AN: It's going to be four chapters instead of three. Thank you Sandygirl and Dianehermans for the reviews. You guys keep me motivated. I don't own anything related to OTH.

Chapter 2

The following morning Lucas woke up with Brooke looking at him and smiling. "Hey, pretty girl. Good morning."

"Good morning, boyfriend." She stretches slowly and moans. "You know, it had been more than six months since my last time."

"Glad to be of assistance. Me, I haven't slept this well in ages."

"Well, Broody, I'm starving. Quickie in the shower, and then breakfast?"

"A slippery Brooke Davis in the shower, followed by a healthy breakfast. Always a good way to start your day." Lucas has always thought of Brooke as a naiad, a water spirit. It's in the water that she is happiest, shedding worries and walls, becoming the truest version of herself.

Lucas calls a corner bistro, to deliver breakfast at home, and they get orange juice, cafe au lait, and warm buttery croissants with jam. "Did the hotel tell you what time they would bring your luggage?"

"Actually, they should have been here already."

"In the bedroom next to ours, there is a large walk-in closet, which is basically empty. You can probably arrange your things there." Brooke smiles mischievously. "Wait. How much stuff did you bring?"

"You'll see. I didn't know how long I was staying. So, I decided to bring everything."

"You will need more than the walk-in closet, then."

"I could, perhaps, have the whole room? I'll buy additional furniture as needed."

I laugh. "That's fine, Brooke Davis. Consider this place your home, for as long as you wish to stay." I rummage through a drawer in the kitchen. "Here. These are the keys to the front door of the building, and of the apartment."

"Thank you, boyfriend."

"There is one detail I should let you know. I have a housekeeper, Ms. Pereira, who comes every week day at seven, and leaves at three. She keeps the place clean and in order, takes care of the laundry, cooks and shops. I texted her last night not to come today, because I figured we could use the privacy. If you want, I can ask her to come now, and she will help you unpack and arrange your stuff."

"Hmm. No. Let's just wait for my stuff. I have separated some essentials in a couple of suitcases, which I'll unpack first. That way, we can go out, if we want. We'll do this slowly, boyfriend. We have all the time in the world."

"So, what do you want to do now?"

She looks at me with this little girl, innocent look. "Why don't you read to me? Steinbeck, maybe?"

About an hour, and three chapters later, the doorbell downstairs rings, and up comes the luggage. It consists of five large suitcases and ten huge steamer trunks. "I can't believe this all fit in the baggage compartment of your jet."

Brooke giggles. "It didn't. I brought the suitcases in the jet with me. I dispatched the trunks a couple of days before I traveled."

"And this is everything?"

"I had to get rid of a lot of stuff. Goodwill is having a coutoure auction next week, but unfortunately all the stuff they have is size two."

"You're not visiting. You're moving in."

She gives a small smile, her eyes bright. "A little slow, but eventually he does catch on. Yes, boyfriend, I'm moving in. If you'll have me."

I look at her, serious for once. "Oh, I'll have you all right, three ways from Sunday, too. But, what about your job?"

"I quit last week. I'm still Chairman of the Board of Brooke Davis Holdings, but I'm no longer CEO. My job now is to go to New York a couple of times a year and preside at board meetings."

"I'm surprised I haven't heard it in the news."

"They're trying to keep it quiet. They don't want to scare the stockholders. We've been quietly looking for a replacement for me for a while, and they are actually putting three people in my place. A former investment banker, a fashion executive and a media executive."

"So, for the past twenty years, you've been doing the job of three people?"

"Yes. I've been well compensated."

"Aren't you going to get bored here?"

"I don't think so. I can always pursue my original career dream."

"And you'd be the first fifty-year-old pole dancer to get serious top billing."

She bites her lower lip. "You know me too well, boyfriend."

She comes out of her room wearing a light purple jogging suit, running shoes and her hair tied in a high ponytail. She looks sprightly, and not a day over thirty. "Ready for anything, boyfriend. What's on the menu?"

"A run?"

"Sure, let's go."

