A/N: Hello all... I'll keep this short & sweet. Thanks to everyone who is reading, whether it's the first time or you're rereading & thank you for all the awesome comments & feedback. I hope you enjoy this next part. Also another chapter will be up by tomorrow evening as well.

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The Art Of Closure

~The trick is to finish it with a sense of design and a flourish rather than to patch up the holes… (Harry S. Broudy)

Two; The number of babies she's carrying, the number of hours she's waited for her release papers, the amount of times her mother's lawyer tried to contact her today. Two is also the amount of weeks it has been since the tornadoes tore through the sleepy little town of Tree Hill, North Carolina. As Brooke Davis stared out of the window at the people gathered outside the hospital, she suddenly wondered if she was ready to face the world. No doubt the media was waiting for her to walk out of those automatic glass doors, ready to pounce.

"Hey hoe," Rachel said as she walked in. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"Rach," she turned around. "I feel like I've been stuck laying here forever; I need to get out of here."

"To what, that media circus out there?" the red head shrugged. "It was hard enough dealing with them just being a former model for your company. Are you really ready to handle all that after everything you've been through?"

Brooke sighed deeply. "After everything I've been through dealing with those vultures should be a piece of cake. This thing with my mother is just insane." She walked over to her bed and took a seat, waiting for her friend to join her.

"How are you dealing with that?" her usually playful exterior was gone, leaving her rarely seen serious side.

Brooke shook her head. "For so many nights I dreamt about making that filthy piece of trash pay for what he did to me. I could still smell him on me for days," her jaw clenched. "My skin crawled for months after. He took my life and turned it into a nightmare and there were so many days I wished for a moment where I could hurt him; every time I was at the shooting range, he was my target but Victoria, she sought him out and killed him." She ran a hand frustratingly over her hair, sweeping it back from her forehead. "I wanted to kill him but faced with it now, I wonder if I could. And what I really wonder is if that makes me weaker than Victoria or stronger."

"I don't think it makes you either," she reached over to hold her hand. "I think it makes you not a murderer."

Brooke scoffed. "The first time my mother ever does something for me and this is what it is…"

"For whatever it's worth, whatever you need Brooke," she squeezed her hand reassuringly. "I'm here for you."

"I think I'm going to hold you to that," Brooke nodded. "That's actually why I wanted you to come by."

Rachel nodded. "Sure, what do you need?"

"Well like you were saying, the vultures are buzzing and with me out of commission and Victoria in jail, Clothes Ova Bro's is taking a big hit," she explained. "It'll probably be a while till I'm recovered enough to travel and deal with everything and it's not like I don't trust my executives, they're great but no one is really there running my company; overseeing things."

"You want me to go to New York?" she looked at her incredulously. "Brooke, I was a model; I know nothing about the business dealings of Clothes Ova Bro's."

"Rach you're smart and the people I have working for me are great; they'll fill you in," Brooke replied. "Plus we can email and you can call me with any questions."

"I don't know," Rachel shook her head. "And if your employees are capable, can't one of them oversee things."

"Maybe," Brooke shrugged, "but I want you to do it. Look, my company is like my baby and while I'm getting stronger to take care of my other babies," she placed a hand over her protruded stomach, "I need someone I trust to watch over C/B. I need you Rachel."

The red head shook her head wearily before letting out a deep breath. "Oh you are going to owe me big time for this and if your company goes bankrupt I am so not paying you back."

"Thanks Rachel," the brunette smiled warmly.

"Yeah, yeah," she huffed.

Peyton walked into the familiar room, knowing most likely it would be the last time she'd be here. She couldn't help the wave of sadness that washed over her as she realized she was finally letting go, accepting the fact that a dream had died. It was strange because at the same time she felt a great deal of relief and a renewed sense of anticipation; the kind of excitement you get after graduation when you realize the world is your oyster and filled with new possibilities rather than the plan you'd followed the last four years of high school. For so long she'd convinced herself that Lucas was the only path but now she realized her path could be her own; that that was the only true path.

She packed up her belongings into cardboard boxes, pausing a few times out of nostalgia, before carrying them to the car. As Peyton swept the room one last time, tossing whatever odds and ends she'd missed into her final box, she turned to hear the door open behind her.

