Authors note:

I own nothing. Flashbacks in italics…read and review. The title is from a song by Paramore, The Only Exception. Love the song and think it fits my idea of Brooke and Lucas. Hope you like it…I know the timeframe and order of the chapters is not the same as the show, but like I said it's my take on things.

"So," Haley said as she and Brooke sat together on the deck.

"So," Brooke smiled at her friend, "what's up Haley James-Scott?"

"This week has been hard," Haley said, "it's good to see them like this."

"Yeah," Brooke said as they watched Jamie with Nathan and Lucas throwing a football around, "it's nice."

"Are you gonna tell me what's going on with the two of you?"

"I don't know," she sighed. "With everything, we haven't talked, but that's not what's important right now. It's like I told Luke earlier, all of it can wait. I mean this whole thing you guys are going through, losing Quentin, that's what matters now."

"You are a great friend," Haley smiled at her, "but, you and Luke are important too, so don't wait. The thing I've learned from all of this sadness and loss is that you don't always get another day," Haley wiped her eyes, "I don't want that for you guys, you know? When I think about Karen and Keith, it just breaks my heart, and I don't want that for you or Lucas, ok?"

"Ok," Brooke said wiping her eyes. She knew Haley was right.

"Ok," she smiled.

"Hey," Peyton said as she walked outside, "I knocked, but it was unlocked."

"Hey," Haley said as Peyton sat beside her.

"I just wanted to check on you guys, I know today was the services for Quentin."

"We're ok," Haley said as they watched Nathan and Lucas with Jamie, "it's hard, but we're ok."

"I'm here for you guys, Julian and I both are," she said, "for all of you."

"That means a lot Peyton, thanks," Haley said as they hugged.

"So, I know that the timing isn't great," Peyton said looking at her friends, "but I wanted to tell you guys something."

"What's up," Brooke asked.

"Well Julian and I are getting married."

"Yeah, buddy, we got that memo," Brooke smiled, "I am making your dress remember?"

"I know," Peyton said, "but, I am," she hesitated, "well we are pregnant."

"Oh my god," Haley said wrapping her arms around the blonde, "congratulations Peyton."

"Thank you," she said, they both stared at Brooke who looked like she was in shock, "Brooke, honey, are you ok? This is great, Julian and I are so happy, it's a good thing."

"No," Brooke said, "No, I don't mean that, P. Sawyer, I am happy for you and producer boy," she hesitated, "it's just that I finished your dress. Your skinny girl corset dress, Peyton, your form fitting, beautiful, one of a kind Brooke Davis dress. And honey, you're skinny, but a pregnant Peyton is not fitting that dress."

"Brooke," Haley said as they all three began to laugh.

"It's ok," Peyton said as they hugged, "we'll design a new dress."

"Congratulations Peyton," Brooke said, "I'm happy for you guys."

"Thanks, B. Davis," she said, "that means a lot."

"You know he has her wrapped around his finger, right," Haley asked as she sat with Lucas in the kitchen. Jamie had just conned Brooke and Nathan in to telling him a bedtime story, "but, you do too."

"I don't know about that," Lucas said.

"This day has been hard," she said.

"Yeah, it has, but it's easier with people you love around you."

"Yeah," she said, "it is."

"So Peyton is pregnant," he asked.

"Yeah," Haley said, "she seems really happy too. I never imagined Peyton being a mom and wife, you know?"

"Love changes people," Lucas said, "look at Nathan. Would you have thought eight years ago that you and me would be here? That this would be our lives?"

"Me married to your brother," she smiled, "and you in love with Brooke Davis? Nah," she chuckled, "but that is one thing I'm happy to say I would have been wrong about."

"Me too," he said.

"How is your mom?"

"Mom is good," he said, "she's happy with Andy, and I'm happy for them. It doesn't mean I miss Keith any less, but I can see that they are happy. They're getting married."

"Really," Haley asked.

"Yeah," he smiled, "they haven't decided when, but they are. She wants to have it here in Tree Hill with everyone."

"I remember when she told us they were engaged, her and Keith," Haley said, "it was a long time ago."

"Yeah," he said, "he loved her."

"Yeah, he did, and she loved him too," Haley said wiping her eyes, "it's hard to think about how close they were to happily ever after, and it just got ripped away. I don't want that for you Lucas, ok? I want you to be happy."

"Me too," he said as he kissed the top of her head. "I am gonna head home," he said as he stood up, "will you tell Nathan and Brooke?"

"Yeah," she said.

"He is your son," Brooke smiled at Nathan as they walked in to the kitchen.

"He does have my charm," Nathan smiled as he looked to Haley, "where's Luke?"

"He went home," she said, "he said to tell you both goodnight."

"Ok," Nathan said as he looked to Brooke, trying to gauge her reaction.