"Actually, let's go by the gym. I want to add you to my membership, and we can do a workout there. They also have an indoor half-Olympic for laps, and occasional frolicking. We'll come back afterwards for a shower and we can go out for lunch."

"How about some shopping?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"Oh, nothing special. I just want to try some outfits for you, and enjoy having my favorite bag carrier back. There's a half-dozen little boutiques near Montparnasse that I heard good things about, but I've never seen."

I sigh. "I guess I've been so Brookeless that even that sounds amazing." I give her a level stare. "The moment you start going near boutiques you're going to get recognized, and the tabloids will not be far behind."

"Sure. Do you mind?"

"Shouldn't we tell people first?"

"Who? Sawyer and the twins? Julian and Peyton? Lily? Nate and Hales?"

"I know. It's really none of their business, isn't it?"

"It's our business. If we're careful, we can probably traipse around Paris for two weeks before being caught. Longer if we hide somewhere on the countryside. But what exactly would be the point?"

"I agree. So, you just want to come out?"

"If you let me, I'll call my publicist. She can loop yours in. They will set up some friendly arrangement in the next few days. That should, in principle, moderate the frenzy. But we'll need to talk security, though."

"You mean you're naked out here?"

"Let's say that they have strict instructions to keep out of sight. But, once we come out, that's not going to work anymore."

"I thought of security when I bought my apartment. There's a three-car garage in the basement that's mine, and which has it's own side street entrance and connects to the front lobby via a staircase. I only have one car, a scooter and a bicycle down there. And I own a two-bedroom in the building which is unoccupied, and where you could install your detail, if you want."

"Is your car bullet-proof?"

"No. It's just Keith's Mustang."

"Oh my god, Luke! You still have it? You're the biggest romantic, sentimental fool I've ever seen."

"You're not so different, Pretty Girl. Eighty-two letters?"

"Do you still have them?"

"Yes."

"Never mind shopping, boyfriend. Take me for a ride."

"All right."

"Where are we going?"

"Have you ever been to the Magic Kingdom?"

"What?"

"Disneyworld, silly."

"Oh. Actually, no. We took the twins to Disneyworld, when they were around eight, but they wanted to go to the other parks. Magic Kingdom was for babies, or for girls, or something."

"I've been there with Sawyer when she was six. Your boys were probably right, they would find it lame. Sawyer loved it, and, knowing you, You will love it too. There is a copy of it right outside Paris."

"Ok, that sound like fun." And so it was. It was a week day in late September, and the lines weren't long. They did all the classical rides, and Brooke let herself go, bouncing, squealing, giggling, pouting, jumping on his neck, pulling Lucas along both forward to the next ride and backwards, to the easy rhythm of their high school days together. As ever, only Brooke could really bring out the awkward little boy from his broody shell, and her boy was the only one who could make her little girl feel safe and loved enough to let herself loose. They ended the day making out under the fireworks, and having sex in the backseat of the Mustang, while parked in a discrete place on the way back home.

"This was perfect, boyfriend. Haven't had this much fun in... ever! "

"Well, I enjoyed it too, but we need a bigger car." Lucas makes a pained face and rubs his neck. "Sex in the back of a Mustang is a little easier when you're a teenager."

"Bah, chill out, old man. I'll give you a massage you'll never forget."

"That's what I'm afraid of. And who you're calling old man?"

That evening he makes a phone call to Haley. "Hello, Scott residence."

"Hi, Haley Bob. Greetings from Paris."

"Luke! So good to hear your voice. What's up?"

"I have news, but first you. How are you guys doing?"

"Well, Nathan and I are as usual, healthy and happy. Jamie and Amanda just went to their sixteenth week appointment, and they are having another boy. Lydia is moving to London next month, she is going to be an intern for a pharmaceutical company near London, and Anna is starting college now. UNC, with a basketball scholarship."

"So, how's the empty nest?"

Haley giggles. "Empty, I guess."

"Please ask Lydia to give me a call. London is a short train ride away from Paris, and I would love to show her the sights."

