A/N: Thank you for all your support and reviews. I'm really glad you guys like this story and I hope that you guys continue to enjoy it all the way to the end. So, again, I have a couple of things to note. One- there's a lot of Brooke in this chapter. It was necessary to keep the story moving in (what I think) is a believable manner. Two- There's some Julian this chapter. Let me make it clear that I hate Julian but I also think his character is necessary to throw a wrench in the works. So anyway, chapter thirteen:

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The next night the party was already in full swing. Julian scanned the party real quick to see if any of the guests he was most looking forward to seeing had arrived. They hadn't. He growled, unhappily. He never liked being stood up but this went far and beyond that. He has spent some great time and effort on the party and had expected a major pay-off. He grabbed his phone and was about to call Lucas, when he noticed the young author coming through the door with NBA star Nathan Scott and what he could only assume was his wife.

Julian breathed a sigh of relief. There's one.

He plastered a smile on his face and glided over to the new arrivals. He shook hands with Lucas. "You made it! I was thinking I was going to have to find a stand-in for you."

Lucas laughed. "Yeah, sorry about that. There were some domestic issues that needed to be resolved before we got on the road. Anyway, Julian Baker... this is my brother, Nathan Scott and his lovely wife, Haley James-Scott."

Julian reached for Nathan's hand. "No introductions needed here. I'm a big fan of yours, Nathan. How many points do you think you'll score this season?"

Nathan looked coldly at the producer and didn't shake his hand. "Some. Come on, Haley, I'm hungry. Let's see if we can't score something else greasy and slimy."

Haley gave a curt nod to Julian and followed her husband further into the party. Lucas was embarrassed. "I'm sorry about that. Nathan wasn't feeling well and had to be coerced to come."

Julian couldn't believe that Lucas still didn't know about him and Peyton when he seemed all of his other friends did. "It's no problem, I was just excited to meet him. So, come on, there are some very important people that I want you to meet."

Lucas let himself get led away. He looked around. "Um, did any of my other friends arrive, yet?"

Julian stiffened for a second. "No, I don't think so. Of course, you would know them better than I."

Lucas nodded. "I guess you're right. And no, it seems like they're not here yet." He hoped that Peyton had changed her mind but he was sure that Brooke would drag her to the party anyway. At least he prayed that Brooke would.

"Well, I hope they come," Julian said honestly.

"Me, too."

-----

"Brooke, this is a mistake!"

Brooke rolled her eyes at the hundredth time that Peyton had said that since they got in the car. "No, it's not. You going there to support Lucas is not a mistake. Besides, if things look fishy, just pull Lucas aside and tell him the truth. Actually, you should do that anyway! He's finished with the screenplay, so his job is done."

"I know, it's just I don't want him mad at me."

"Lucas?" The brunette kept her eyes on the road. "And why would he have any reason to be mad at you?"

"Because it's his producer and-"

"And what? You didn't know that! And besides, he was still shacked up with Lindsey until just the other day!"

"What if he thinks that this baby is Julian's?" Peyton finally voiced a concern that had been plaguing her since the previous day.

Brooke stopped at a red light and looked at Peyton. "Okay, Lucas is an idiot, granted. But I'm pretty sure he will realize that you can't be pregnant NOW from a guy you haven't slept with in years."

"But what if he doesn't believe that? What if he thinks I was still screwing around with Julian when he and I saw each other again?"

"Peyton, this pregnancy paranoia of yours is going to make you sick. So please, calm down. None of that is going to happen. He loves you. And he trusts you. There's no way he's going to think any of that, okay?"

"But what if-"

"What if he does?" Brooke finished the question for her, the frustration evident in her voice. "Then it'll be up to me, Haley, and Nathan to beat some sense back into him. Either way, don't worry about it. I'm serious, you need to relax. Stress isn't good for the baby."

"And yet, here I am going willingly into a stress-filled situation."

Brooke raised an eyebrow. "You call this willingly? P. Sawyer, I practically had to push you into the car."

Peyton sighed, realizing that she had lost the discussion with Brooke. "Okay. What if I get sick at the party?"

"Then you vomit all over Julian and we go home for ice cream."

"Oh. Well, okay then."

Brooke felt Peyton relax beside her and Brooke gave a silent prayer of thanks. In truth, she was just as worried as Peyton about the whole party. But she couldn't show it. She needed to be the strong one because her friend needed her. Brooke had never met Julian but that didn't stop her from disliking him anyway.

