That Which Is Bittersweet

~It was as if all of the happiness, all of the magic of this blissful hour had flowed together into these stirring, bittersweet tones. (Hermann Hesse)

Brooke awoke to an unfamiliar bright room, the iridescent light that shone above almost blinding her as she shook her head to get away from it. Her eyes blinked wildly for a moment, as if readjusting to seeing the world around her again. When they finally seemed to get the hang of being open again, they scanned the room; taking in the atmosphere: white blinds, cream colored walls, strange looking machines, various colored balloons, and a vase full of fresh Gerber Daisies. She reached for the rail along her bed with her left hand, her right still over her abdomen protectively, as she tried to readjust her position. Her body felt weak but somehow she managed to push herself up.

She wasn't sure how long she sat there trying to take everything in before she heard the door creak open and the person she'd been waiting to see stepped inside the room. Her eyes were bright as he stood in the doorway looking haggard, almost as if he'd just been running.

"Brooke," Lucas seemed frozen in place as he stared at the brunette. The dimpled smiled he'd missed so much graced her face and as the sunlight poured through the window, almost illuminating her. Lucas thought he was staring at an angel; his angel.

"Hi Luke," it came out softly, barely above a whisper. She paused to clear her throat from lack of use. "Are you... just going to stand there?"

He shook his head vigorously before rushing towards her bedside and holding her in his arms. "God I missed you Pretty Girl."

"I missed you too Lucas," she replied as they pulled apart and he sat on her bed, "so much."

"Can I get you anything; anything at all?" he couldn't believe she was finally awake.

"Maybe some water," she shrugged.

Lucas quickly poured her some and brought the cup up to her mouth, bracing her head as she downed the liquid quickly before retuning the cup to its place and gazing into her eyes. "I love you," he reached up and stroked away the tears that suddenly formed in her eyes and began to run down her cheeks. "Hey, that's a good thing."

"I know," she nodded before her hazel orbs met his blue ones. "I love you too Luke; I never stopped."

"And I never stopped loving you," he reached up to stroke her hair. "I never stopped believing that my comet would come back to me." He cupped her cheek tenderly. "God, we've wasted so much time," he paused briefly. "I don't want to waste anymore." Lucas paused briefly as he looked up at her. "These last few days, watching you lying there I felt helpless and all I could do was sit here and do nothing while the doctors brought you back and now that you are, I'm not going to waste another second."

"I don't want to waste anymore time either Luke," she said softly. "I was so lost… it was so dark and everything was so hazy but then I felt you there with me," she paused to clear her throat, still dry from its nonuse. "Those doctors, they didn't bring me back Luke," she gazed into his eyes lovingly, "you did."

Lucas smiled brightly before bringing his lips to hers and kissing her tenderly. "Never leave me again," he murmured against her mouth before kissing her again.

"Haley James-Scott," Skills smiled as he approached the chair next to her bed and sat down. "How you doing beautiful?"

"Much better," she returned the smile. "How's your head?"

"Seven stitches but I'll survive," he gestured towards his bandaged head. "You had us all pretty worried," he reached over to hold her hand. "I really couldn't lose another one of my friends."

"Yeah," she nodded solemnly, fighting back tears. "Deb told me about Fergie," she paused briefly. "It's still so surreal. Nathan and I are really sorry we didn't get to say goodbye." Haley wiped the stray tear that rolled down her cheek before looking up at her friend. "Deb said you were all there."

Skills nodded. "Yeah, we were. It was really rough seeing him like that but I think it was good for us to be with Ferg." He took in the guilty look on her face and squeezed her hand reassuringly. "He knew you'd be with him if you could."

"I know," she replied. "I'm just going to miss him so much," she paused briefly. "I still remember the day I met Fergie."

"Third grade," Skills nodded in remembrance.

"Billy Radisson," Haley rolled her eyes. "He picked on me for years any time he caught me without Luke and that day he was particularly annoying." She exhaled quickly. "He pushed me out of the sandbox and I scrapped m knee and then you and Fergie came out of no where." She gave a bittersweet laugh.

"I remember," Skills replied. "I told Billy if he messed with you again, he messed with us."

"And then Fergie pushed him," she laughed. "Billy tore out of there so fast and then you introduced me to Ferguson," she smiled through blurry eyes. "We've all had each other's backs ever since." She reached up to wipe her tears away. "I still can't believe he's gone. This whole thing just seems like some nightmare I wish we could wake up from."

He immediately wrapped his arms around his long time friend as she sobbed silently into his shoulder. "I can't even imagine how Maribel and James are; if anything ever happened to Jamie…" she pulled back, shaking her head. "How are they holding up?"

He shrugged helplessly. "As good as they can be." He breathed out deeply. "This kind of stuff makes you really realize how much we take the people in our lives for granted, like they're always going to be there."

