A/N: Thank you all for the wonderful reviews last chapter. I always love to see what you guys think about the story. Stagediva23, don't worry, I have no intention of making Brooke have a ridiculous amount of babies, I just thought it needed to be said that there was that slim possibility to be more authentic. I actually know someone who is doing her 2nd invitro pregnancy right now and that's what her doctor told her so I used it. Anyways, here is the next chapter. I hope you all enjoy.

And as always, italics are flashbacks or internal thoughts.

The True Volume Of Love Unspoken

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~But when she met him, the boy she'd already know all her life, she realized that love unspoken was the loudest sound of all. (Kevin Williamson)

Lucas stepped out of the cab and looked at the huge bookstore in front of him. To say he was surprised at the line that was formed outside was an understatement. The Ravens had done well but there had never been a line like the one there was in front of him now. People were cheering and waving at him and for a moment he wondered if by chance this was some huge joke.

"Lucas," Lindsay said as she strolled towards him, followed by an average ordinary looking man in a brown suit. "So, what do you think?"

"This is amazing," he replied. "They're all here for the signing?"

"Your book is a success Luke," she said a bit nonchalantly before motioning to the man beside her. "This is Matt Browning," she paused briefly. "And Matt, this is Lucas Scott."

The two men took a moment to shake hands and exchange pleasantries before walking inside to the table that was set up while Lindsay went to speak with the bookstore manager.

"You know when I first saw the title; I thought it was science fiction." Matt laughed. "But then Lindsay explained to me it was a big metaphor for this epic love story. Sorry, but I just started reading it on the flight."

"It's fine," Lucas said. "Besides, I still maintain it's just a story about a boy and a comet. Sure it's a bit metaphorical but The Comet can represent anything or anyone who changes the way you view life."

He nodded. "So, is the romantic writer married? My wife and I just got married and she loved your first book."

"No I'm not married, recently engaged though." Lucas looked around for Lindsay, not wanting her to hear the turn their conversation had taken. "We should probably change the subject."

"The writer who put his whole teenage life down in a book is suddenly private," he raised his brows. "Have you all picked a date yet?"

"Not yet," Lucas shook his head. "Look Matt, I really don't want to talk about my fiancé anymore."

"Oh, don't stop on my account," Lindsay said as she came up behind him. "The time to stop boasting about Peyton might have been when you decided to write another book about her when we were engaged." Her voice was a firm whisper.

"I'm sorry," Matt said looking between the pair on either side of him. "I didn't know there was a history here."

Lucas looked up at Lindsay. "How many times do I have to tell you the book is not about Peyton? I don't care what kind of car she drives." He honestly was tired of having this argument.

"And I don't care what you say," she snapped back before walking up and addressing the manager again as he lead the crowd in.

Lucas had a feeling that this argument was far from over. He suddenly felt like this was going to be the longest eight weeks of his life.

Haley stood in front of the kitchen sink, washing the bowls from this morning's cereal. Even though she enjoyed the first few days of taking it easy, it had become annoying to her. Nathan had taken care of pretty much everything she needed before he left and Deb had picked up right where he left off. She knew her mother-in-law meant well but she felt as if Deb was hovering and was thankful she'd taken Jamie to the park.

Just as she put the last bowl in the dish drainer, she heard her doorbell ring. "Great," she huffed to herself as she wiped her hands on a dish towel. She had a headache and the last thing she needed was to be bothered when she finally had some peace. "Peyton," she said as she opened the door, somehow not surprised to see her.

"Hi Haley," she smiled warmly. "How are you doing?"

"Lucas sent you, didn't he?" she gave a short laugh as she saw the answer written all over the other woman's face. "Come on in." She stepped back, allowing Peyton entrance before closing the door and walking to the living room, taking a seat on the couch.

"He's just worried about you," Peyton said as she sat next to her friend. "So am I."

"I'm fine," she assured her. "Basically I'm just suffering from a little fatigue. I'm more bothered by being stuck in the house and a stiff neck from probably sleeping funny," she said as she reached up and rubbed the back of her neck. "Besides that, I'm perfectly fine, even the doctor said I have nothing to worry about, okay."

"Okay," she conceded. "As long as you're sure you're okay Hales."

