Chapter 10: Epilogue

*Two Years Later*

"Mr. Scott?" The hostess said when she walked up to the table.

"Yes," Lucas looked up from his menu.

"There is a woman here to see you." The hostess smiled, "She said you two have a history. Would you like me to bring her back?"

"Please," Lucas smiled and handed her a twenty dollar bill. He stood up and adjusted his shirt and tie. He turned his head when he heard someone whistling behind him.

"Hello handsome," Brooke said as she sauntered over to the table. "Sorry I kept you waiting, I had meetings all day." Brooke took her seat across from Lucas, "So how long do I have to wait before you tell me the big news?"

Lucas pulled an envelope from his inside shirt pocket and handed it to Brooke. "Here pretty girl. Tell me what you think." He laughed as she feverishly grabbed the envelope from his hands and read the contents. He watched her twirl her platinum wedding band as she poured through the letter.

When she finished it she squealed, "Oh my gawd broody you sold your first novel!" She reached across the table and pulled him towards her. She kissed his lips, pulling away a few moments later she sighed happily, "How long have you known about this honestly?"

"I was told this was practically a done deal a few days ago" Lucas took her hand and kissed it, "But I couldn't tell you before I was certain. I cannot handle when I disappoint you."

"You are such a liar" Brooke kinked her eyebrow and folded her arms across her chest, "So how are we celebrating?"

"You just called me a liar and I am still expected to celebrate with you?" Lucas stood up from the table and buttoned his wool blazer, "Have I ever told you that I am the luckiest man alive?"

"Nope," Brooke shook her head with a giggle, "Why are you so lucky?"

"It's simple," Lucas took her hand in his and kissed it, "You agreed to marry me, so now you are stuck with me FOREVER."

"A man I know who is wise beyond his years once told me ending a marriage is just as easy as breaking up with someone… Divorce just takes more paperwork." Brooke hurried out of the restaurant onto the crowded Manhattan streets, she turned and waved to Lucas who was standing just inside the door frame settling his bill.

Lucas remembered when he told Brooke those words a few years ago. 'it seems like a lifetime ago,' Lucas told himself as he joined his wife on the sidewalk, "Hmmmm sounds like a hack to me." Lucas reached for Brooke's hand, "How about a carriage ride through Central Park?"

Brooke gave Lucas a side eyed glance, "Seriously Luke," she scoffed, "That is so touristy, plus it is terribly expensive."

"Then its settled," Lucas put his arm around Brooke and headed towards the park. "Carriage ride it is. Weren't you saying the other night before bed that it's on your must list before we become west coast people."

"You have the memory of an elephant you know that." Brooke giggled again as they picked up the pace, "I did say that, and it would be nice to cross it off the list. I still cannot believe we are moving to Los Angeles in eight weeks."

"I can," Lucas kissed her as they waited for the "walk" sign to flash, "Your design house realized you were amazing and they want you to design your own collection for their west coast offices. They would be foolish not to, your star is on the rise Mrs. Scott."

Brooke smiled at the use of her new name, "I still haven't changed it officially you know. I was waiting to see if we were actually going to have a wedding after we eloped."

"I told you we could do whatever you wanted to," Lucas laughed, "I already have pictures of you in a white dress, what more do I need?"

*Flashback*

"Running from a man with a heart condition is cruel pretty girl. I could have another heart attack and die," Lucas's face was stern, "Would you want my death on your conscience?"

Brooke looked down at her wet and muddy wedding dress, "You didn't have to run after me broody." She removed her ruined heels and sat on the front step of Karen's house. "Much better. It was a great idea coming back here, hopefully this will give my parents some time to cool down."

Lucas looked up into the sky as he heard the thunder crash, "It's going to start pouring soon, we should get inside."

Brooke shook her head, "I want to just sit here a moment." She motioned for Lucas to join her, "I'm glad you came back and I am sorry about my parents."