"Peyton," Lucas stood in the doorway, surprised to find the blonde in his room.

"Hey," she smiled a bit awkwardly. "I just came to get the last of my things," she shrugged. "Karen let me in before they left; I hope you don't mind."

"No," he shook his head. "I don't mind." He glanced towards the closet. "Is that it?"

"Yup," she nodded as she sealed up the box. "I just need to take this to the car and I'll be out of your hair."

"You're staying with Jake?" Lucas asked as he leaned against the desk, still a little unsure on how to make conversation with his ex-fiancé now that the crisis was over. "Rachel filled me in about Brooke's house and how long it's taking for it to be rebuilt."

"Yeah just till I find my own place," she nodded as she picked up the box and placed it on the bed. "I don't think I'll be going back to Brooke's."

"I thought you two had worked things out," he couldn't help the guilt that came over him.

"We have; I mean after what we all went through there's no way we're going to let something as petty as a guy come between our friendship," Peyton flashed him a smile, "even if that guy is you."

"Then why?" he furrowed his brows.

"I just think it's time for me to be on my own," she shrugged. "Look, in high school I was pretty much dependent on you to get me through everything and when I was in LA, for the first time in my life I was on my own you know, and it felt great but I still had you as my security blanket to fall back on and then after it was over, I met this guy and I leaned on him and he was great but it didn't work out." She let out a breath. "So I came back here for you, for you to save me again and while I was waiting, I leaned on Brooke. Now it's time I learn to stand on my own two feet. For the first time since I can remember, I don't want anyone to save me. I think this time I'm going to save myself."

Lucas nodded understandingly. "I don't want you to take this the wrong way Peyt but, I'm proud of you."

She gave a soft laugh. "I'm proud of me too." Peyton reached inside her pocket. "I have something for you," she held the diamond ring that he'd given to her all those months ago in that airport towards him.

Lucas shook his head. "I meant what I told you, it's your ring Peyton; it always has been."

"I appreciate that," she shrugged. "I have no idea what I'm going to do with it but thank you," she paused as she exhaled deeply, "for everything."

"Thank you," Lucas replied before embracing her in a hug. "You will always be important to me."

"Yeah," she pulled back to look at him with misty eyes, "so will you." Peyton stepped out of his embrace before grabbing her box and walking to the door, pausing in the entryway as she turned back to look at him. "I think this is what they call closure."

Lucas nodded silently, his eyes squinted. "Goodbye Peyton."

"Goodbye Lucas," it came out almost as a whisper before her tone returned to normal, a lightheartedness in her next words. "I'll be seeing you."

Haley stepped out of her Mazda CX-7, taking a cursory glance at the outside of the building before walking inside. Whatever minor damages had been done to Tric, it had already been repaired; much like the rest of the town. Things were starting to get back to normal as homes and businesses were being rebuilt and the debris was finally cleaned off the street.

As Haley stepped foot inside the studio she hadn't returned to since before the natural disaster occurred and her sickness took hold, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. So many of the town's residents had been put through hell, her included, and the fact that she made it through pretty much unscathed made her grateful for the life she had and made her want to give back. It was for those reasons she was here now.

"That sounds great," she said as she strolled towards the young girl strumming the guitar. "Hope you don't mind but I invited someone else."

As if on cue her mystery guest appeared in the doorway. "Chris Keller is always happy to make an appearance for a worthy cause."

"Oh you mean other than yourself," Mia rolled her eyes before standing up to embrace Haley in a hug. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better," she beamed. "I'm doing really well; I feel better than I have in along time."

"That's great to hear," Mia returned to the stool she'd been sitting on. "I've been working on a few chords." She handed her a copy of the sheet music she'd been working on. "I added a few changes to what you sent me and I think it'll be good; we can always go back to the original version if you don't like it." She shrugged, still a bit unsure of her self.

"No," Haley shook her head as she studied the notes in front of her. "This is great. Hopefully Chris can keep up with us."

He snatched the sheet out of her hand and looked it over. "This is really good ladies; I can definitely get on board with this."

