Author's Note: So really quick I wanted to clarify that this story is going to be about 25 chapters and all of the OTH favorites will be showing up. As of right now the couples are Naley/Jeyton/Clinn with Brulian & Brucas. This story is going to be longer than what I usually write and I plan on focusing on certain couples every chapter until I have introduced all the players to the story. Hope that makes sense and clears up any confusion that might have arisen after the first chapter. :-)

Thanks!

Krystal


Chapter 2:

Julian took Brooke's hand and headed back inside the reception venue, "Try not to sneak out again until I'm done with my set." Julian grinned in her direction. He walked her back to her chair and kissed her hand, "I'll be right back."

Brooke felt her cheeks redden, 'He's surprisingly adorable,' she told herself. But in true Brooke fashion he is completely wrong for her. 'Even if he makes you laugh like a teenager - he appears to reside in North Carolina. It might as well be the moon.' Brooke frowned and sighed to herself. She watched Julian jog to the stage and she caught Haley walking towards her out of the corner of her eye.

"Hi there," Haley said with a hug. "I feel like I haven't seen you all night. Where did you get off too?"

Brooke arched an eyebrow in Haley's direction, "Please. I know you and Nathan sent him outside to find me. He came looking for Haley's single friend Brooke."

"Fair enough." Haley pulled out one of the empty chairs by Brooke, "So what do you think? He's 32, single, good sense of humor, sincere-"

"Ladies and gentlemen," Julian said with a wink in Brooke's direction. "Put your hands together for Mr. and Mrs. Clay Evans."

"Talented," Haley continued, "And he seems into you already."

"We talked for no more than fifteen minutes tutor mom, calm down." Brooke said nonchalantly. "I turned my nose up at the wedding singer thing, I should probably pay attention."

Haley kissed Brooke's cheek, "So you're interested in him too, that's exciting. He's a really gifted musician and coming from me you know that means something. Come see me and Nathan after the set's over k, stop being such a stranger."

"Love you Hales." Brooke smiled, but she never lost eye contact with Julian. Clay and Quinn sauntered onto the dance floor and Brooke heard the band readying for the song.

Julian couldn't take his eyes of the beautiful girl seated to his left, "By request," he called into the chrome microphone. The musicians began playing the first few bars of harmonies, Julian listened in for the keyboard and reached down for his lucky guitar pick and started strumming along with the band. He counted down, '5… 4… 3… 2… 1…' "Heart beats fast, colors and promises. How to be brave? How can I love when I'm afraid to fall? But watching you stand alone, All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow. One step closer-" Julian sang holding the last note for a few extra seconds. He smiled at his best friend Clay beaming down at his new wife as he twirled her around the monogrammed dance floor.

His chord progressions quickened for the chorus, "I have died everyday waiting for you, Darling don't be afraid I have loved you for a thousand years, I'll love you for a thousand more." He listened for the band as they picked up again behind him, "Time stands still, beauty in all she is, I will be brave, I will not let anything take away, what's standing in front of me, every breath, every hour has come to this… One step closer." He diverted his eyes from the happy couple for a moment and locked eyes with Brooke, she had one of her delicate hands on her chin and there appeared to be tears in her eyes. He grinned and readied again for the chorus, strumming along on his trusty acoustic guitar, "I have died everyday waiting for you, Darling don't be afraid I have loved you for a thousand years, I'll love you for a thousand more. And all along I believed I would find you, time has brought your heart to me, I have loved you for a thousand years, I'll love you for a thousand more."

Julian held the last note and swung his Gibson behind his back and grabbed the microphone stand with both hands, "Come on." He surveyed the room and landed on Nathan and Haley, Nathan caught sight of Brooke's stare and gave him a thumb's up sign. He paid close attention to the instrumental break the band was playing through, waiting for his next note cue, "One step closer…" He reached down for his guitar, put it back in place, "One step closer…" He sang a few octaves higher than before, "I have died everyday waiting for you, Darling don't be afraid I have loved you for a thousand years, I'll love you for a thousand more. And all along I believed I would find you, time has brought your heart to me, I have loved you for a thousand years, I'll love you for a thousand more." His chest was heaving and he heard the band wind down, he stared out at Clay and Quinn. The crowd went wild when Clay dipped Quinn to the floor then pulled her up into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him as the song finished. "To Clay and Quinn. May your marriage prove fruitful and you are able to enjoy each other for a lifetime." He leaned towards the barstool to the left of him and raised a champagne glass, "Clay and Quinn Evans ya'll."


"Do you see her face Haley." Nathan whispered through the noise, "She is falling and falling hard." He kissed her shoulder, "And to think you didn't think they would be a good match."

Haley turned to her husband of twelve years, "Are you fishing Mr. Scott?"