"Yeah," she nodded. "It makes you grateful and sad at the same time."

Skills pursed his lips, "I think the word for that is bittersweet. Suddenly I wish we were back to being those kids on that playground."

"Yeah," she agreed. "I know the feeling." She paused briefly to give him an inquiring look. "Speaking of kids," she smiled, "you and Deb, huh?"

Peyton sat outside on the bench in front of The Cotton Exchange looking up at the stoplight, watching the continuous changing of green, yellow, and red. She hadn't been here since before she left for LA after graduation but somehow she'd felt drawn to this spot after the three and a half hour drive from Winston-Salem. Being with Derrick as they scattered the ashes of her father had brought her comfort but deep down she was still that girl who dealt with life alone; the artistic cheerleader who referred to herself as a loaner.

"Hey," a familiar male voice called to her from behind as he approached the bench before sitting down next to her. "I've been calling you."

"I turned off my cell," she shrugged. "Where's Derrick?"

"I left him at my house, he and my dad were telling war stories," he shrugged.

"I forgot your dad used to be in the service," Peyton replied before glancing towards him. "How'd you find me anyways Jake?"

"I know you," he replied as he took her hand. "I remember you telling me about your mom's accident and how you use to come and sit here when you were searching for answers…"

"Answers that don't exist," Peyton interrupted. "Like why I ran red lights all the time but my mom ran one and died or why Ellie and Mick were taken from me so soon after I found them." She shook her head frustratingly, her unruly curls bouncing. "Sometimes it just feels like I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop; it's like I can't let myself enjoy the happy moments because something bad always happens."

"You know," he put his arm around her reassuringly, "this really smart girl once told me that every song ends but that was no reason not to enjoy the music." He nudged her. "She was pretty sexy too."

Peyton let out a small laugh, smiling as she looked up at him. "How do you do that?"

Jake furrowed his brows. "Do what?"

"Make me smile when the last thing I feel like doing is smiling," her green eyes looked up into his warm light brown ones. "I'm so glad you came back; I don't know how I would have gotten through any of this without you."

"You'll never have to worry about that again," he replied. "I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

She nuzzled into his embrace, breathing in his scent as she laid her head upon his chest and took in his quiet comfort. For so long she thought it was Lucas that she wanted but she never felt safe with him the way she did with Jake. Peyton jumped slightly as she felt the vibrations of his cell phone.

"I can ignore it," he replied.

"What if it's Derrick?" Peyton looked up at him.

Jake looked at the unfamiliar number before answering. "Hello," he listened to the voice on the other end of the line. "Okay, I'll tell her." He slipped the phone back in his pocket before his eyes meet hers. "It was Lucas."

Her eyes grew wide, "Is it Brooke? Please don't tell me the other shoe just dropped?" She couldn't fight the heaviness that suddenly seemed to weigh on her chest.

"No Peyton, I mean its Brooke but it's good news." Jake paused briefly. "Peyton, she's awake."

"Ow," Rachel said as she was wheeled into the door. "Learn how to drive Morello! I hate this thing."

"I thought you said you hated the crutches," he replied as he pushed her inside.

"I hate them both," Rachel smiled smugly up at him.

"Well that's one thing I didn't miss while I was sleeping," a female voice called out, "your whining."

"Bitch!" Rachel called out happily.

"Slut," Brooke pursed her lips.

"Tramp," Rachel smiled through watery eyes.

"Whore," the brunette's eyes had the same effect.

Lucas and Owen both stood there silently, looking between the two young women questionably, neither quite understanding their unconventional friendship.

"I really missed you," Rachel said softly before turning back to hit Owen. "Wheel me over there would you."

Brooke laughed as they came closer, Owen parking Rachel's wheelchair right next to Brooke's bed. "I missed you too Rach," she reached over to hold her friend's hand. "How are you?"

"Good; really good. I died for like a minute but it wasn't all it was cracked up to be so I came back," she shrugged nonchalantly. "I should be asking you the same thing; I mean did you really need this much of a break from the Brucas/Pucas love triangle?"

Lucas almost chocked, her words shocking him, as he awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck and stared down at the floor in embarrassment.

"Lucas," Brooke laughed it off. "Can you give us a minute?"

"Yeah you and Owen can go discuss baby daddy things," Rachel winked at him as a confused look took over the blonde's features.

"I'll explain it to you man," Owen said as the two of them walked out of the room.

"So," Rachel cleared her throat, "How are you doing? Are you really okay?"

"Yeah I'm great," Brooke smiled as her hand rested on her stomach. "We're all great; Luke and I just got to see the babies and hear their little heartbeats. The doctors said their developing right on schedule and I'm healing. I'm still a little tired, which is weird because I've been sleeping all this time, but besides that I'm great."

"Good," she squeezed Brooke's hand reassuringly. "I'm so glad to have you back."