"I am," she smiled warmly before taking a moment to study her friend. "The better question is are you okay? How goes the wedding planning?"

"It doesn't," Peyton answered simply.

Haley's brows furrowed. "What?"

The blonde shook her head, knowing that was probably the wrong thing to say. "I'm sorry. I really shouldn't be talking to you about this. You have enough going on and Lucas is…"

"My best friend," Haley continued for her. "But you are my friend too so please, tell me what's going on."

Peyton took a deep breath, exhaling as she searched for the right words. "It's just that I thought once Lucas and I got back together; everything would be great you know. We'd pick out stupid centerpieces and flowers and invitations." She shrugged, the weight of being engaged and not planning a wedding finally showing. "And I know he's had a lot on his plate with his suspension from coaching, Dan's death, and then everything with Brooke," she sighed heavily as she put her hands against her chest. "And now he's got this eight week book tour and I know I should be more understanding or whatever but he can't even find time to pick a wedding date. Am I being stupid here?"

"No," the brunette shook her head. "Of course not but you and Lucas got engaged so fast. You went from strained friendship to getting married in twenty four hours," she used her hands as scales. "Maybe you two just need some time to balance things out. Marriage should never be used to fix something."

The blonde scoffed before rolling her eyes. "Says the married lady; does Nathan know you feel that way?"

Haley shook her head the way an unentertained mom does. "I didn't mean it like that and you know it. It's just that getting married is not supposed to be a fix it method. It's not going to fix problems or issues that are already there just because you decided to get engaged and I'm guessing you know that, or you wouldn't be feeling the way you do."

"I know," she breathed heavily as she placed her hands against her forehead. "I just feel like my somedays are attacking me now."

Haley looked at her curiously before laughing. "I'm not going to even pretend I know what you're talking about now."

Peyton shook her head before looking over at her friend, knowing she'd stuck her foot in her mouth. She could either come up with some lie to explain her comment or she could just tell the truth. Wanting to share her feelings with something other than her sketchbook, she chose the latter. "I never told anyone this but senior year when I went to see Jake in Savannah, I asked him to marry me."

Haley blinked a few times out of shock. "What?" Her amber brown orbs studied her friend's green ones, seeing the pain in them. "He said no," her voice was soft.

"Actually he said yes," she smiled through unshed tears. "Before I left my dad told me to follow my heart and I did and everything was perfect. I didn't even plan on coming back to Tree Hill." She smiled as she remembered that day clearly in her mind. "There was this really great art school there and I figured I could just get my GED and go there after. And I'd get to be a wife to Jake and a mother to Jenny."

"So what happened?" Haley questioned.

"I woke up in the middle of the night to find Jake looking out the window," she explained. "The moon was so big and beautiful that night and I just wanted Jake to come back to bed with me but he looked so upset." She breathed out heavily as a stray tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. "He told me I talked in my sleep and that I said I love you… Lucas."

"Oh Peyton," Haley said sympathetically, reaching over to hold her friend's hand in comfort.

"I tried to explain to him about everything; the kiss in the library and telling Lucas I loved him while I was bleeding but that it was Jake I wanted to be with; that I ached for him." She paused briefly to wipe away her tears. "But Jake told me that I had to come back and basically see if Luke was still inside my heart. And he said if we were meant to be together than we would." She turned to Haley. "Do you know what I said right after that? I said someday."

"And when Lucas originally proposed to you, your answer then was someday," Haley voiced what she knew Peyton was thinking. "The somedays that are attacking you, now that you're engaged to Lucas and Jake is back in your life."

"I mean all people get jitters right?" her green eyes looked to her friend for conformation.

"Are they just jitters or cold feet?" Haley asked. "Peyton, I love Lucas as a brother but you know I love you too and I want what is best for both of you. I think you need to ask yourself why you felt so sure when you asked Jake to marry you but when Lucas asked, you had all these doubts; doubts that still seem to exist now."

"But he's my soulmate, right? I mean, I love Lucas Haley," Peyton explained. "I really do love him."

"I don't doubt that," Haley gave her a small smile. "But I think you need to do what your father told you all those years ago, follow your heart Peyton. I think if you really listen to it, you'll hear your answer."

"Deb," Cass smiled as she answered the door. "I'm glad you could make it."

