Author's Note: This chapter is dedicated to friendships of all kinds. And, to those who miss the ever so complicated relationship that was Breyton. After all, a girl does not get married without the presence of her "best friend."

Brooke woke up that morning wondering how she got to her bed from the garden the night before. Before she could figure out that Lucas must have carried her upstairs, her phone started ringing. Reaching for it on her nightstand, she saw the caller ID and remembered that her last bridesmaid was arriving that day.

Brooke: "Are you here yet? I'll be down there in a second."

She quickly got out of bed, put her robe on and ran down the stairs. Running through the house, she almost knocked Hayley over.

Hayley: "What's gotten into you?"

B: "Sorry, Sam's here!"

As soon as she went outside, she saw the boat dock on the pier. With the widest smile she ever had, Brooke ran through the front garden, across the beach and onto the pier. Her crazy excitement was matched only by that of Sam's. When they finally met halfway down the pier, it was the hug that carried the yearning from years apart. They had spoken often and kept in touch over email, but Brooke hadn't seen Sam since she left Tree Hill over 3 years ago.

Brooke: "Look at you. My God, you are so grown up."

Sam: "In a good way, right?"

B: "I've missed you so much."

S: "Apparently so much that you couldn't put some clothes on, or maybe even shoes, before you ran out."

B: "Yeah, yeah. I know you love me too."

Brooke and Sam were arm in arm walking back to the house.

S: "Where's Julian?"

B: "He's in Vegas for his bachelor party. He'll be back tomorrow."

S: "Better check him at the door for glitter."

B: "I have taught you well. How's school?"

Sam had just started her freshman year at the University of Virginia. She was studying English on the creative writing track.

S: "It's only been a couple of weeks but so far so good."

B: "Did you get my college survival kit yet?"

S: "You know I get the big coffee mug, the packs of candy, even the dictionary. But, how exactly does pepper spray fit the pattern?"

B: "Call me after your first fraternity party, kid. It's every young woman's required campus accessory."

S: "Thank you for everything."

B: "You're welcome."

S: "And I do mean everything. I wouldn't be at college if it wasn't for you."

When Sam's mother couldn't afford tuition, Brooke had volunteered to pay for her education.

B: "Don't mention it. I'm living vicariously through you Sam Walker."

While Sam reunited with Hayley and Millie and met Quinn, Mia, and Alex back inside the house, Brooke couldn't help but notice the boys were gone.

Brooke: "How come we're low on testosterone?"

Hayley: "Well, we kicked them off the island for the day. They're on strict orders not to return until tomorrow. No boys allowed at this bachelorette party. Well, maybe no boys was a little premature."

Sam: "Seems I arrived just in time."

While the girls joined the newly arrived Victoria and Karen out on the terrace for breakfast, Brooke took Sam upstairs to her room to settle in.

Sam: "Where's Peyton?"

Brooke: "I don't think she's coming."

S: "How come?"

B: "She and Lucas are having some problems, so I don't think she felt comfortable."

S: "She should be here, Brooke. Don't you think?"

B: "I know, but I can't force her to show up."

S: "These problems must be serious if she is missing your wedding."

A part of her agreed with Sam...the part that wanted her best friend at her wedding. The fact that Peyton hadn't come told her that she must have known what Lucas had been planning to do. And despite being saddened by her absence, Brooke understood and accepted why Peyton did not want to be there.

B: "That's nothing for you to worry about. Now, let's get you settled."

A short while later, Sam and Brooke joined the rest of the girls for breakfast. The lazy morning of gossiping about boys turned into an afternoon of mimosas and bloody marys in the sun on the beach. In her usual lack of motherly tact, Victoria made a comment about how her daughter had begun to put on some weight making Brooke shift uncomfortably on her chair. In a moment of rare clarity, Millie pulled Brooke away from the group.

Millie: "Brooke, I need to talk to you."

Brooke: "What's up?"

M: "Ok, I'm not sure how to ask you this, but I've been noticing you don't drink and Victoria talking about you gaining weight..."

B: "Millie, yes."

M: "...not that you don't look great. Hot, really. You've been throwing up in the mornings..."

B: "If you would just listen to me, I'm trying to tell you something."

M: "...and the mood swings. I mean Lucas showing up would throw anyone off their rocker, but..."

B: "I am pregnant."

