Authors note: I LOVE you all for the reviews that I got for the last chapter!!!! That's why its so hard to have to deliver this filler-chapter to you guys... you all deserve better LOL but i have to, since the discussions and some of the explanations are needed for future plot.

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CHAPTER 9 – Mission Responsible

Brooke snaps her phone shut, a little bit taken aback. She almost can't believe that Rachel is telling her the truth. But if she is, then Lucas has taken a step in the right direction.

More importantly, he now knows about Peyton's feelings and his reaction had been anger. Ever since Peyton told her, Brooke had been sure that the second Lucas learnt that he could have her blond former friend he would just go ahead and jump at the possibility. But according to Rachel he had done the complete opposite, telling Peyton to stay away from him. And from her.

Strangely she feels a tug at her heart when thinking of Peyton's feelings being dismissed that way but she quickly shakes it off. Peyton isn't worthy of her empathy anymore. "It's just hard to stop caring for someone who's been your closest friend for well over ten years" she thinks. "Probably even impossible."

She gets off the bed and heads down to the kitchen to find something to eat. She hasn't had either breakfast or lunch due to the damn nausea but after the nap she suddenly feels hungry. Even starving. She opens the refrigerator, thankful that Rachel's absent parents saw to it that the maid always kept it full of food, and she starts grabbing the things she needs to make herself a great sandwich. Then her cell phone rings again.

"Hello."

"Hey Tigger… I haven't seen you in school today. Are you sick?"

Haley. Damn it, she has totally forgotten about Haley. Which is really bad since she is her best friend. She hasn't even told Haley that she's pregnant and by the sounds of this phone call neither has Lucas. Putting down the bread and cheese on the counter, she sits down on a chair and makes a guilty face.

"Hey tudor-wife… well yeah, I was kind of not feeling to good this morning…"

She tries to buy a little time to figure out what to tell her. This was really not something that she should tell Haley over the phone. Especially when she had been the first one to know about Haley's pregnancy. But that's kind of the issue, she thinks. She hasn't told her for mainly two reasons. The first one isn't really relevant anymore now that Lucas knows. She hadn't wanted to put Haley in a tight spot between herself and Luke, since she knew that Haley would've felt guilty for not telling him. The second reason was that Haley had enough to worry about herself without having to deal with Brookes mistakes.

But at the same time she realizes that she can't hold off on telling her any longer. It just isn't fair to her friend. Haley would be hurt if she found out that Rachel knew before her, and Mouth. And Peyton. At least letting Peyton know hadn't been on purpose.

Haley sounds a little worried. "What do you mean 'kind of´?" she says.

"Uhm… I… are you in school?"

"Yeah, but my double biology-class is cancelled so I'm on my way home soon, why?"

"Could you come by here first? I kind of need to tell you something…"

"Sure Brooke, but… are you okay? I don't have to worry, do I? You keep saying 'kind of' in a really strange way…"

Brooke laughs and tells Haley not to worry. Then she hangs up the phone, returning to the making of her sandwich. She realizes that the lecture Haley's going to give her after she finds out demands for her to get some nutrition first. And hopefully she has the time to tell Haley before Lucas decides to return for their 'talk'. He had said that he would be gone a couple of hours so she guessing that talking to Peyton isn't the only thing on his to do-list. But what else could there be?

Lucas gets back into his car still feeling angry. What the fuck was wrong with Peyton? He always thought they had this great friendship where they were able to share stuff he couldn't share with Brooke. Like the taste in music or books and art. But now she tells him that she's been hanging out with him for totally different reasons.

Yeah sure, he'd been in love with Peyton once, but since he and Brooke got back together after Felix, Peyton had almost been like a sister to him. Most of all he can't understand how the hell she could have missed the fact that he is head over heels in love with Brooke. It had been all they talked about lately, especially after Brooke had broken it off with him. He had been complaining to Peyton around the clock about missing Brooke and wanting her back. Hell, Peyton had even offered to help him.