He better be on his best behavior tonight, Brooke thought. Because if he wasn't, he was going to endure the full wrath of one Brooke Davis. She gave her friend a smile, but inside she was nervous. Why did they have to agree to come to this stupid party?

-------

Lucas caught up with Haley and Nathan. They noticed that he looked a little weary. Haley put a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay, Lucas?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just not cut out to be the Hollywood type, you know?"

Nathan glared at Julian from across the room and remarked to his brother, "Yeah, that's because you still have a soul."

"No, it's not that. It's all the fakeness and schmoozing and all that. All this?" Lucas gestured at the party. "It just makes me uncomfortable."

"I know what you mean, Luke." Haley squeezed his shoulder. "Do you want to just take off?"

He shook his head. "I can't. I'm the guest of honor or some such. Besides, Peyton and Brooke aren't here yet. I mean, they're still coming, right?"

Haley checked her watch. "As far as I know. But then again you know Brooke, she's probably arriving fashionably late and is going to make a huge entrance."

Lucas looked at the entrance. "I hope she comes."

"Sawyer's coming, don't worry." Nathan automatically reassured his brother, even though he hoped that she didn't show. Peyton had been right. Julian was planning something, he could tell. The man might as well had a neon sign above his head that flashed "Scumbag,"

Julian caught Lucas's eye and waved him over. "Great. I guess duty calls. I'll be back as soon as I can get away again."

When he was gone, Haley checked her watch again. "Do you think I should call them and see what's holding them up?"

Nathan snorted. "No. I think you should call them and tell them not to show up."

"Nathan! I can't do that! You saw Lucas. He'd be crushed if Peyton doesn't show."

"Haley, that Julian guy is a creep. I guarantee that if she shows up, the shit is going to hit the fan."

Haley knew that Nathan was right. Just standing near the guy had made her skin crawl. She hadn't missed the mean-spirited gleam in his eyes when Julian had greeted them "He's a bad guy, but he's also a professional. I don't think he's stupid enough to do something at a party like this."

Nathan had to agree, Julian was no idiot. But he couldn't help feel that he had something in store for his brother. He really did hope that Peyton didn't show up. Lucas would be upset, but it would probably be a lot less than how upset he would be if Julian's plan came into fruition.

-----

Brooke and Peyton stepped into the party. This was Julian's party, all right. It's was practically identical to all the other industry parties he had dragged Peyton to. The blonde wondered if she could really do this. Then her best friend, took her hand and gave her a reassuring squeeze. Peyton breathed. That's right, she could do it with a little help from her friends.

"So, what do you want to do first, P. Sawyer?"

Peyton looked around the crowd, she was searching for familiar faces. She smiled when she saw some. "Haley and Nate are over there!"

Brooke narrowed her eyes to see through the crowd of people. "Where?"

Peyton pointed away from where Brooke was looking. "Over there."

"Oh yeah! There they are."

The two girls hurried through the crowd over to their two friends, keeping a strong grip on each other's hand. The party wasn't crowded enough for either of them to get lost. It was more a sign of emotional support and strength.

"Hey guys!"

At Brooke's greeting, Haley and Nathan turned to the pair of them. Brooke caught Nathan's face fall.

Haley, on the other hand, smiled with relief. "You guys came!"

"Of course we did. Brooke Davis miss a Hollywood party? I think not." Brooke turned, showing off her dress. "What do you think?"

"Beautiful dress as always, Brooke," Haley said. "Speaking of which, thanks so much for lending me this one."

"Who said anything about lending it to you? It's yours, Tutor Mom!"

Haley sputtered. "Brooke, it's too much."

Brooke grinned. "That's funny! That's exactly what Peyton said when I told her."

Haley looked at Peyton. She looked beautiful, but also extremely nervous and uncomfortable. "Hey, girlie, are you okay?"

"Of course she's not," Nathan answered for her. "She stuck at this party she didn't want to go to just waiting for the bomb to fall."

"Nathan!" Haley gave him a look.

"He's right," Peyton said. "I don't want to be here. This feels wrong, you know?"

"Stop it. Nothing's going to happen." Brooke tried to soothe her friend. "Nathan, will you come with me to get some champagne? I don't want to brave these horny industry types by myself."

Nathan didn't want to leave Peyton but he knew that Haley would take good care of her. "Fine, the bar's that way."

"P. Sawyer, do you want anything?"

"Some juice or something. I don't know."

"Will do. We'll be right back, okay?" Brooke took Nathan's arm and led him in the direction of the bar.

"Jesus, Brooke, easy on the grip, okay?"