"All right, and what are your news?"

"I seem to have acquired a girlfriend."

"Really? Finally, Luke. I was beginning to worry about you. Tell me about her? Is she older than Sawyer?"

Lucas laughs. "I'll let her introduce herself."

"Hi, Rockstar!"

"Brooke? Brooke! Holy shit! Nathan, Nathan. You're not going to believe it. Haley puts her phone on speaker."

"What, woman?"

"Hi, little brother."

"Hi, Nate."

"Oh, Hi, Luke, Brooke. What's up?"

"They are together, you oaf! Like boyfriend-girlfriend together."

"Really? When did this happen?"

"Yesterday."

"You guys in New York?"

"No, Paris. We're staying at my place."

"Wow. Congratulations guys. Finally. It surely took you long enough."

"What are you talking about, Nathan Scott?"

"Well, I always thought that they were right for each other. And I haven't seen either one as happy as when they were together back senior year."

"Well, I knew Lucas still had her in his mind, because of the books. His female heroines always reminded me of Brooke. I even called him on it, after he released his last book. Still, I never imagined they would ever get back together. How did it happen guys?"

"Well, Brooke just showed up yesterday, and the rest is history."

"You just went there to be with Luke, Tigger? That was bold."

"That's right."

"And when are you coming back to New York?"

"Well, never. I'm staying right here."

"For good?"

"Well, as long as he'll have me."

"And that, sis, means for good. I'm not letting her go again."

"Does anyone else knows? I know one young Scott who is going to be over the moon with this news. Jamie always thought you two belonged together."

Lucas answers. "Nobody else knows, but it's not a secret. We should be doing some kind of interview as a couple sometime in the next few days."

"You are not going to let Sawyer, the twins and Lily find out through the tabloids."

"Sawyer will get mad and I was going to call Lily right after I hang up from you."

"And the twins will just say "That's fine, mom." If it's not about them, they aren't really interested."

"You guys should still call them."

"Ok, mom. You got it."

"I guess you're right, Rockstar. Would you two come spend a weekend here with us? I'd be happy to send the plane."

"What do you think, baby?"

"I'm busy this weekend, but I have nothing for the next."

"All right, then. Weekend after next."

"The airplane will be waiting for you at Tree Hill Airport on Friday night, and it will take you back on Sunday night. Will that work?"

"That's fine, Tigger. Thanks."

"The pleasure is all ours." Lucas loves that use of the first person plural.

"Bye."

Lucas hangs up and calls Lily.

"Hello?"

"Chris? This is Lucas."

"Oh, hi Lucas! Lily is in the shower... oh wait. She just came out. Hey love, it's your brother on the phone."

"Hi, Luke! Glad to hear your voice. What's up?"

"I'm calling to tell you about my new girlfriend."

"Really, that's big. Tell me about her."

Lucas laughs. "I'll let her introduce herself."

"Hi, Lily."

"Aunt Brooke. Aunt Brooke! Wow! That's so cool!"

"Thank you, sweetie. I'm glad you approve."

"You guys know mom would have been besides herself. She always said you two belonged together. I understand Dad loved aunt Brooke too."

"That he did, little sis."

"And I loved him too."

"What about Jamie, does he know? He is the other one that was always on team Brucas."

"Maybe not. We just told Nate and Haley about it, and she might be on the phone with Jamie now."

"All right, let me call him. I assume we'll see you sometime this year."

"You can count on it, sweetie. Lucas tells me you and your partner are talking about babies."

"We actually have an appointment at the fertility clinic this week. I hope we'll have news by the end of the year."

"Good luck to both of you."

"Good luck to you too, Luke, Aunt Brooke. I'm very happy for you two."

"Bye, sweetie."

Brooke first calls Davis, but goes to voice mail, and leaves him a message to call her back. Next she calls Jude, and he picks up.

"Hi, mom."

"Hi, Peanut. I'm just calling you to say that I have a new boyfriend."

"Really? That's nice, mom. Anyone I know?"

"Uncle Lucas."

