Disclaimer: Nothing.

Communication. It's the first thing we really learn in life. Funny thing is, once we grow up, learn our words and really start talking the harder it becomes to know what to say. Or how to ask for what we really need.
-Ellen Pompeo

I was nervous.

Nervous that at any moment someone would notice.

Notice that I love him. Notice that the way he smiles makes me putty in his hands. No one can notice because I am not ready for him to have that kind of power.

Power that I will never have because he doesn't love me back.

How could he? He's Lucas Scott. He could love any girl in the world. They would gladly take him so why would he want me? The girl with the completely dysfunctional family whose father beat him up; it disgusts me to think of what Dan did. Now that I know of these unimportant feelings I can't help but feel worse about. It makes me sick every time I see the bruise that is still etched on Lucas' face. It makes tears well up in my eyes at the thought of what he had to endure the past few years.

"Brooke, are you listening?" Easton snapped his fingers in front of my face making my eyes focus and look at him from across the table at Karen's Café. I nodded leaning the side of my head on to my propped up hand as he started to tell me about his day with Bobby. "I can't believe it. I mean at first you would think it would super difficult because I didn't know that I was a dad, but I am and it is amazing." I didn't hear the rest because my thoughts drifted to Lucas again.

I didn't know what to do, who to talk to about it, what to say. I had avoided him the last few days since my revelation. I have spent my time with Easton and used the excuse that I wanted to get to know Bobby. I have gotten to know the little boy and he is amazing just like Easton had described him. He had a way making you want to talk to him and tell him your problems then you sit back and have to remind yourself he is three. I even told him about Lucas.

"Aunt Brooke?" He sat crossed legged on the floor with a cup of ice cream in his lap. It scared me how good he was at talking but then again both of his parents are annoyingly smart.

"Yeah?" I had been spinning my spoon around the bowl completely melting the ice cream and I didn't look up at him. I heard a noise and then saw his little hands taking the bowl and the spoon out of my hand and sat on the coffee table above us. I looked up in surprise to see him scooting closer to me and he rested his chin on both his hands and looked up at me with his hazel eyes.

"Problem?" Was all he said and I sighed covering my face.

"Bobby… I'm so confused" I groaned and I felt his little hands pulling mine away from my face.

"Why?"

"I think I love him" I told him and his little eyebrows scrunched together making him look even more like Easton.

"Mommy says love good. Mommy says she loved daddy" He tried to explain and I smiled.

"Not this kind of love" I mumbled and he crawled over and climbed into my cross legged lap and wrapped his small arms around my neck.

"Love big right?" I nodded. "Like Mommy and Daddy?"

"What do you mean?" I asked confused pulling away to look at him.

"Well, I talking to Grandmamma. She said mommy and daddy love each other." He shrugged and I shook my head. Mamma telling the kid how Easton and Raine will get back together.

"Love sometimes isn't enough. There are a lot of things that make love hard" I said.

"Daddy says love fix problems." He nodded with each word.

"Daddy said that?" I asked. He nodded. Wow, Easton doesn't seem the type.

"Mommy said no. Daddy said yes, Grandmamma said they will be together." He smiled. "Grandmamma says I get older don't turn on love. What that mean?"

"It means Grandmamma is smart" I told him and he nodded crawling out of my lap and back to his ice cream.

"Your son is scary smart" I told Easton who smile proudly.

"I know. Raine has done a good job" He grin widen at her name.

"You want her back don't you?" I asked and he averted his eyes away from me.

"We have a son together…" He trailed off.

"Tell her" I said.

"She hates me" He deadpanned.

"Raine might feel many things for you but can never hate you. You're the father of her child" I reached over and patted his hand and he looked at me with hopeful eyes.

"Well, well, well… what is this Brookie? Are you cheating on Luke?" He annoying high pitched voice smirked.

"Uhh… Brooke?" Easton tore his stare away to glare at the girl.

"Yes Theresa, I am cheating on Lucas and decided to put it on display at the café his mother owns. You are so smart" I mocked turning in my seat to roll my eyes at her.

"It wouldn't surprise me Brooklyn. You aren't really the type to keep your legs closed" She shrugged looking at her perfect manicured finger.