"Listen, Peyton's a mess and you're not helping. She's here now so what we need to do is make sure that she leaves the party without anything major happening to her."

"Maybe she should leave now, then," he grumbled.

They reached the bar and Brooke ordered the drinks. "So, which one is he?"

"Can't you tell? It's the slimy one talking to Luke over there."

Nathan was right, Julian was slimy. He was attractive and charming, obviously, but there was something malignant there underneath the surface. It was almost impossible to see if you weren't looking for it. Brooke shuddered.

"Now you understand." Nathan had felt Brooke's reaction to the producer.

"It's doesn't matter," she said, keeping her voice steady. "Our priority is to keep him from Peyton."

Nathan smiled. "By any means necessary?"

Oh, Haley was not going to be happy with her when she found out about this. "Yes, by any means necessary."

"Good, now I'm hoping he tries something."

Brooke looked at Nathan, all ready the pound the living shit out of the producer. She handed him Peyton's juice. "Here, bring this over to Peyton. I'll be there in a minute."

"I thought you afraid of all these horny industry types."

"No, that was just an excuse to talk to you in private. To be completely honest, they should be afraid of me."

Nathan laughed. "Don't be too long, okay? I don't want to be worrying about you, too."

Brooke grinned. "I won't."

She watched her friend weave through the crowd until he reached his wife and his friend. Brooke stood up straight and walked towards Lucas. She grabbed his hand and pulled him away from the conversation he was having. Brooke heard Julian make a joke and then went back to his story.

"Brooke!" Lucas said when he recovered from his shock of being absconded. He hugged her. "You came! And you look beautiful."

"Don't I always?"

"Yes, you do, Pretty Girl." He gave her another squeeze. "So, you here alone or...?"

"Peyton's here, too."

His eyes lit up. "She's here?"

"Yeah, she's over there with Nathan and Haley if you'd like to say hi to her."

Luke gave her a sheepish grin. "I'm so obvious, aren't I?"

"Yeah, but that's part of your charm." Brooke led him over to her. "Here she is. Looking really good in a Brooke Davis original."

Peyton turned, blushing, only to find herself standing in front of the love of her life. "Lucas!"

"Wow, Peyt. You look amazing." He stepped forward and hugged her. His heart jumped when he felt her sink into his arms. His sniffed her scent and whispered into her hair, "I'm so glad you came. Thank you."

Peyton just squeezed him in response. This was going to be the highlight of her night and so she was going to make it last as long as possible.

"Oh jeez, get a room." Brooke's voice was a little harsher than she meant it to be, but she was feeling a little lonely.

The two blondes broke away from each other, blushing. Peyton smiled at Lucas, "You look really good yourself."

"Thank you. I can't tell you how much this means to me to have you," Lucas looked at Haley, Nathan and Brooke. "All of you here with me tonight."

Peyton smiled and she noticed that Julian was staring at her. He gave her a smile that made her feel dirty. Then he said something to the people he was talking to and started heading towards her.

Brooke noticed Peyton's face go white and followed her gaze to see the sleazy producer making his way towards the group. Brooke squeezed Peyton's hand on the way past and the blonde saw her friend deftly intercept Julian.

The artist took a deep breath. "Lucas, I need to talk to you. Alone."

Lucas was surprised (and definitely pleased) at Peyton wanting to be alone with him and turned to Nathan and Haley to apologize. However, the married couple just nodded, both of them appearing to have been expecting it

"You guys should go by the window, there aren't that many people there." Nathan pointed towards the area that he was talking about.

His felt a tingle up his spine when she took his arm as he led her away. This was the best party he had ever been to.

----

Brooke grabbed Julian by his lapel. "Julian Baker..."

Julian looked down and was distracted from his goal by the beautiful and sexy brunette in front of him. "And you are?"

"Brooke Davis."

"The Brooke Davis?"

"The one and only."

"And here I was beginning to think you were some kind of myth," he said, smiling without any warmth.

"Oh really?"

"Yes, I constantly heard stories about you from Peyton, how great and wonderful you were. But in all the time that we were together, there wasn't a single visit, letter, or phone call from the elusive Brooke Davis." Julian looked her up and down. "Apparently Peyton and I had very different ideas of what a good friend is."

Brooke fought the urge to hit him. "Listen, you seem like a very smart guy so I don't understand how you could be so stupid."

"And how am I being stupid?"

"Well for one, you're trying to get between Lucas and Peyton and that never ends well for the third party. I should know."