"Haley James-Scott," Brooke said, "you have yourself a heartbreaker in that little boy."

"Can't imagine where he gets it," Haley said as she wrapped her arms around Nathan, "his father or his uncle."

"He's a lucky kid," Brooke said as she watched Nathan and Haley, "you two are doing amazing with him."

"Thanks, but I think his godparents are pretty good too," Nathan said with a smile as he kissed the top of Haley's head.

"I think I'm gonna head home," Brooke said as she picked up her purse.

"Ok," Haley said as they hugged, "love you tigger. Thanks for being here today, it means a lot to all of us."

"You're welcome," Brooke said, "I love you too tutor-mom, and I wouldn't have been anywhere else."

"I'll walk you out," Nathan said as he put an arm around Brooke.

"I'm so sorry for your loss, Nate, I know this has been hard on you guys," Brooke said as they hugged on the porch.

"It has, but it's a little easier with friends around."

"Yeah," she said as she turned to leave.

"Brooke," he said as she turned towards him, "he's a mess, Luke," she nodded, "but don't let him push you out ok? You're the only one who can reach him, so don't give up on him, ok?" She nodded and made her way to her car.

"Hey," he said as he opened his door.

"Hey," she said as she looked up at him, "I know it's late, and I know it's been a long day, but I was hoping we could talk."

"Yeah," he said opening the door, "come in."

"I know this is hard for you Lucas," she said as they stood awkwardly in the living room, "but I'm here for you, ok? If you need anything, I'm here."

"Thanks, Brooke," he said as he ran his hands through his hair.

"I know that you're going through a lot right now, losing Quentin and everything, but I need you to hear me out, ok?"

"Ok," he said as he looked at her.

"I've always been this girl," she said tears in her eyes, "the party girl, the girl sleeping with whoever, the drinker, the fun one. I've always been seen that way, but not with you. With you, Lucas, it's different. It' s like you see me, and that scares me."

"Brooke, that's not you, I know that," he whispered as he tried to wipe her eyes, she pulled away.

"I never thought that love was enough, you know? I never believed that someone could love me, that I was enough," she said wiping her eyes, "I remember being a kid and my parents throwing money at me so they didn't have to spend time with me. And I always thought that's what I deserved. But you changed that, you changed me. And I wrote you letters…"

"I know," he said, "I was going to tell you, but all of this with Q happened and I didn't get to."

"You changed me, you made me see the world differently Lucas, and you made me see myself differently. I've always had to be strong and be able to take care of myself because I could never count on anyone else," she said, tears streaming her face, "that's what I saw in my parents you know? And Peyton's mom died, we were so young, I just thought life was all bad and if I ever let the good in because it would just end bad. So I lived alone, and anytime something was good, I pushed it away. I convinced myself that the loneliness was ok, that I actually liked it, that it is what I chose, what I wanted. I pushed you to Peyton," she said wiping her eyes, "because I was scared. She thought she loved you and she told me that, and that was my excuse. I pushed you towards her, because in my mind it was inevitable, Lucas. In my mind you were always going to leave me. You were never going to be my forever. And then you showed up in New York, Luke, and you stole my heart again and you had me. You had my heart that night, I couldn't stop it. But when I woke up I ran."

"I tried…"

"I love you. It's that simple, I love you, Lucas, you are the only exception in this world. You are the guy I want to be with, you are the one. And it scares me so much," she wiped her eyes, "I am so afraid of letting myself love you, because what if you change your mind? What if you decide to leave, that I'm not enough? I don't know if I can deal with that, Luke, I don't know if I am strong enough for that."

"Hey," he said cupping her face, "Brooke Davis, you are one of the strongest people I know, ok," he asked, "but I promise you, you never have to worry about any of that, ok? Never," he said as he wrapped his arms around her, "wait here."

"Lucas," she said as he walked towards his room.

"I love you," he said as he kissed the top of her head, "Brooke Davis I am in love with you, only you. It's always been you." He showed her a small black box.

"Luke," she whispered as he opened the box, "that's…"

"Yeah," he said wiping her cheek, "it's the ring Keith gave my mom, Brooke. She gave it to me right after he died, she wanted me to give it to the woman I wanted to spend my life with. And along the way there was Peyton and Lindsey, but this ring, Brooke, it's always been meant for you. No one has worn this ring except my mom, and one day hopefully you. I know we're not ready yet," he said as he looked into her eyes, "but someday, when we are I want you to wear this ring. I love you, and Brooke, I will always be here, no matter what, ok," she nodded with tears streaming her face, he kissed her forehead, "you are the only exception Brooke Davis. I never knew what it was like to love someone, to be in love with someone until you. You saved me so many times."

"I love you," she said as she looked up into his blue eyes, "I love you Lucas Scott."

"I love you too," he said as they kissed.