"Don't talk to her like that" Easton gave her a pointed look.

"Don't think you will get more out of this one. She only sticks around for one night" She turned her gaze on Easton and her mouth slightly opened. Of course it would, she is looking at an older Nathan who she practically stalks.

Girls would always look at Easton that way. She should know she has no chance, not only is it illegal, he is completely in love with the mother of his child. "I have a boyfriend of going on two months Theresa"

O was so tired of fighting. I really wished she would just leave me alone. "Like you two would ever stay faithful. You are just like your brother. Can't stay with one long" She gave a weird look towards Easton.

"I know you are obsessed with him but he wants nothing to do with you. He is with Haley and she didn't have to do anything to get him. You must hate it, huh? He walked into that school enamored with her and dropped you when she said yes… and that was just tutoring him" I shook my head at her. "Leave my family alone, Theresa"

"Daddy!" Easton looked over to see Bobby running quickly over with Raine close behind him. He picked him up and smiled at Raine who tried hard to not make eye contact. He ran his eyes over her in a way I really didn't want to see.

Theresa's face was priceless. She must hate it. She walks around with shorts on that should be considered undergarments, a top that showed the belly ring that she had which was a charm that said bitch- not surprising, don't disagree- and six inch heels. The amount of lip gloss she wears makes hers lips look scary looking and she puts on runway make up- super dark eyes, and eye liner that goes halfway down her face. She walks around trying so hard and Easton's eyes went straight to Raine. It was like he didn't see other women. I mean he sees them, but he doesn't really look at their attributes.

It is funny because Raine looks like she hasn't slept if the bags under her eyes were any indication; her brown hair was in a messy French braid that had some stray hairs not holding. She had on simple skinny jeans, converse, and a white tank top with a big jacket over it that looked like an old jacket of Easton. She didn't have on any make up and looked like a complete mess and Easton couldn't take his eyes off her.

"Ms. Jameson?" Theresa crossed her arms and gave Raine a condescending look.

"Oh hello Theresa. How has your summer been so far?" Raine asked cordially.

"Could be better" She glanced at Easton who was now listening to a story Bobby was telling him while casting glances at Raine which made Theresa probably think they were directed at her.

"That's great. Well, I need to go make sure my son and his father are not planning anything against me" She smiled and I inwardly groaned that she was leaving me alone. Raine would never be openly rude but I noticed the subtle way she dropped that Easton and her did have a child together. She shuffled over to him and Easton instantly smiled at the sight of her. They were the perfect family. She just needed to forget about her pride, they both do.

"So Ms. Jameson gets around to I see" Theresa glared at Raine's back, "And with a fine piece of ass"

"Theresa, could you just once refrain from speaking of my brothers so crudely. You don't have a chance with Nathan and Easton didn't even notice you were here. He was too busy staring at her" I pointed at Raine who held Bobby's hand as she ordered food and Easton sat in the booth behind smiling at her.

"I had a chance with Nathan last night" she smirked leaving me to myself completely confused.

"I hate you Brooke" I looked up from my book that night not too surprised to see Nathan saying that to me.

"You know Nathan, those words really have lost their affect" I rolled my eyes sitting my book beside me and sitting up in my bed to see what he was going to fight me on today.

"Why? Cause you're so used to everyone telling you? I mean, Easton hated you, he left. Grey hated you, she left-"

I picked up my book angrily and threw it at his head and he didn't even react as it flew right by his face. "Did you come all this way to tell me that? Nathan, why do you keep blaming me? I protected you and loved you and didn't leave you, you still blamed me. You still hated me. Why, Nathan?"

"Think about it Brooke. If they didn't leave because of you… then… then" He trailed off angrily as though he finally put the pieces together of a puzzle. The pieces were definitely wrong though. He started pacing and talking and ignoring me.

"Nathan…" I started to notice his movements were sloppy. His words were slightly slurred. "Are you drunk?" I asked but he ignored me. I climbed out of the bed slowly trying not to startle him.