He shifts the gear into drive and heads towards his moms café. Telling his mom that his ex-girlfriend is pregnant at work maybe isn't the greatest idea, but since lunch-time is over the café should be pretty much empty. And it has to be done. Now. It's the responsible thing to do.

He had thought about telling her last night while lying awake but then he chickened out. His mom has so much on her plate already without having to worry about him and Brooke. Truthfully he is also kind of nervous about telling her. Therefore it could be good to tell her in a public place. Last time, when they thought Brooke was pregnant, telling his mom hadn't been the greatest experience…

"Mom, there's something I have to tell you. You should sit."

"Okay. I think I'll stand"

"This is going to hurt you, mom. And I'm sorry…"

His voice is already shaky and his mom looks worried,

"What happened?"

"Brooke's pregnant".

The slap she gives him in the face comes out of nowhere and he flinches, both out of pain and out of shock. But immediately she looks so remorseful.

"Oh my God, Lucas, I'm sorry!"

His flesh still stings.

"I guess I deserved that" he says holding his hand over his cheek as he walks towards his room. But she follows him.

"Lucas… Look, I didn't mean it Lucas"

They're both crying now

"No mom, I'm pretty sure you did."

"No, I didn't! It's just that, do you understand? This is exactly what I didn't want for you. Have I been talking to my self the last few years? You have so much left to do in life. So does Brooke." She hugs him. "Oh God you're both just too young for this."

"Don't cry, mom…"

But of course he's never told Brooke about any of that. He understands his mom though. He, if anyone, really should know better. He was the unplanned child of two high school teenagers himself. And even though his mom says she never regretted having him, he still knows that life has been hard for her.

Last night when still angry he had figured that there was no need to tell his mother if Brooke wasn't going to keep the baby, but today he realizes that it wouldn't be fair. He's tired of lying after keeping the HCM-thing a secret for so long and he needs his mom's advice anyway.

He parks the car in the street outside of the café and after taking a couple of minutes just to gather his senses, he gets out of the drivers seat and heads inside.

"Hi mom" he says as the bell sounds above the door and she looks up and smiles.

"Hi my boy, how was school?"

He mutters something about school being very informative and slumps down on one of the high chairs by the counter. As he thought the place is empty and his mom is busy putting away the newly washed china from the lunch-rush.
He puts his elbows on the counter and rests his forehead in the palms of his hands, breathing out through his teeth. "The best way to do this is probably fast and out of nowhere, like ripping a band-aid" he thinks. So he looks up.

"Mom…"

"Yes Luke."

"Brooke is pregnant."

Then there's the sound of porcelain breaking.

About fifteen minutes after Brooke has downed the last bit of her sandwich there's a knock on the front door. "Come in" she yells and Haley walks into the living room with a bag in her arms. Putting it down on the table in front of Brooke she says;

"Rachel said you probably had a stomach-bug so I brought you some chicken-soup. It'll make you better in no time."

Brooke rolls her eyes but smiles. Leave it to Rachel to make up a stupid lie like that. And since when did Rachel and Haley talk? Haley hates Rachel's guts for more than one reason.

"Thanks friend. Lets just put it in the kitchen." She gets up and they sit down by the kitchen-table in stead. "Do you want anything? Coffee maybe?" She hopes that Haley will decline since the smell of coffee still makes her vomit.

Haley shakes her head. "No I'm good."

Brooke stares out through the window thinking about how much that has changed lately. Here she sits, ready to spring the news to her best friend and last year when she had almost been in this situation she and Haley hardly even knew each other. If she would have turned out to be pregnant back then, then Lucas would have been the one telling Haley. And she would have been alone. She looks back at her friend and sees her lips moving. Haley is talking and she realizes that she hasn't heard a word of what she said.

"Sorry Hales… What were you saying? I wasn't listening…"

Haley smiles. "No shit Sherlock. You seemed far too busy with staring into space. Are you okay?"

"I don't know, but you being the expert, maybe you can tell me…"

Haley looks confused. "The expert? Brooke what are you talking about?"

