Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters of One Tree Hill or anything at all to do with the show.
Author's note: Hope you all enjoyed the first chapter. Thanks for the reviews. I kind of messed up on the timeline, Naley have been married for six years not five. Now to the second one. Btw I've decided to name the chapters after songs (like the actual OTH episodes). Enjoy:)
Chapter II: Sleeping with the past
A few minutes later Nathan heard a knock on the door…
Haley was fast asleep so he rolled her gently off his chest and put some boxers on. A moment later he opened the front door to a sopping wet Brooke Davis.
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Meanwhile in New York city…
Lucas was sitting alone in his apartment, his and Brooke's apartment. He was looking at a photo cradled in his hands. The photo was of him and Brooke taken exactly one year ago. On her birthday. She was holding a puppy and smiling from ear to ear.
Flashback to one year ago at Tric…
Lucas stood in the middle of the club looking at all the decorations.
"This night is going to be perfect" he thought to himself.
"Hey perv, the place looks great!" A familiar voice from behind said
Lucas turned around to see his best friend and sister-in-law Haley.
He gave her a quick hug: "It's so good to see you, I've missed you.." he looked around: "where's Jamie?"
"Oh he's at home with his dad, I'm going to pick them up for the party" Haley said with a smile on her face: "I can't believe you guys came to Tree Hill to celebrate Brooke's birthday, that is so awesome!"
"Yeah well that's what Brooke wanted and I couldn't be happier about it..plus we get to spend some time with you and Nate, not to mention our godson" Lucas said with love in his eyes.
Haley nodded: "Yep and time with us you'll get! Starting tonight. Ooh that reminds me, I've gotta go pick up my boys, see ya!" she yelled the last words as she walked away.
"Yep this night is going to be perfect" Lucas repeated to himself as he checked his watch.
Later that night…
"It's time for your present" Lucas said eying Brooke with a sheepish grin on his face.
"Oh my god I love presents! What is it? What is it? I'm dying here!" Brooke said while practically jumping up and down.
"Wait a second, I'm gonna go get it, it's in the other room" Lucas replied
"You better hurry or else!" Brooke said tugging on Lucas' arm.
"So how does it feel turning 22?" Nathan said walking up to Brooke hand in hand with Jamie.
"Yeah how does it feel being so old aunt Brooke?" Jamie said with a huge smirk.
"You take after your father you know that tigger?" Brooke said smirking back at him.
"I know, mommy says it all the time" Jamie said smirking like never before. At that moment he spotted Lily and ran over to her.
"So how's your life Brooke? I mean now that you're a big time fashion designer and you and Luke seem happy..got everything you want?" Nathan continued
"I don't know, I feel like something's missing. Don't get me wrong I love my life, my clothes and Luke. Things couldn't be better, it's just that I miss Peyton you know. A lot actually, I haven't even told Lucas about this because he blames himself, but I really worry about her and I just want toknow if she's alright" tears began to form in Brooke's eyes as she looked down: " I just miss her, that's all."
" I miss her too, I wish she would contact us but I guess we gotta face the truth, there is nothing we can do to help her until she admits that she needs help" Nathan said in a hopeless voice.
He put his arms around her and whispered: "It's gonna be okay, everything's gonna be alright..don't worry."
"What's the matter?" Lucas was standing next to them.
"Oh nothing, I was just getting teary-eyed about turning 22 that's all" Brooke said wiping away her tears.
"Pretty girl I think you're the first person ever to cry about that" Lucas said laughing: "Look everybody's here and we're all gonna have a good time, no more crying okay?"
"Okay I promise, now where's my present?" Brooke replied glaring at him.
"Whoa you don't miss a beat do you? Well here it is" Lucas uncovered a cage with a yellow Labrador puppy inside of it. Brooke threwher hands up the air and squealed. She opened the cage and picked him up.
"He's so cute! It's a "he" right?" Brooke asked
"Of course, he doesn't have a name yet so I thought I'd let you pick one" Lucas said grinning.
"Umm ohh I don't know, this is a toughie.." Brooke pondered.
"Well you don't have to find one right n.." Lucas got cut off by Brooke yelling: "OOH I know! Brucas! That's what I'll call him..Brucas."
"Uhh that's a weird name, even for a dog" Lucas said with a confused look on his face.
"That's our names combined silly. You know like Naley, ours is Brucas..don't you like it?" Brooke said in disappointment.
"Ooohh of course silly me, I do like it. I just didn't get it right away. In fact, I love it!" Lucas said trying to sound convincing.
"Picture time!" Haley yelled as she snapped a photo of Brooke, Lucas and Brucas.
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Lucas' trip down memory lane was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" He yelled but there was no answer.
He slowly opened up the door to find a faded version of a girl he used to know.
"Hey Luke, long time no see. Mind if I come in?" The girl said in a raspy voice.
"Uhh sure" he said while pointing to the couch in the living room: "take a seat."
As she sat down Lucas noticed how skinny she had become, she was always thin before but now she had slimmed down to nothing: "Do you want something to eat? You look like you haven't eaten anything in a while" he said in a concerned voice.
"No thanks, my appetite is not very good right now"..she said: "Sit down next to me, tell me everything. How is Brooke?"
"To be honest I don't really know, I screwed things up and she went to Tree Hill" he replied.
The girl clapped her hands together: "Nice work Lucas, what did you do this time?" she said in a sarcastic tone.
"That is none of your business alright. I haven't seen or heard from you in God knows how long and you just waltz in here and start judging me when you don't know anything about my life!" Luke yelled angrily.
She yelled back : "Well I know that you've been a dick to Brooke in the past and you know what? You were also a dick to me!!"
"I know that! I know that.." Lucas calmed down: "I know and I'm sorry, I never should have treated you the way I did..I know that it's my fault that you started doing drugs again. I never stopped caring about you though..you have to know that" he looked into her eyes trying to get through to her.
"I know..I never stopped caring about you either. In fact I never stopped loving you Lucas. If you could just give me a chance I know we could work things out, I'll go to rehab and we can build our lives from there" the girl said tearing up.
"I'm sorry but I can't do that..I love Brooke. She's the one for me and the sooner you accept that the sooner you can get the help you need" Lucas said in a caring voice.
The girl stood up, spat in Lucas' face and made her way to the door.
"Peyton! Please don't go" Lucas said.
She opened the door, turned around and stared at Lucas in way that pierced through him: "I can't believe I ever loved you, you pathetic son of a bitch. I hope Brooke never forgives you!" She yelled as she slammed the door.
Lucas made his way into the bedroom and let himself fall onto the bed. Brucas was lying there sleeping but opened his eyes and looked at Lucas for a moment before closing them again. Lucas looked at the alarm clock, it read 00:05. Five minutes of Brooke's birthday had passed, he wondered what she was doing. He sighed as he reached over to the lamp on the nighstand and turned it off.