"Yeah," the brunette nodded. "It's good to be back."

Nathan laid on the edge of Haley's hospital bed, arm slung around his wife protectively as he slept. The past few days had been exhausting for him and his body finally gave out now that he knew she was going to be okay. Haley stroked his raven hair, happy to be able to do something so simple; happy to be alive. She felt his head move before his eyes meet hers.

"Hey there sleepy head," she smiled warmly.

"Hey," he returned the smile. "Sorry," he rolled to the edge of the bed to stretch. "Where's Jamie; did my mom take him home?"

"No," she shook her head. "He's with Brooke; she's awake too."

"Oh wow, that's great," he replied as he sat up. "I know Luke was going crazy. For a while we were in the same boat; just waiting for our girls to wake up." He paused as he exhaled deeply. "She's really been through a lot lately."

"Yeah she has," Haley agreed. "I wish I could go see her."

"You will as soon as you're strong enough but don't try to over do it," he nudged her softly. "I'll go see her later and let her know you're thinking of her."

"Thanks Nate," she smiled.

"But until then I just want to lay her with my beautiful, sexy wife." He grinned at her as he reached up to stroke her hair before a strange look came over his eyes.

"Nathan," her caramel orbs stared into his deep blue ones. "Nathan, what is it?"

He shook his head. "I was thinking about leaving the team."

Her brows furrowed together. "What; why?" She took one look at him and knew. "No Nate, absolutely not; I'm not letting you give up everything you've worked so hard for because I got sick. Nathan, I'm fine now."

"I know," he nodded. "It's just, I don't know what I'd do without you Hales; you and Jamie are my life. I love basketball but it doesn't come close to the way I feel about my family."

"And I know that," she pursed her lips thoughtfully before continuing. "I know nothing is more important to you then our family but I can't let you give up on the game; honey it's who you are." She reached over to hold his hand. "It's the man I feel in love with." She laid her head against his shoulder. "I'm fine now and we're together and we're going to stay that way. Trust in that; trust me."

"I do; I just didn't know if," he breathed out deeply, "if we'd ever be like this again. I was so afraid of losing you; you sounded like you were telling me goodbye."

"I could never tell you goodbye," she replied with a small smile. "Nathan, it doesn't matter what could have happened. No matter where I am Nate I am always with you; always and forever." She held up her left hand, moving her fingers to draw better attention to the ring. "I love you and that will never change, ever; okay?"

"Okay." He nodded, knowing he could never win an argument with her. "Have I told you lately how much I love you Mrs. Scott?"

"I think so but I could certainly hear it again," she wrinkled her nose playfully at him.

Nathan cupped her face softly as he stared deeply into her eyes. "I love so much Hales." He watched her smiled before his lips meet hers in a passionate kiss.

Rachel flipped through a magazine as she lay back in bed. She had never gotten use to staying in a hospital, despite her many surgeries although those were done in a Club Med type facility and Tree Hill General Hospital was anything but Club Med. She'd demanded earlier to be released but the doctors wanted to keep her one more day for observation; Owen pratically trying to bully her into accepting it. She was starting to feel like he was her very own security detail, except he worked for someone other than her. Despite how much she feigned annoyance, she was actually glad he was there by her side the whole time.

"Hey," Owen knocked on her door as he opened it. "How are you holding up; going stir crazy yet?"

"Yeah since you helped trap me here," she replied. "So, where'd you go anyways?"

"Why?" He raised an eyebrow. "You miss me?"

"What a big swelled head you have there Morello," she rolled her eyes.

He nodded with a smirk. "That's what the ladies tell me."

"Ew, gross!" Rachel grabbed one of the pillows from her bed and chucked it at him as hard as she could. "That's disgusting."

"Hey," he held his free arm up. "I was just joking. Besides," he raised his bows at her, "is that any way to treat the guy who brought you your cell phone and non-hospital food?" He swayed the plastic bag in his hand.

She pursed her lips to the side before huffing dramatically and holding out her hand. "Fine, I forgive you. What did you bring me?"

He sat down across from her on the bed as he began to unpack the plastic bag. "Here," he handed her a soda can. "They just opened this Italian place up on the west side of the city; real authentic."

"Mmm, a panini." She smiled as she opened the box. "It smells delicious. Is this polenta?"

"Yup," he replied. "Just like we used to have…"

"In Valhalla," she interrupted. "Yeah, I remember. When I first went back to New York I took a trip down there. I went to that community center we used to hang out at and that creek that ran behind that old church. Not too much has changed."

"Yeah I know," he replied. "I still have some family that lives up there."

"Sometimes it feels like a million years ago you know," she paused briefly. "We were so different back then but we're still the same, if that makes any sense."

