A/N: Thank you everyone for posting reviews, I was really nervous about the last chapter. To answer a few questions, I'll be explaining why Brooke didn't know anything about Lily's death along with what happened to the creepy boyfriend. There will be much more Brucas interaction, I just had to build the background with Haley. Y'all have been great, it's really helping me stay on track!! The explanations will have to come next chapter, but I'll be posting that today I think, so it'll be all good! Happy Reading!
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Brooke needed a break from all the revelations, and stood up from the bed to stretch her legs. She needed to process everything, and sort through the details in her head. She knew there were gaps in the story, that she needed to sit down and listen to everything else, but she was just...exhausted. Between coming home, dealing with Lucas, and now all this, she wasn't sure she'd be able to handle more drama. Not that Tree Hill wasn't notoriously famous for drama. Shit, her town could win a worldwide contest, hands down.
"Hey Tutor-girl, I know there's more to this, and my head's swimming with questions, but well, I need to take a break. I can't think straight right now, and I know that I need to hear it all. But can we finish this in the morning? I just, I need to rest." Brooke sat down dejectedly, hoping Haley would understand. True to her nature, Haley nodded, pulled Brooke in for a quick hug, and then sent her on down the hallway to her room for some much needed private time.
Man. How did I miss so much? How could no one mention Lily's death?! And how did I not pick up on the fact that no one talked about the little girl? I know that I've been out of the loop, but still. A death, especially one so close to all of us, it should have been shared. Brooke slipped out of her pajamas and sunk down into the warm bath she'd drawn. A soothing bath always helped her relax and think. I've been such a horrible friend. I was so obsessed with my own problems, that my friends shielded me from the pain while they fell apart. I don't deserve such good friends. A tear slid down Brooke's cheek, and she just let it fall. Closing her eyes, she tried to block from her mind all the things that she'd done wrong, and focus on her friends and their need.
Some time later, she climbed out of the tub and tried to settle down for sleep. She couldn't get her mind to stop running in circles. Where was the asshole boyfriend now? How had he been able to get to Karen again? Was he still a factor that she needed to worry about? And Lucas? What was he doing with a girl that his mother obviously didn't like? She could understand how appealing a girl who didn't know his past could be. Shit, she'd done the same thing, countless times. It was the major factor in why she'd moved to New York in the first place. But to override his mother over a girl? That didn't sound like Lucas. What did this girl have over him? And just what the hell did Nathan mean by hurting himself?
Cursing, Brooke threw back the covers and paced around the room. Sleep just wasn't in the cards tonight. Giving into frustration, she slipped back into a pair of jeans and her favorite sweatshirt, and stomped her feet into some boots. Leaving a note on the fridge saying she'd gone for a walk, she snagged the housekey from Haley's purse, grabbed her phone, and headed out the door.
Fuck! Damn winter! Couldn't they have called for backup during the summer?! Blowing on her hands, she started speed walking to get warm. The one upshot to the whole deal was that she had stopped thinking about all the issues swirling around her. Nothing like freezing your ass off to help clear your head. She was so wrapped up in staying warm, that she didn't see the person standing on the corner down the street, or notice when the tall figure turned and headed her way.
"Brooke?" The stranger whispered, trying not to break the eerie silence that came only at three in the morning with frost on the streets.
Her head snapping up, she looked around for the source of the voice, and stopped dead in her tracks. There he was. Shivering, lips blue from exposure, hands clenched in an attempt to keep warm.
"Lucas! What are you doing out here! You're freezing!" Running the rest of the way, she wrapped her arms around his waist, trying to shield him from the cold as much as possible. Not that it did much good, he was so much taller than her. It had always been Lucas shielding her. Time to start the saving.
He mumbled something into her hair as he wrapped his own arms around her, and she could feel him shaking hard. Cursing the stupidity of boys and men in general, she quickly dragged him stumbling down the street to the house, and slipped him inside. Kicking off the boots it seemed like she'd just put on, she dropped everything on the table and walked upstairs with Lucas. Slipping into her own room, she quickly drew another bath, and stripped Lucas down to his birthday suit.
Taking a moment to appreciate just how sexy he really truly was, she shook her head. Now was not the time to have those kind of thoughts about her ex-boyfriend. He needed a friend, not yet another girl pawing at him.
