A/N: Hey all... sorry it's been a while since my last update. I had a death in the family a couple weeks ago and with that and the holidays I didn't find myself in the same sort of writing mood. Anyway, thanks to all the readers and especially Love me some Julian, grayfan, fggt16, tanya2byour21, sobreyra274, and Julchen1515 for all your fabulous reviews. Sorry there is not too much Brathan in this chapter but the next three chapters will be filled with them. Hopefully the next chapter should be up this weekend if all goes according to plan. Anyway, without further adeiu...

Rose Bouquet

Forget the bitter end, can you remember when?
We sang, we laughed, they all watched us dance.
And they circled around us and toasted to forever.
We played to win, we never gave in.
And we threw it all away,
like my rose bouquet…

*

Nathan wandered down the stairs to the kitchen, breathing in the aroma of the coffee that sat on the counter. He pulled out a mug, rinsing it quickly with water before pouring himself a cup of the dark steaming liquid. He breathed in the smell and then took a long drink, the warmth of it feeling good against his scratchy throat as his eyes drifted to the window, looking out at the sprinklers as they watered the grass.

Nathan stepped outside, closing the door to silence the loud music and laughter inside before his eyes sought the petite brunette. "Hey," he said as he came closer. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she nodded as she stuck her cell phone in her pocket. "I just came out to check on Sam; Rachel's with her but I still worry after…" she trailed off, seeing in his eyes he knew what she meant. "So," she cleared her throat. "Is this the best bachelor party you've ever been to?"

"It's certainly the most interesting," he laughed. "I can't believe Clay got the country club to rent out their playhouse for strippers."

"Yeah," she nodded with a grin. "Clay's always been pretty persuasive."

"Like you," Nathan tilted his head to the side.

"You should have seen us when we were kids," Brooke smiled in remembrance. "We got into a lot of stuff but we could usually talk ourselves out of it and if not, Jake can argue his way out of a paper bag. We were like the three musketeers; with them I was always one of the boys," she shrugged. "A stylish boy who cross dressed but you get what I'm saying."

He laughed. "Surprisingly, I think I do." Nathan paused briefly as his eyes stared into hers for the briefest of seconds. "I mean I've never been to a bachelor party with a girl, much less one that smokes cigars with the boys and gets lap dances. You're like every guys fantasy Davis," he joked although on some level he was sure it was true.

"Well, somebody's got to do it." She shrugged, "Speaking of, we should probably get back inside."

Nathan stepped a few feet back. "Just wait right there for a minute; don't move."

"Why?" Brooke looked at him quizzically.

"You know Dan's a member of this club and I practically grew up here," he explained, glancing down at his watch.

She kinked an eyebrow at him in confusion. "And that means I should stay where I am why?"

"Because something is about to happen in one," he stepped back a few more steps, "two, three…"

"What the…" Brooke's eyes went wide as she was suddenly being pelted with water from all around her. "Nathan Scott," she rushed towards him and pushed him. "I'm going to kill you!" She reached out to smack his arm but only felt wind.

Nathan laughed as he dodged her, picking up her petite form and bringing her back into the sprinklers before setting her down. She shrieked as she pushed him into the water as well, laughing as he stumbled to keep his balance. He quickly recovered and ran after her, Brooke slipping on the wet grass and pulling him down with her as their laughter echoed in the night.

"Nathan," Peyton's voice broke him out of his thoughts.

He sat the coffee cup on the counter before turning around to look at her. "Hey; you were gone before I got up."

"I went to go see Lizzie," she replied. "Look Nathan, I had a lot of time to think while you were out last night…"

"It was for Jake's bachelor party," he began to explain but stopped when she shook her head.

"You don't need to explain that, I know." She looked up at him, her green orbs meeting his blue, "Like I was saying, I thought a lot last night about everything that's happened and then I went to see Lizzie this morning and I just thought about if she were here, is this what she would want, her parents at each other's throats like this? We've both been so distant and so angry Nathan and I don't want to be like that. I don't want to fight with you."

"I don't want to fight with you either Peyton," he replied, reaching up to tuck an unruly curl behind her ear. "I love our family and even though Liz is gone, we're still a family and she's still a part of it. And I think we owe it to Jamie to still act like one."