"Wow! That's great. He's a cool dude, mom. Congratulations. Weren't you two something or another back in High School?"

"Yes, sweetie. We used to date for a while."

"Yeah. I remember, Dad had some kind of jealous thing with uncle Lucas, even though they were friends. Mom, where are you?"

"I'm in Paris, sweetie."

"I heard a crazy rumor at the office today, that you quit your job."

"It's true. I quit about a week ago. They are bringing a few people to run the company in my place. I'm still Chairman of the Board, and the largest stockholder, so I'll be looking over your shoulder."

"Well, I'm glad for you, but I'm sorry to hear it. I was hoping to work under you at some point, you know, learn the ropes."

"Just keep at it. There will be plenty of opportunities coming your way, given your last name. Just show people what you got. And call me if you need anything."

"Ok, mom. Good luck."

"Goodbye, peanut. Sleep with the angels."

Lucas is looking at Brooke with this goofy face. "What, Broody?"

"I wish I'd seen you with them when they were young."

"Twins are exhausting. You'd have mostly seen me tired and cranky."

"Somehow, I doubt that. I remember you with Angie."

"I did enjoy them. But not as much as I should have." A wave of sadness and regret threatens to engulf Brooke. The babies were perfect. They just didn't have the right father. She remembers Angie too. The baby with the right guy besides her.

"What is it, Pretty Girl?"

"Oh, it's nothing, boyfriend. Regrets, mostly. Nothing we should dwell on. Just call Sawyer."

"She has a crazy schedule. She hardly ever picks up, but she is good at getting back to me."

He calls, and as expected, it goes to voice mail. "Hi crabcakes, Daddy here. Please call me back. I have some news I need to share. Bye."

"Pizza and ice cream?"

"No. Too much junk during the afternoon. Any nice restaurants nearby? I just want a salad and a glass of wine."

"Sure. A couple of doors down the street there's a little brasserie I eat at least twice a week."

"We can go back to the Steinbeck afterwards."

"Sounds like a plan, Pretty Girl."

Brooke was pretty wiped out when they went to bed, back to the Steinbeck, and didn't last another chapter. Lucas tucked her, kissed her forehead and went to sleep besides her. Despite their amazing day, it all still feels like a dream. Lucas wakes up with Brooke lying half on top of him, and his phone ringing. By the time he untangles himself from Brooke and gets to the phone, it had stopped ringing. It was Sawyer calling, seven in the morning. Lucas heads to the kitchen, sets up the machine for a pot of coffee and calls back. As Sawyer picks up the phone, the door opens, and the housekeeper walks in. Lucas speaks to Sawyer. "Just a second, honey."

"Magda, good morning. Ms. Davis, the woman I mentioned yesterday, is still asleep in my bed. She's moving in here, permanently, and we will have to make accomodations. I suggest going to the market, stocking up on fruits and veggies, and preparing some light lunch. She will need some help settling in as well."

"That's fine Mr. Scott. I am very happy for you."

Magda has worked for me for a year. She is about my age. She raised four daughters, all graduated college, one lives in Argentina, and the other three in France. She is both tough and kind, and we get along quite well.

"Sawyer, honey, sorry to put you on hold. The housekeeper arrived the second you picked up the phone, and I had to give her some instructions."

"That's fine Daddy." She sounds exhausted. "I'm coming off a thirty-six hour shift. What's up?"

There is absolutely no point in beating around the bush with Sawyer. Her mind is like a collection of those surgical instruments she works with. "Aunt Brooke and I are an item now. Permanently, I hope."

I can nearly see her frown on the phone. "Does mom knows?"

"I don't think so. It should be on the tabloids soon."

"Are you going to tell her?"

"I had no intention of doing so. How is she doing?"

"She came out of rehab a couple of months ago. She seems to be doing better. She may be running out of money, though."

"I want to do something about that, but I'd like to discuss the details with you. Can you take a few days off?"