"Come on Lucas, I need your help here. Into the bathtub with your long legs, we need to get you warm. How could you do this? This had to be one of your more stupid stunts, walking around in the middle of winter in nothing but jeans and a pullover! I would have thought you'd at least have gone home!" Kicking herself for not following after him, or at least checking to see if he'd taken his jacket, she scolded him in an attempt to mask her own fear. Lot of good she did, coming all this way to save him and nearly losing him her first night here. Shit!
He eased down into the tub, hissing as the hot water connected with his frozen skin and nerve endings came back to life. Brooke left to go and find a pair of sweats and a shirt, needing an excuse to leave the sight of Lucas, naked, in a bathtub. She had NO willpower when it came to than man. Realizing that she'd have to borrow something from Nate, and not wanting to wake them up, she tried to think up a better plan.
Finally settling on wrapping him in blankets and tucking him into her bed, since that was the shortest distance – and she secretly loved the idea of having Lucas in her bed – she started to search thru drawers for a thermal blanket to add to the covers. Finally finding a warm towel and the blanket she'd wanted, she went back into the bathroom, pushed the plug, and pulled a sluggish Lucas from the water.
"Brooke, I'm sorry, you don't have to take care of me, I can do it…Brooke, I'm so sorry.." Lucas mumbled aimlessly, his thoughts not coherent.
"Hush Broody, it's alright. I'm here for you. Let's get you into bed, we need to keep your body temperature steady. Last thing you want is to be in the hospital over Christmas." And then she realized…Christmas was tomorrow morning! In all the drama, she'd lost track of time, and instantly felt horrible for taking the joy of the holidays away from James. Mentally reminding herself to quit being so self absorbed, she tried her best to get Lucas out of the tub and dry.
"Luke! Come on! I need your help!" He was shaking again, and she began to seriously worry, until she realized that he was laughing. What a jerk! "Lucas! Why are you laughing?" She stepped away quickly, her hands on her hips. If he was feeling good enough to laugh, he sure as hell could dry his own skin. Perversely, she was relieved. Laughing meant that he was going to be okay, right??
"I'm sorry Cheery, I didn't mean to laugh. I just didn't think I'd find myself naked in front of you so soon." He grinned at her, the first real grin she'd seen him crack since she'd gotten there, and smacked him in the shoulder. Grinning herself, she pushed Lucas out the door into the bedroom. He'd called her Cheery. She hadn't heard that name since, well, since she'd left Tree Hill. It felt good to hear Lucas call her that.
"Come on you idiot, put on your boxers and into bed with you. You need some sleep and to get warm." She shoved Lucas down onto the bed, trying hard not to blush at the thoughts that ran through her head of other times she'd been in a similar position, and helped him slide down under the covers.
"Hey, what are you doing? You're not climbing in with me?" Lucas placed his large hand over Brooke's small one, and looked up at the woman trying so hard to avoid his eyes. She felt him squeeze her hand to get her attention, and for a brief moment she looked at him. Sucking in air at the pain and fear of abandonment, she struggled with herself, and then sighed. It wasn't like they were going to do anything, right? He needed her, he was why she was here, who was she to refuse him?
"I was going to sleep in one of the other rooms, but I'll stay here if you want. Scoot over, I don't want to fall off half way through the night." She mumbled, trying to hide the emotions she was feeling. She loved her blonde, blue-eyed boy, and had dreamed countless nights of doing just this. But it wasn't the same. She wasn't slipping in next to him as his girlfriend. He was in need of solace, and she just happened to be the one at hand. Right? That was all this was, right?
"Please don't leave me, Cheery. I need you. Please…don't leave…me…" He fell asleep as he mumbled, and Brooke smiled at him, sleeping peacefully. All of a sudden he rolled over, snagged her waist with his arm, and pulled her in tight. Trying to roll away, she attempted to free herself, only to have Lucas tighten his grip on her. Truthfully, she wanted nothing other than to be exactly where she was, wrapped in Lucas' arms, so she just gave in and looked at the handsome man up close. The circles she'd seen earlier seemed to be even darker if that was possible. But the tension lines and signs of worry from before weren't as prominent. Running her fingers lightly over his cheeks, Brooke tried to ease the strain from his strong features. Lucas eased his lips into the palm of her hand and kissed it softly, sighing in his sleep. Wishing that kiss had been on her lips instead of her hand, she leaned up and planted a light kiss on his forehead, snuggled down, and went to sleep. For the first time in longer than she could remember, she had no nightmares, she didn't cry. They both slept soundly, each finding in their embrace something they hadn't realized they'd lost until that moment.
