A/N: Thanks guys for the renewed interest in this story. It really was my baby, as weird as that sounds, and it actually hurt my heart to take it down before. I'm hoping things go well this time and I can put it up without it being stolen again. Anyways, thanks again for reading and hope you enjoy!
Caught In The Rain part#1
~That ordinarily would have gone unnoticed, like a cloth folded, and hidden in the folds of time. (Rainer Maria Rilke)
Brooke walked briskly out of the grocery store towards her SUV. She wanted to get back before Rachel woke up so she could make her friend breakfast. Although she knew the red head would never admit it to anyone but her; yesterday had been difficult for Rachel, besides the carefree façade she displayed. Mouth was the only other person beside Brooke that Rachel could truly call a friend and she was sad that he was going to be so far away. Brooke wanted to do something nice for Rachel, thankful for how supportive she'd been through everything, and besides, she had woken up with a craving for bacon.
"Brooke," a familiar male voice called from behind her.
"Owen," she knew it was him before she even turned around. "Hey."
"Hey," he gave an awkward smile. "I've been trying to reach you since I've been back."
"Oh," she nodded. "I guess I've just been really busy. I'm actually in a hurry right now." She turned and began to walk away.
"Wait," he quickly caught up to her and grabbed her by the wrist.
"Get off me!" she screamed as she jerked away from him, her mind back to the night of her attack.
"I'm-I'm sorry," his eyes were wide as her looked at her concerned. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
"You didn't," she shook her head. "I overreacted, I'm sorry."
"I am too, for everything before," Owen replied. "I shouldn't have left the way I did; I guess I just got scared. I wasn't ready to be a father."
"Yeah, well you should get over that," Brooke replied, thinking of his long lost child with Rachel.
"It's just, you know about my life, the things I've done. I wouldn't make a very good father," he tried to explain.
"And I never asked you to be the father," Brooke replied. "But you know what Owen, it doesn't really matter now. I thought I could count on you and you proved to me that I couldn't. Whatever it was we were on our way to is over."
"I am really sorry Brooke; I want to be that guy you can count on again." His eyes looked into hers warmly. "I understand if you feel that way but I hoped we could be friends and then maybe…"
"Look Owen, I need to focus on me," she gave him a small smile as she interrupted him, "and my baby. I'm pregnant." She took in his shocked expression. "Now, if you really want to work on rebuilding your friendships than I suggest you start with Rachel; she told me everything."
"You're pregnant?" he repeated softly before shaking his head. "I guess… congratulations."
"Thank you," she smiled again. "I'll see you around Owen." Brooke turned away from him before getting in her car and turning on her radio, as she drove away.
"…hit by a mile-wide tornado early this morning, and at least one person died as the twister carved a swath of destruction through Bladen County." The news drifted through her speakers. "It is said to be moving southeast and the following counties have now been issued a Tornado Watch: Pender, New Hanover…"
"New Hanover County, including Myrtle Grove, Ogden, Sea Gate, Silver Lake, Tree Hill, Wilmington…"
Lucas turned of the television as he heard a shuffling noise coming from the bedroom. He quickly stood up and made his way to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water and a couple of aspirin before following the sound.
"Hey," Lucas stood in the doorway, finding Peyton sitting in the middle of the bed in an oversized t-shirt. "Here," he made his way over to the bed and sat down on the edge.
"Thank you," she said as she retrieved the items from him, drinking the pills down quickly. "You're always there, taking care of me every time I need you."
"I love being there for you Peyton," he sighed as her rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I hope that will never change, that you'll always let me be there for you."
Peyton looked over at her fiancé, seeing the worry etched on his features. "Hey, I'm the one here with a hangover so why is it you look worst than me?" She noticed he didn't turn to look at her. "Luke, what is it?"
"You know how important you are to me, right?" his eyes finally meet hers. "And I would never want to hurt you."
"I know that Lucas," she nodded. "And I know that things have been strained since we got back but I know I love you."
