncing her foot and trying to ignore the awkwardness of the situation. Jake looked around at the other four people in the room with a frown on his face, "I think I should get Jenny home."

Everyone let out a sigh of relief and Brooke nodded, "Yeah, we should get going too."

Julian stood, pulling her with him, "Yeah I think it's well past our bedtime." He looked over at Jake with a smirk on his face, "Brooke has a certain routine before the two of us go to sleep."

"Julian!" Brooke smacked his arm and glared at him, pissed that he would even hint at their sex life in front of her friends, although if she were honest with herself, she would have realized that it his mentioning their sex life in front of Jake that really bothered her.

Nathan glared at Julian, more convinced than ever that the spunky brunette should end up with his brother; he was still unsure as to why he felt this edgy and unwelcome feeling when it came to the producer, but he'd changed his mind about Julian being what she needed. Brooke stormed off toward the coat rack as Haley yelled up the stairs for Jamie and Jenny, and Julian gritted his teeth, knowing he'd screwed up.

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Brooke pulled her jacked tight around her, smiling down at Jamie and Jenny. Jake and Julian put their jackets on too, Julian still shooting uneasy glances toward the young father and trying to think of ways to get Brooke to forgive him.

"Aunt Brooke," Jamie said softly, his eyes full of pure innocence, "Can you take me and Jenny to the carnival tomorrow? I wanna see the clowns." Haley grimaced, "Pleaseee?"

Brooke laughed and glanced at Haley and Jake, both nodded, "Sure thing, munchkins," she got down on one knee and her voice dropped to a mere whisper as she leaned closer to the two children, "As long as you both promise not tell on me if I give you lots of sugar." Both nodded enthusiastically, and she smiled at them, holding out her pinkies; both children instinctively linked theirs with hers, grins on their rosy faces.

Julian reached for Brooke's hand as they exited the house; she flinched away, but, upon seeing his sad look, she placed her hand back in his, sighing. Jamie smiled, watching them leave; soon enough he'd be ready to set his plan in motion. In the end, his godparents were going to be together; he just knew it.

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Jenny led the three adults outside, a bounce in her step. Brooke and Jake both laughed at her antics while Julian just held on tightly to his girlfriend's hand; he wasn't sure what it was, but he was certain something dark was on the horizon for them, something involving Jake Jagielski.

Brooke suddenly stopped walking, and both men frowned, "I forgot my sketches at the store," she turned toward Julian with pleading eyes, "Will you run by and get them? I want to catch up with Jake and Jenny? Pretty please?"

Julian smiled though his eyes were guarded, "Sure, anything for you." He leaned forward and placed a chaste kiss on her lips.

She grinned, "Thank you!"

She bounced off toward Jake's car, picking up Jenny as she went, and neither man could help but picture her with children of her own. Julian glanced over at the other man, noticing the wistful look on his face, "Don't forget…She's my girlfriend…"

Jake frowned, looking startled at the hostile tone. "I'm not…"

Julian shook his head at the other guy and stomped off to his car, not seeing the frown on Brooke's face as she watched him from the passenger seat of Jake's car, and he drove off toward the store.

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Just twenty minutes later they arrived at Brooke's place. Brooke smiled as she showed them the many rooms of her house, getting many compliments on the decorations she'd bought with the house.

Brooke grinned as she opened the door to Peyton's former room, "Jenny, this is where you'll be staying." Jenny looked pensive, "What do you think?"

The little girl grinned, "I love it, Aunt Brooke!" She frowned slightly, "I really missed you when you were gone…"

"I missed you too." She got on her knees and wrapped her arms around the little girl, "You will always be my Jennybug, no matter where we are, or who we're with…We're soul mates."

Jenny grinned and pulled away from the hug, "Can I go play now?"

Brooke and Jake both grinned, "Go right ahead."

Jake smiled, "I forgot how good you were with her." Brooke nodded sadly, "So, where am I staying?"

"You're right up the stairs to the right. I'm on the left."

They headed up the stairs and she showed him his bedroom, then she showed him hers. Jake began walking around, looking at all the pictures she'd placed on the walls as she went and sat on her bed.

He picked up a picture of Angie, "She was beautiful, Brooke." She nodded, knowing of whom he was speaking. "I'm sorry you couldn't keep her."

"So am I."

Jake sat next to her on the bed, silence falling between them.

Brooke sighed and laid back on the bed; he smiled and did the same, only inches between them as they stared up at the ceiling, "Is this weird? This feels weird."

He sighed, "It doesn't have to be. We've done this before…just been friends."

She nodded and rolled onto her side, facing him, "I think about it sometimes, us I mean."

"Me too," he faced her as well. "I wonder what would have happened if you'd stayed that night…I think I might have fallen in love."

She shook her head, "I don't think you would have; you were still hers – even then."

He stared into her eyes, "Brooke…"

Outside, they could hear the sound of thunder and lightening clashing and the sound of rain pelting itself against the rooftop, and they both smiled, thinking of their first loves and those wonderful kisses in the rain. Their eyes glazed over, and, for just a moment, they leaned closer, their foreheads touching.

"…You're always saving me, Jake."

He lifted his hand, tangling it in her hair, and he leaned in…

Neither of them even noticed Julian standing at the open doorway, daisies in his hand and a dejected look on his face. One tear slid down his face and he walked out of the room, throwing the flowers in the trash and her sketches on the table as he left.

Brooke smiled and rubbed her nose against his in an Eskimo kiss, "Do you remember that night in New York when we spent the entire day in bed like this, just talking?"

He nodded and sat up, "We were best friends. All three of us."

"Yeah, we were."

Jake stood up, "I should really go to my own room before your boyfriend gets back." Brooke frowned at the mention of Julian, "I think he feels intimidated. He loves you, Brooke. Don't let him forget that he's the one you love."

She smiled and nodded, "I won't…" She frowned, "He should be back by now…"

TBC…

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AN: I am so sorry that this sucks! But I really wanted to give you guys a chapter. I will try to have a less sucky one up by next Sunday.