"The situation is not critical yet, Dad. I imagine I'll see you in Tree Hill for Thanksgiving. I can't really take additional time off now. I'll be doing my boards next April, and pediatric surgery has the toughest exam in all the surgical specialties. I need the OR time, and I need to study like crazy. I don't really have time to deal with mom either."

"That's fine, Crabcakes. I completely understand. And I miss you."

"I miss you too, Daddy. At least you are finally were you wanted to be. I'm happy for both of you, and please, send Aunt Brooke my love. By the way, I know it's an imposition, but I wish you would call mom. It's not going to be very pleasant to get the news from the front page of the National Enquirer, and it's not really my news to share."

"Very well, baby girl. I'll do as you ask."

She sighs. "Bye, Daddy."

"Bye."

Lucas couldn't possibly be more proud of his daughter. She has a mind like a steel trap and an incredibly fierce dedication to her patients and to her chosen profession. She is also a five foot ten willowy, blue eyed blonde with the looks of a supermodel. In nearly any field, looking like she does is an advantage. As a surgeon, it just makes her have to work harder to be respected and to keep her male colleagues at bay. She hasn't had a romantic relationship in five years, and He worries a bit about her.

He sits in the sofa with his coffee getting cold in his hand, A few minutes later he hears the slightly mocking voice from the doorway. "Now here is a sight for sore eyes. Broody, brooding. Sawyer?"

"Yup. She sends her love. She actually approves of us."

"Why the brooding, then?"

"She wants me to talk to Peyton. I said I would."

"Ah. What news from Goldilocks?"

"She's been out of rehab for a couple of months. Supposedly doing well."

"Well, if you told Sawyer you'd do it, you're out of options."

"I know. Hence, the brooding."

Brooke laughs. "I love you, boyfriend." It's the first time she says it since the night he left with Peyton to Vegas, twenty-eight years ago.

He grabs her, and looks in her eyes. "I love you too, Pretty Girl." And then he kisses her.

Magda comes back from the supermarket, carrying a couple of bags. Lucas and Brooke are sitting at the kitchen's counter, drinking coffee and eating croissants. "Hi, Magda, let me introduce you. This is my girlfriend Brooke Davis, and this is Magda Pereira. Magda takes care of the house for me."

"It's very nice to meet you, Ms. Davis. Mr. Scott tells me you are the lady of the house, now. Please let me know how I can be of service."

"First you must call me Brooke."

"Oh, no. I've been having this argument with Mr. Scott for a whole year. It is not proper. I'll call you Ms. Davis. You call me Magda."

"All right, Magda."

"Mr. Scott told me to load up on fruits and vegetables. If you get him to eat healthy, that's very good. I'll make a light lunch for you two. Grilled fish, salad and some pomegranates for desert. Is that good?"

"Perfect, Magda. I could use some help with my luggage."

"Very well, Ms. Davis. Please leave the dishes at the counter. I'll deal with them later."

"Brooke. I have to teach an extra class today at three. I'll go work on it now. What do you want to do in the afternoon?"

"I think I'll stick around and arrange my stuff. I could meet you somewhere after your class."

"There is a little cafe across the street from the university entrance I use. Some of the students and I often go there for a glass of wine and chit-chat after my lecture. I'll write down the address and you can find it using your phone. It's four blocks from here."

"You have a lot of clothes, Ms. Davis."

"Clothes are my life, Magda. Have you heard my name before?"

"I know who you are. I have four daughters. I've seen your name in their clothes. I've even seen your magazine. You were married to a big Hollywood boss, right?"

"That's right. I was married to Julian Baker for twenty five years. We had two boys, who are now grown man."

"But you divorced him. He was cheating on you."

"That's right."

"Were you cheating on your husband? With Mr. Scott, perhaps?"

"No!" Brooke looks to the floor. "Yes. But I never really cheated on my husband."

"The body was his, but the heart?"

"My heart belonged to Lucas. Since I was sixteen years old."

"I've known Mr. Scott for two years now. He is a good man, strong and kind. The kind of men I wished for my daughters. There has been a few girls here, but he was a lonely man. He was missing a piece of his heart. Until now. Be gentle with him Ms. Brooke, please."