"We owe it to ourselves too," she replied as she looked up in his eyes before stepping closer and wrapping her arms around his waist, laying her head against his chest to hear the comforting sound of his heartbeat. "I love you so much Nate."

He curled his arms around her tightly, placing a soft kiss in her blonde tresses. "I love you too Peyton."

Brooke groaned as she rolled over on the couch, reaching out for the Gatorade that was sitting on table and bringing it to her mouth to take a drink, never even opening her eyes.

"I thought I was the teenager here," Sam said from the chair she was sitting in, tapping her foot against the wood floor. "Where were you all night young lady?"

The older brunette opened one eyes at a time, pursing her lips at her sister. "I was at a bachelor party for Jake if you must know," she sat up, yawning as she did so. "It's a rite of passage and I couldn't let my best friend go through that without me."

"If that's your story," Sam laughed. "So, do you have a hangover?"

"Nope," she smiled cheerily. "That's what the Gatorade was for last night. I just drink some in the morning to make sure my brain stays hydrated. Now as you know you shouldn't be drinking but you are a teenager and my little sister so if you do, be sure you have some Gatorade handy before you go to sleep."

"Thanks for the alcoholic tip talk," Sam shook her head with a smile. "I was just waiting for you to get up so I could tell you I was going to go study with Jack, we have this project we're teamed up for and then later we're going to the movies."

"You're spending a lot of time with him," Brooke was fully awake now. "Tell me everything."

"When I get home," she stood up with an eye roll. "By the way, there were some flowers delivered for you this morning." She gestured to the the vase that sat on the table behind the couch.

"Roses," Brooke said as she stood up and came around to smell them, taking in the fragrance of the red flowers along with the baby's breath that complemented them.

"What exactly did you do at that bachelor party?" Sam kinked an eyebrow at her.

"Nothing you perve," Brooke said as she tossed the envelope at her, keeping the card. "They're from Luke." She sighed deeply, "Today is-was our wedding anniversary."

"Oh," she offered her sister a somewhat awkward smile. "I'm sorry," she paused briefly. "I could stay…"

"No sweetheart," she shook her head, cutting her off. "Go have fun." She embraced her quickly.

"Thanks," Sam smiled. "I won't be out too late." She offered her sister a quick wave before walking out the door.

Brooke inhaled the scent of the flowers once more before sitting back down on the couch, sinking into the cushions as she read the card. She couldn't believe that it was already the anniversary of her wedding, of a marriage that didn't last. She smiled sadly to herself, knowing that her mind should be on Lucas and trying to work things out with him. After all, she loved him. Lucas was who she should be thinking about, yet her mind was suddenly filled with memories of last night and another man.

"So with our test marketing done we've decided to discontinue a few products of the line," Lucas stated to the room full of board members. "You will all receive a list of those in packets we're going to send out in the mail. And that completes the agenda," he looked up. "Any questions?" When he saw their heads motioning no he continued, "Well then thank you all for coming; everyone have a nice day." He watched as they all filtered out of the room except for an older blonde and his sister.

Lily looked between the two blondes before speaking to her brother. "I'm just going to go finish typing these up."

"Thanks, I'll call you if I need you. And please shut the door on your way out," he replied before turning to his guest. "I didn't want to say anything in the meeting when you walked in as we were starting but what are you doing here?"

"Is that any way to greet your step-mother," Deb laughed. "You do remember I am still a board member of this company. It's because of my generous investment this company was able to stay afloat years ago when it ran into trouble."

"Trouble Dan caused," he couldn't hide the trace of anger in his voice when he spoke.

"That was a long time ago and I assure you that I've never and don't plan to use anything heard here for the benefit of Phoenix," Deb said as she stood up.

"I know that." He breathed out deeply, running a hand over his buzzed hair. "I've just been under a lot of pressure lately."

"I know you have," she went on to elaborate. "I know about Keith's health issues and I know how hard that must be for you and running this company for them. I think you're doing a wonderful job and I am proud of you."

"Thanks," he smiled genuinely before taking a seat across from her. "But you haven't been to a board meeting since I was appointed to the CEO position so, why are you here?"