M: "...I'm just wondering, maybe there's a chance...wait, what did you say?"

B: "I'm pregnant."

M: "Oh my God! Brooke!"

B: "I know. I can't believe it myself."

Millie hugged her friend with the intensity of having heard the best news ever.

M: "Congratulations. I don't think it could have happened to a person more deserving."

B: "Oh Millie, don't cry."

M: "Happy tears. See? How long have you known?"

B: "Three weeks."

M: "Why didn't you tell me?"

B: "I haven't told anyone."

M: "No one?"

B: "Hayley figured it out but that's it. And, I need to keep it that way for a little while longer."

M: "You want to wait until Julian's back?"

B: "Something like that. Will you keep it a secret? Please?"

M: "Ok, sure. My lips are sealed."

B: "Thank you. But, you are going to have to wipe that Brooke's-pregnant grin off your face before we go back there."

M: "I don't know if I can do that."

B: "Well, picture a naked Chris Keller making out with Alex on the kitchen counter."

M: "Yep, that'll do the trick."

B: "Now you know how I felt last night."

The sun had begun to set when Brooke and Millie returned to the beach. Brooke saw that her bridesmaids, Hayley and Sam, were already wearing T-shirts made especially for the occasion, sleeveless black with red lettering reading Brookesmaid #3 and #4, respectively, across the front and HosOverBros in the back. As the Brookesmaid #1, Millie quickly put on hers too. Brooke couldn't help but notice that one final T-shirt, Peyton's #2, was left to the side, unclaimed. Karen and Victoria presented Brooke with a sash to wear for the rest of the evening. They claimed that since it was clear who would be wearing the pants in her household, the sash had to read Mrs. Julian Davis. Alex reached in her bag to take out the final missing piece and placed it on an unsuspecting Brooke's head.

Alex: "We thought a tiara is more Brooke Davis's style...you know, as opposed to a veil."

Brooke shouldn't have been surprised that the tiara was made up of tiny penises. After all, tasteful and classy rarely existed in Alex's world. When the party finally moved to the back terrace for dinner, most of them were already tipsy and all were having a great time. Dinner started with relatively safe toasts to the happy couple, until a tipsy Victoria decided she had to give her daughter much needed wedding night advice.

Brooke: "Mother, that ship has sailed some time ago. And Sam's too young for your stories."

Sam: "I'm 18. What were you doing when you were 18 Brooke?"

B: "Studying, day and night. As you should be."

Hayley: "Not exactly how I remember it."

B: "Excuse me, how old were you when you had Jaime?"

Unfortunately, laughter was cut short by what sounded like an alarm.

B: "Is that a fire alarm? You guys stay here. I'll go check what's going on."

Millie stopped Brooke and pointed to a group of firemen approaching from inside the house.

B: "But, how did they get here so quickly? Wait a minute...is this..."

Fireman: "Ladies, we're going to have to shut this party down."

Alex: "But, officer, why? Have we been bad?"

B: "I can't believe you did this."

Sam: "What's going on?"

Fireman: "There are too many hot women in one place. We felt the flames all the way from the mainland."

B: "Oh God no."

Sam: "Are they..."

Fireman: "You have only two options. We can hose you down..."

Hayley: "Yeah!"

B: "Hayley!"

Fireman: "...or join you."

As the music started playing and one by one the "firemen" lost their shirts, Brooke didn't know if she should be covering Sam's eyes or just get up and dance along. Soon, a lot more than the shirts came off and everyone found out how many single dollar bills Victoria carried in her purse. Somehow Brooke found herself sitting in a chair in the middle of the terrace surrounded by almost naked pulsating bodies. A few attempted semi-successfully to restrain Alex and Victoria so they would keep their hands to themselves. When the music stopped and the men bowed, saying their goodbyes, Brooke was left not only with a bright red face, but also an appreciation for naughty girl friends. As the firemen walked out amongst applause and whistles, the boys walked in confusion.

Hayley: "What are you doing here?"

Nathan: "Crashing the party. I thought you said no boys allowed."

H: "Well, you see there was a fire, so we had to make an exception."

N: "The naked kind?"

H: "That's right."

N: "Ladies and gentlemen, my wife, the chippendale groupie."