"Yeah," she nodded as she stepped inside. "When you called and asked to see me, my curiosity was piqued. I guess it got the better of me."

"Well thank you," she gave another smile, "for whatever reason you came. I wanted to thank you for bringing Skills to the hospital that day and not making it difficult for me to stay here. I really appreciate…"

"You can stop trying to butter me up dear and just get to the point," Deb interrupted. She was in no mood to play games. "Why did you ask me to come?"

"Can we sit? It's a little hard standing with the cast," she motioned towards the sofa before hobbling over and plopping herself down, waiting for Deb to follow suit. "A couple of years ago, Skills and I were in love. So in love, he asked me to marry him. Did you know that?"

"No, I didn't." Deb answered a bit stiffly.

"Well we were engaged," Cass explained. "Soon after, I found out I was pregnant and we were just so happy. Then one day we went to get a sonogram, and suddenly I wasn't pregnant anymore." She shook her dark curls, trying not to get too emotional. "Apparently my body reabsorbed the egg; the doctor said that can happen sometimes, that its nature's way of taking care of an unviable fetus, what ever that supposed to mean to a mother."

"That must have been very hard for you," Deb sympathized.

"It was," Cass replied. "I was so happy and then just like that, my baby was gone as if it never existed at all. I had all these plans but without my baby, I just couldn't see a future anymore. I didn't know how to deal so I left," she paused briefly. "I left everything behind, including Skills."

"I am really sorry for what you went through Cassandra but why exactly are you telling me all this?" Deb questioned.

Cass exhaled deeply. "The thing is, I was lost back then and even though I will always carry that loss with me, I'm better now." She paused briefly. "Look I've heard a lot about your ex-husband Dan and how awful of a person he was but I've also met Nathan and he's a great guy, so I'm guessing that all came from you. I also know Skills is a great judge of character and if he feels so strongly about you, you must be a really good person. I guess that's why I'm telling you all this because I think you'll understand."

Deb raised her eyebrows at the young woman in front of her. "What is it that you want from me?"

"I know you love Antwon so I'm sure you want what's best for him," Cass replied. "You don't know how happy he was when he found out we were having a child and no offense to you or your age, but you've done that part of your life already." She paused briefly. "You two have so much working against you: age, race, lifestyle, Nathan's reaction when he finds out. I love Antwon too and I know we could be happy, uncomplicated happy."

"You're actually asking me to bow out gracefully," Deb looked at the sienna woman in front of her incredulously. "Is that it?"

"I'm asking you to do the right thing, not just for me but for you and Skills; for Nathan," Cass replied. "I'm asking you to do what's best for all of us. The question is, can you?"

Rachel sat at the bay window, looking out at the city below. She'd been sitting there about a half an hour now, just looking at the people carrying on with their everyday lives. She seemed to pay special attention to the mothers and daughters, wondering if she'd ever have that or if she lost that chance long ago.

"Oh God!" Brooke screamed as she noticed the figure sitting in her window. "You scared the hell out of me. What are you doing here?"

"I'm so sorry Brooke," Rachel said as she stood up and enveloped her friend in a hug. "It's just you've been gone over two weeks and I was going stir crazy in Tree Hill by myself." She pulled back, shrugging. "I figured now was as good a time as ever to come to New York. So, where have you been? I called your office."

"You might want to take a seat," the brunette said as she took her own suggestion, sitting at the glass table.

"Okay," the red head complied, giving her friend an inquiring look. "This doesn't have to do with Lucas, does it? He isn't really here in New York instead of on that book tour is he?"

"Yes and no," Brooke answered.

"You little skank," Rachel smiled, hitting her friend playfully. "I hope the couch has been stain guarded."

"Get your mind out of the gutter Rach," she rolled her eyes. "Lucas isn't here. I went to see Dr. Caspian, that's where I was coming from and everything is fine," she smiled widely. "Actually, everything's better than fine."

"What do you mean?" Rachel asked, standing up. "Oh my God, Brooke are you…"

"Yes!" she interrupted with tears in her eyes, dimples in full effect as she stood up to. "I'm pregnant!"

"Ahhh!" Rachel squealed, running to her friend and hugging her as they both began to jump up and down.