"And I love you too Peyton," he replied. "You're beautiful, smart, caring, and you have been one of the best friends I've ever had. I feel so connected to you and I know that it's always going to be there, you and me… the bond that we have but…"
"But you don't want to marry me," her green eyes stared into his as they started to glisten over. "Is that it? Lucas, you don't want to marry me?"
"I don't think you want to marry me either, not really." His voice was quiet. "I think we're both so comfortable with us that we've been afraid to let go."
"No!" she stood up as the tears began to stream down her cheeks. "We love each other Luke; we're soulmates." She shook her head. "This can't be happening."
"Peyton, I am so sorry." Lucas stood up as well, walking towards her. "I never wanted…"
"Go to hell Lucas!" she yelled as she grabbed her jeans and began hurriedly putting them on. "What do you expect for me to say to you, that this is fine; that we'll be friends? Well I can't. I trusted you and you broke my heart! Uhh…" she pushed him as she heard the thunder erupt outside, thinking how similar she felt to the rumbling sky right now. "Damn you! Everything you said to me, everything you wrote to me, about me." She shook her head.
"I know that I hurt you, that I'm hurting you now," he took a labored breath as the guilt washed over him. "I wish I didn't have to cause you so much pain, I wish there was something I could say…"
"Why? Everything else you've said to me has just been a lie," her tears flowed as she spoke through clenched teeth, shaking her head. "Let me tell you how you get forever Peyton, you say yes… that's what you said. Trust me Peyton, I'll never hurt you…I hate you Peyton, you ruined my life." She nodded. "Well now I guess it's my turn to hate you for ruining mine." She spun around quickly before running out the door into the rain.
"Peyton," he called after her as he ran out to the porch, only to see her comet flying down the street. "I'm sorry." He whispered into the wind. "I'm so sorry."
Haley stood by the window, watching as the rain slide down the window pane. There was always something calming about the rain to her; the fact that it washed away the old and left the world feeling new again. She remember the first time Nathan had kissed her in the rain, when he told her he had to kiss her and the time he'd made it rain for her in the middle of that football field. Haley smiled at the memories as she felt a pair of warm arms wrap around her and immediately nuzzled back into them.
"How's my hot wife this morning?" Nathan said before placing a soft kiss on her neck.
"I'm great," she said as she turned back to look at him. "I was actually just thinking about kissing you in the rain." She turned around in his arms and raised her eyebrows.
"Come on," he grabbed her by the arm and led her towards the door.
"Nathan," she shook her head as he opened the door. "You're crazy." She laughed.
"Crazy about you," he said as he picked her up off her feet and swung her around outside as the rain washed over them both. "I love you Hales."
"I love you too Nathan," she smiled at him before crashing her lips against his in a sensual kiss. "Promise me it'll always be like this."
"Always," he grinned down at his petite wife as he placed her back on her feet. "Always and forever." Nathan wrapped his arms around her waist as she stood up on her tip toes and they kissed again.
"Would you two get in here?" Deb called from the door, watching as they broke apart, looking like they'd stepped back in time. She had to admit she envied the kind of love her son and her daughter-in-law have. "They've just issued a Tornado Watch."
"Really?" Haley said as she and Nathan made their way back up the stairs.
Deb nodded. "Right now it's just a watch but it's liable to get upgraded to a warning since Bladen County was hit earlier this morning."
"We should get some stuff prepared in the basement just in case we have to go down and wait it out," Nathan replied. "Where's Jamie?"
As if on cue the little boy came running up to them with a metal strainer on his head. "Okay Momma, Daddy; I'm ready for the tornado."
"Looks like it little man," Haley smiled. "We're going to go get changed. Can you call Skills and the guys since they don't have a basement, so they can wait it out with us; Lucas, Peyton, and Brooke too if you can while we make sure everything else is prepared?"
