Banished from the island by Hayley, the boys were hanging out at River Court. While Nathan and Clay challenged Skills and Chase on the court, Mouth was narrating on the sidelines. Watching the game, Lucas broke the bad news to his nephew.

Lucas: "Jaime, buddy, I'm leaving tomorrow."

Jaime: "Why? Is Sawyer ok?"

L: "Yes, she's fine. I'll be back soon to see you."

J: "I don't want you to go."

L: "I don't want to go either, but I have to."

J: "Brooke's going to be mad you're not staying for the wedding."

L: "You can help me with that. Take care of her for me?"

J: "I'll try. It's not going to be easy."

L: "Never is. But if anyone can do it, it's you."

J: "Did something happen? You look sad. Are you ok?"

L: "I am sad to leave you, Jamie. But I don't want you to worry. I'm going to be just fine."

J: "What can I do?"

L: "You're already doing it. Hey, I found something back at the house for you and Lily. But, since the men were kicked out for the day, it has to wait. Brooke can set it up for you guys tomorrow."

J: "What is it?"

L: "A surprise. Just remind Brooke about it, ok?"

J: "Cool."

L: "One more thing. Come see me in New York? We both know your parents can't say no to you."

J: "I do kind of have them wrapped around my finger, don't I?"

L: "Brat."

J: "And proud of it."

Skills and Chase, the losers on court, treated the rest of the gang to lunch in town. After lunch, they picked up Andy from the house and left Jaime behind with Lily and the babysitter. Soon the outing required afternoon drinks and the boys ended up at Tric, where they were met with Chris Keller sitting at the bar.

Nathan: "What are you still doing here?"

Chris: "Of all the gin joints. Look everybody, my dearest and closest buds. I'm so glad you found me."

Nathan took out his wallet and threw at Chris a couple $20 bills, which landed on the bar.

Nathan: "I'm sure there's a bus out of town soon enough. Ticket's on me."

C: "You might want to spread the love out. I'll be here a few more days. Alex asked me to be her date for the wedding."

Lucas: "Nathan, let him be. It's not worth it."

Chris picked up the bills off the bar and ordered three tequila shots.

C: "Hey, on the bright side, drinks are on me."

Handing the shot glasses to Nathan and Lucas, he offered a toast.

C: "Truce? To burying the hatchet? Temporarily? Come on. Bottoms up."

Lucas and Nathan hesitantly took the offered shot glasses and downed the tequila. Walking away from him, the brothers sat on the other side of the bar. When Lucas kept ordering one tequila shot after another, Nathan had to intervene.

Nathan: "Maybe you should take it easy Luke."

Lucas: "I'm fine."

N: "I'm not even sure you can sit straight without falling of the stool."

Lucas stood up briefly to demonstrate he was sober enough, but he was wobbling.

L: "As I said, I'm fine."

N: "How about a glass of water?"

L: "Water doesn't help erase his smug face off my mind."

N: "Why do I get the feeling this is about more than Keller?"

L: "I'm leaving tomorrow morning."

N: "Brooke."

Lucas raised another shot glass and drank to his brother guessing right.

L: "Brooke. She doesn't want anything to do with me. Done, over. She doesn't love me or care what I do...correction, who I do. Isn't that great? I'm free. Let's drink to being freaking free. Cheers!"

Laughing at his fate, Lucas downed another shot.

N: "Luke, slow down."

L: "No, you should catch up. Come on. We both know you can drink."

Nathan was beginning to get annoyed.

N: "Getting smashed isn't the answer."

L: "You should know. Sure feels better though."

N: "Talk to me again in the morning."

L: "What is the answer, brother? Huh? Should I burn everything, paint over her pictures? Shall I get mad enough to crash my car?"

Nathan understood his brother was hurting but he had had enough of the innuendo.

N: "Ok, that's enough."

L: "Oh I know. I should go get her, right? Kidnap her away from all this?"

N: "If you would stop being an ass for one second..."

Lucas stood up and called for his friends. With arms in the air, he was announcing his brilliant plan.

L: "Hey everybody! We're crashing the party! Come on, let's go see what the girls are up to!"

Before Nathan could stop Lucas, the wheels were put in motion. Chris fuelled the fire, Mouth and Clay jumped onboard. Nathan could only stand and watch them all walk out led by his drunk brother on a desperate mission. He paid everyone's bar tab and ran after them. The whole way to the marina, he tried unsuccessfully to convince Lucas not to pursue this plan he believed was bound to fail. It was only when Andy's yacht docked at the island pier that a semi-sobered up Lucas realized the error of his ways. It was too late to turn around, but he couldn't move forward either. While the boys went ahead to crash the girls' party, he first apologized to Nathan and then thanked him for taking care of him even though he made it almost impossible. He told him he couldn't join them. He would stay behind, maybe take a walk on the beach, and try to sober up.