"Oh, I'll never let him go again. He's been calling to me. For twenty-five years he has called, until I finally answered. I'm not sure about gentle. I'm not a gentle person. But I will take good care of him."

Brooke was already sitting in the Cafe, sipping a latte, when Lucas arrived with a small group of young people. There were three girls, Charlie, a pert young brunette, and a tall, dark skinned, older girl with an african style of dress and hairdo. There were also two boys, a short and thin brunette with intense demeanor, and a quiet blonde with thoughtful gray eyes. The six of them were in an animated discussion in french. When Lucas saw me, he brightened up in a big smile and switched to English. "Hey guys. This is my girlfriend Brooke. Brooke, you know Charlie. The others are Yvette, Manedi, Paul and Piotr." Charlie air kisses Brooke with a smile, while the others shake her hand. She has enough french to keep a conversation going, but not to follow a fast discussion on contemporary authors she's never heard about. The african girl was clearly a little disappointed with the girlfriend news, Brooke guesses she thought she was next in line for Lucas bed.

She looks at him, fresh from his class, and She sees he clearly enjoys both the intellectual stimulation, and the adulation. Brooke feels there is nothing wrong with being vain, She's build a literal empire to vanity, and she understands its importance. It's heartwarming to see that her gorgeous, award winning, famous and rich boyfriend's chief vanity comes from his mind's gifts. But there are things she still needs to know. She pulls him to the side and whispers in his ear. "I'd like to take up Charlie on her offer." Lucas gives her a surprised look. He thinks a bit, and whispers back. "Not today. We should talk about this. But I will ask her to have dinner with us, if you don't mind."

Very soon the others take their leave, and as Charlie is getting up to go, Lucas asks her to stay, and have dinner with them. "Just dinner, sweetie. Nothing else, for now." She looks a bit disappointed, but decides to come. They go to a place that specializes on crepes, and they have an early dinner, accompanied by fizzy cider. Lucas keeps Brooke close, but flirts lightly with Charlie, and they can both see the strain on the girl, as she tries to keep things light, even as her heart is a bit more invested. After dinner, Charlie leaves, and Lucas and Brooke take a slow rambling walk leads them to the Seine. They sit on a bench, overlooking the river.

"I don't think the threesome will happen, Pretty Girl. Not with Charlie, at least."

Brooke's eyes fill with tears. "If I had been willing to do what I offered you today, I could have saved my marriage." Lucas just embraces her a little closer. "Of course, the second girl would not have been the adorable creature your Charlie is. Julian's girls tended to be a bit more predatory, Hollywood style. I offered you something most men would not turn down. I know you were tempted."

"Sure. But you saw her. We would end up hurting her more. It's not something either one of us do. If you needed to do that to save your marriage, your marriage was already dead."

"It was dead, maybe for the last fifteen years of our twenty-five, I was being just being stubborn. Sure, Julian's bad behavior won over my stubbornness at the end, but our failure is not really his fault. He was a great father and husband, and I loved him very much. It wasn't his fault that he wasn't you."

"Did he know?"

"About my inability to let you go? Not fully. But he was very jealous of you. We almost divorced when the twins were eight, and he found me listening to one of your audio novels. I had to promise him I would stop listening to them. I kept my promise for a year, until we had a fight for another reason. I was unfaithful, Lucas. He was a good husband, but I was not a good wife."

"I'm sorry."

"You should be. We hurt a good man, we twisted him and stole something from him he'll never get back. And you are as guilty of it as I am."

"I know. There were things that couldn't be helped. And there were choices we made, not all of them good. I hope whatever stolen happiness we can get for ourselves from now on will survive it's twisted beginnings."

"I'm sure you marriage suffered a similar fate."

Lucas expression hardens. "There is a big difference between Julian and Peyton. Julian was an innocent victim. Peyton knew precisely what she was getting into, and chose to ignore her own misgivings. The reason I didn't ask you to come to Vegas with me is that I knew you could never ignore those same misgivings, and that there was nothing I could do to convince you."

