Author's Note: Hey everyone! See I told you it wouldn't be long before I got the sequal up. Now bear with me, I have only written up through chapter four! So in a sense you will be going through this process with me :) and I hope that you enjoy the ride. Anyways, here it is the sequal to Two Is Better Than One, Life Starts Now. Read/Enjoy/Review!

Chapter One: For Now

" When the lights go out, we'll be safe and sound, we'll take control of the world, like it's all we have to hold onto, and we'll be a dream." -We The Kings


The church is quiet as I sit, Caleb, Olivia, and Blake next to me. I watch, heart thudding in my chest as Michael stands across from Tatiana, both smiling at each other brightly. The pastors words fall over me, but I don't hear anything he says. Instead I'm consumed by an undeniable ache of realization. I should be the one standing across from Michael, his ring being slipped onto my finger. I get to my feet not even realizing that I moved.

" Michael stop," I say, the church full of people gasping as I step out of the pew taking a step forward, " You cant marry her Michael. You belong to me. We belong together. You know it, I know it, Tatiana knows it. I knew it that night that we made love, but I wast stupid, and stubborn, and I was trying to do what was right, but I was wrong. Your everything to me Michael. You're the only one who can make me feel beautiful again. Before you I was completely alone, and sinking fast into nothingness. But you, you came along and you made the world make sense again. Please, you cant marry her."

The words echo inside of my head as I sit in my pretty dress, in the pretty sun drenched church filled with hundreds of roses, the scent of them perfuming the air around me. That's what I should of said. I know that. I should have stood up and said the practiced speech, but just as I was about too, Michael said two words. Two words that have changed my world. I do. He said I do. I smile, breath catching in my throat as I wipe a hand over my cheek, and pray, that somehow, someway this is all some sort of bad dream.


I sit at my assigned seat, watching the reception happening around me feeling strangely disconnected from everything and everybody. Sure I smile, and listen as people make small talk, but for the most part my eyes are drawn painfully to the head table, where the smiling bride and groom sit, holding each others hands, accepting well wishes from everyone who passes them. I rub at my chest nonchalantly, trying to let go of the pain. It's too late now. I came to face that painful truth when Michael and Tatiana were pronounced husband and wife and exchanged the first of what I'm sure is to be many marital kisses. Of course the moment he said 'I do' any and all chance I had disappeared, fluttering away in the air. I jump slightly at the warm hand that lands on my shoulder, and I lift my head seeing Olivia standing by my side, her eyes shining with understanding. She gently squeezes my shoulder and I sigh slightly getting up to follow her out of the reception. The further away we get from the crowd the silence comes quicker, settling between us.

" Brooke," Olivia says stopping to turn and look at me, " Are you okay?" I stare at her as she nervously fiddles with the engagement ring on her finger, and I smile lightly, knowing that it doesn't quiet reach my eyes.

" I'm dealing with it," I murmur taking a deep breath, telling myself that I will not cry. I refuse to. Too many tears have all ready been shed over this huge, ugly mess that is, or was me and Michael's relationship.

" And I'm proud of you for that Brooke, but that isn't what I asked you," she says laying hands softly on my shoulders forcing me to look at her, which she wouldn't be able to do if it wasn't for her three inch heels. I waver, the careful wall that I built to suppress and hold in my hurt starting to crumble.

" It hurts," I whisper closing my eyes slowly, " To sit, and smile, and pretend. Pretend that it isn't killing me. But I don't have a choice in this. I gave him up Liv. How could I be so utterly stupid." I feel the first hot tear slide down my cheek and quickly knuckle it away. Olivia pulls me into a hug and for a second I allow myself the chance to be true to what I feel. I cry not caring that my eyeliner and mascara are probably running, making a huge mess of the careful mask of calm I had spent hours putting on, and as quickly as the moment is given to me someone clears their throat behind us and I jerk away from Olivia not turning around, instead I wipe my hands fiercely over my cheeks.

" Caleb's looking for you Liv," Blake says and I sigh. Of course. Now don't get me wrong, I think my brother and Olivia getting together is great, they compliment each other perfectly. Caleb's cool, calm, laid back demeanor balances Olivia's need to bounce off the walls every waking second, but sometimes I wish that he wouldn't be so attached to her. Besides. She was mine first.

" I'll be right back, why don't you go to the bathroom, clean up, maybe we can all make an early escape," Olivia murmurs in my ear before rushing away, her baby pink dress swirling around her ankles as she heads back to the party. I turn slowly, and smile slowly, sadly as Blake's eyes scan my face.

" Brooke, you're a mess," Blake murmurs wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

" Have I ever told you that you have one hell of a way with words Blake?" I ask laughing despite my dark mood.

" Yes well, it's a gift what can I say," he jokes, easily ushering me towards the restroom, "You know, not many people would be able to do what you did today." I pause outside of the bathroom door and stare up at him, taking in his soft eyes.

" What do you mean?" I ask, gratefully accepting the tissue he presses into the palm of my hand.

