Authors Note: Wow!! long time no update for this story!! I can't believe I let my 'Baby' go this long without an update! hopefully this chapter will makeup for it. tell me what you think!

Tonight, everything has to be perfect. He's booked a hotel room, with help from Jake and Peyton. It's their one year anniversary, so he's making it a night neither will forget. First he's going to take her to dinner, then possibly go dancing. During dinner he is going to give her a ring; not the engagement ring, but a promise ring. He's saved up a couple hundred dollars, and found the perfect promise ring for Brooke. After that, they are gonna go to the hotel and let the night run it's course.

Peyton and Brooke are walking around the mall with Jenny asleep in her stroller, they lost Jake back at the video game store.

"So, Brooke, you excited about tonight?" Peyton asks Brooke, who hasn't stopped smiling.

Smiling wider, Brooke answers, "I am. He's keeping the whole night a secret. He has something up his sleeve. God I can't believe it's been a year."

Peyton smiles, she knows what Lucas has planned. She's keeping this from her best friend, she tells this girl everything. But this is one secret that she ahs to keep. Part of the reason she's here is to help Brooke pick out the perfect dress and other goodies. After all, what are best friends for?

"First stop, Victoria's Secret," Brooke says, already deciding what she wants to surprise Lucas with later on tonight.

Peyton rolls her eyes, only Brooke. She follows the bubbly brunette in the store, which is covered in pink for the first few feet. So much pink makes the blonde want to vomit. She's never really been a fan of Victoria's Secret. Why pay so much money on something that is going to be on the floor in a matter of minutes and shoved in a dresser drawer for all of eternity?

Brooke is like a kid in a candy store, she finds items of clothing...or scrapts of clothing really, that would make any guy turn into a puddle of goo at her feet. After spending a good amount of money in VS, the girls head over to the food court and sit at one of the tables. Peyton pulls out her cell phone and dials the number that she's know by heart for years.

"Hey, we're at the food court, come eat with us," she says into the phone, smiling down at Jenny who is wide awake now. "Yeah, OK. See you soon."

Brooke watches Peyton and says, "You've come so far Peyt. I'm so glad that you're happy and in love. Now you know how I've felt about Lucas. It's a great feeling, isn't it?"

Peyton smiles, "It's the best feeling. I've never been so happy with anyone. Not even when I was with Nate. But that's OK, cause he and Haley are meant to be, I've known it forever. The same with you and Lucas. You're meant to be. I can't see you with out him and the same goes for him. You guys are perfect together."

"We are, aren't we?" Brooke asks, taking pride in herself and her boyfriend.

"Don't get cocky, Brooke," Peyton says, and they laugh.

"Hey guys," Jake says, kissing Peyton on the head, and sitting down next to her, placing a hand on her thigh.

"Hey Jakie," Brooke greets, "Did you find anything good at the game store?"

"No, I just played a few levels of Zelda, that game is so easy," Jake says, then looks to Peyton. "What are you hungry for?"

Peyton shrugs, and looks at Brooke, "Want to do what we always do?"

"Sure. Jake, you're in charge of drink, Peyt, you're in charge of the entrees, and I'll get the deserts," Brooke says, they all stand and go in different directions, Jake takes Jenny's stroller and goes over to the Orange Julius.

--

Lucas walks out of his bed room, to the sound of his mother in the bathroom sick. He knocks on the door. "Ma, are you OK?"

"I'm fine Lucas, this goes with the territory of being pregnant. It'll pass. I just can't eat turkey sandwitches anymore," she says, after brushing her teeth.

Lucas nods, "OK. I'm going to go pick up Brooke."

Karen looks at him, "Now, I know that you are renting a hotel room. Lucas, please be careful tonight. I don't want any scares like we had before. Not until you guys are ready."

"Don't worry, Mom. It's all taken care of. I'll see you later," he says, giving his mom a kiss on the cheek.

"Bye. Oh, Lucas," Karen says, causing him to turn around. She smiles at him. "Happy anniversary, son."

"Thanks, Ma."

--

The drive to Brooke's house seems to take longer tonight. Maybe it's anticipation, maybe it's nerves. Definitely the anticipation. He pulls up to the giant white house, the red door standing out, and one single light on. The light to Brooke's bedroom. He grabs the dozen red roses he bought for her, and gets out of the car. He walks to the side entrance of her bedroom and hears the sound of Brooke singing along to the song I Love You, by Martina McBride.

He knocks on the door, and says, "Brooke!"

She comes out of the bathroom in a little black dress and black stilettos and turns the music down. "Hey, boyfriend." Lucas gulps. She's breathtakingly beautiful tonight. Suddenly, he can't wait to get to the hotel. "What do you think?" Brooke asks, smiling because she's left him speechless.

Shaking out of his daze, Lucas says, "Brooke, you're georgous."

She smiles, "Thank you. You don't look to bad yourself."

He walks over to her, and hands her the roses, "These are for you."

"They're beautiful. Thank you, baby," she says, leaning up to kiss him, even in heals she's still shorter than him.

He breaks the kiss, and reaches for her hand. "You ready to go?"

Brooke nods, "Yeah, let me put these in water first."

--

At the restaurant, Brooke and Lucas are finishing up their main course, the waiter comes over to their table and clears the plates. Lucas excuses himself, leaving Brooke at the table by herself.

"Excuse me," Lucas says, catching up with the waiter.

"Yes?"

"I was wondering if you could do me a favor," Lucas begins.

"Sure, what is it?"

"When you bring us our dessert, can you place this," Lucas says, pulling out the ring box and handing it to him, "on top of hers?"

The man smiles, "Sure. This isn't the first time I've been asked to do something like this."

Lucas smiles gratefully at him. "Thank you, sir."

He returns to the table and sits back down next to Brooke and kisses her cheek. "So, what else are we doing tonight?" she asks, eager to get the rest to the rest of the evening.

"You'll just have to wait and see," Lucas says, taking her hand under the table.

The waiter returns to their table, places a piece of chocolate cake in front of each of them. "Enjoy," he says, winking at Lucas.

"Thank you," they say in unison.

Brooke picks up her fork and looks down at the cake, then back over at Lucas, who is smiling at her.

"Lucas, what-"

He takes the box from on top of her cake and looks deep into her eyes.

"Brooke Penelope Davis. You've changed my life in so many different ways. You've helped me through the toughest thing that has happened to me. We've been through a lot over the years. But we've found our way back to each other. You're the girl I want next to me when all my dreams come true, you're the one for me. I'm not asking you to be my wife. I'm asking you to promise yourself, and me, that one day, this ring will turn into an engagement ring," Lucas says, opening the box to reveal a beautiful silver band with a single diamond in the middle.

Brooke has tears in her eyes as she leans in and kisses him, "I promise you, Lucas."

He smiles and slips the ring on her left ring finger.

"I love you, Brooke."

"I love you too, Lucas."

AN2: link in my profile for the ring...if you wanna see it.