Sunshine streaming in through the window filled the room and woke Lucas up. Disoriented, he struggled for a moment to remember where he was. Groaning, he sat up, trying to remember if he'd gotten drunk again. Then her scent hit him, and all of a sudden he realized he was in Brooke's bed. Well, in one of Haley and Nathan's beds, but Brooke had slept there. Looking to his left, he saw where Brooke's body had made an indent in the sheets, and reached over to grab her pillow. Burying his head, he inhaled her scent, and realized she'd brought him home last night. She saved me. She saw me, took care of me, brought me back from the hellhole I'd crawled into last night. Can I really face another day? For her, I can. She's everything. I have to. He let go of the pillow, and ran his hands through his hair, finally registering that he was in nothing but his shorts. He'd slept nearly naked next to her?! Wow. Kicking his own ass, he tried hard to remember if he'd done anything. Yes, he'd kissed her palm. Held her close. But that was it. He'd have remembered making love to her, that was something he could never have forgotten. Shit, he remembered times they'd spent together four years ago.
Standing up, he searched around and found his jeans. He was getting dressed when he noticed a sweatshirt that had mysteriously gone missing years earlier. It dawned on him that Brooke had kept it, and a foolish grin spread on his lips. She'd kept his sweater. Still wore it. She still thought of him. Maybe things weren't as horrible as he'd thought.
He heard the sounds of laughter coming from the family room, and it actually made him smile. He didn't cringe from the pain of being alone, he didn't want to run away. He looked in on the scene in front of him, and realized it was Christmas morning. Holy shit! Where had the year gone? How'd the holidays sneak up on him without him realizing it!? He was going to slip out, feeling sheepish for not having any gifts to share, when Nathan spotted him.
"Hey man! Nice to see you up and about! Come on in!" Nathan jumped up and slapped his older brother on the back. He thought Lucas looked really good. He was relieved.
"Uncle Luke! You have to come sit by me! Daddy said we couldn't open presents until you'd woken up, and Aunt Brooke told me I couldn't go and wake you up. Now that you're here, we can open presents! Yay! Come sit, come sit!" James was jumping up and down like a grasshopper, and Luke couldn't help but smile. He settled down next to his nephew, and felt like life might not be all that bad.
"Morning Broody! Glad to see you're not suffering from hypothermia or anything! I was afraid we were going to have to take you to the hospital and remove some fingers and toes there!" Brooke came walking in with Haley, both carrying trays of snacks and fixings for coffee. Lucas looked at Brooke, and smiled, that adorable, half tug that she remembered. Returning the grin, she sat down next to Nathan and began to unload her tray. Lucas watched out of the corner of his eye, and was amazed at how much she'd changed in the three years they'd been apart. Did she seem just that little less stressed this morning? She had seemed more pent up yesterday. Shaking his head, he figured it was all in his head, and turned to help Haley unload her own tray.
They all sat down and had something to eat, the grown ups sipping on coffe. James began to squirm, and laughing, Haley let him start handing out the presents. There was a pile over on the table in the corner for friends and family, so it was just their own presents under the tree. Haley and Brooke had placed Lucas' presents there in the morning after Brooke filled her in on the night's events.
FLASHBACK
"Morning Brooke!" Haley smiled as she saw Brooke trudge down the stairs, a robe pulled snug around her. She poured a cup of coffee and handed it to her caffeine-addicted friend, who smiled in gratitude and sipped gratefully on the hot liquid.
"Hey tutor-mom. Hope you don't mind another place setting for breakfast this morning. Lucas is upstairs asleep." She was still half asleep, so her usual tact was blatantly missing.
"What?!" Haley nearly spit the sip of coffee she'd just taken all over Brooke. As it was, she had to cough to clear her throat.
Cringing, Brooke stood up to hand Haley a napkin so she could wipe her mouth. She really needed to not talk to anyone before her first cup of joe.
"Hales, you okay?" Nathan came stumbling into the kitchen, wiping sleep from his eyes. He'd agreed to be up as early as possible, seeing as how it was Christmas morning after all.