" Your in love with him, and yet, you sat in that church today and watched him declare his love for someone else, and you didn't even flinch," he says reaching up to brush a lock of my hair out of my face. I let out a small, pained laugh.

" You have no idea what was going on, on the inside," I say, " I'll be right out." I steal away into the bathroom, and stare at myself in the mirror.

" You are a mess Brooke Nichols," I murmur as I try to clean up the mess my emotions left behind.


I slip out of the bathroom just in time to see Michael's brother Marlon standing on the stage trying his best to quiet the buzzing crowd.

" At this time, the bride and groom will share their first dance," Marlon says and my heart thuds dully against my ribs as I watch Michael take Tatiana's hand, the smile between them so bright it puts the sun to shame. The music falls over us, some beautiful classical number that I cant seem to recall the name of, because at the moment along with everyone around me, I'm captivated by what a perfect picture they make. Slowly, as if on cue other couples join them on the dance floor and despite the silent breaking of my heart I smile when I notice Olivia head cradled on Caleb's chest eyes half closed as a smile dances over her lips.

" Dance with me," a soft whisper comes to my ear and I turn my head slowly looking back at Blake, his green eyes searching mine for any form of hesitation. I nod my head slowly, taking his hand letting him lead me to the quickly filling dance floor. I settle into his hold and feel the hesitation of his hand on my lower back, like he isn't sure if he should pull me closer or leave the space between us. I smile slowly, pulling myself closer to him, resting my head against his shoulder closing my eyes as the music soars around us.

" Blake," I murmur looking up at him, " I can never thank you enough. I could never make it through any of this without you."

" Brooke, don't thank me," he whispers, shaking his head, " You make it sound like I do it because I feel obligated too. I chose to be your friend Brooke, its what friends do."

" I know Blake, I just," I'm cut off when Michael taps Blake on the shoulder, a tentative smile on his face.

" Mind if I cut in?" Michael asks and I stare at him, my eyes wide as Blake courteously nods his head and takes Tatiana's outstretched hand spinning her away. I blink owlishly, my arms down at my side as Michael takes my hand and waist slowly spinning me across the crowded dance floor until we're settled in a somewhat private corner.

" I didn't think you would come," he murmurs, looking down at me, his brown eyes shining.

" Of course I came Michael, I don't know why, but I did," I say trying to hide the hurt in my voice as the music swells around us.

" Brooke please," he whispers tightening his hold on me telling me there is no way that I could get away without making a scene.

" Michael, this is your wedding okay? I don't want," I stammer, tears thickening my voice to a husky rasp as I swallow deeply, "I don't want you worrying about me anymore okay? I'm not your concern, Tatiana and Talia, they're all that matter now, I love you. I am always going to love you Michael Joseph Jackson, its just a little too late," I press a soft kiss to his cheek slipping out of his arms, walking away from the crowd and the speculating eyes.


I make my way outside surprisingly dry eyed as I walk a slow and steady pace to my car. My heart hurts more and more with every step I take, but I shut it down, refusing to let myself feel anything, because if I let myself feel it could very easily kill me.

" Brooke, Brooke!" Blake's voice carries through the air and I turn watching him jog towards me, his black tie lying loose around his neck, the sleeves of his crisp white tuxedo shirt rolled up to his elbows " Where are you going?"

" I don't know, I just, I just have to get away," I say pulling my heels off throwing them in my waiting car.

" I'm coming with you," he says and I shake my head firmly and quickly.

" No, you cant Blake okay, your always saving me, you cant always be the hero for me Blake, I have to learn to stand on my own," I say my voice raising and hitching as I maneuver away from his hold.

" What? Why? Brooke where is this coming from?" he asks, boxing me in, his arms braced on either side of my head, my back laying against the car.

" I cant let you in Blake okay, I just cant," I say my voice raising as the tears burn my eyes.

" Why?" he demands his voice potraying the hurt that he's feeling inside.

" Why, because the first person that I let in, that I let myself feel anything for is in that room, married to someone else," I stammer, shaking furiously from my emotions.

" Brooke I'm all ready in, dont you see?" he murmurs resting his head against mine, " And you know it and I think that's what scares you the most about all of this."

" Blake please," I plead my heart hammering against my ribs as I put a hand against his chest, " I cant give you what you want."

" How do you know?" he asks running his hand over my hair cupping the back of my neck with his hand.

" I just do Blake, I'm too messed up for you, I'm unfixable," I whisper gulping deeply when his lips come closer to mine, so close that I can feel his breath washing over my face.

" Brooke, nobody is unfixable, just please, let me," he says his voice pleading as he lowers his lips to mine.

I expect to recoil, to go still as stone and have no physical let alone emotional reaction to Blake's lips on mine. Yet I don't, instead I find myself floating as he kisses me softly, his lips warm against mine before his tongue teases my mouth open, and everything explodes. The taste of him, the smell of him. Everything is Blake. Everything else just falls away, Michael and Tatiana, the pain, the hurt, the memories, and all of it just falls steadily away. For now its just me, Blake, and the sunset.