"Bevin needed my help to bury the lawsuit rumor," she explained. "Don't worry, I have not told Dan and I do not plan too but I do need to know that you've got a handle on this, for my investment's stake as well as for our family's. The last thing I want is for Dan to do something that'll divide this family again."

"I promise I have a handle on it," Lucas replied. "It's being taken care of as we speak."

"Good," she nodded. "I also understand Brooke Davis came to you with a pitch. I think it would do wonders for House of Scott."

"She told you?" he asked her, surprised.

"I had an idea sometime back for a marketing campaign shortly before you took over but then it wasn't feasible at the time," Deb paused briefly. "Apparently she thinks she can resurrect it with these spas."

"So you're on board with this," Lucas surmised.

"I am and I think you should be too Lucas." Deb added, "This could really keep us in the black."

"I told Brooke it wasn't the right time for this," he shook his head. "If it fails, I don't think we'd recover."

"I don't think it's going to fail," she shook her head. "If I did, I wouldn't be asking you to gamble this company and the only money I have that's solely mine on this idea."

"It's not a no Deb it's just a not now," Lucas replied.

"Well just don't take too long because she will be shopping it around to other places very soon," Deb stood up. "Just think about," she offered him a motherly smile before walking out of his office.

Lucas watched her leave before getting up and walking to his desk to pick up the phone, dialing a number he knew like the back of his hand. "Hey, it's me…"

"Bye," Jake hollered out the door.

"Drive safe," Haley chinned in with a wave before closing the door and turning around to feel her fiancé's arm wrapping around her shoulder. "I love our families but I'm glad they're all going to stay in their separate hotels."

"I know what you mean," he said before giving her a kiss on her forehead and taking her hand as they made their way to the couch and sat down. "It's good to have your brothers here though, isn't it?"

"Yeah," she looked up at him. "I'm disappointed Vincent can't make it but it's great to have Nash and Andrew here. I'm glad we could fit them in as groomsmen so fast." Haley paused briefly. "That's alright, isn't it?"

"Of course," he replied. "I just want everything to be perfect for you."

"It's our wedding day Jake," she reached up to stroke his face. "I want you to be happy too."

"As long as you're happy, I am to." He leaned down to drop a soft kiss on her lips. "I mean it, whatever makes you happy Hales."

"You make me happy," she said before her lips meet his once again, smiling mischievously as they parted. "So, now that they're gone would you be up to play a game?" Haley slid over on the couch.

His brows rose at her question, his eyes peering at her. "What did you have in mind?"

She shrugged, "Oh just a little strip trivia."

"You're on," he laughed as he pulled her towards him, eliciting a yelp from her before his lips meet hers in yet another ardent kiss.

Nathan followed his wife from the parking lot to the door of the small coffee shop. "This is where you wanted to go?"

"Is that so surprising?" she retorted as she grabbed his hand. "Come on." She pulled him up the pathway to the door.

"It's dark Peyt," Nathan said as they came to the door. "Maybe they closed it early."

"They did," she smiled as she took out a key and unlocked the door, "For us." She offered him a smile before stepping inside and turning on the lights. "I kind of rented it out for tonight."

"Okay," he shook his head before taking in the room they were in: the fake Hawaiian lanterns over the Christmas bulbs that were above them, the tiki lights in the corners of the room, and the picnic basket sitting on the counter. "It looks just like…"

"When we met," she finished before he had a chance too. "I think I was fourteen."

"Fourteen and a half," he corrected her as he absorbed their nostalgic scenery. "You were really clear about that." He gave a low chuckle before sighing deeply. "You came in with your mom, all legs and a mess of curly blonde hair. The people who owned it then were having their annual luau theme and my mom dragged me down here and started talking to your mom."

"And we snuck off into the corner while they kept going on and on about parties and galas and crap," she rolled her eyes. "Even then, I think I knew that we'd end up together."

"I knew," he smiled at her as he took her hand. "I remember being so nervous."

"Mr. Cool Nathan Royal Scott nervous?" she raised an eyebrow at him. "You didn't seem nervous when we started meeting up here every weekend or the first time you kissed me," she pointed at the patio, "right out there."

"I remember," he smiled at her as he walked around the room. "We made a lot of memories here."