As Hayley gave her husband a welcome back kiss, Quinn did the same with Clay. While Millie greeted Mouth with a hug, Mia handed Chase a drink. Brooke didn't have to wonder why Chris Keller was back when she saw Alex jump in his arms. Karen took a call from Andy telling her he was waiting at the pier to take her back home. Saying her goodbyes, Karen offered Victoria a ride home as well. Brooke searched for Lucas in the crowd, but he wasn't there. There among the happy couples, Brooke stood alone...until Sam put her arm around her waist and head on her shoulder.

Sam: "You miss him."

Brooke: "More than you know."

What Sam didn't know was that, at that moment, it wasn't her fiancé Brooke was missing...it wasn't his face she had searched for in the crowd. Sam's arrival and the bachelorette festivities had provided just enough distraction so she didn't have time all day to think about Lucas's parting words from last night or him leaving the next morning. But now that was all she could think about. She watched Nathan and Hayley playfully recount the events of their respective nights. How did they do it all these years? What was this best kept secret in town...this magic formula to a happy relationship? Over the years, the more Brooke got desperate to unlock the secret, it somehow got more brilliant at hiding from her. She was so lost in thoughts that it took Sam a few tries to get her attention.

Sam: "Brooke? Brooke, your phone. It's ringing."

Brooke didn't recognize the number but thought it might be Julian. They had spoken a couple times the day before but he hadn't yet called that day. She took the stairs down from the terrace to the back garden so she could have some privacy.

Brooke: "Hello?"

Peyton: "Hi Brooke."

B: "Peyton?"

P: "The one and only. It's so good to hear your voice."

B: "You have no idea how glad I am that you called. How's my namesake niece doing?"

P: "Fast asleep, probably dreaming about unicorns."

B: "Or becoming a rock star. You forget whose kid we're talking about here. Kiss her for me, will you?"

P: "Everyday. So, have they put out the fire yet?"

B: "How did you know?"

P: "I have spies everywhere. And, I still get phone calls asking me if I know where to find male strippers in Tree Hill."

B: "I wish you were here."

P: "And, I wish I was there."

B: "Why aren't you?"

P: "Don't be mad. You know why. I would be there if I could. In a heartbeat."

They were both silent for a moment.

P: "Are you happy?"

B: "I don't know."

P: "What's missing?"

B: "You mean besides you?"

P: "Yes, besides me. What will make you happy? Don't be afraid of what you want."

B: "What if I don't trust in what I want? Tell me what to do."

P: "I can't do that. But I can tell you to trust in yourself, to trust in your heart. I always did. I still do. So does he. Let him tell you what's in his heart. Hear him, Brooke. Really hear him."

B: "I miss you P. Sawyer."

P: "Not half as much as I miss you."

B: "Are you happy?"

P: "Very."

B: "So, what happens now?"

P: "That's easy. You promise to listen to your heart, tell me you love me, and go back to your party."

B: "Just like that?"

P: "Come on. Promise."

B: "I promise."

P: "I love you."

B: "I love you too."

P: "Now go. Destiny awaits."

B: "Bye Peyton."

P: "I'll see you Brooke."

Brooke hadn't spoken to Peyton in months, but this was how it always had been with them. Regardless of the time apart, what or who had come between them, or the damage they had done to each other...it took one phone call to cut through the distance, the pain, the time. It took only a few words to see deep into the soul, to remind that there was someone else who understood, someone who cared. And, that night, it took that one phone call, which probably lasted no longer than a minute. Peyton had, once again, managed to tell Brooke exactly what she needed to hear. That was how it always had been with best friends.

When she hung up, Brooke was still alone in the garden. Watching the ocean, she could hear someone start playing the piano. Soon, she could hear Hayley sing too.

~~~
Hayley singing: "Something always brings me back to you. It never takes too long."
~~~

That was when Brooke felt his presence. She didn't know how or why, but something was different. Maybe the air shifted or the sky changed color, or maybe everything was exactly the same. Somehow she knew he was close. And, when she turned around, she saw that she was right. Lucas was there.

~~~
Hayley singing: "No matter what I say or do, I'll still feel you here 'til the moment I'm gone."
~~~

And when you appear
all the rivers sound
in my body, bells
shake the sky,
and a hymn fills the world.
Only you and I,
only you and I, my love,
listen to me.
~Pablo Neruda

Author's Note: In this chapter, Hayley James Scott starts to sing and play on the piano an acoustic version of Gravity from Sara Bareilles's 2004 debut album titled Careful Confessions.