"I can," Haley repeated with a squint. "Does that mean we've stopped referring to yourself in the third person?"

"Not likely," Chris shook his head, "but I can be serious… sometimes." He shrugged nonchalantly before handing the paper back to Haley. "Seriously though Hales, a tribute album that benefits the victims of the tornado is an awesome idea. I'm sure Peyton will love it when you present it, especially with the three of us on one song."

"I agree, without the entire ego boosting," Mia nodded. "Friends with Benefit: Volume Two is going to kick ass. I'm proud to be working on something like this."

"Yeah," Haley agreed. "So, what do you say we get to it?" Haley sat at the piano as Chris took his guitar out of the case and Mia readied herself. "Let's get to work."

Nathan walked into the school gym, looking at all the kids who were helping put the finishing touches on everything before the charity game that was scheduled for tomorrow. It had been Lucas' idea, holding a game to help raise money for the community after the tornado and getting the kids involved. Nathan was one of the first to sign up but when he arrived the first day, it hadn't been all it was cracked up to be.

"Mmm," Skills stepped back from Deb after kissing her. "Thank you for being here; I really appreciate it."

"I know how important this is to you," she stroked his cheek before looking up. "Nathan…"

"You've got to be kidding me," he shook his head frustrated and started to turn around.

"Honey wait," Deb rushed over to her son. "Sorry, we didn't know anyone else was here yet."

"Well I thought I'd come early," he bite back icily. "What are you doing here anyways Mom?"

"I thought I'd help," she tilted her head to the side. "I'm sorry if I've made you uncomfortable."

"Uncomfortable?" Nathan repeated. "Mom, you told me you've been screwing one of my best friend's in the middle of a tornado and now you're pregnant with his kid," he furrowed his brows at her, his face tensing. "I think uncomfortable is a pretty tame word for what I'm feeling."

"I'm sorry Nathan," she replied. "I should have told you earlier about my relationship with Antwon."

"You think," he crossed his arms over his chest.

"And you have ever right to be upset with me but please don't let that stop your involvement in this project, you know how much all the kids on the team look up to you." Deb paused briefly. "Maybe I should just go."

"No Mom," Nathan shook his head. "Look you're right; this is a good cause and we're all adults here so we should be able to work together without all this getting in the way; I just don't want to have to see it, okay?"

"Okay," she nodded before watching her son walk away.

"Nate," Skills called as he approached. "I'm glad you decided to stay man."

"Yeah well I didn't do it for you," Nathan replied. "We can call a temporary truce and work together but that still doesn't mean we're cool, alright?"

"Alright," the sienna man agreed solemnly. "I can do that."

Nathan strolled towards the group of kids and adults who'd all helped in the project. "Everybody I've got some good news," he waited till they all looked up at him "We've sold all the tickets out."

"Man I knew we could do it as long as the Q man was on the case," Quentin walked up to him and threw his arm around his shoulder, watching as the older man shook his head in amusement.

"We should take a picture," one of the cheerleaders said as she held up a camera. "Let's get one with Coach Taylor and Mr. Scott."

"I don't know," Skills shook his head, seeing the uncomfortable look in Nathan's eyes.

"Aww come on," she whined.

"Yeah Coach," Q replied. "What do you say Nathan Scott?"

"Alright," Nathan conceded before giving Skills an awkward look before the two men got together and smiled for the camera.

"Hey Pretty Girl," Lucas beamed as he entered the room.

"Lucas," Brooke turned around to meet his smiling face, offering one of her own before he embraced her. "I missed you."

He sighed deeply before burying his face in her hair, breathing in the intoxicating scent. "I missed you too." He pulled back before softly kissing her lips with his own. "So, you ready to get out of here and go home?"

"Home," she mused aloud. "I didn't really think about it till now but I really don't have a home right now, do I?" She exhaled deeply. "Rach said the construction team just starting rebuilding and…"

"Brooke," Lucas interrupted, his face somewhat puzzled. "I thought… I mean, I just figured you'd come home with me."

"Luke, I don't know if that's such a good idea." Brooke sighed heavily. "Isn't your mom and Lily still here? It might be a little crowded."