"And then you bought it for me after high school," she looked over at the counter where she used to serve coffee to customers before looking back at her husband. "I miss it 'ya know; me and you working here, depending on each other, just us…"

"Do you regret us selling it?" Nathan asked, his eyes searching hers.

"Sometimes," she answered honestly as she leaned against the counter. "Don't get me wrong, I love working at Red Bedroom but I do miss us depending on each other for pretty much everything." She sighed deeply. "For so long, it was just me and you against the world, two kids 'ya know and now…" she trailed off.

"And now what?" he stared at her curiously.

"And now there are times when we feel so far apart, like we don't depend on each other for anything." She shook her head, her blonde curls bouncing as she did. "Nate, it sometimes feels like we're strangers living in the same place and I don't want us to be like that." She stepped closer to him, taking his hands in hers as she looked up at him imploringly. "I'm not ready to throw this all away."

"Neither am I Peyton," he replied. "I love you and Jamie, you have to know that."

"I do," she nodded as she felt his arms close around her. "I love you too and we're going to make our way through this Nate, I just know it. We have to."

Nathan nodded silently as he stroked her back lovingly.

Lucas used the poker to shift the log on the fire before standing up and pulling out a bottle of scotch. Just as he was reaching for a glass he heard the sound of the doorbell ringing, pausing in his actions as he walked over to the door and opened it, smiling at the brunette in front of him.

"Hey Luke," Brooke smiled before leaning over to kiss him on the cheek.

"Hey Pretty Girl," he said as he stood back, allowing her entrance. "I wasn't sure if you got my message."

"Truthfully I wasn't sure if I was going to come over but then I went to the store and somewhere between there and my house I found myself on your doorstep," she said as she sat the brown bag on the couch. "Scotch," she appraised the open crystal on the counter before walking over to it and breathing in its aroma. "And it's the good kind too," she looked over at her ex-husband. "A two finger kind of day?"

He rubbed the back of his neck as he let out a deep breath, "Actually three."

She nodded, "Me too."

"I can pour you a glass," he met her at the small bar.

"Actually I have something better in mind," she said before placing the crystal top back on its bottle. "And you've got a fire going too, perfect!" Brooke smiled as she walked back over to where she'd left the bag. "We have chocolate," she held up a couple of massive sized bars before tossing them on the couch. "The mighty graham cracker," she shook the yellow box at him before laying it with the chocolate bars. "And finally," she smiled as she tossed him a plastic bag, "marshmallows."

"Marshmallows," he raised his brows at her before smiling as realization dawned. "You want to make s'mores."

"Exactly," she nodded. "So what do you say?"

"I say I'll go get some skewers," he said before walking out of the room.

Brooke made herself comfortable while he left, spreading the blanket that was over the back of the couch on the floor before kicking off her shoes and lying down in front of the fire with her pile of ingredients. Within a few moments Lucas was back with the skewers and they were well on their way to making and eating s'mores in front of the fire. Time passed as they ate, Lucas breaking out a red wine to compliment their chocolate dessert.

"So," she turned to him after taking another bite of her s'more. "Thank you for the flowers; they were beautiful."

"You're welcome," he smiled. "I know that the last few months have kind of been strained and everything with your proposal but…"

"Let's not talk about that tonight," she interrupted.

"Okay," he said with a laugh, noticing the chocolate on her lip. "Sorry, it's just…"

"What?" she looked around.

"You've just got some chocolate on your lip," he smiled as her infectious giggle filled the room.

"I'm a mess," she wiped at her lip but missed it.

"No it's just right," Lucas moved in closer and before he could stop himself, his lips were on hers, moving over them softly and tasting the bittersweet chocolate off of them.

She pulled back. "Luke," her voice was breathy as she reached up to touch her lips. "I should go; it's getting pretty late."

"You don't have to go," he shook his head, watching as the flames cast an amber glow in her eyes. "I'm sorry Brooke, please stay."

Brooke looked into his loving eyes for a long beat before nodding. "Luke," her voice suddenly sounded small; vulnerable. "Could you just…" She wasn't sure what was coming over her but suddenly she felt desperate to hold on to him; to hold on to what they'd once thrown away even if it was only for this brief moment. "Could you just hold me?"

"Yeah," he said as he wrapped his arms around her, the light from the fire flickering off their skin and casting an eerie light. "I can do that."