Lucas sat next to Brooke and shrugged, "Richard and Victoria Davis have never cared for me, so what else is new. I just cannot believe what they said about you and your career." Lucas pulled Brooke into him, "You are worth so much more than just becoming someone's trophy wife. I am happy you know that. You are going to change the world someday Brooke Davis." He kissed her cheek, "I know you have already changed my life for the better. That was why I came back I realized I would give up everything for one chance to change your world as much as you have changed mine."

The thunder struck again and Brooke could see the rain in front of her falling faster and harder than it was a few moments ago, "I want to tell you a story, when we were in high school I was sitting at home one night much like tonight feeling sorry for myself because of a boy. A stupid boy who broke my heart, it seems ridiculous now, but at the time I was devastated." Brooke closed her eyes and smiled at the memory, "Peyton, Haley and Rachel came over to cheer me up and the idea for a clothing line was born. Designing clothes gave my life a purpose and if I ever get an opportunity to start my own company it will be called Clothes Over Bros after the label I created during one of my weakest moments."

Lucas had never heard this story before and felt his blood boil at the thought of someone hurting Brooke, even if it was a lifetime ago, "Who was the boy that broke your heart? Do I know him?"

Brooke laughed uncontrollably, "The BRO is you Lucas Eugene Scott."

"What? How is that possible?" Lucas huffed, "When did I break your heart?"

Brooke laughed again, "I spent over a week designing and creating the perfect dress for our senior prom, I wanted to tell you I had feelings for you that night. I thought since we were going to go as friends what better time was there and you showed up in the limousine with a date."

"Shit," Lucas remembered, "I brought Peyton, I didn't think-" He trailed off, "Brooke I am so sorry."

"You don't need to be, the point of my story wasn't to reprimand you," Brooke pushed wet hair from her face and wiped at her smudged makeup, "This may be reaching but without you I wouldn't be where I am today Luke, making clothes was a hobby, the hurt I felt after your rejection spurred me to follow my dreams and my dreams were to become a top fashion designer. So you want an opportunity to change my life Lucas Scott, I have news for you, you already have."

Lucas took Brooke's face in her hands and kissed her hard, "I love you Brooke and I am never going to break your heart again."

"Oh gag me will you," Nathan said from the walkway. "We knew we would find you here."

Lucas and Brooke pulled apart and smiled at Nathan and Haley huddled under an umbrella, "I have never been the best photographer, but I think I got a few good ones just now."

Brooke stood up and motioned for Nathan and Haley to join them on the porch, "You don't think it's tacky, I'm in a wedding dress on a day I was supposed to marry someone else."

"Naw" Nathan smirked, "Besides I didn't want to say anything before but that dress," Nathan gestured to Brooke's body, "Is terrible. The rain and mud improve it, trust me."

Haley gasped, but Brooke spoke first, "Take it back Royal."

Nathan's face dropped at the use of his detestable middle name, "No. It's awful." Nathan said, backing up towards the patio railing.

"I'll say it again," Brooke pointed, "Take it back Royal!"

Nathan folded his arms across his chest, "Or what."

"Or this!" Brooke ran at Nathan.

"Shit," Nathan hopped the railing and was back in the rain, "Not so brave now huh."

Brooke kinked her eyebrow and picked up her soaked skirt and ran down the steps and chased after Nathan, "Take it back." Nathan yelped as he slid on the mud, but didn't fall, giving Brooke the perfect opportunity to pounce, "Take it back!" She screamed from his back.

Nathan laughed, "Never gonna happen Brooke, that dress is hideous and," Nathan wiggled, "It's stabbing me." Brooke gripped tighter and bit Nathan's ear. Nathan fell to the ground, "Damnit Davis, that really hurt."

"Good," Brooke stood up and pretended to smooth out her dress, "Serves you right." Brooke stomped up the steps and found Lucas and Haley laughing, "What's so funny?"

"I have photographic evidence of the day my brother got his ass beat by my girl." Lucas said, struggling for breath. "This is the best day of my life."

*End Flashback*

"Pretty girl," Lucas said, "Where did you go? I lost you."

Brooke shook her head, "I was just thinking about the the day I almost married the wrong man."

"Ahhh, see I like to remember that day as the day you made Nathan your prison bitch." Lucas smiled and took out his phone.