"Yeah, she's fine. I just have bad timing and absolutely NO tact in the morning. Lucas is upstairs." Expecting a similar reaction from Nate, she wasn't disappointed. He was suddenly wide awake, and trying not to grin at the dirty thoughts that immeidately leapt into his mind.
"Oh, get your head out of the gutter. I went for a walk last night - which by the way, was stupid, it was freezing outside! Lucas was apparently out all night wandering, and we ran into each other at the corner. He was a human popsicle! I brought him back and tried to get him warmed up. In the bathtub you pervert!" Brooke searched for something to chuck at Nathan, and came up with a container of powdered creamer. For having just crawled out of bed, he had surprisingly good reflexes, and easily caught it.
"Sorry, couldn't help it. Is Luke alright?"
"Yeah, he's fine. Sleeping still. Guys, I am so incredibly sorry that I forgot about Christmas. I've been such a damper on everyone, and I swear, today's going to be light hearted, and filled with happiness. I owe it to James!"
"No sweat tigger. Not like we didn't call and ask you to come down. We're hoping the Christmas spirit will help Lucas too, we're playing every card we can think of right now. We want our Lucas back!" Haley was adamant. She was tired of playing games, it was time for everything to come to a head.
They chatted for a while until James came sprinting down the stairs. He was full of energy and excitement over opening presents, and was ecstatic to see all the adults awake. He was bummed when he heard that they had to wait for Uncle Luke, but realizing that he'd get to give him his present too made up for it.
James bounced up and started sorting through presents. He handed his daddy and mom their first few, and then found the present he'd gotten for his uncle. Shyly walking up to Lucas, for he hadn't had much bonding time with him and missed his uncle something fierce, he handed him the gift. Seeing his trepidation, Lucas kicked his own ass - again - for ignoring him, and pulled him onto his knee while he opened the box. Tucked inside was a frame with a picture of the two of them, and a note in his own scribbled writing saying how much fun he'd had playing basketball, and wanting to know when they could play again.
Brooke watched the whole scene, and for a moment was afraid Lucas would run again as he read the note. Sensing a key moment, she stood up and walked over to him.
"Hey tutor-son. Can you do me a favor and search for the gifts I brought for your mom and dad? There's a couple in there for you too you know." She winked at James, and her ploy worked. He was distracted from his uncle's anxiety, and went in search of more Christmas wonder.
"Hey Broody. Calm down. James is just a kid. He doesn't see the whole picture. Whatever you're thinking, it'll be alright." Brooke whispered, as she slipped her arm through his own. She felt him tense, and then relax.
"Oh Cheery. He was scared of me. Scared! How did I let that happen? How did I let myself drift so far away!" He was muttering, but the anger and tension was clear.
"Lucas! You need to calm down. Take a deep breathe. He'll forgive you. He loves you! It's Christmas. Just set aside everything that's happened, for now, and enjoy the holiday. We can face the world tomorrow, but for this moment right now, just enjoy the time here with us." She was looking at him with those gorgeous eyes he remembered so well, emotion swirling in them. Love for him, an offering of friendship and understanding, a need for him to let go, even for just a little bit. He couldn't deny this woman; she was his love, his only love, and even though he'd tried so hard to bury his feelings, being here, sitting next to her, it all came flooding back.
"Anything for you Pretty Girl. Anything." He looked back at her, and saw the smile he had missed so badly spread on her lips, those adorable dimples appear, and shine in her eyes. He took a very deep breathe, trying to calm himself down. He couldn't kiss her, not yet. But he wanted to. Sorely. He had things he had to do before that though, like finding out if she'd even let him kiss her. Slipping his arm from her grasp, he slid it around her waist and hugged her to his side. Giggling slightly, she snuggled down into the couch next to him, and turned to see James hand Haley the present she'd brought for her.
They went through the rest of the morning that way, feeling like family again. Nathan was incredibly overjoyed to have his brother back, and was grateful to Brooke for helping him be a part of Christmas. They sorted through the rest of the gifts, Lucas trying to refuse the presents handed to him, claiming that he hadn't gotten anything for them. They all told him to shut up, insisting that just having him there with them was enough. Brooke's hand on his thigh squeezed to remind him that they were truly being honest, and remembering her request, he relented, seeing just how much love the people around him had for him, and finally accepting that material things didn't matter. They had missed him.