"It makes perfect sense to me Rach," he replied before taking in the look on her face. "Hey, you're not going soft on me are you?" He waited till her eyes meet his and offered a small smile. "Before I forget," he reached into his pocket and tossed the cell phone on the bed next to her. "It started ringing on the way over here."

"Hmm," she studied the number. "It's a four one two area code? It doesn't ring a bell to me and there's no message."

"It's probably one of those stupid calls telling you your make believe insurance or factory warranty is expiring," Owen laughed before taking a drink. "I get that crap all the time."

"Yeah, you're probably right," she shrugged before tossing it back on the bed and refocusing on her sandwich. "I'm sure they'll call back if it's important." After a few moments of silence she spoke again. "By the way, thanks for all this; I really needed something non-hospitally."

"No problem Gattina," he smiled as they fell into a comfortably silence.

Brooke lay quietly, flipping through the channels absentmindedly. She just gotten done visiting with Jamie and Lucas was currently taking him back to Haley's room. Karen as well as Deb and Skills had been there earlier and although she enjoyed seeing everyone again she was glad for the quiet. She'd heard about people coming out of comas who had to relearn motor and verbal skills and so far she seemed to be back to normal but she still felt somewhat foggy, almost as if she wasn't fully there.

She scooted back, trying to find a comfortable position as she stared out into space trying to remember everything she'd heard before she awakened. It was true what they said about comas; you could hear a lot of what was going on or said around you. When she'd first woken up she seemed to remember everything but just like a dream sometimes, the details became fuzzy over the hours. She had remembered dreaming as well, fuzzy images and hopes and fears coming to light but nothing was as clear as the visit from her mother just moments before she'd come out of her slumber. Her ominous words still seemed to reverberate through her mind.

"I know now what must be done. And so do you."

She wasn't quite sure if it was a threat, promise, or just an announcement but somehow she couldn't stop thinking about what exactly Victoria's words meant. She shook her head, trying to break free of the anxiousness as a manila envelope caught her eye. She peered at it for a second before struggling to reach over and grab it, remembering Victoria's mention of an envelope during her admission. She slowly peeled it open, reaching in to pull the thick packet of papers out. Her eyes seemed to bug out of her head as she scanned them. She realized she hadn't imagined it; Victoria had divested all of her interest in Clothes Ova Bro's.

"Hey B. Davis," Peyton said as she stepped into the room, awkwardly standing by the door.

"Peyton," she was somewhat surprised to see her blonde after her last conscious encounter with her. "I'm glad to see you."

"Really?" she stepped closer. "I wasn't sure after everything I said to you. Brooke I'm really sorry, for what I said and for you being here now; Lucas told me this was my fault."

She looked at her friend quizzically. "Lucas said that?"

"Not in so many words," she finally took a seat. "He tried to be nice about it but I could tell what he was thinking; he said you chased after me and that's how you got caught in the tornado."

"I was an idiot to go out there in that storm Peyton," she shook her head before protectively placing a hand over her unborn children. "Yes I was worried about you and I wanted to explain but I had a responsibility to my kids not to go out there. This was my fault Peyton, not yours."

"But if I had just talked to you like a rational person this wouldn't have happened," she huffed.

"Since when have you ever been rational?" Brooke laughed. "I think when it comes to our long running triangle, rational kind of goes out the window for us." Brooke sighed. "I don't want you to hate me Peyton."

"I don't," she shook her head. "And as for the triangle, I think it's safe to say it's ended and now there's just a line with you and Lucas being the only points." She smiled. "Besides I think I'm on a line of my own."

"With Jake?" the brunette flashed her dimpled smile. "You know, this is really weird. I mean after all that, shouldn't we hate each other for a little while?"

"If we were rational we would but since we're not, let's just skip it and go right back to being best friends." Peyton replied. "Besides, I have to tell you about Jake."

Brooke's eyes suddenly went wide as her face paled dramatically.

"You don't have to give me that look," Peyton joked but then noticed her friend expression didn't change at all. "Brooke honey, what is it?"

Brooke just pointed at the television screen. Peyton quickly jumped out of her chair and turned the volume up, stepping back to see the picture.

"…in an altercation that escalated when Victoria Davis allegedly pulled out a firearm and discharged it. It is unknown as to the reason that started the altercation but one witness reports the suspect said something about retribution for a previous attack on her daughter Brooke Davis, CEO and owner of Clothes Ova Bro's, before she opened fire. We will have more on this story after the break…"

Peyton quickly muted the volume before taking a seat next to the brunette on the bed. "Oh my god Brooke, are you okay?"

"I don't know," she shook her head incredulously. "I-Idon't know."

Hermann Hesse wrote, "My happiness met its downfall this time through an intensification of beauty, through an increase and overabundance of joy… It was as if all of the happiness, all of the magic of this blissful hour had flowed together into these stirring, bittersweet tones and flowed away, becoming temporal and transitory once more."