Brooke had felt weird the past few days, almost as if someone was watching her. She knew she had lost it when she thought she saw Lucas looking at her from Nathan and Haley's living room window. It must be a combination of the long hours at the office and the lack of sleep she was getting. She had talked to Nathan yesterday and asked him if he could deliver something for her, and he agreed not knowing what she was asking. She still hadn't told Haley she was next door and she asked Nathan not to tell her until Brooke was completely ready. He understood and respected her wishes. No one was the wiser because they didn't see her and they didn't know her car. She knew Haley would be out tonight so she would drop the papers over to Nathan. She didn't know that Nathan had a secret of his own that could ruin her cover, if she left at the exact wrong moment on any given day.
She looked down at the divorce papers. God this was so final. She saw his signature and still couldn't believe that he had done this.
All my life I thought a love like this would last
But every road can hide a corner, we can't see
I had a vision that I woke up by your side
I felt you breathing and our souls were intertwined
But who controls loves destiny, not me
She quickly scribbled her name on the line to make it final and sealed the envelope. She knew if she kept waiting she would get another call from his lawyer asking if she had gotten the papers or needed another copy sent. She decided it would just be easiest this way. She felt a flip flop in her tummy and looked down. She was almost five months pregnant and beginning to show. "I know baby, this isn't how I thought my life would be at twenty-two either. But, you are going to have a great life, I promise you that. You will have family and friends that adore you. And I'm going to spoil you rotten. Now we just need to figure out a name for you little guy," she said and walked to the nursery.
She was glad that she finally knew the sex of her baby. It made buying stuff so much easier. She had painted the room a baby blue color, and did a Winnie the pooh theme. The only thing she was waiting for now was the crib. She couldn't exactly pick it up herself so she had order it and it was supposed to be delivered in two days. She couldn't wait to have it all set up. It would make everything complete. She pictured what her and Lucas's baby would look like. She hoped he got his fathers piercing blue eyes and he infectious smile. Either way she knew he would be perfect. He was created when two people loved each other. She turned off the light and closed the door. She really hadn't gotten a lot of sleep so a nap was in order. She curled up on the couch and fell asleep almost instantly.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lucas couldn't understand why he watched that house so much. It was actually kind of sick and twisted. He knew now that Brooke had been right to leave him. He was obsessing over a woman he didn't even know. Sometimes he would just watch her shadows walk around the house, if she had the lights on. Something made him want to protect her. She seemed so fragile and lonely, and this reminded him of how protective he was of Brooke. He was snapped out of his gazing when he heard his brother's voice raising down stairs. "What are you doing here? You are not welcome in my home." Lucas walked to the end of the stairs to see Peyton standing in the doorway.
"Peyton? Is that you? What are you doing here," Lucas asked, almost glad that he had someone different to talk to.
"Hey Luke, yea it's me. I just wanted to talk to you, but apparently I'm not welcome here."
"Nathan, let her in," Lucas said.
"Absolutely not. I do not want her here Luke. In fact I would prefer to not even see her in this neighborhood again," Nathan said agitated. He was worried Brooke would look out and see her here. He didn't want her to get hurt anymore than she already had. He remembered the phone call from Brooke after she found everything out. He had never heard her so broken in her life, not even when she was battling a deadly disease. It scared him and he wouldn't ever let her be that broken again.
Lucas sighed and grabbed his jacket. He brushed past Nathan and said, "Fine. Peyton lets go for a drive. Nathan is apparently having a dick moment tonight," he said as Nathan slammed the door behind him.
Nathan watched them leave. Haley would be gone for another hour, so he grabbed his son and headed next door when Lucas's car was out of sight. He knew when Brooke had answered the door he had woken her. "Is it a bad time? I could come another time?"
"Hey Nathan come in. No not at all. I needed to get up anyways. Thank you for bringing Jamie. I've been so excited to be able to hold my nephew since last time." He sat on the couch as he watched his best friend play with his son. She truly was going to make a wonderful mother. She was so gentle and attentive. "Hey Brooke can I ask you something," Nathan asked.