He rolled his eyes. "As far as I was to understand, there is no Lucas and Peyton right now."

"There's always Lucas and Peyton. And if you read his book, you should know that."

"Well, I'm so glad you're looking out for me."

"Oh, I'm not. I'm looking out for my friends. You see, that's the other reason you're being stupid. You're pissing me off."

"Am I supposed to be scared, Brooke Davis?"

"You should be wetting your pants." Brooke stared into his eyes and he saw that she might be one person that he wouldn't want to mess with.

"Fine, I'll leave them alone." Julian smiled as he noticed a new guest arrive. "Besides, I have other people to meet."

Brooke watched carefully as Julian made his way towards the door, the complete opposite side of the room where Peyton and Lucas were talking. She saw him greet a well-dressed woman she didn't recognize and talk to her for a bit. Still, something felt wrong. Why had he given up so easily?

-------

Peyton led Lucas to the secluded corner of the room that Nathan had pointed out. She smiled nervously at him. She didn't have any idea how she was going to broach the subject of her having had been Julian's girlfriend.

Lucas brushed her hair from her face lovingly. "How are you feeling tonight?"

She closed her eyes at his touch. "I'm a little tired. According to the doctor, I should expect to be extremely tired until I hit the second trimester."

"I'm sorry, Peyt. I guess it really was selfish of me to ask you to come."

She shook her head. "No, I get it. You wanted to share your success with your friends. There's nothing selfish about that."

"I wanted to share this with you." He breathed out and looked into her eyes. "When all my dreams come true, the one I want standing next to me is you."

Her cheeks burned. He always seemed to know how to make her even more in love with him. She took his head in her hands and kissed him deep.

"What was that for?"

"Many reasons. Mainly because you've initiated all of our latest ones and I needed to even the score."

"Oh really?"

"No," she laughed. "I love you, Luke. With all my heart."

"I know, Peyt. I love you, too."

"I was afraid you might not believe that after the other night."

Lucas shrugged. "It was upsetting, I won't lie. But I didn't doubt your love for me for a second."

"Oh, well, that's good."

"Peyton, I meant what I said when I told you that I want to be with you. But I also understand that you have a lot going on in your life now. I don't want to complicate things for you. But then again, I don't believe I would be."

Peyton pushed him playfully. "You sound like Brooke."

"She's a very wise woman, you know."

Peyton nodded. "Okay, before you and I can talk about maybe possibly reinitializing our relationship, I have something I need to tell you."

"What is it? You know you can tell me anything, right?"

"I hope so, Luke." Peyton bit her lip. Here it goes, another bombshell. "Julian and I... we used to date."

He had expected her to say any number of things. But not that. Certainly not that. "What?"

"In LA. Right after your book signing when I thought you were seeing Lindsey."

"Was it serious?"

Peyton nodded. "Yes, but we were only together for a year and we broke up because he realized that I would never stop loving you."

Lucas felt a pounding headache coming on. "But I don't understand. I showed him pictures of you and he never said anything."

"I don't know what to say to that. But I didn't know he was here until I ran into him the other night. I wanted to tell you sooner but I didn't want to ruin this opportunity for you."

"So, he knows you're here and he still didn't tell me?"

"Luke..." Peyton reached out for him and he pulled away.

"Just give me a minute, please?"

She didn't say anything because he didn't sound angry with her. She could tell that he was confused and hurt. So they stood there in silence, a few feet apart from each other. Peyton watching him and Lucas staring at the floor.

And then a voice. "Luke?"

Lucas and Peyton turned to the speaker. They both stood there, in shock.

Lucas spoke first. "Lindsey?"

Lindsey smiled uncertainly at him. "Yeah, I made it."

Peyton looked at Lucas. After all he had said to her. After all she had put herself through worrying about how he was going to react to her news. And all the time he had invited his ex-girlfriend to this party. She could feel her heart breaking in her chest.

"Excuse me..." Peyton's voice broke and she pushed past Lucas and hurried away from him and his ex-girlfriend.

"Peyton! WAIT!" Lucas called after her, but she didn't even turn. He looked over at Lindsey who had tears in her eyes.

"Peyton?" Her voice cracked. "She's here?"

"What are you doing here, Lindsey?" Lucas had wanted to ask a question but it sounded more like an accusation.

"Julian called me yesterday and told me about this party. He said that it was a pretty big deal and that you wanted me here." Lindsey breathed out, trying to keep her breathing steady. "But that wasn't true, was it? Why would you care when you had your precious Peyton here?"