"I'm over two months pregnant."

She looks at Haley feeling nervous. But Haley hides her shock well and smiles while covering Brookes hand with her own. Why did Haley always have to be so understanding and nice? Brooke's been hiding in a glass bubble for weeks without even calling to check up on Haley and still Haley's just worried about her.

"Gosh Brooke… when did you find out?"

Deciding to be completely honest she takes a big breath. "Just before the wedding. I took a home pregnancy-test that morning while the caterers set up for the reception."

"Why didn't you tell me when you took me to the doctor? We could have supported each other…"

"Yeah I know… I was still in shock I guess. And I figured that as long as no one knew it wasn't for real… But it can't be more real now. Lucas found out yesterday so tonight we're having the big talk. And I'm serious Haley, I wasn't trying to hide stuff from you… I just wasn't ready to tell."

Haley hugs her. "It's okay Brooke… I understand. Remember, I was the one who didn't tell my husband for more than two weeks. I'm just sad that you had to go through so much of this alone."

"Thanks Tudor-wife… thanks for being so understanding…" She can feel her eyes tearing up. And when Haley comes over and hugs her, the tears well over. For Brooke, who usually never cries in front of others, these notorious crying-fits seems so strange, but lately her emotions have been all over the place. "Must be the pregnancy-hormones…" she thinks.

Lucas looks down at the shattered plate on the floor. Somehow the pieces of china remind him of a broken heart. He can feel his moms shocked stare but he doesn't have the courage meet her eyes.

"What?" Her voice is shaky, almost a whisper.

"You heard me. Brooke's carrying my child and it's for real this time. She's been to a doctor…"

"But how can that be Lucas? Why weren't you protecting your self's?! I've told you so many times to be careful!"

"We did! Every time! I guess it just happened…"

His mother is quiet for a long time and finally he gathers enough strength to look up at her. She's got tears in her eyes but she's much calmer the he's expected her to be.

"Tell me what you're thinking mom" he says quietly. "Are you mad at me?"

She lets out a sigh. "No I'm just very worried… About you… and about Brooke. It really was her test then, in the purse at the wedding?"

"No, that was Haley's. But Brooke knew then… she was just too scared to tell me."

His mother puts her hand over his on the counter and squeezes it softly and the simple motion makes his throat tighten up and his eyes to tear. "I know we're only eighteen mom, but I really love Brooke and I want her to keep the baby. I'm just so scared that I will make mistakes… hurt her somehow… She so fragile right now…"

Karen wipes away a tear that's spilled onto his cheek.

"It's going to be okay son… We'll figure this out…"

Brooke sits in the living room watching re-runs of Friends on tv. Haley left a little while ago after finally hearing the whole story and Brooke feels better now, not needing to lie anymore to her friend anymore.
She looks over at the clock on the wall. Ten past six. Lucas had been gone for well over five hours by now, without even calling, and it seems to her like their 'talk' has been called off. But right then there's a knock on the door and she gets up to open it.

Lucas stands on the porch smiling and she holds the door open to let him inside. "Sorry it took so long…" he says touching her arm lightly. She nods. At least he came back. And what Rachel told her about his talk with Peyton has earned him enough bonus-points in her book, not to go sour on him just yet.

She unconsciously rubs her stomach trying to get rid of a little cramping. Lucas sees it and looks at her worryingly.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay… Just tired. Lets go sit down."

She goes into the living room and they sit back down in the same position that they did this morning, facing each other.

"So how was your day?" he asks gently, brushing away strands of hair from her face with his fingertips.

"Well, Haley was here. I told her about the baby…"

She watches him closely to see his reaction, desperately needing to know if he's ashamed of all of this but he just smiles. "Yeah, she called me as soon as she closed your front door, giving me the long 'if you ever hurt Brooke you will be very sorry-speech' but she was really happy that you confided in her."

"Yeah… so what did you do today?"