"Sure," Deb replied, knowing her calls to Skills would be extremely awkward. "I can do that."
Brooke quickly ran from her SUV to the door, fumbling with her keys for a moment before inserting them into the lock and walking inside, careful to input the security code. "Victoria?" she froze as she turned around. "I didn't know you were coming back already."
"Brooke, what is this?" she held up a black and white picture. "Tell me this is not what I think it is."
She nodded before hurrying to the kitchen, setting the bag on the counter.
"Brooke Penelope Davis," her voice was firm but distraught. "This can't be… a sonogram?"
"Yes Mother," she nodded her head. "I'm pregnant."
"No," she shook her head. "I am so sorry…. I never meant for any of this to happen. This is my fault…"
Brooke's brows furrowed. "What?"
"That bastard, he raped you and now you're pregnant." She shook her head as she began to cry.
"Mother, no." Brooke had never seen her mom get so emotional and it honestly scared her. "This baby isn't…"
"I made this happen," she shook her head as she spoke barely above a whisper. "I never, ever wanted you to experience something like that. I would never intentionally hurt you. I…"
"I know that," she stepped closer to the older brunette as she continued to talk, almost as if she didn't hear Brooke's words.
"…complained to Curtis and he said that he'd have someone fake a robbery and then you'd know you needed me." She shook her head. "I thought that Millicent would be there and someone would just scare her. No one was supposed to get hurt; never you, never my daughter."
"What?" Brooke's eyes grew wide. "What are you saying?"
"I am so sorry Brooke," Victoria continued rambling. "I am so sorry; no one was supposed to get hurt."
"Oh my God! You did this to me, didn't you?" Brooke began to yell after the woman in question said nothing. "Answer me Victoria!"
"I am so sorry, I never meant for this to happen to you," Victoria tried to explain. "I know I haven't been the best mother but your father and I gave you everything you could ever need…"
"Except love," Brooke couldn't stop the tears that streamed down her cheeks. "And now this; did you hate me that much mother?"
"No," Victoria shook her head. "I am so sorry honey. I tried to be there for you after the attack."
"The attack that you caused," she screamed. "You will never know what that night did to me. He hurt me… he hurt me so bad," she breathed out heavily, sniffing. "He turned my life into a nightmare; you turned my life into a nightmare, you did it!"
Victoria placed her hands over her mouth as she let out a few sobs before wiping her own tears away. "I am sorry."
"Sorry; do you actual think an apology will make up for this? You sent a man to beat me unconscious and rape me…" she shook her head as she struggled to speak between sobs. "We're done; this is it Victoria."
"Honey," she started but was cut off.
"Get out," she screeched at the top of her lungs. "GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT!" Brooke fell to her news on the floor as she cried, one arm lying protectively over her stomach.
"Brooke," Victoria said her name again but when she looked up she was greeted by Rachel and Rick.
"You sick bitch," Rachel sneered at the older brunette. "You disgust me." She turned to the security guard. "Get her out of her." Rachel quickly bent down beside Brooke, wrapping her arms around her.
"Let's go Mrs. Davis," He grabbed her by the arm and began ushering her to the door.
"You work for me Rick," Victoria sneered as he was pushing her out the now open door.
"Not anymore," he replied.
"Victoria," Brooke called from her position on the floor. "You're fired, as my CEO and as my mother."
"And don't even think about fighting her for the company because I got your whole confession on tape," Rachel held up a small silver device. "Goodbye Victoria."
Rick proceeded to slam the door in her face, leaving her out in the rain.
Deb sat nervously in the living room, staring at the news that was on the television but not really listening to it. She watched as Nathan and Haley played Candy Land with their soon. They'd asked her to join them but she couldn't concentrate, not even on a children's game, knowing that she was bound to be stuck in a basement with her family, her ex-lover, and his ex-girlfriend. She nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of the doorbell.
"Deb, can you get that?" Haley called to her mother in law as she moved her red game piece.