"I mean on the clip, Grey was upset because of you. Easton came to you. Grey says she misses you. I mean, I was a good brother. I lied when they asked, I helped when they needed. I made them laugh, I listened to them and they left me, Brooke. I never asked for anything in return. I just wanted them there and they left me." He sounded like a lost little kid.

"Nathan, stop. Go home, Nathan" I tried to reach out and he pushed me off.

"I haven't been home in three years, Brooke… except I started to find my home again" He said brokenly.

"Little man" I used his old nickname. "I'm still here"

"No, you're not. You're not Brooke. Sure you look like her. You aren't my sister. My sister wasn't mean and didn't hate me. " He shook his head like he was confused.

"I don't hate you" I said softly.

"Why not? I'm awful. The only person that cared about me I made cry."

"What are you talking about?" I asked completely confused. He kept switching subjects. He is by far the most confusing drunk I have ever met.

"I'm in love with her. I always have been and I hurt her because that bitch with the fake nose told her I cheated on her. Why would cheat on her? I love her, I've loved her since I was seven and I lost her. She's my home Brooke. She's my home… she's the one I go to bed thinking about not Theresa. I don't care about anyone but Haley and I can't get her to talk to me" I sighed grabbing his arm and sitting him on my bed.

"Can you stay here? Sleep it off and go see her in the morning" He leaned on his knees and I took a deep breath picking up a few of my things and sitting in a recliner on the other side of the room. I grabbed my phone and quickly text the one person I had a feeling would want to talk to Nathan.

Fifteen minutes later Easton walked in and glanced at me. I had been sitting in the chair rigidly staring at a once again pacing Nathan. I mouthed drunk to him and he ran a hand through his hair before he started talking to Nathan.

"Nate"

Nathan spun around quickly and in his drunken state stumbled. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see my little brother. You see he seems to think I blame him and that I left because of him" Easton shrugged and Nathan sat back down on the bed.

"You want to know why I left? It's a good story" Nathan didn't respond and Easton pulled my computer chair over to put in front of Nathan before he began.

"Cause we are the most fucked up family ever?" Nathan slurred and I cringed at the comment. It wasn't far from the truth.

"You know you shouldn't be drinking right?" Easton asked him ignoring his question.

"You used to do it all the time" Nathan grumbled and I let out a soft chuckle. He sounded like he was twelve.

"Yeah and it wasn't smart. I mean look at what Grey did when she drank. She almost let out her precious secret. I drank… in college, all the time and I got into fights and got a DUI. Devon drank… Devon threw up a lot. What about you Brooke? What happens when you drink?"

In my mind I thought of all the times I would wake up in rooms I didn't know. How I would go to bars late and stay out late… and have sex on pool tables. I couldn't say that because this is Easton I am talking to. "You know, I blackout" I told him honestly.

"See, Nathan drinking isn't going to bring her back because I promise I tried it. It just made me miss her more" Easton told him honestly.

"Is that why you left?" Nathan sighed looking at Easton wanting him to fix everything. Easton could always fix the worst problems.

"Yeah… I proposed a lot of things to her. Picking up and leaving her family, leaving school, marrying me" Nathan looked surprised. I heard that part days before.

"I was selfish and I was thinking about me and gave her an ultimatum and said be with me, marry me, leave with me or lose me. She wasn't ready to give up everything that I was asking and I lost her and I lost almost four years with my son. A son who is amazing, Nate. I can't believe because I was embarrassed and broken that I left a family I didn't even know I had and it wasn't right and I'm sorry. I know that doesn't change anything at all but I didn't want you guys seeing me and I was leaving anyway so I cut you guys out and I'm sorry. I never apologized for leaving you with Grey, and Devon and apparently Dan" he glanced over at my casted arm and I looked away from him.

"Nathan, I never left because of you. You guys were the reason I came back. Nathan, you were the thing that made me come back. I saw you on the TV and was so proud of you that I needed to watch you accomplish something so great. And it wasn't because I taught you; it was because you proved to me you didn't need me to be great. You proved to yourself you didn't need me to win. I realized my mission was accomplished."

"What do you mean?" Nathan asked.

