Authors note: I own nothing. This is my version of the episodes leading up to the Brulian wedding…follows the show but has my own twist…maybe just a two part, not sure yet how it's gonna happen….but, I am Brucas so we'll see. This is what I would have wanted in the show. Hope you like it. Please read and review. Thanks.
"Baby Sawyer is sick," Brooke said as she watched Haley working on some flowers.
"Peyton's not coming," Haley said, more of a statement than a question, Brooke shook her head, "I'm so sorry Brooke."
"I understand, but I miss her."
"Are you ok," Haley asked concerned.
"Yeah," she said, "what you did in here, it's amazing Haley, nobody has ever done anything like this for me before. It's funny," she said, "Peyton used to say people always leave, but when they did I was always the one that was here for her. This year has been the hardest of my life, and you know who was always here for me," she asked with a smile, "no matter what? My maid of honor."
"Me," Haley asked surprised.
"Say you'll do it," Brooke said.
"I'd be honored Brooke," Haley said embracing her friend.
"Thank you," she said as they took another look at the beautifully decorated church, "so you know this means you have to stay with me? It is your duty."
"I'd love that," Haley smiled, "I just need to run by the house and get some things."
"Ok," Brooke said, "I need to say good bye to Julian, so I will see you at my place?"
"Yeah," Haley said hugging Brooke, "I'm really honored Brooke."
"There is no one else in this world that I want standing beside me tomorrow, Haley James Scott. You are my best friend, I love you."
"I love you too tigger," she said wiping her eyes.
"Hey you," Nathan said as he watched his pregnant wife walk in their kitchen, "I thought your text said you were staying at Brooke's tonight?"
"I am," she sighed as Nathan wrapped his arms around her, "did you know Luke and Peyton weren't coming to the wedding?"
"Well, I can't say I'm surprised, Hales."
"What do you mean," she asked, Nathan shook his head, "Nathan Royal Scott, what are you not telling me?"
"Look, it's not my place to say anything," he sighed sitting on the counter, "but Luke called me tonight, he's actually gonna be here in the morning."
"But," she asked sensing there was more.
"But," he sighed looking at his wife, "Peyton won't be here."
"Because Sawyer is sick, right," Haley asked.
"Hales, it's not about Sawyer, it's them."
"What do you mean, this is Brooke's wedding, Peyton should be here."
"I agree," Nathan said, "but it's not our call."
"Ok, Nathan you are making no sense."
"Haley," he sighed, "Luke told me that he and Peyton have been separated, he didn't want me to say anything."
"Oh my god," she said covering her mouth.
"Peyton and Sawyer have been in Savannah and Luke has been traveling, he just didn't want to tell everyone yet, and he doesn't want Brooke to know."
"Ok," she said with a sigh, "but what happened, did he say anything?"
"No, but does he really need to?"
"Ok, did I miss something Nathan, because you just told me that they are separated and I am just supposed to know why?"
"It's not Peyton that he is in love with, it never really has been."
"No," she sighed as she laid her head against Nathan's chest, "not this again. She is getting married tomorrow."
"You can't say anything, I promised Luke I wouldn't say anything," he said kissing her forehead.
"I know, I won't," she said, "I've got to get my bag and head to Brooke's."
"It's going to be fine, Hales, I promise," he said with a smile.
"I hope so."
"So are you gonna let us hear it," Nathan asked his son as he passed the ball to his brother.
"Hear what," Jamie sighed watching his father and uncle.
"Your best man speech," Lucas smiled at his nephew, Jamie had grown so much in the last year.
"I'm supposed to write a speech," Jamie asked.
"Yeah, at the reception the best man and the maid of honor, they always give speeches," Lucas said.
"About what," Jamie asked confused.
"You just talk about what Julian means to you and why he and Brooke are right for each other," Lucas said.
"You know your mom probably didn't tell you this because she wants her speech to be better than yours," Nathan said with a chuckle.
"Of course she did," Jamie said, causing the two older Scott boys to laugh.
"Awe, there he is," Nathan said as Julian walked towards them, "you nervous about the big day?"
"Why would I be nervous, is something important happening today," Julian asked, they all looked at him, "that was a joke. Pulled it twice already today, got some big laughs the first two times."
"Two out of three is pretty solid, nice work," Lucas said sarcastically.
"Right," Julian said uncomfortably, "well I've got a task for Jamie, I can't see Brooke the day of the wedding so I need you to deliver that to her for me," he said handing the boy an envelope.
"Dude, are you using my son as a messenger boy," Nathan asked.
"No, I'm using my best man as a messenger boy. Alright I'll see you guys later," he said as he turned to walk away.
"Hey Julian," Lucas called, "you can't step on to the river court and leave without taking a shot."
"Is that a rule," he asked looking at all three of the Scott boys, "because I never," he was saying as Lucas bounced the ball to him. He caught the ball, and attempted a shot in front of two great ball players.