"Sure," she said nonchalantly although that was the last emotion she felt. Maybe it'll be Lucas. Deb opened the door and found she had no such luck. "Hi Skills."
"Hey," he said as he stepped inside. "How have you been?"
"Good," she lied. "How about you?"
"Oh, I'm fine, you know." He answered. "I'm mostly focusing on the team since Lucas isn't around much. They lifted the suspension but he had his book tour so they're talking about making me head coach. I talked to Lucas and he's cool with it."
"Thanks great," she nodded. "I know how important those kids are to you."
"Yeah," he nodded before an awkward silence took the over. "Look Deb, I know you think you had your reasons for breaking things off but I don't get it. I thought we were happy and if this is about Cass…"
"Of course it is," she interrupted, "partly but it's partly about Nathan and your parents and everyone else."
"I don't give a damn about anyone else," he said firmly before cupping her cheek, his voice becoming softer, "just you."
"Come on," Deb looked around before pulling him out the door and on to the porch. "You can't just say things like that. What if Nathan or Haley heard you?"
"I don't care," he shook his head before pursing his lips to the side. "Wouldn't it be better if we just got everything out in the open?"
"Better for who?" she asked. "Certainly not for Cassandra," she paused briefly. "You know she told me about your engagement and the baby you both lost."
"She did what?" he looked taken back. "When?"
"It doesn't matter Antwon," she turned away from him.
"When Deb?" his voice grew louder. "Was it after or before you ended things?" He shook his head, seeing the answer in her eyes. "She used that to make you feel guilty."
"Antwon, I just want what's best for you." Deb bit at her bottom lip for a moment, thoughtfully. "I don't want you to ever feel like I trapped you into…"
"Trapped?" he looked at her curiously. "Baby, what are you talking about?"
She sighed, turning away from him. "Just… never mind."
"Deb," he came around to stand in front of her. "You can't trap someone if it's where they want to be and where I want to be is with you. Can you honestly say you don't want to be with me too?"
She smiled. "No, but things are so complicated right now."
"I don't know about that; I'd say they're pretty simple." Skills reached up to stroke her cheek with his thumb. "Don't you know how crazy I am about you; the way you laugh, the way you love your family, the sexy way you bite your lip," He raised his eyebrows at her, "the way you rock my world."
Deb breathed in deeply before exhaling, her olive green eyes looking up to meet his deep chocolate saucers. "How about the way I rock a cradle?" She gave him a half smile as she shrugged.
"Say what?" he squinted at her curiously.
Deb gave a nervous giggle. "You're going to be a daddy; I'm pregnant."
Rachel sat on the couch, blanket wrapped around her legs, as she stared down at the faded Polaroid she'd managed to keep for eight years. It was the only thing tangible she had of the baby she'd given up so long ago. She had been just a kid and thought she was doing the right thing by listening to her parents but the more time that passed, the more she thought it was a mistake.
She glanced up at the clock before looking at the television to check the tornado status. So far they were still on watch mode but a warning could be issued any minute and Brooke being out there worried her. After she'd calmed down, she'd gotten a frantic voicemail from Peyton and went to Lucas' house to make sure she was okay after being unable to reach her on her cell. Rachel imagined it was because of the weather conditions; the lights had even flickered off and on a few times, only making her worry all the more.
The red head quickly stood up as she heard a knock on the door and began punching in the code. "Thank god you're back slut I thought…" Rachel deadpanned as she saw a man standing in the doorway. "Owen? Hey..."
"Hey," he nodded. "So I'm a slut now?"
She laughed. "I thought you were Brooke. She's actually not here."
"That's okay, I came to see you," he replied. "Can I come in?"
Rachel shrugged before opening the door wider. "What the hell?" She watched as he walked in before closing it behind him. "So, what's up Owen?"
"I just wanted to see how you've been," he crossed his arms over his chest. "You're still doing alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." She studied him for a moment. "You look like you don't believe me."