Nathan lay back on the bed, relishing the feeling of the soft mattress against his back. The last few weeks had been had been bittersweet for him. As much as he loved being back on the court, he missed being home with his family; waking up to Haley every morning and Jamie's smiling and adoring face. And besides that, basketball hadn't exactly welcomed him back with open arms.

"Hey, what's up?" Nathan nodded to the only other man in the locker room as early as him. "I'm Nathan…"

"Scott," the African American young man finished for him. "I know who you are. The name's Marshall McCall, point guard."

"Good to meet you," Nathan nodded.

"I know you been out of the game a while, it'll probably take some time getting back into the swing of things," he replied. "I don't want you to think that because we play the same position, we have to be enemies; we're a team."

"I appreciate that man," Nathan nodded, happy to see he'd at least make one friend on the team. During the tryouts, some of the guys had been less than cordial to Nathan's reemergence into the game.

"Besides," Marshall smiled. "There's no way I'm going to let some has been take my spot," he said before exiting the locker room.

Nathan realized he'd thought too soon.

He walked over to the mini fridge, grabbing a bottle of water before returning to the bed, leaning against the headboard as he turned on the TV with the remote.

Nathan ran against the track, wind in his hair as his feet pounded against the dirt below. The whole team had just done a grueling drill of suicides and to say he was tired was an understatement but the feeling of freeness as he ran around the track was something he couldn't even put into words. Suddenly, he was brought out of his reverie as he heard his coach yelling once again.

"Scott," Coach Jackson belted. "Point Guards lead from the front, not the back! Let's go!"

Nathan pushed himself and soon found himself in the front leading the pack. No matter how much his legs wanted to give out on him, he would not give Marshall McCall the satisfaction of beating him.

Nathan found himself flipping through the channels, finally landing on Sports Center. He watched the highlights, wishing that he hadn't let his first opportunity pass him by but then he thought maybe it was for the best; maybe now that he'd had his dream taken away he would appreciate it more. He was hungry for it now. He made a vow to himself right then and there, that this time his dream would not die in silence.

Deb picked up the phone, dialing the familiar number that she hadn't dialed in over a week.

"Hello," Skills' voice carried though. "Deb?"

"Yeah, it's me," she said softly.

"I've been trying to call you and every time I go over to the house, you seem to never be there." He sounded frustrated. "I think Haley's convinced Nate and Luke have me checking up on her. Baby, what's going on?"

"I'm sorry," Deb replied. "I've just been thinking about a lot of stuff; about us."

"You've been on my mind too," you could hear the relief in his voice. "Why don't we go do something tonight or you could come over here?"

"I don't think this is such a good idea," she spoke while she still had the courage to. "We just let this go too far but there's no way this can ever work."

"Deb?" he said her name softly. "Are you saying this is over?"

"It has to be," there were tears rolling down her face now. "We both knew that someday it would come to this."

"Oh," he replied. "We did?"

"It just, it has to be this way." Deb stifled her own sobs. "I want so much for you, for you to have everything you deserve. I will never regret any of this…"

"Deb, what happened?" Skills asked. "I can't just forget…"

"You should," she spoke over him. "You should forget. You have to." She couldn't choke back the tears in her voice. "I have to go. Please don't make this harder than it has to be, good bye Antwon." And with that she hung up the phone.

"Deb," Skills called out to her "Deb," he looked down at the phone sadly. "I love you."

Lucas sat in front of the crowd, opening his book to the passage he was to read. The last few weeks had whizzed by as he'd flown from city to city, stopping back in Tree Hill a few times in between, during his book tour. He couldn't believe that it was over already and that he was in his final bookstore in New York City. He scanned the crowd, hoping to see a familiar face that he just couldn't seem to be able to meet up with the last two months. Every time he seemed to be in Tree Hill, she'd been in New York. Luckily, he had gotten Brooke on the phone earlier and she'd said, as long as her appointment didn't run over, she'd be there.

Lucas glanced up at the crowd once again as Lindsay introduced him, catching the sight of the woman he'd been looking for as she walked in. Lucas cleared his throat and then began to read what had become his favorite passage:

"The boy saw a comet.

"I think you got the wrong car."

The boy saw the comet and he felt as though his life had meaning.