"It'll be fine Brooke, we'll work it out." Lucas paused briefly. "Plus my mom and Lily love you."

"I know but it's not just that," she sighed. "I just don't want to make the same mistake you and Peyton did; look how that turned out. I don't want that to happen to us. "

"It won't," he replied firmly. "Look Brooke, I know you're still scared and I know how many times I've promised not to hurt you and failed but I swear to you, this time will be different; this time is different."

"Luke," her eyes were soft.

"Hey, we promised each other that we weren't going to waste anymore time." He cupped her cheek while giving her a warm smile. "Besides, you're pregnant with my children Brooke; that's about as big a step as you can take."

She exhaled deeply, feeling her resolve weakening. "Lucas, are you sure? I mean the media has been crazy with this thing with my mom. Are you ready to deal with all that?"

"I'm ready to deal with anything for you," he replied. "So, are you ready to go home?"

"I guess as ready as I'm going to be," she shrugged. "I just hope they keep their distance."

"I'll make sure of it," Lucas replied. "I'll do anything to keep you and our babies safe."

"Okay," she nodded, "Let's go home."

Peyton stood behind Jenny, pushing her on the swing; watching as she the wind whipped around the child's blonde hair as she flew up into the air before returning back to Earth.

"Higher Peyton," Jenny pleaded as she giggled, pumping her legs as she soared.

The older blonde smiled as she obliged. She remembered the innocence of youth and a part of her still yearned for it, knowing it had been taken away from her far too early.

"Hey," Jake came up behind them. "How are my favorite girls?"

"Daddy!" Jenny exclaimed, kicking her legs to slow the swing. "Watch what I can do. Don't push me anymore Peyton okay."

"Okay," she said as she stepped back.

"Watch," Jenny said before jumping out of the swing.

"Jenny!" Jake yelled as she fell onto the grass in a leap frog position, Peyton's eyes bugging out. "Be careful."

"I'm fine daddy," she smiled as she stood up, brushing the dirt from her hands. "Really," she looked up at Peyton's worried look. "I'm really okay."

"You scared me," Peyton let out a short laugh.

"Hey why don't you go get washed up for dinner squirt, grandma should be done pretty soon." Jake grinned down at his pride and joy before she nodded and headed inside before turning to the other blonde in his life. "She's pretty adventurous."

"Yeah I can see," she smiled. "So where were you?"

"Just with my dad," he answered, not sure if he was ready to tell her the other reason he'd come back to Tree Hill. "So, what did you do all day?"

"Not much," she shrugged before sitting in one of the empty swings. "I went to the studio to check in with Haley and check out the song she's working on with Chris and Mia, and then Jenny and I went to the mall and came back here." She paused briefly, "I did get the rest of my stuff from Lucas' this morning."

"How was that?" he sat on the other swing.

"Weird," she nodded before turning her body in the swing to face him. "I mean for a long time I dreamt Lucas and I would end up together because it was just supposed to be that way; everyone thought so, even you." She shot him a look out the corner of her eye. "I think a lot of our relationship was about us getting caught up in that. I think I was always more in love with that notion of being meant to be with him you know; I mean I loved Lucas but I think I was more in love with the idea of him. It's just weird letting that go."

"If you need time Peyton…" Jake started but was cut off by her voice.

"No," Peyton shook her head. "I know what I want now; I think maybe I always have but things just always seemed so complicated with us. I thought that love was supposed to be this comfortable, easy thing but that's not what it is at all. Love, real love is not simple; its work but that makes sense because anything worth having is worth working for; worth fighting for."

"I think so too and I love you Peyton, I do," he replied, "but I can't be what Lucas was to you."

"And I don't want you to be because who you are to me, no one else could ever be." She bit the side of her lip as her eyes meet his. "I was never in love with the idea of you Jake, I was always in love with you," she paused briefly. "I still am." Her green orbs stared up into his brown ones.

Jake nodded, a small teasing smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "And this dream you had of you and Luke…"

"I'm ready to wake up now," Peyton smiled before leaning over and kissing him deeply.

