Disclaimer: As we all know, I do not own OTH because if I did it wouln't suck as much as it do now...lol!

(A/N: Finally got up a new update. I want to thank my beta Jennie, who helped me with this chapter and many chapters before this. Thanks a bunch Jennie! Thanks for all the reviews last chapter and I wanted to leave an Author's Response this chapter, but I can't so I promise you guys that I will definitely will have one in the next chapter.)

Chapter Eight: The Reason

I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears

- The Reason by Hoobastank

Lucas' POV

I don't know why everyone wants to talk to me, but they do. Haley called me a week after my talk with Sam. I was kind of surprised it took her this long. She probably thought I needed some space. If that was her reason then she would have been right. I walk to the painted white door and knock twice. It didn't take long for her to answer.

She opens the door and smiles at me. I don't return the smile, instead I just walk into house. I place my hands in my pockets and she simply looks at me. It feels a bit awkward. Neither of us is saying a word and it feels as if we're just tip toeing around each other.

I let out a sigh, "What is it that you called me for Haley?"

She looks down fiddling with her hands. "Well, you haven't called me since the whole finding out Brooke's secret thing and I wanted to see how you were holding up." She noticed the look on my face after she says this, "Don't act like this, Luke. I couldn't tell you this."

I cross my arms, "You were my best friend for how long and you thought that you could betray our friendship to keep Brooke's secret?"

"That's not fair," Haley yells back at me, "She was my friend and she kept my secret about being pregnant after she had just been forced to kill her baby. If you ask me that had to open a whole world of hurt for her and I didn't want to make it worse by telling you."

I glare at her for a moment. "Sam told me the same thing," I tell her as she looked at me curiously, "She told me that Brooke was forced in to giving up the baby. What does that mean Haley? I want the truth, you've been lying to me way to long to not give me some straight answer. I deserve to know this Haley. That was my kid Haley, if that was Jamie would you want someone to do that to Nathan?"

I see tears roll down her face, she shakes her head no. "Brooke was going to tell you, she just didn't want to get in the way of yours and Peyton's relationship," I looked confused at this, we weren't together yet. "Or at least what she thought would end up becoming a relationship. She needed help so out of confusion she called her mom, but that was big mistake. Victoria didn't help her, she did quite the opposite. She made Brooke get an abortion."

I was about to open my mouth, but Haley cut me off. "Why did you do that to her? Why did you let her get away?" She yelled at me to my surprised. "Why didn't you chase after her instead of Peyton? You might think this was her fault, but it's your fault too. She needed you and she still does, but you left her. Why do you have to be such a complete jackass?"

I want to yell back, but she's right, "I'm so stupid." I lean against the wall, slowly falling to the ground banging my head against the wall. "I didn't want to leave her Haley. I really didn't. I thought it was what she wanted and I ruined her life. I wasn't there for her and I will have to live with that mistake for the rest of my life and I know that." I feel the tears welling up in my eyes. Haley drops down next to me wrapping her arms around me. "I couldn't help my child and now I'll never know what it's like."

Haley holds on tighter, wrapping her arms around me, "It's okay. I was just overreacting, it's not your fault."

"It is Haley," I grab on to her arm, "It is."

She turns me to look at her with a serious look, "Listen to me Lucas. It's not your fault. Things happen that are beyond our control. You would have been the greatest father ever to your son. We all know that."

I smile at her for a moment, "It was a boy."

She nods her head. I lean my head on her shoulder, with her arms still draped around me. I could see him in my head. He has my hair color, but Brooke's hazel eyes. He would have loved basketball and he would have been the best dressed five year old for his age. He would brood most of the time, but still be cheery at other times just like his mother. He would have her dimples, so that every time he smiled, he would light up the room. He would be smart, not only book smart, but Brooke smart. He would have been the son I always wanted, but now he was the son I would never have.

Haley unwraps her arms. "I have to go pick up Jamie," She tells me wiping her eyes, "He's with Brooke at the store."

I nod my head getting up from the floor. She reaches out her hand for some help getting up. I pull her up smiling, "Thanks for being honest with me."

"No problem," she smiles at me grabbing her purse. She looks at me intently for a moment. "Come with me."

"What?"

"Come with me." She repeats herself. "Try and figure out this whole thing and fix it. I have a question for you though."

I nod my head for her to continue. "What is it?"

"What are you going to do about Peyton?"

Brooke's POV

"I'm going to get you!"

I chase after the four year old, who ran behind the counter to hide behind my red haired friend and my fifteen year old foster daughter. Rachel picks him up and sets him down on the counter as I begin tickling him. Sam joins me and Jamie lays down on the counter laughing.

I pick him up off the counter and throw him over my shoulder, "Who's the best aunt in the world?"

"You are!" He laughs as I put him down. "I'm happy you're feeling better Aunt Brooke. I like it better when you're happy and smiling."

I kneel down to his height, "You know what buddy?" He looks at me confused. "I like it better when I'm happy too. You make me the happiest person in the world you know that?" He nods his head and hugs me. "I love you little man."

He pulls back from the hug, "I love you too, Aunt Brooke."

I hear Sam scoff from the counter and Rachel nudges her, "What?" Sam turns to Rachel grabbing her side, "This is just way too sappy for my taste. I want some ice cream, don't you want some ice cream Jamie?"

Jamie nods his head, "Can we get ice cream?"

"Of course we can," Rachel walks around the counter, "I'm going to buy you three scoops of ice cream, but don't tell your mom. You know she only wants you having one scoop, but what she doesn't know won't hurt her. Right buddy?"

"Right!" Jamie agreed.

