A/N: Here it is…the final chapter of part 1 I will say…I hope you all like the turn of events, but if you don't it really doesn't matter because it's my story and not yours. Enjoy!
Chapter 25: Ahead of Time
The local church in Tree Hill was filled with friends and family members of the Davis family. The church was decorated in a way that would make any bride be happy that their dreams were coming true. Near the front of the chapel, two brides were standing and holding hands, facing each other while their speaker spoke. In the front pew, the two brides' families were all smiles as they listened to the ceremony.
"Sooner or later we begin to understand that love is more than verses on Valentine's Day and romance in movies. We begin to know that love is here and now, real and true, the most important thing in our lives. For love is the creator of our favorite memories and foundation of our fondest dreams. Without love, we merely exist. With love, we truly begin to live!"
The last time the Davis family was in the church was five years ago and now they are here again to celebrate another day with a wedding of two loved ones.
"For love is a promise that is always kept, a fortune that can never be spent, a seed that can flourish in even the most unlikely place. And this radiance that never fades, this mysterious and magical joy is the greatest treasure of all-one known only by those who truly love. We are together as friends, relatives and family to mark the end of one beginning and to recognize officially a new beginning which for Aria and Samantha serves as a public affirmation of their friendship and their love."
In the front pew, Brooke and Peyton were holding hands as they watched their daughter get married. On Peyton's right side, nine year old Sawyer was sitting in her favorite pink dress with a smile on her face. On Brooke's left side, her and Peyton's three year old son was sitting quietly in his pants suit.
"Today, your separate lives, each with your individually memories, desires and hopes, merge into one life-a new dimension. Happiness is not something that just happens. A great partnership must be created. In the art of commitment the little things are the big things."
Brooke and Peyton's engagement didn't last very long. It had only been long enough to plan a wedding and when the wedding was planned the wedding started just as fast. Brooke and Peyton had both agreed that they had already felt married so they had decided that being engaged was just a formality although Brooke really loved her ring.
"It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say, I love you, out loud, at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family. It is at no time taking the other for granted…for what you take for granted, disappears. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in a spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is having the capacity to forgive and not bring it up later. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful in each other. It is not expecting each other to wear a halo or to have the wings of an angel. It is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. It is not only committing to the right partner, it is BEING the right partner."
Brooke looks down at her son when she feels tapping on her thigh. Brooke smiled gently down at Jude because she knew he was getting a little restless. Peyton looked forward and smiled. Jude had been carefully planned out. She and Brooke knew that it was going to be Brooke that was going to carry their child because Peyton had almost died giving birth to Sawyer. The moment that Jude came into the world crying his little heart out, Peyton knew that live was perfect.
"Aria and Samantha, will you release the past, bringing only those memories, desires and hopes which will belong to each other, into your future life together?"
Sam and Aria stare lovingly in each other's eyes as they both answer.
"We will."
"At this time Aria and Samantha would like to make some personal promises to each other."
"Samantha, I promise to be there for you when things are rough. I promise to love you with all of my heart and that no matter what happens I will always be there for you. I'm not one to make promises in case I end up breaking them, but this I promise. I will love you forever and ever."
"Aria, it is true that you don't make promises. I don't either in the fear that I break them. You have been there for me through everything. You made me realize that I wasn't worthless. You loved me for me and not what I could do or for my looks. You were just there. I promise you that I will love you to the end of time."
Brooke leans her head on her wife's shoulder as she watches the ceremony continue. In the last five years Sam had down extremely well. The summer writing program that Sam had gotten into had basically jumped started her career despite being in high school. Sam had gained the skills she needed to become an author, but she had surprised them all by going to college to get her teaching degree. Sam hadn't been the only one to grow in five years either.
"These rings will be worn by Aria and Samantha to show to the world their love and commitment to one another. May the presence of these rings always remind you of the eternal love you have pledged and devotion you willingly share with one another from this moment on."
Aria had gotten an undergraduates degree and she was seriously thinking about going to law school. Sam had encouraged her greatly, but Aria was hesitant because law school was expensive and she honestly didn't know if she could do it.
"Let each of us in his own way, may it be prayer, may it be by a thought, whatever you and I would wish for this couple, let's pray or have our own thoughts as a blessing upon these rings. Let us pause at this time for these silent blessings."