"Sure," she said as she began a game of peek-a-boo with Jamie. He was so little but this amazing little person. His laugh was infectious and Brooke wished she could spend more time with him. She couldn't wait for her son to be able to play with Jamie. They would be best friends one day, this she was sure of.
"When are you going to tell Lucas? I know that he would love to be a father. You should see him with Jamie. He goes into his own world and I've never seen him so happy. We talked when he first came back to L.A. and he said all he ever wanted was to have a baby with you. I'm not mad at you and I get why you don't want to be with him, but why would you keep something like this from him?"
Brooke grabbed the bottle off the table and fed Jamie. She knew she wouldn't be able to play and answer his question at the same time. "I tried Nathan. He changed his numbers and wouldn't return my calls. I wrote him letters, begging him to change his mind about the divorce. I wrote to tell him that he was going to be a father and he never responded. I've accepted that he is happy some where in this world and I'm not going to fight anymore. I'm giving him what he wants. Speaking of," Brooke said as she walked to the kitchen with her nephew and grabbed the envelope off of the table and walked back to the living room. "I know you talk to him and I'm not mad or anything, but can you make sure he gets this. You are his brother and I think this coming from you would make it easier on him. I can't mail it somewhere that I'm not sure he won't get it. This is very important Nathan and I would only ask you to give it to him. I promise if you do this one thing for me, I will never ask for anything again."
Nathan nodded his head and took the envelope. He had a feeling of what was inside, but hoped and prayed that his gut instinct was wrong. "Okay baby sister. I have to get back home, but you get some rest. I'll talk to you soon," he said as he took his sleeping son from her and kissed her on the cheek. "Night Brooke." She watched as usual until he got back to the house and then retreated back to the couch.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So what brings you back to Tree Hill. And why haven't you talked to me in like three months," Lucas asked.
"It's complicated Luke. But I came here because I talked to Haley and she said you were staying with them. I need to tell you something Luke," Peyton began nervously.
Lucas noticed how nervous she seemed. He grabbed her hand into his own and said, "Okay. What's up Peyt?"
"It's my fault Luke."
Lucas chuckled. "What's your fault? That's a pretty big statement."
"I'm the reason Brooke left you," she said as she stared at the steering wheel. She felt his hand leave her own.
"What do you mean, you're the reason Brooke left me? What the fuck did you do?" Lucas was so mad he could slap her, but he needed to know what she did. He could see her sobbing and it only mad him angrier. "Stop crying and tell me what you did," he demanded.
"I told her we kissed," Peyton began.
"I already know that. Is there more Peyton, because I'm having a hard time believing she would leave me over a kiss." She wouldn't answer and Lucas was ready to lose his cool. He grabbed one of her wrists and forced her to look at him. "Is there more?" He knew there was and he knew she would tell him that.
"I told her that I was in love with you, because I think I am Luke."
Luke lost his cool. He punched the dashboard and screamed, "What the fuck were you thinking. You are NOT in love with me Peyton. You lost a baby and I was the one person who talked to you when you needed a friend. I gave you comfort, like any good friend would. It was never more than that. Brooke and me are married, for Christs sakes Peyton. Why would you ever do that to her, or to me?"
"Because I am in love with you Luke. Please listen to me. I couldn't lie to her or you any longer. We could be great together, Luke. She's gone now, so couldn't we just try. I could make you so much happier than," she started but was cut off by his door flying open.