"But there was, wasn't it?"

"It just took some time. I guess I had to show you I really meant it."

"I think by the time your fifth book came out I was convinced. In the deep recesses of my mind, I started to plan this reunion. The day I heard of your divorce was one of the happiest days of my life. Julian noted it too, it just took him a couple of days to catch on. That's when the affairs became blatant."

"I'm sorry, Pretty Girl. I certainly never reckoned the damage done to Julian. I actually liked the guy, and I truly hoped he was making you happy. I was very sad when the whole mess surrounding your divorce became public. Hopeful, of course, but sad."

"Why didn't you get in touch after my divorce?"

"I wrote the books. I had no clue you actually read any of them, but I know how curious you are. I figured that, at some point, you had picked one up, and that, by then, I would have you hooked. I figured that, beyond that, the next move had to be yours."

Brooke laughs. "I think you're quite right about that. You also displayed perseverance, and patience worthy of the Buddha."

Lucas laughs a bit as well. "I discovered that celebrating a secret and lost love in print gave me rather unexpected worldly success. It's easy to persevere when you're so richly rewarded for it."

"That certainly helps, I guess. I built a multi-billion dollar empire trying to distract myself from thinking about you. And failing, I might add, in large part because of your books. Overall, I'd say we've been very constructive in our heartache. I quit the empire building job. I'm not sure what I want to do with myself now. But what about you? Are you going to continue writing, now that your lost love is found?"

"I have an eleventh novel in my Pretty Girl series two-thirds written. My publishers would be very disappointed if I just dropped it. But, in the back of my mind, I'm starting to think of a novel celebrating the other great love of my life."

Brooke doesn't even have to think about it. "Sawyer."

"I could never really regret Peyton, you know, because of her."

"She is an incredible girl. I've loved her from a distance almost as much as I love my boys. She is such a perfect blend of the best of you two, plus something more, all her own."

"She hides her heart, like Peyton, and pushes people away. I worry a bit about her. She plays the ice princess with gusto. Except with her patients, of course." I laugh. "You can see she is great raw material for the heroine of a romantic novel."

"What happened with you and Peyton? What made you guys finally split up?"

"A few days before our final break, Peyton told me about the rehearsal dinner. I couldn't really get past that, even as it was hurting Sawyer."

"It was so long ago, Broody. I don't see why it mattered so much."

"I think one of the main reasons that, for the longest time, I could never really let go of you is that I didn't understand why you broke up with me. I could feel that there was more to it. It wouldn't matter to you because you knew, but, to me, it was like my life had a piece missing."

"Did she know about the books?"

"She suspected. She also saw the way I looked at your picture in magazines and outdoors. And she knew the history, even if I didn't. It wasn't just jealousy with her, Pretty Girl. It was fear and guilt as well. Peyton is an amazing woman. Unfortunately, wrapped up around her own stuff, she was neither a good wife, nor a good mother to Sawyer."

For a few minutes, they watch as the boats go by in the river, feeling the turbulence of their conversation settle down slowly in their minds.

"What would you have done if I had said yes to the threesome?"

"Gone along with it, I guess. I would have been disappointed, though."

"Hm. I'm allowed to imagine Charlie going down on you, no?" I give her a dreamy sigh. "That would have been a sight for the ages."

Brooke giggles and gives me a slap on the chest. "In your dreams that's fine, Broody boy. One would think that Brooke Davis is more than enough woman for anyone in the real world."

"Hm. You sure you don't have a twin hidden somewhere?"

"Oh, stop it. I'm planning to show you what I've learned about blowing certain things in the past thirty years. That should drive any lingering thoughts about Charlie, or hidden twins, straight out of your mind."

"It already did. Oh, by the way, we are going out of town tomorrow morning. Two nights. Pack mostly for walks in the countryside, but include one nice gown and a bikini."

"How nice?"

"Gala. Think Oscar ceremony."

"Ok, but I need a hairdresser for that. Where we are going?"

"It's a surprise. I think you're going to like it. And a hairdresser will be provided."