Everyone was silent in the crowd.
"These rings, now blessed are a symbol of love and faithfulness. They seal the vows of marriage and represent a promise of forever love."
Aria and Samantha exchange rings with smiles.
"Now that Aria and Samantha have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of a ring, I now pronounce you partners for life. You may now seal your promises with a kiss."
And kiss they did.
-Complications of the Heart-
Two Weeks Later
The Davis family was all gathered at the dinner table eating their breakfast. Brooke and Peyton were at opposite ends of the table and Jude and Sawyer were on the sides.
"Sam and Aria will be coming home tomorrow," Brooke mentions with a smile. She had really missed her daughter despite knowing that Sam was enjoying her honeymoon in Hawaii.
"I missed her," Sawyer comments with a small sigh. "She didn't even call me and she said she would."
Peyton laughs while handing her son a napkin. Jude grabbed it with a smile.
"Honey, Sam was probably busy."
Sawyer continues to pout.
"What was she busy doing?"
Brooke and Peyton look at each other with wide eyes before blurting out the one thing that came to mind.
"Swimming!"
They were so not ready to have that particular conversation with their nine year old daughter.
In the five years that have past, there were a few changes with the people surrounding the table. When Peyton and Brooke got married, Brooke had legally adopted Sawyer in a second parent adoption. Peyton had even had Sawyer's last name changed from Scott to Davis so they all had the same last name. Sawyer Sawyer would not have worked at all and they hadn't heard anything from Lucas in the past five years either.
According to Nathan and Haley, Lucas had married Lindsey a few years ago. They currently had two children. But Peyton wasn't hurt by it because she had three beautiful children and one beautiful daughter-in-law.
Peyton's Red Bedroom Records had taken a backseat in Peyton's life. She had wanted to spend most of her time at home with her kids and let Haley take over. Instead of being at the studio 5 days a week, Peyton was there 2 or 3 times a week and never on the weekends.
Brooke had continued to work at her store until she had found out her mother had done some not so honest things. Brooke sold her company and paid her investors. It had hurt her that they had lost money without her knowledge. In Clothes over Bro's place, Karen's Café took presence. Brooke and Haley, along with Peyton's help had started Karen's Café back up again. Brooke had tracked down Karen's number and had called her to ask if it was fine with her if Brooke could do it. When she got that permission, Brooke had been ecstatic. She had grown up with a Karen's Café and loved the idea that her kids were going to as well.
"I swim!" Jude says happily.
"Finish eating your food Juju and then maybe we can all go for a swim," Brooke suggests. "As long as your mama is free to do so," Brooke says as she raises her eyebrow to her wife.
"Mama please, I swim," Jude pleads as he places his fork on his plate.
Sawyer rolled her eyes at her little brother and continued to eat her food. Sawyer was soon hit on the head with a napkin. She turned to her mom.
"I saw that," Brooke said. "Knock it off."
"Sorry," Sawyer apologizes. "Everyone is right mama, we have to go swim."
"Then I guess there is no way that I can say no to that."
-Complications of the Heart-
"Does it make me a bad daughter that I told my moms the wrong time we were coming home?" Sam asks as she closes the front door to her and Aria's apartment.
Aria drops the bags on the ground and quickly picks Sam up into her arms. Sam giggles as Aria carries her to the bedroom bridal style and carefully lays her on the bed.
"I don't think so. They were newlyweds once too. They have to know how we feel," Aria says as she lies down next to her wife. Aria smiles. She had a wife.
Sam rolls over onto her side and places her head on her wife's chest.
"I feel amazing. I never thought I would get married, but then you came along and everything just fell into place."
"I could say the same thing about you," Aria places a kiss on her wife's forehead and closes her eyes.
Both women fell asleep in each other's arms despite it being a little after noon.
-Complications of the Heart-
Peyton was leaning against the side of the pool with her wife in front of her. Peyton's arms were around Brooke's stomach while they watched their kids play in the pool. Sawyer was in her one piece and a hair tied in a ponytail. She was swimming with flippers on. Jude was swimming as best as he could next to them. He was wearing his lifejacket and a smile was on his face.
"We did well," Peyton says before placing a kiss on her wife's shoulder. "Don't you think?"