"I guess you always could read me pretty well," he replied.
"It's a gift," she flashed him her signature smile before sitting down on the couch. "So, why exactly are you here in the middle of a tornado watch?"
"Shelter obviously," he joked before becoming serious. "I ran into Brooke earlier and tried to apologize…"
"For your disappearing act?" she interrupted.
"Yeah," Owen nodded. "She told me you told her about our past and if I wanted to rebuild friendships I should start with ours. She made it sound like you were dealing with something pretty major and I just wanted to make sure you now I'm here for you, whatever you need."
"Thanks Owen," she said sincerely. "I really appreciate that. I know that I lied to you before…"
"That's in the past Rach," he paused briefly. "I'm just glad to see you're still doing okay. I should probably go." He stood up.
Rachel's eyes scanned the words that were running across the bottom of the television screen before jumping up and grabbing him by the arm. "Owen Morello, you're not going anywhere. They just upgraded our Tornado Watch to a Tornado Warning."
He raised his brows before nodding. "Looks like I'll be seeking shelter here after all."
"Yeah," she returned the gesture, "Looks like we're stuck together."
"So you told her you didn't want to marry her?" it was the fifth time Brooke asked that question since Lucas explained what happened between him and Peyton, only to see him nod. "Are you stupid or something? Peyton loves you and you love her."
"I do love Peyton but I am in love with you," he replied, his deep blue orbs staring into her hazel green ones.
"You have to stop saying that to me and looking at me like that," she sighed.
"Like what?" he feigned innocence.
"You know how," she smacked his arm before turning her face away from his. "Today has been hard enough."
"I can't imagine what it was like for you hearing that," he balled his hands into fist. "I don't believe in hitting women but if I saw your mother right now, I don't know what I'd do to her."
"She's my mother you know," she couldn't help but chock on the unshed tears that began to from almost immediately. "She's supposed to protect me; she's supposed to love me. Why couldn't she just love me Luke?" A stray tear rolled down her face.
"I don't know," he said softly as he reached up to wipe the moisture from her cheek. "I used to feel that way about Dan but then I realized some people just don't know how to love someone else. It has nothing o do with you Brooke and everything to do with her."
"Logically I know that, I do." She breathed out deeply. "But it still doesn't…"
"Doesn't stop it from hurting," he supplied for her. "I know." He cleared his throat. "Look Brooke, I know that this is probably not the best time but…" he let the sentence trail off.
"You want to talk about the baby," she knew they'd get to this eventually. "What do you want to know?"
"Everything," Lucas answered simply.
"Do you remember the night you found me in your room and I asked you if you could rescue me from it all?" she turned to look at him. "That was the night I found out I was pregnant."
"Why didn't you tell me?" he tilted his head to look at her.
"I thought maybe it was another false alarm, like last time." Brooke breathed out deeply. "You were going through so much, you know and I didn't want to add to it, until I knew for sure." She paused briefly. "So I went to the doctor…"
"By yourself?" he interrupted.
"Yeah," she nodded. "I was going to tell you up at the cabin that weekend but you were still so worried about your mom and you were finally starting to let me back in. I just wanted to give us a little time to get back on track," she sighed heavily. "And then you called me to meet you at the river court…"
"And I told you I had HCM," he said thoughtfully.
"Yeah," Brooke shook her head as her eyes glazed over. "The next thing I knew, you took off with your mom and while you were gone, I lost the baby," a stray tear rolled from her eye, "our baby. You never even called me when you were away and I needed you Lucas."
"God Brooke, I am so sorry." He took her hands within his own.
"Peyton went to Savannah and Larry was on a job so I was by myself in their house," she shook her head as she remembered that tragic night. "I was feeling tired after the game so I just went straight to sleep and in the middle of the night I woke up to these awful cramps and I felt this warmth between my legs and I noticed there was blood." The tears were rolling down her cheeks now as she struggled to get the words out. "I still don't know what made Haley stop over that night but she did and she took me to the hospital. I must've blacked out when I was there from the pain because all I know is when I woke up, my baby was gone." She sniffed as she pulled her hands away to wipe her tears. "I wanted that baby more than anything and it still hurts. I can still remember waking up and feeling so angry and so empty and so alone."