I shook my head, laughing. "I would appreciate it if you didn't try to corrupt my godchild." I tell Rachel who sticks her tongue out at me. "Real mature, Rachel. Jamie go with Sam and get your shoes in the back. We will get some ice cream before your mom picks you up."

Jamie and Sam race to the back as Rachel and I watch laughing. Sam, Rachel and I have grown oddly closer after the whole Lucas thing. They won't leave me alone for more than a second. It's alright though, I haven't been in the mood to be alone lately. If I was alone I would have to deal with what happened and I don't think I'm ready for that. Things have been so hard lately, but they're getting better.

"Shit!" I hear Rachel murmur. I turn to her to find her looking out the window, I turn towards the window to see the last person I thought I would see. There he was though, walking towards the door. His blond hair was messy and he had a brooding look on his face like he usually did. "You don't have to talk to him. I can kick him out if you want."

I shake my head no. "I have to talk to him at some point." I see Haley trailing behind him. "I know Haley planned all this anyways, I know she did. She probably thinks this is the only way we will ever run into each other."

"That's just like her to do something like this." Rachel crossed her arms, rolling her eyes. "I know you may like Lucas and I know he makes you happy, but he pisses me off. I hate that he makes you feel the way you do because you don't deserve it. You don't deserve half the crap you go through."

Lucas walks in to the store as I nod my head. He looks at me for a second, but then he turns his head. Haley walks in right after and I glare at her. She notices the expression on my face and smiles, trying to avoid the awkwardness.

Haley places her hands on her hips, "So where's Jamie?"

"We were about to take him for ice cream," Rachel says before I can speak. "Maybe you and Lucass here can take him instead?"

I nudge Rachel in her stomach. "She's just playing," She glares at me, "Rachel and I were about to lock up so maybe it would be best if you took Jamie instead. I mean we were going to head home right after ice cream so maybe you can--"

Jamie walks out of the back with Sam by his side. "You're not taking me for ice cream anymore?" He asks me, sticking out his bottom lip. He makes it so hard to deny it when he does the puppy dog face. "Come on aunt Brooke, I missed you."

I nod my head, "Alright buddy, I'll go." He jumps on to me after I say this. "Only if your mom buys the ice cream!"

"Are you coming too, Uncle Lucas?" I look from my godchild to Lucas' face. He looks like he almost regretted being here, almost as if he wanted to run out of the store as quick as he could. "I missed you too. So does Aunt Brooke, I heard her say so."

"Jamie!" Sam pinches his shoulder.

Jamie punches her in the leg, "That hurt."

"You are so going to get it!" Sam chases Jamie out of the store. I laugh as Haley runs out the store, following the direction they just ran to.

"Rachel, can I talk to Brooke?" Lucas blurts out. Rachel looks at me at me for a moment. I nod my head, letting her know it's okay. She brushes past Lucas and follows Haley's lead out of the store. It's only us now and it couldn't be anymore awkward than it already was. I didn't know if I should talk or if he wanted to continue.

He clears his throat, "I'm sorry." I look up from the floor and in to his crystal blue eyes. "I don't hate you. I could never hate you. I was mad at you, but I could never hate you. Haley told me what happened and I'm so sorry. I took all my anger out on you without knowing any of the details. I suck and if you hate me I don't blame you cause I hate me too. I didn't help you when you needed me most and I hate myself for that. It's my fault that you didn't have our son because I couldn't protect you. I broke my promise to you, I said I would always be there for you. I would have loved to have kid with your eyes, your smile, your charm and most of all your heart. I guess I messed up on that a long time ago and I'm sorry."

I feel the tears roll down my eyes. He moves closer to me. "I didn't mean to make you cry, I'm sorry." He pulled my in for a hug and I cry, laying my head on his chest. He strokes my head softly, trying to comfort me. When he stop moving, I pull back. He's looking down at me, smiling. I see him lean down, but I move away.

"I can't Lucas," I wipe the tears from eyes, "I can't be the girl Peyton is, I just can't."

He moves closer to me, "I'm not asking you to be."

"So stop kissing me!" I yell at him, "Stop telling me you love me and how you're sorry. Lucas you chose Peyton a long time ago and you chose her again. You had shots with me and you blew it."

"I know that," He says quietly, "That's a mistake I've been living with since you broke up with me. Why did you have to break up with me?"

I sigh, I can't believe we're back to this again, "Why don't you ask Peyton?"

I hear him grunt in frustration. "Why can't I ever hear something from you for a change?" He asks in an aggravated tone, "Brooke, I'm asking you. I hear everything from everyone else, but I never hear anything from you. I want you to answer something for me and answer it truthfully." I nod my head, I guess I can at least give him this. "Do you still love me?"

He catches me by surprise. "I..I.." I try to speak, but the words won't come out. My phone begins to ring and look down at the number. It shocked me to see who was calling. "I have to take this call."

I open my phone, "Hello?"

"Hello princess?"

"Hey dad, why are you calling?" I asked curiously, it's been a while since I talked to my father.

"It's about your mother."

I groan, "What did she do now?"

"Nothing honey," I hear him laugh over the phone, but his voice gets serious as he goes on, "Well, they found her last night in her room. They thought she had been asleep or passed out or something, but she was wasn't."

I'm confused now, what's going on? "What happened dad?"

I hear him sigh over the phone. "Your mother had a heart attack. She's dead."

(A/N: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Can you believe it? Victoria is dead. :( How will Brooke react to this? How do you think she should react? What will Lucas do about Peyton? Will we see more of Brooke's father? All of this will be answered in the next chapter and more.)