Chapter 8: The Ceremony

After the proper papers had been signed, Lydia and Jimmy took their daughter to buy a new dress. The plan was to meet back at the courthouse later that afternoon and the marriage would be legal. Haley's heart just wasn't into looking for the perfect dress. In less than a week, she had found out she was pregnant, lost her best friend, and her future was completely up in the air. Haley heard a noise coming from behind a rack at the store she was in. She leaned behind the rack and saw Brooke standing there hiding.

"Brooke, what are you doing here?" Haley asked surprised.

"I heard my best friend was getting married. I had to make sure she got the perfect dress," Brooke smiled as tears fell from her eyes. Haley hugged her.

"Your parents will kill you if they find out you were here," Haley whispered back.

"I'll take my chances," Brooke sighed. "I can't believe you guys are going to go through with it."

"It wasn't my idea, trust me..." Haley whispered.

"At least he's really nice to look at," Brooke tried to joke.

"Yeah, at least..." Haley smiled.

"Lucas said it was because of your inheritance..." Brooke started.

"Yeah, that's a big part of it. Plus my family doesn't want this to ruin my reputation... The weird thing is that before we even knew about the money, Nathan wanted to marry me."

"Whoa. Seriously?" Brooke asked in shock.

"Yeah. I know it's the right thing to do and all but it's not the 50's you know?"

"What about school?" Brooke asked.

"We're going to keep going, graduate, go to college. Everyone seems to think it'll all work out," Haley shrugged.

"But you don't?"

"I don't know. Nathan and I don't love eachother."

"Not yet," Brooke winked.

"Brooke? What are you doing here?" Lydia asked.

"I... I... uh, my parents don't know I'm here," Brooke confessed with a sad look on her face.

"Mom, please don't tell her parents... I really want Brooke to be there," Haley begged.

"Okay, well we should get going. We don't want you to be late for your own ceremony," Lydia smiled. Haley and Brooke grinned as they left the store.

Nathan was standing at the entrance of the courthouse waiting for Haley and her family. He was wearing khakis with a blue button up shirt. He smiled when he saw Haley walking towards him with her family and Brooke. She looked amazing. She was wearing a short white dress and her hair had been curled.

"Hey, you look nice," Nathan smiled.

"Thank," she replied before following him into the courthouse. She saw his family sitting in the waiting area. Her family went and sat with them.

"You ready?" Nathan asked.

"I guess so," Haley nodded.

"I'm glad you could be here, Brooke," Nathan smiled at the brunette who was holding Haley's hand.

"Yeah, me too... I'm just going to go sit with Lucas, okay?" Brooke hugged her best friend and walked over to her boyfriend.

"I can't believe they're doing this," Lucas shook his head.

"It'll be okay. Everything will work out for the best... It has to," Brooke flashed a quick smile.

"Your parents know where you are?" Lucas asked.

"No, Peyton's covering for me."

"Nathan Scott and Haley James," a voice called out. They nodded and followed the lady into a small room with their families right behind them. Once they were in the room, a man took their papers and looked over them quickly.

"This place in which you are now met has been duly sanctioned according to law for the celebration of marriages. Before you are joined in matrimony I have to remind you of the solemn and binding character of the vows you are about to make. A marriage according to the law of this country is the union of one man with one woman voluntarily entered into for life for the exclusion of all others," the Superintendant Registrar began, "Haley will you please repeat after me...I declare that I know of no legal reason why I, Haley Michelle James, may not be joined in marriage to Nathan Daniel Scott."

"I declare that I know of no legal reason why I, Haley Michelle James, may not be joined in marriage to Nathan Daniel Scott," Haley repeated.

"I declare that I know of no legal reason why I Nathan Daniel Scott may not be joined in marriage to Haley Michelle James," the Superintendant Registrar spoke to Nathan.

"I declare that I know of no legal reason why I, Nathan Daniel Scott, may not be joined in marriage to Haley Michelle James," Nathan repeated with a smile.

"Good, now Haley, I, Haley Michelle James, take you, Nathan Daniel Scott to be my wedded husband," the registrar spoke to Haley.

"I, Haley Michelle James, take you, Nathan Daniel Scott, to be my wedded husband," Haley smiled as she began to get caught up in everything.

"I, Nathan Daniel Scott, take you, Haley Michelle James, to be my wedded wife," Nathan repeated after the registrar.

"You may now trade rings," the registrar spoke. Nathan's eyes got big. Lydia stepped up and placed two rings in his hand. He placed the ring on her finger and she put his on him as well. "By the State of North Carolina, I announce you husband and wife. Please step forward to sign the papers. We'll also need 2 witnesses signatures as well."

Nathan and Haley stepped forward, quickly signing the papers.

"He never said kiss the bride," Nathan spoke nervously to Haley. She shook her head. He leaned down, wuickly kissing her on the lips.

When all the papers had been signed, the group walked outside.

"What now?" Haley asked.

"Well, sweetie, your father and I have a plane to catch. Here's the key to the house we bought. It's already been furnished, you two can stay there until we get back from Europe," Lydia smiled as she handed the key to Haley.

"We'll call when we get back to Europe..." Jimmy announced. "Nathan, take care of my baby. Mr. and Mrs. Scott it was very nice meeting you. Keep an eye on them, would you?"

Jimmy and Lydia said their goodbyes to their daughter before leaving for the airport.

"Well," Deb began, "this is just a mess."

"It'll be okay. Nathan, you can come by this evening to get your things..." Dan grinned.

"Oh, and Haley, we had your stuff sent to the house this afternoon," Brooke spoke up. Haley nodded.

"Welcome to the family, Haley. If you need anything, just have Nathan call us, okay?" Dan hugged his new daughter in law before following Deb to their car.

"Thanks," Haley tried to smile.

"I've got to be going," Brooke spoke up. She quickly hugged her friends before leaving.

"I'll drop you guys off at your house," Lucas offered.

"Okay, thanks, BIL," Haley smiled.

"My name is Lucas," Lucas spoke confused.

"I know that, BIL is brother in law," Haley grinned. Nathan laughed.

Lucas and Nathan were amazed when they pulled up to the house. It was huge.

"You guys are going to be living here?" Lucas asked in shock as they walked in.

"Mom and Dad always go overboard," Haley admitted as she walked up the stairs.

"Which room is ours?" Nathan asked as he followed her.

"That room is yours," Haley said as she pointed to a door, " Mine is across the hall."

"Separate rooms?" Nathan asked in shock.

"That's my rule," Haley whispered.

"Okay, fine," Nathan agreed.

"Really, you're okay with that?" Haley asked surprised.

"Yeah, I mean, I see you caving on that one pretty quickly," he grinned.

"Right," Haley rolled her eyes as she went into her room and closed the door.

"Yo Nate, let's go get your stuff," Lucas called from downstairs.

"Haley, we'll back in a little bit," Nathan spoke through the door.

"Just take the key with you and lock the door behind you," Haley called back.

Nathan grinned. This was going to be easy. He was betting that Haley would be in his room by the end of the week.

Author's Note: I haven't been exactly thrilled with the last two chapters, however they were necessary for my story. I promise the chapters to come will be exciting and entertaining! Thank you to everyone who reviews. Your words really mean a lot to me and I hope you all keep reading.