"No," Nathan laughed, "But I would like credit where my credit is due. I did the impossible, I sent Jason into slay Medusa and just look at her, she is completely slayed."

Haley giggled and shook her head, "Alright, you are no longer allowed to help Jamie and Lydia with their homework. Jason didn't slay Medusa, Perseus used her reflection to beat her at her own game and turned her to stone." She couldn't lie, seeing Brooke noticeably swoon over something that wasn't work related was a welcomed change of pace.

Nathan humphed, "There is a guy named Jason somewhere right? I didn't just pull that out of thin air."

"Jason and the Argonauts, golden fleece, ringing any bells?" Haley said with a smile, "Greek mythology clearly isn't your strong suit Nathan, but that's alright I still love you."

"Can you tell me why an eleven year old needs to learn about greek mythology?" Nathan placed his arms around Haley's shoulders and pulled her into him from his chair next to her, "There is no practical use for that crap, what profession is Jamie going to pursue that he needs ancient mythological hoocum?" Nathan kissed her a second time, "It's a conspiracy Haley James."

"Have you seen the kids?" Haley asked Nathan.

"They're with Logan and the twins," Nathan replied.

Logan was Clay's son from his first marriage, he is twelve and has been Jamie's best friend since Clay relocated to Tree Hill to be closer to his deceased wife Sara's family. The twins were Taylor and her husband Bobby's daughters - Odette and Vanessa Banuelos. They were five with curly reddish blonde hair like Taylor's and soft blue eyes like Bobby. "We should go collect them soon, I know Jamie would love to see Brooke. I don't believe she was staying in North Carolina for more than a few days." Haley frowned, "I hate that she's in California all alone, all of her family is on the east coast. Her job is killing her, she is always working."

Nathan pulled Haley in for a hug and rubbed her back, "Relax my love, you know how much Davis loves her job. She comes for visits whenever she has the free time. She is even taking Jamie and Lydia for a few weeks this summer, do you think Brooke would be able to do that if she was unhappy at her job?"

"No," Haley sighed, "I just miss her. She's been in California since after college."

Nathan stood up and reached for Haley's hand, "She's a publicist, California is like the epicenter." Nathan lead Haley out to the dance floor, "Do you think you can get out of your head for a little while and just have a good time tonight? Your sister just got married, your best friend is in town, let's enjoy the time with our family."

Haley felt her shoulders relax and she smiled, "Nathan Scott what would I do without you?"

Nathan pulled her into him and started to sway with the slow song. He tilted her chin to his and kissed her lips gently, "Easy… You would cry."


Brooke still hadn't had an opportunity to exchange pleasantries with the bride and groom and according to her calculations the night was winding down. It was nearly time for the bouquet and garter tosses and then Brooke's favorite part - the wedding cake. Quinn had purchased a great one, it was a naked red velvet cake decorated with peonies and a bride lassoing a groom for a topper. 'It was the perfect mix of traditional and modern,' Brooke thought to herself. She remembered that Quinn detested cake, so the dessert table also had an assortment of fruit, iced sugar cookies and macarons. Julian was still performing with the band, Brooke headed over to the head table. "Congratulations Quinny."

Quinn leaned over the table and hugged Brooke, "Thank you for coming Brooklyn, we have missed you."

"Yeah Davis, how long has it been?" Clay said with a smile.

"Christmas," Brooke replies with a sigh, "Work has been busy. I have been trying to make a name for myself and that takes time and a lot of effort." She pushes a few strands of blonde highlighted hair out of her face, "Where are the children?" She hopes bringing up Quinn's beautiful nieces and nephew will change the subject.

"The kids will be out after we do the bouquet and garter tosses. We agreed that the garter toss could get provocative, no reason for the kids to see that." Quinn's eyes lit up and she clapped her hands together, "the toss bouquet is accented with comic book pages, isn't that cute?"

Brooke thought about what Quinn said about comic book page flowers and the revelation hit her like a ton of bricks, "Your boutonniere is a comic book." She pointed at Clay's jacket and the word X-Men was now clear to her on his origami calla lily fastened to his lapel, "That's amazing."

Before anyone could speak again the DJ spoke into the microphone, "Can Mr. and Mrs. Evans please make their way to the dance floor, it's time for the bouquet and garter toss."

"That's our cue," Quinn said to Brooke, "See you in a few minutes Brooke."

Brooke sat down in an empty chair in front of her and looked out on the dance floor, 'Quinn picked a gorgeous dress,' she mused to herself. Quinn's dress was strapless organza ball gown with a sweetheart neckline and a pleated, asymmetrical bodice, accented with a soft blue beaded belt at her waistline.