"Nate, I pretty much became a father at eight years old. When Brooke was born, hell when Grey was born, I wasn't a kid. Dan wasn't a father and I had to step up for mom. I helped her and changed diapers, got Brooke to go to sleep, fought mom's battles with Dan and I never resented her. She probably resents herself but I don't. You guys, you, Brooke, Devon and Grey were… my everything. Even if I didn't express it. I pushed Devon because I knew he could do it. I teased Grey and acting because I knew it would make her want to prove something. I pushed Brooke so damn hard on school because she was so smart, she still is, and you… you were my man. The little me and I wanted you to have a better childhood than I did, because I couldn't play high school ball and I couldn't go to parties and I couldn't stay out late or get into fights because I was too busy being a dad. And I betrayed you guys by leaving but I felt like I accomplished because you guys are doing so great. I felt like I didn't need to raise you guys anymore because you were raised and it wasn't because of me. Mom made you great kids, not me, not Grey, not Devon. We just made you harder to love. Mom made you two the most amazing people. Better than me, better than Grey, better than Devon… I know I am going to be okay with Bobby because of you" I smiled and Nathan let out a huff.

"Doesn't help with Haley"

"Yeah it does, Nate. You are pretty determined kid and if you love her-"

"I do, I do. I mean she is perfect in that imperfect way. She laughs and my day is better-"

"So you love her and maybe she'll realize she loves you and trusts you and needs you"

"You have a son?" Nathan flipped the subject which made me roll my eyes but Easton's eyes lit up.

"Yeah, crazy, huh?" Easton smiled that annoying goofy smile.

"It's with Raine right?" Nathan questioned and Easton rolled his eyes much like I did.

"Of course it is with Raine"

"Is he a good looking kid?"

"He is my kid" Easton scoffed.

"That's why I am asking" Nathan replied and I let out a loud laugh making the boys look at me.

"Sorry, that was funny" I smiled and they grinned.

"We were always pretty funny together" Easton shrugged.

"Oh god, I stroked the ego" I groaned turning back to my book.

"Please, we know how amazing we are" Nathan told me with a serious tone and I let out a huff.

"Why did I allow you two to communicate?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Too late now. We're BFF's" Easton smiled and I shook my head when they did a weird handshake that hadn't done in four years.

"You guys are annoying" I told them honestly making my exit out the room to see a tear faced Haley walking in downstairs.

"Hales..." I sighed and she looked up.

"I can't find I'm and I've looked everywhere. Maybe they were right, maybe he-"

"He's in my room. Drunk off his ass talking about you and how why would he ever cheat on you. You're his home. Trust me Haley James, my brother isn't the most innocent person in the world but he would never cheat on you" I told her honestly and she let out a long breath and I heard the door behind me crack open and Easton walked out closing the door behind him.

Haley looked at him with a surprised look. He did look a lot like Nathan. "Hi, I'm Easton" He waved innocently.

"Haley" She said slowly still standing at the door. Easton and I both leaning over the railing.

"You're little Haley James? The reason Nathan is completely heartbroken?" He turned to me and I nodded. "Oh thank god, I hoped you weren't some whore or something" Easton told her with a small smile and I told her to ignore him and to go talk to Nathan. She practically sprinted up the stairs to my room and Easton went to follow and I grabbed his arm pulling him towards the stairs.

"Dumbass" I mumbled under my breath.

"Hey Brooke" Easton called after me when I started into the living room.

"Yeah?"

"I'm gonna make a good dad right?" He asked sounding nervous. Easton Davis rarely gets nervous.

"You were the best one I ever had" I shrugged and he smiled and gave me a nod.

"You were a pretty good experimental daughter" He slung an arm around my shoulder, "Except for all your allergies. You were so weird" He groaned and I poked him in the ribs before laughing.

"You talked to her yet?" I asked and he sighed.

"I tried last night and she told me she needed time."

"Give it. You guys have a child, she isn't going anywhere"

"When did you get so wise, Brooke?" he teased and I shrugged.

"I do not know" I laughed still wondering how I can get passed seeing Lucas and not blurting out everything.

Sorry that there isn't any Brucas, but I just wanted some family stuff you know. I'm working on chapter 20 though!

Ugh, I hate Theresa.