Rachel stood outside the airport waiting for her car to arrive. To say she was nervous was the understatement of the year. Brooke was counting on her to run her company and she'd never even worked retail in a small shop. Sure she knew Brooke's executives were capable and that her brunette friend was only a phone call away but that didn't make her any less nervous. She was a bit relieved with the fact Millicent would be arriving in two days to assist her but somehow it still wasn't enough.

As soon as the limo arrived she stepped inside and looked out the window as it drove off. It was strange being in New York again: the place where her modeling career had begun, the place she'd discovered drugs, the place Brooke and Owen found her when she overdosed. Being in this city again was a testament to her will power and how far she's come from the junkie who had almost forgotten what it was to feel anything. She wondered what her daughter would think of her if she'd seen her then.

Rachel tipped the driver and pulled her single suitcase behind her, taking the elevator up to Brooke's penthouse apartment. It had been a long time since she's been here, months before Brooke was forced to fire her. It still looked the same; clean to the point of being unlived in but still held a vase of fresh flowers on the table. She took a cursory look at the answering machine, seeing there were twenty-five new messages. It reminded her that she had yet to turn her cell phone on and she reached for it quickly, noticing she had three missed calls and three messages.

Rachel held down the one on her phone pad and then waited for it to connect to her voicemail. The first message was from Brooke's assistant in New York telling her she'd be there to take her through things tomorrow and that they had to prepare for a media statement. Rachel cringed and what she'd gotten herself into before deleting the message. The next was one from Owen, telling her to call him when she landed and it brought a smile to her face how quickly they'd grown close again. The final message was from Jim Thorton, the investigator at Scoot and Associates telling her to call him back as soon as possible.

Rachel quickly disconnected before he finished his sentence, calling back the number hurriedly. Her stomach seemed to do somersaults as she waited for the receptionist to connect her.

"Jim Thorton," a deep masculine voice answered.

"Hi Jim, This is Rachel." She paused to clear her throat, "Rachel Gattina."

"Yes, Rachel I'm glad to hear from you," he replied. "I have some news since we last spoke. I checked that address out and it is indeed your aunt and uncle's place of residence."

"Oh my god," she seemed to be holding her breath. "Did you…"

"Yes Rachel," he answered before she could finish. "We found your daughter."

"Hey," Luke stood in the doorway of the bedroom.

"Hey," Brooke sniffed from the bed, turning to look at him.

"Brooke," he saw the tears in her eyes. "What's wrong?" He sat down on the bed next to her.

She handed him a white envelope over her shoulder. "This."

He read the name on the front. "It's from your mom."

"Can we not call her that right now," she shook her head and then watched him nod. "I finally broke and picked up when her lawyer called me."

"I'll talk to her," Lucas said firmly. "I won't have her upsetting you. You just got out the hospital and you're pregnant."

"It's okay Luke, you don't have to." She sat up. "She won't be bothering me again; not after this."

"What is it?" he looked at the envelope curiously, wondering if she wanted him to open it.

"A goodbye letter and an account of what that guy did to me," she replied before wiping away a stray tear. "Her lawyer wants it; apparently with my statement the Assistant DA is willing to make a deal. She'll get some kind of manslaughter instead of 1st degree murder." She shook her head wearily. "You know there are times I think I'm past it and then this whole mess with Victoria just brings it up again."

"Brooke I am so sorry," Lucas couldn't help the water that began to fill his own eyes as he looked at her pained face. "I should have protected you; I should have saved you the way I promised all those years ago." He tossed the letter on the nightstand before stroking away her tears with the pads of his thumbs.

"But you are Lucas," she smiled through her tears. "You're saving me now. Will you do something for me?"

"Anything Pretty Girl," he replied softly.

"Hold me," she said softly as she lay down.

Lucas wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close as he laid his hand over her ever increasing baby bump. Brooke leaned into him, her tears a mixture of sorrow and happiness; sad about the fact that she'd finally accepted she'd never have a relationship with her mother but happy that she'd finally gained closure of the family she'd lost and the hope for the family of the future.

Harry S. Broudy wrote, "Whereas the composer and the painter can erase some of their past efforts, we cannot. We are stuck with what we have lived through. The trick is to finish it with a sense of design and a flourish rather than to patch up the holes or merely to add new patches to it."