"Lindsey..." What could he say? "I'm sorry, I never told Julian anything. I wish there was something I could do..."

She put her hand up. "Don't you feel sorry for me. I don't want your pity. I don't want anything from you."

"I started writing again. I have some pages for you and I can-"

She cut him off with a glare. "When I get back to New York, I'll have you reassigned to a new editor. Goodbye, Lucas."

And with that she walked away.

------

Peyton hurried straight to where Brooke had just rejoined Nathan and Haley. The three of them turned to see their pregnant friend in tears. Brooke rushed over to her and enveloped her in a firm, protective hug before leading her back to Nathan and Haley.

"What's wrong? What happened?" Haley asked as Brooke held her tight to her. "What did Lucas say?"

"It's not what he said..." Peyton spoke so softly that they all had to struggle to hear her. "It what he did. He invited Lindsey to the party."

"He did?" That was odd. Haley was sure that Lucas would have told her if he had invited her. "Oh honey, I'm sure it was only because she's his editor."

Peyton shook her head violently. "You didn't see her. She wasn't here as his editor, Haley. That much was obvious."

Brooke and Nathan shared a look. They were both thinking the same thing: Julian.

The young designer handed Peyton off to Nathan as if she was a tired child. "I think it's time to take Peyton home. Why don't you and Nathan drop Peyton off at home and I'll handle Lucas."

And Julian, she thought.

Nathan frowned. He wanted to take care of Julian himself. But as Peyton clutched onto him, he knew that he could take his revenge later. But right now, he had to take care of his friend. "Come on, Sawyer, let's get you home."

She nodded, sniffling. "I wish I had never come to this stupid thing."

Nathan gave his wife a look over the blonde's head that said, 'I told you so.' Haley nodded. He had been right and now she was going to have to hear him complain about how she should have listened to him. It was going to be a long night.

Brooke watched Nathan and Haley lead Peyton out of the party. She saw the girl she had seen Julian talking to earlier walking away from Lucas. Ah, so that was Lindsey. Brooke didn't want Lindsey running into an emotionally unstable Peyton outside so she caught up with the editor.

"Lindsey, right?"

Lindsey blinked several times so she could focus on the person in front of her. "Yeah, why?"

"I'm Brooke. Brooke Davis. We spoke on the phone?"

Lindsey chuckled sardonically. Was this girl really going to mess with her tonight? "Yeah, I remember. You said that I was a bitch."

"At least there's nothing wrong with your memory." Brooke cringed. "Anyway, I'm sorry for the bitch comment. My best friend was in the hospital and I took out my frustrations out on you."

Lindsey shrugged. "Why are you apologizing to me? Lucas and I broke up and I'm sure you don't want to start a friendship with me."

"No, but I do need to know something."

"What?"

"Did Lucas personally invite you to this party?" Brooke knew that asking straight out like that might no be the smartest way to go about it, but it was probably the quickest.

"No. You want to rub that in my face? Did you and Julian come up with this nasty little practical joke to make me think that he wanted me here?"

Brooke shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. I didn't know anything about it."

"Whatever." Lindsey stepped aside and walked past Brooke and out of the party.

Brooke found Lucas still in the same place he and Peyton had been talking. She walked over to him. "Hey."

"Did Peyton leave?" His voice was emotionless. That was never a good sign,

"Yeah, Nathan and Haley are driving her home."

"They were my ride."

Brooke nodded. "Yeah, and now I am."

"Lindsey was here."

"I know. She left, too."

"She's mad at me. Peyton's mad at me. Are you mad at me?" His blue eyes raised to meet hers.

"No, I'm not mad at you. And Peyton's only mad at you because she thinks that you invited Lindsey to be here tonight."

"I didn't." His voice sounded so hurt. Like a little boy's.

"I know. Julian did."

"Julian." All the hurt faded from his voice and was replaced by anger.

Brooke took his arm and gently guided him away from the corner. "Yeah, he made a huge mess of things that you're going to have to clean up. But there's nothing you can do about it now. Let me take you home, okay?"

"Fine. I just have to do one thing first." Lucas pulled away from Brooke and marched over to Julian.

Julian noticed the young writer walking towards him and forced himself to don a concerned expression. "Luke, what's wrong?"

Lucas punched him as hard as he could in the face. Julian dropped to the ground holding his nose and yelled, "What the FUCK?"

Lucas, without saying a word to the producer whose nose was obviously broken, walked back to where Brooke was standing. "Okay, now I'm ready to go."