"I went to school to talk to Peyton… I wanted to let her know that you would be my main priority from now on… and she told me why you guys aren't friends anymore." He smiles at her sadly. "Why didn't you tell me what she said to you Brooke? I would have done things in a totally different way…"

He looks genuine and he's blue eyes pierce right into hers. "It's in the past Luke…"

Her hand rests against his thigh in what seems to be a relaxed way but she can feel the warmth of his body through the denim fabric and it's making it hard for her to focus. That is until she hears his next phrase.

"I told my mom…"

"You told Karen I'm pregnant?! She must really HATE me…"

He strokes Brooke reassuringly over the hair. "No, she doesn't hate you Brooke… But she is worried of course, for both of us. Does your mom and dad know?"

He knows the answer to this even before she shakes her head. "They're somewhere in Japan this month. Dad has some kind of conference…" she says and then seems to be off in thought for a moment before looking up at him. "Seriously Luke, do you think is Karen very angry? …After everything she's done for me I don't want to hurt her…"

"I'm sure it will be okay Pretty girl" he answers and this time she doesn't object to the old nick-name. Not like this morning and at least that's something… He closes his eyes and rests his head on top of Brooke's while she turns on the TV and zaps in for some old cartoons.

"Turn it off…" he says softly. "We still need to talk, right? I want to say something I should have said earlier this morning. Remember last year when we thought this was happening?"

How could she forget? She still feels guilty about lying to him. "Yeah"

"Well, like I said then, what ever you want to do I'll be there. If you don't feel ready then you don't feel ready, and I'll just have to accept it. But if you do want this baby then know that I want it to and that I'll do anything for the both of you… I know I told you last time that I thought I would be older and settled… but at least this time I'm in love…"

"Well it's good that you think that you feel that way… But how would we ever manage Luke? If we can't even make our relationship work, how would we take care of a baby? And what about collage, and your mom?

His fingers are still stroking her arm and in some strange way it's reassuring.

"We'd make it work Brooke. I know we would. And we can still go to collage you know. We'll just get a bigger apartment. I was looking at the financial aid-forms in my application last night and it says that you get more money if you have children… Just tell me where your head is Brooke? Do you want this baby?"

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It's getting late and Brooke yawns and stretches beside Lucas who's now sleeping on the sofa. The talk between them has been long and emotional and she feels drained. On top of that her 'morning'-sickness sets in at this time at night and she needs to eat something. She hadn't eaten since that late breakfast sandwich.

"Hey Broody…" she whispers nudging him in his side. "…wake up."

He stirs and opens his eyes looking around like he's disoriented. "Hey… what time is it?"
His voice is still sleepy and he looks so innocent. She loves him so much in that moment that it's literally painful. And she has this almost feverish urge to lean down and kiss him, like he had kissed her earlier, but she holds herself back. Instead she just glides her fingertips over the fabric of his t-shirt. It's almost unnoticeable but inside of her there's a war of feelings.

"It's a little after eleven."

He gently strokes her cheek and she shivers. Even after all this time her body still craves his touch. He sees her shiver and frowns.

"Are you freezing?"

She nods. "A little. I'm going up to bed."

He sits up and grabs his sweater. Putting it on he says "You're going to be okay tonight, right? 'Cause if there's anything you need you can just call me… anytime…"

And looking in to his eyes she actually believes him. "Thanks Luke…"

She stands up and before heading up to the second floor she brushes her lips softly against his cheek. She can't help herself. He pulls her into a long hug and when she finally breaks it she's almost ready to ask him to stay. But instead she's forcing her self to say; "I'll see you tomorrow in school Luke… Good night." And then she walks away thinking; "Wait for me Luke… give me time. I'm not ready to let you in just yet..."

Walking up the stairs she feels his eyes following her and then she hears the sound of the front door opening and closing. And she says softly into the silence; "But that doesn't mean that I don't love you Lucas Scott."

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AN: Keep reviewing, 'cause you know it'll make me soooo happy to hear from you guys. /Lynn