When everybody left, Lucas stood alone staring at the house for a while. He had promised himself, more importantly, he had promised Brooke, that he would not bother her anymore. He would stay away. He had every intention to keep that promise. Walking across the beach towards the gardens, he thought she didn't have to see him. He could approach unseen from the back gardens and look inside from the terrace. He was leaving the next morning, and all he wanted was to see her one last time. As he walked through the garden, he heard first the faint sound of a piano and then Hayley's voice.

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

That was when Lucas saw her. She was alone staring out into the ocean. Holding her phone close to her chest, she had this content smile on her face. She didn't see him at first. But then the wind shifted and he could see in her face that she felt his presence. He hesitated, not knowing whether he should stay still or walk away before she would turn around. He would let her decide what happened next. When she turned around to face him, it was as if she knew he would be there.

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

Falling for one of nature's loveliest tricks, to stop speech when words become superfluous, Brooke and Lucas simply looked at each other. Motionless, it was as if he was trying to memorize her face. Breathless, it was as if she was trying to keep him there, in that moment, forever.

~~~
Hayley singing: "You hold me without touch. You keep me without chains.
I never wanted anything so much than to drown in your love and not feel your rain."
~~~

Brooke slowly took off her tiara and let it drop on the ground. She took a couple of steps forward toward Lucas. He took his hands out of his pockets and took a step forward as well. Still walking, Brooke reached for her bachelorette sash, pulled it over her head and dropped it on the ground. He took the last few steps forward bringing him close enough to touch her. There in the middle of the garden, under a million stars, while the moonlight kissed the sea and the waves clasped one another, Brooke and Lucas stood together, eyes locked, inches apart.

~~~
Hayley singing: "Set me free, leave me be.
I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity.
Here I am and I stand so tall, just the way I'm supposed to be.
But you're on to me and all over me."
~~~

Lucas smiled, looked down on the ground and up at Brooke again. He held out his hand for her. Brooke smiled back and placed her hand on his. She closed in the distance between them, and it wasn't long before they found themselves moving to the sound of music. She rested her head on his chest and he held her waist tight in his arms.

~~~
Hayley singing: "You loved me 'cause I'm fragile.
When I thought that I was strong.
But you touch me for a little while and all my fragile strength is gone."
~~~

She thought how familiar this was...comfortable, safe. It was as if no time had passed since their dance years ago at Nathan and Hayley's wedding before everything fell apart. But, time had passed...so much had happened... they were different now. For the length of this one song, she could pretend they were still those two young people in love who while dancing felt like no one else existed in the world...no worries, just them. She could forget that she was keeping a big secret from him. But the song would end...too soon for Brooke.

Lucas rested his head on Brooke's. If there was a way to keep her in his arms just like this, forever, he wished he would find it. In that moment, for that one song, he felt more content and complete than he had for months. But the song would end...too soon for Lucas.

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

They didn't let go when Hayley stopped playing. Rather they both lingered for a few more seconds before looking at each other. Then Lucas did the simplest thing in the world. He leaned down and kissed her. And the world cracked open. All the longing, dreams, and anguish that slept deep within them came awake. Was it a goodbye kiss that resembled a greeting instead, the first snowfall, a pledge of future bliss? Was it a kiss that sealed their fate in inevitable sorrow, one last thrilling act of farewell? All she knew was that when he kissed her, he wiped out the years apart. She felt a final surrender, like after a long search, she had finally found herself. All he knew was that when she kissed him back, he no longer hurt. Somehow, everything was transformed...everything made sense.

The moment would be cut too soon. Lucas first felt Brooke slip away, then heard her cry out. When he opened his eyes, he saw that she was doubled over in pain, holding her stomach with both hands.

Brooke: "No! The baby!"

There was the black solitude of the islands,
and there, woman of love, your arms took me in.
There was thirst and hunger, and you were the fruit.
There were grief and ruins, and you were the miracle.
~Pablo Neruda

Author's Note: In this chapter, while Brooke and Lucas dance, Hayley James Scott sings an acoustic version of Gravity from Sara Bareilles's 2004 debut album, Careful Confessions. It was Agnes de Mille, the American dancer (1905-1993), who first said: "...then I did the simplest thing in the world. I leaned down... and kissed him. And the world cracked open."