"You are a crazy bitch you know that? We were friends Peyton, NOTHING more. You could never make me happier than her. She is all I ever wanted and you took that away from me. You ruined my life. Seriously, do NOT talk to me ever again," he screamed and slammed the door. He would walk home; he needed to clear his head any ways. He knew Nathan kept in touch so he had to get him to give up something on Brooke.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Haley came home to a quiet home. She really did love her life here. It was what she always pictured. She had a great marriage, a beautiful baby, a great home, and a wonderful family. The only thing missing from her life was her best friend. She would make a point to call Brooke in the morning. She wanted her to come visit. She had a beautiful nephew she was missing out on getting to know. She walked to the nursery and stood outside of the door for a moment. She could hear Nathan singing to Jamie and it melted her heart. She loved her job, but wished she could be home more at night. Thank god Jamie had Nathan and Luke though. She slowly opened the door and crept in to sing to her son. They sat on the little rocking chair as a happy family. Nathan handed her Jamie and let her feed him. He loved seeing how beautiful she looked as she fed her son. When he was asleep they both kissed him goodnight and placed him in his crib.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Lucas tried to be quiet as he entered the house. He knew Haley was home now and that Jamie was probably being put to sleep. He walked into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge. That's when an envelope caught his eye. He figured he should probably look at his mail because he hadn't in weeks. He went through letters from the publishers and bills he had already paid. When he got to the envelope he noticed it had no stamp or anything, but his name was on the front. He turned it around and was about to open it when he saw her handwriting. He could pick it out right away. It was unique. It said simply, Please give to Lucas and wish him my best. –Brooke. His hands started to tremble. He already knew what it was before he opened it. The tears came freely as he saw her name printed on the line. She had granted him the divorce, because he fucked up royally. He couldn't turn in these papers now that he knew the truth. He had to find her and make her listen to him.
Nathan knew Lucas had found the envelope before he even got into the kitchen. In fact, he was sure the whole neighborhood heard the sobs. "I'm sorry, Luke," was all Nathan could manage to say to his brother. Lucas looked up, not embarrassed that his brother saw him crying. He was sad, angry, hurt, and calm all at the same time. "Where did you get these Nathan? There is no stamp on this envelope, so how did this get here," Lucas asked. Did she come and he didn't even know it. He needed answers.
Nathan hadn't expected to give the envelope to Luke right away, so he was a bit taken back. Could he stand here and lie to his brother? Could he betray the trust of Brooke? He didn't know what to do. He figured honesty would be the best option, but revised a little. "Brooke brought them here."
Lucas jumped out of his seat. "When Nathan. When did Brooke bring these?"
"Tonight. While you were out with Peyton," Nathan said. It actually hurt him more than he thought it would to see his brother in so much pain. He knew if he had to see Luke in this state for much longer he was going to cave.
"Is she here? In Tree Hill? Is she still here, Nathan? I need to know, you have to tell me," Lucas begged.
"I…I…she..she..is…she is.." Nathan couldn't finish the sentence. He didn't know what to do. "Luke, just let her go. She can't take any more hurt from you and you can't either. Look at yourself. You are all torn up."
"No. No, I love her. I am in love with her. I finally know why she left and this is not valid," he said as he ripped the divorce papers in half. "You talk to her Nathan, I know you do. You have to tell me where I can find her. I need to see her, right now."
Haley stood back listening to all of this. She was stunned that Nathan had seen Brooke and he didn't tell her. She finally decided to make her presence known. "Nathan, have you been talking to Brooke? Is she okay?"
Nathan looked between his brother and his wife. They both look broken at the news that had come out. He loved them so much, but he also loved the girl next door. He was torn and he couldn't lie anymore. "Yes I do Haley. She was here and she gave me these. Luke, maybe you should talk to the neighbor you can't stop watching," he said as he slumped his shoulders. In the end someone was going to feel betrayed and he was sorry he had to hurt Brooke.
"I don't give a shit about the neighbor Nathan. I want to know where Brooke…" He froze in his place. 'Has she been next door this whole time and he didn't even know. Maybe this is why he has been so drawn to this girl. Had he known subconsciously that it was her' he thought to himself. He looked at Nathan and the question he had in his mind was answered. He didn't say another word as he ran from the front door across the lawn, to the house next door.
And we had it all right in our hands
We had the room to fly and still a place to land
And so I'm calling out, I'm calling out to the only one
Who can save us from what we've done
Now don't leave me hanging out
I'm reaching out and praying you'll come back again
Its just darkness I'm living in
And you're the only place my heart has ever been
Okay I wanted to give all of my fabulous reviewers the next paet of the story so here it is. Let me know what you think as always. Love the reviews that have been coming in! They are keeping me very focused and into this story. So thank you and review!!