"What are you doing?" Brooke asked as they reached the park.

Lucas put his phone back in his breast pocket, "I was just sending Nate a quick message. Are they still going to be in New York in a few weeks?"

"Yes," Brooke grinned at the infinite possibilities of that single text message, "Nathan is playing at The Garden and Haley decided to come up with him. We are having dinner with them after Tuesday nights game."

Lucas spotted a horse drawn carriage with a coachman, "See and you were worried about lines, no one is here."

"It's because the weather turned," Brooke looked towards the heavens, "It looks like snow."

Lucas ignored the snow remark, "Sir we would like to take a ride around the park are you available?"

"Yes sir," The man tipped his hat to Lucas, "Step aboard." After a few minutes of silence the drive spoke again, "So are we celebrating anything this evening?"

"Yes," Brooke smiled, "My husband here just published his first book."

"Congratulations sir," The driver looked back, "And forgive me for saying but you both look too young to be married."

"Thank you," Lucas kissed Brooke's hand, "We've been married for about six months now and some days it's surreal. I have to pinch myself." Brooke rolled her eyes at Lucas and laughed.

"Newlyweds, congratulations again." He put up his hand, "I have been married to my lady Adelaide for almost thirty-five years."

"Wow," Brooke gasped, "What is your secret?"

"Happiness is key," He smiled, "Try not to go to bed angry and remember there are only two people in your marriage. Any children?"

"No, not yet. We are just enjoying being together." Brooke nuzzled into Lucas's chest, "We have talked about it though."

"When you have children, love them, love them with everything you have, but remember to love each other first." The driver patted the horse in front of him, "Children grow up and leave the nest someday, and all you will have left is each other. So learn to love each other now or you won't be able to in the future."

Lucas smiled, "The future. Now there is something I love to envision."

"Is that so," The driver pulled up to his carriage stall and turned around, "Let's hear it."

Brooke's face brightened up, "We will have to be bi-coastal because of our jobs until we have children then we will settle down and raise our family..."

"In Tree Hill," Lucas finished, "That's a small town in North Carolina," Lucas added for the driver's benefit, "How many children did we decide on pretty girl?"

"Three," Brooke laughed, "Two boys and a girl. No nannies, no help, no assistants. I want us to be the ultimate power couple, Naley won't have anything on us."

The driver opened the carriage door, "Well I wish you both good luck." Lucas opened his wallet to pay for the ride, "No, this ride was on me. Congratulations on your book and your marriage. Have a good night, I need to get Bessie here back to the stables before the snow rolls in."

Brooke and Lucas walked briskly to the nearest park exit, "Let's head home pretty girl."

"Sounds like a plan broody," Brooke cinched her jacket tighter. "Do you think he was right?"

"Who was right?" Lucas asked as they crossed the street.

"The carriage driver and his marriage advice," Brooke hurried to keep up with Lucas.

Lucas pulled Brooke into a warm embrace and kissed her nose, "I hope so. If the key to thirty five years of marital bliss is keeping you happy I'm game." He kissed her lips, "I'm in for the long haul, he did miss one important key though."

Brooke pulled back, "Oh really, what is that?"

"An active sex life," Lucas said matter of factually, "That has to be important too."

Brooke slapped his chest and pulled him to the door of their apartment building, "You are such a dweeb."

"That is true, but I am your dweeb Brooke Scott. You are stuck with me for-ever."

Brooke shrugged, "It could be worse. Now let's go home before I change my mind."

*~* The End *~*

So what did you all think? I hope you all loved this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. I am sorry for the delay in posting this final chapter, I was having an issue with the fanfiction app. Thank you to all of my readers! You guys are amazing! As I mentioned before after I finish Thinking of You I am taking a little brucas break to focus on my other 'ship' stories. If anyone has any story ideas, feel free to forward them to me. One great idea could snap me out of my little brucas funk, so keep the coming. Thank you again for all the love... I would love to see this story hit three digits so if you're reading please take a moment to leave a review and let me know what you thought. :)

-Krystal