"I would have to agree with you. I'm incredibly happy. We have two daughters and one son and we are happily married and have been for a few years. I'm glad this is my life. I wouldn't want it any other way."
"Mama, Mommy, watch me," Sawyer yells before jumping into the pool with a big splash.
Brooke and Peyton clap at their daughter while she comes up and spits the water out of her mouth.
"Did you see me? Did you see me?"
Brooke swims away from Peyton and up to her daughter.
"I saw baby. I saw. You were awesome."
Sawyer swims up to Brooke and wraps her arms and legs around her.
"Thank you mommy."
"I want to. I want to!"
Peyton moves away from the wall and grabs her son.
"Not yet Jude. I don't want you jumping into the pool."
"I want to," Jude says as he pouts.
Peyton can feel him shivering and she places a kiss on his head.
"I think it's time to go in," Peyton announces to her family.
Brooke looks at Peyton and mouths 'why'
"Juju is shivering."
Brooke nods her head and turns towards Sawyer.
"Honey, do you want to go inside too?"
Sawyer shakes her head.
"Can you stay out here with me mommy?"
Brooke grins.
"I will baby, but only for a few more minutes. I don't want you to freeze."
"I won't mommy."
"You girls have fun," Peyton says before walking out of the pool and into the house.
-Complications of the Heart-
"Jude, Sam is coming and so is Aria," Sawyer says as she plops down on the couch in the living room. "Aren't you excited to see them?"
Jude smiles at his sister and nods his head.
"I missed Sammy."
"We all did Juju. Do you think she brought us any presents?" Sawyer asks.
Brooke chuckles from the kitchen as she listens to her kids' conversation. Jude and Sawyer absolutely adored Sam.
Peyton comes into the kitchen with a smile on her face.
"I just talked to Sam and she said that they would be here in a few minutes."
"Great, then I can order the pizza now and it should be here soon."
"I thought we were going to give them a home cooked meal," Peyton said in a pout.
"Honey, they just got home. I don't want to kill them," Brooke says in a joking manner.
Peyton smiles.
"You know your cooking has improved. I don't know why you make fun of it all the time."
"I got better at it because we couldn't afford take out every night and I didn't want my children to think that I couldn't cook. Haley cooks. You cook. I don't usually cook."
Peyton walks over to her wife and wraps her arms around her and kisses her cheek.
"Alright, pizza it is, but you should quit joking about your cooking because it isn't bad anymore."
Brooke turns around and attaches her lips to her wife's.
"No kissing!"
Brooke and Peyton pull away to see their kids looking at them with gross faces, but what had surprised them was the fact that it was Jude that had told them that.
Brooke and Peyton grin at each other before running over to their kids and placing kisses all over them.
-Complications of the Heart-
"I love pizza," Sam gushes as she grabs another piece and places it on her plate.
"What about me?" Aria asks with a grin.
Sam looks at her wife with a grin.
"I love pizza baby, but you're my wife."
"You love me don't you?" Aria asks.
Sam scoots her chair closer to Aria's.
"You don't have to be jealous about the pizza Aria. I married you didn't I?"
Sawyer looks over at her brother after watching the interaction between Sam and Aria.
"Grownups are weird."
"Yum," Jude says before biting a slice of his pizza. He didn't care about anything going on around him.
Brooke and Peyton had just smiled at Sam and Aria's love sick expressions.
"So, how are you newlyweds doing now that you are back home?"
"We are just getting back into the routine of things. I know Sam has to start work soon and prepare for the new school year. I'm just trying to figure out what in the world I am going to do."
Sam looks at Aria and frowns.
"I thought you were going to start law school."
"Honey, this isn't a discussion that I want to have in front of your parents," Aria whispers.
"I don't care. I thought you were going to law school. What happened?"
"I thought about it and I decided against it. End of story," Aria says before grabbing another slice of pizza from the pizza box.
Sam looks at her wife for a few moments before putting her napkin on the table and walking away from the table.
Brooke and Peyton looked at each other in worried glances. They knew one thing for sure. Things just got a little more complicated.
A/N: I would like to point out that the beginning of this chapter are not my words…the wedding had come from the internet…at least the ministers words or whatever so those aren't mine…the promises are though.
As for another update…that won't happen for awhile. I don't want to take too long, but I do have those 4 stories I promised everyone and I want to begin writing them as soon as possible…so until then…see ya