A chair was brought out for Quinn and the DJ used the microphone to get everyone's attention, "Clay here is going to retrieve the garter from Quinn's thigh without using his hands." Brooke laughed at the roar of cat calls around her, "Have fun man." Clay kissed Quinn's hand before he got down on his knees in front of Quinn's legs. He gave the room a devilish grin before disappearing under the folds of Quinn's dress, a few moments later he returned with the garter in his mouth. Brooke stifled a laugh and shook her head. "How was it?"

Clay helped Quinn to her feet and kissed her forehead, "Magical."

Everyone laughed again and Quinn covered her freshly reddened cheeks, "Where are my boys at? I need all the single men to the dance floor please." Real Good Man by Tim McGraw blared over the speakers while the guys shuffled to the floor. Brooke smiled when she noticed Julian in the middle, "On the count of three toss the garter and spread the magic. 1… 2… 3…" Clay flung the garter into the guys and Julian easily caught it.

'Surprise, surprise.' Brooke said to herself, 'The tallest guy always wins.'

"Now I need my girls," the DJ called out again, as Single Ladies (Put a ring on it) by Beyonce rang out from the speakers. Brooke didn't want to be the first girl out there, so she hesitated before going to the floor. She saw Quinn motioning for her to join them and she decided she had waited long enough. When she got to the floor, she was the only woman standing, "I need all my single ladies please."

Brooke listened to the song finish up and felt faint, as she was still the only woman on the floor. She looked on as Nathan and Haley headed out to the dance floor. Haley looked like she was going to cry and Nathan was scrambling for a distraction. But the saddest face belonged to Quinn, Brooke saw her bottom lip quiver and Brooke wasn't about to watch a bride burst into hysterical tears on her wedding day. "Lucky me, I get to catch the bouquet without tearing anyone's weave out." She walked over to Quinn and reached for the bouquet, "It's alright Quinny," she whispered.

Quinn nodded her head and obliged, the DJ spoke up again, "Can we have our winners please? Take a look everyone, tradition predicts that these two will be the next to marry. But first they dance."

Julian handed Clay the bouquet and the garter and pulled Brooke into his arms, "You alright?"

"Sure," Brooke bit her bottom lip, "I am at a wedding with about 100 other people and I am the only single woman here. How is that even possible? The law of averages alone should be in my favor."

"Don't think about that right now," Julian grinned down at her, "Just shake it off. I have it on good authority that the song we are dancing to is a slow one. We'll dance, pose for a few silly pictures and move on. Do you think you can do that Brooke or should we escape out a side door?"

Brooke couldn't stop the giggle, "Thank you, I think I can put on a happy face through one slow song."

"Terrific," Julian said as Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran began to play. He pulled Brooke into him and wrapped his arms around her lower back, she placed her head on his upper chest and closed her eyes, "What did you think about my set earlier?"

"It was incredible. I'm sorry I said you were just a wedding singer." Brooke sucked in a deep breath and with it came the faint smell of Julian's cologne.

"I am just a wedding singer, so I forgive you."

Brooke looked up, "How does one become a wedding singer exactly?"

"I don't know," Julian paused, "I've only been singing professional for the last year or so. This is only my third wedding, I mostly perform in local bars and clubs a few nights a week and let me tell you it has been an experience and a half."

"How can you af-" Brooke trailed off before she sounded like too much of a snob.

"How can I afford to live?" Julian said, reading her mind. "Currently I'm living off my savings. I have a chemistry degree from MIT and I was working in a lab and I thought my life was pretty much set. I started seeing a therapist a few years ago for anxiety and after six months of sessions the answer to all of my prayers woke me up from a dead sleep. I needed to quit my job and follow my passion. I have been singing practically since birth but I never pursued it. The day after I quit, I slept for almost thirty-six hours straight and my second life began."

"Wow," Brooke said in awe, as she drifted back into the soothing voice of Ed Sheeran, 'So baby now, take me into your loving arms, kiss me under the light of a thousand stars. Oh darling place your head on my beating heart, I'm thinking out loud, but maybe we found love right where we are.'

"Are you down for finishing the song with a dip?" Julian asked, pulling Brooke from her thoughts.

"Yes," Brooke replied and before she could change her mind Julian spun her into his arms and dipped her almost to the ground. Brooke blushed at the sound of the people around her. When Julian pulled her back up, she kissed his cheek, "Thank you so much, it was-"

"Magical," Julian finished. He looked into Brooke's hazel eyes and knew only one thing for certain, if he didn't kiss Brooke Davis at this very moment he would regret it for the rest of his life.


So... Thoughts? Comments? Concerns? I would love to know what you're thinking so leave me a quick review.

Thanks again for reading and reviewing, you all are the best.

Krystal

Edited to add: The song Julian was singing is A Thousand Years by Christina Perri.