"Oh," Jamie said as the ball went in.
"Nice," Nathan said.
"Guess this is my lucky day," Julian said with a smile.
"You have no idea," Lucas mumbled as Nathan shot him a glance.
"Good morning maid of honor," Brooke said to Haley as she came from the guest bedroom, "it's nice of you to join me on my wedding day. I was gonna check and see if you were still alive in there."
"I don't know why I overslept, I'm sorry," Haley said with a chuckle as she poured herself a cup of coffee, "I never oversleep, seriously, I don't even need an alarm clock, it's just that…"
"The mattress," Brooke smiled.
"That mattress," she said in agreement with her best friend, thankful to the alternative to her truth that she had been tossing and turning all night worried, "I had no idea something that comfortable existed. It's like it was made out of hopes and dreams."
"Yeah, when Sam lived here I used to have to drag her kicking and screaming out of there every morning."
"I see why."
"Now don't get too excited," Brooke said holding a gift box, "but this is for you, your maid of honor gift."
"That's so sweet," she said opening the box, "oh my goodness it's beautiful."
"I know it's incomplete," Brooke said as Haley opened the locket with Jamie's picture in it, "right now, but you'll fill the other side soon enough."
"It's beautiful, I love it, thank you so much." There was a knock on the door and Brooke made her way towards the door.
"Hello Brooke," Jamie said holding the envelope proudly, "I'm here on official best man business. Julian has requested that I give this to you."
"Thanks buddy," she said taking the envelope, "it's very professional."
"Hey there little man," Haley said as she walked towards the duo.
"I know about the speech."
"Oh, your dad told you huh," she said, "you ready?"
"Maybe," he said, "are you ready?"
"Maybe," she said as Brooke walked away, "so what are you gonna say?"
"Oh you'll see, what are you gonna say," Jamie asked his mother.
"Oh you'll see," she said as Jamie nodded with a grin, "sweetie you know this isn't a competition right?"
"Ok good," he said.
"Ok."
"Just remember that when they like my speech more," he said as he walked away. Haley closed the door and turned towards Brooke who chuckled at her god son and maid of honor. She was opening the envelope that Jamie had delivered.
"The moment I fell in love with you," she said as she pulled a disc from the envelope, "I apologize for what I am about to do," she said as she placed the disc in her stereo.
"What are you about to do," Haley asked with a small laugh. Brooke turned the music on, she placed her hand over her heart and began dancing, "ok, why are you dancing like that Brooke?"
"Because this dance is what made an amazing man fall in love with me."
"Yeah that one," Haley asked, "alright, turn it up. I'd join you, I just don't want to go into labor on your wedding day."
"Ok that's it," Haley said as she finished placing the finishing touches on Brooke's hair, "wow, Brooke you are officially the most beautiful bride ever and you're not even in your dress yet." Haley looked at her friend, "you are going to look so beautiful in that dress," she said fighting back tears.
"Haley don't," Brooke said trying to hide her own tears, "because if you cry then I'm gonna cry and we don't wanna have to redo my makeup."
"Ok," Haley said wiping her eyes, "alright, I'm sorry, you're right, it's just," she babbled, "ok we have to get ready to go to the church anyway."
"We're going to the church," Brooke said in nearly a whisper, "we're going to the church where I'm getting married. Haley I'm getting married."
"We are so gonna have to redo your makeup," Haley said as they were both in tears, she embraced her friend.
"I know," Brooke laughed as she wrapped her arms around Haley.
"Brooke," Haley said as she walked in to the room where Brooke had gotten in to her gown, she smiled and sighed in awe of her friend.
"Don't you dare ruin my make up again," Brooke said with a smile.
"I just came to tell you that I love you."
"That's gonna keep me from crying," she said as they smiled at each other, "so what do you think?"
"I think you are the perfect bride."
"Thank you," she whispered as someone knocked on the door. They both turned as the door opened.
"Lucas," Brooke whispered as she saw him standing there, "I thought Sawyer was sick, you guys weren't coming, oh my god, where's Peyton?"
"She's," he said staring at her in her beautiful wedding gown, "uh, she's not here Brooke," he saw the hurt in Brooke's eyes, he looked towards Haley, "Hales can I have a minute with her?" Haley turned towards Brooke, her heart racing, she wasn't sure what to do, but Brooke nodded indicating that it was ok.
"I will see you out there," Haley smiled at her as she turned towards Lucas.
"Haley I love you too," Brooke said as she watched Haley hug Lucas and then leave them alone.
"Brooke," he nearly whispered as he looked at her, "god you're beautiful," he said. She felt her heart race as he walked towards her, he wrapped his arms around her, "I've missed you."
"I've missed you too Luke," she said resting her head against his chest, "I've missed you too."