Lucas shook his head guiltily. "That you could be in the hospital and I didn't know… how could Haley not tell me?"
"She knew I was going to tell you when you came home but by the time you showed up, it was in the middle of the Naley tribute," Brooke explained. "I was just so happy to see you but then that night, when Peyton told me she still had feelings for you, I didn't know how to process it."
"What?" his brows furrowed.
"I mean she was sitting there with tears in her eyes and she had just done that scene with you where she told you she loved you and the way she looked at me when she told me she had feelings for you; I knew it wasn't just a scene to her." Brooke took a deep breath in. "I was so upset; I mean I'd just had a miscarriage and here was my best friend telling me she was going after my boyfriend, again. And after I found out about that kiss, after weeks of you pushing me away, you actually threw Chris Keller back in my face and when I showed up at the hospital later, there she was in your arms. I was emotionally drained and I just couldn't do it anymore."
"I had no idea," Lucas cupped her face. "Brooke, you have to believe me. If I could take away everything that happened back then, everything I did to hurt you, I would." He stood up, frustrated. "I can't believe she told you that. You know I went to talk to her and I couldn't figure out why you broke up with me and she acted like she had no idea. She even told me she was going to help me try and win you back so I waited at the mall for you on your birthday."
"With Peyton?" she stood up as well. "Did you really think me seeing you coming out of the store with your arm wrapped around her was going to win me back Luke?"
"You were there?" he turned to look at her.
"Yeah, I was there." Brooke nodded. "And it hurt, it hurt me so bad but it's over now. I meant it when I told you I'd always love you Lucas and I do; I don't want to but I do but the thing is Luke, it doesn't matter."
"Of course it does," his blue eyes peered into her hazel ones. "I should have never let you walk out that door all those years ago, I should have fought for you, the way you needed me to but I made mistakes. We've all made mistakes but I got it right when I called you first." He could see her eyes softening. "I was just so afraid that our moment had passed but I know now that that isn't true. I will do whatever you need me to do to prove that we belong together."
"We've been down this road before Lucas and it always ends with one of us getting hurt, usually me," she replied. "What is going to make it different this time?"
"We will," Lucas explained. "We're different; I'm different and I know I've made you promises before but I swear that I will do everything in my power to make up all the times I hurt you, Pretty Girl." He reached up to cup her cheek, tilting forward till his lips brushed against hers. "It's you; it has always, always been you."
Before Brooke knew what was happening, his lips were pressing against hers softly. She knew that they should probably be still discussing everything but she found herself responding to his kiss, deepening it and enjoying it's lazy pace. It had been so long since she'd been kissed, really been kissed, and much longer since she'd been kissed like this from Lucas Scott. Soon it went from lazy to searing as his lips ravished her mouth, tasting her cherry lip balm and something that was uniquely Brooke Davis. She pressed her mouth to his hungrily, the build up of nearly five years being released in their feverish kisses as the sound of the rain pounded against the roof, only seeming to add to the mood. When air became a problem they finally broke apart, breathless, as he leaned his forehead against hers.
"I'm going to prove to you that I am still the guy for you Brooke Davis," he said softly. "I love you and I promise I am going to be there for you and our baby." He let his hand drift to her still flat stomach.
"I love you too Lucas," she whispered before her lips meet his again.
Little did they know they were no longer alone, as a lone figure stood in the door watching them, still wet from being caught out in the rain.
Rainer Maria Rilkewrote, "This night, agitated by the growing storm, how it has suddenly expanded its dimensions; that ordinarily would have gone unnoticed, like a cloth folded, and hidden in the folds of time.