"I mean, how many moments in life can you point to and say, that's when it all changed? You just had one."

And when it went away,

"Look we didn't plan any of this. It just happened". He looked at her solemnly.
"Go to hell!" She turned away from him, storming off.

He waited his entire life for it to come back to him.

"I keep that stuff as a reminder of how badly I screwed up things with you. To remind myself, if I ever get a second chance, I'd never let you go again."

It was more than just a comet because of what it brought to his life:

"You know I kind of enjoy the fact that we're different."

Direction,

"But one of these nights you're going to realize it. I'm the guy for you Brooke Davis."

Beauty,

"That's how I always see you Brooke. I think it's kind of beautiful".

Meaning,

"I barely even knew her last year, and now I can't imagine life without her."

There are many who couldn't understand,

"Unlike Brooke, who I understand is nice and easy?"

"Brooke Davis?" Faith looked at him incredulously. "Lucas she is horrible."

And sometimes he walked among them.

"Like I'm the only guy you ever slept with."

But even in his darkest hours,

"Lucas is it true? Do you have HCM?"

"Lucas, it's okay. I'm here for you."

"If you need to do this alone I understand but if you need me, I'm here."

He knew in his heart that someday it would return to him,

"God, it is good to see you Brooke."

And his world would be whole again...

"It won't matter where we are, as long as we're together."

And his belief in God and love and art,

"I love you Lucas Scott, you know that?"

"I love you too Brooke Davis."

Would be re-awakened in his heart."

The crowd immediately started clapping. He could even see a few women with tears in their eyes and it warmed his heart that so many connected with his words. He looked up towards the back of the room to the brunette standing behind the crowd, surprised to see her crying as well. Once he was done with the signing portion and the crowd has dispersed, she walked up to him.

"Lucas," Brooke hugged him warmly. "That was beautiful."

"Thank you for coming," he returned the smile. "I was beginning to think you were avoiding me Pretty Girl."

She bit her lip, suddenly feeling nervous by the use of her old nickname, wondering if it was just a slip or if it meant something more.

"Why don't we go to dinner after this and catch up? I just need to check in with Lindsay about the meeting tomorrow and we'll be on our way," Lucas said.

"Okay," Brooke nodded; feeling dinner tonight was as good a time as any to spill the beans. "I'll just be looking around."

Lucas watched her walk away before going to find Lindsay. "So, tonight went pretty well." He watched as she shuffled around some papers, her back towards him.

"All this time, I thought it was Peyton." She turned around to face him. "But you kept telling me it wasn't. I don't know why I didn't see it before."

"What are you talking about?" Lucas looked at his former fiancé confused.

"The book is about longing but we both knew as soon as Peyton came back that her heart belonged to you; she made that very clear." Lindsay shook her head. "You can't long for something that you already know belongs to you."

"Linds, you've completely lost me." He ran a hand over his buzzed head.

"You know I read this story once about this guy. He'd loved this girl basically all his life. They went out for a little while but they decided to just be friends." She paused briefly, exhaling deeply. "Years after their break up, he wrote this beautiful poem about her, even though consciously he didn't know it. He'd admit there were some similarities between the girl in the poem and his long time friend, still he swore it was fictional but she was the girl in the poem, just like Brooke is The Comet. His poem, your book; all about unspoken love."

"Brooke and I are just friends Lindsay. We…" he started but was cut off.

"You know I'm right Lucas, I can see it in your eyes," she interrupted. "In the subtle way you glanced at her during your reading, the way your face lights up when she walks in the room; you're in love with her." She shook her head before giving an ironic laugh. "The funny thing is, is that she's in love with you too but neither of you seem to realize what the other feels."

"Brooke and I are just friends Lindsay," he repeated.

She sighed deeply. "God, I could hear it and I wasn't even listening," she said solemnly. "Can't you hear it Luke?"

His brows furrowed. "Hear what?"

"The loudest sound of all," Lindsay gave a sad smile. "Love unspoken."

Kevin Williamson wrote, "It had always seemed like a silent dream to her, the many meaningless passings in the hallway, the sense of disconnection from those she supposedly knew so well. But when she met him, the boy she'd already know all her life, she realized that love unspoken was the loudest sound of all, and she awoke."