Before Nathan had even fully wakened he knew that Brooke was down stairs in the library working on Haley's wedding dress. She and Haley had picked out material and ever since then Brooke had basically been MIA. There were only six days until Saturday May 17th. The day that Luke and Haley had chosen to be their wedding day, which meant that Brooke was on hyper drive. She and Peyton had plans to finalize with caterers, and other companies, bridal parties to attend, a bachlorette party to create and finals to finish.

He made his way down the steps and sure enough, he found Brooke in front of the mannequin. There was a tape measure in her mouth, a needle in her hand and a frown on her face, "morning, baby."

She stood up and stretched her lower back, "hey! What are you doing up, your first final isn't until noon."

"I thought I'd ravish my girlfriend this morning," he replied.

"No way," she kissed his lips and got busy measuring the bust, "your girlfriend has two bands to call, entertainment to finalize for the bachelorette party and is officially out of tampons. Guess which one you get to help with."

Nathan began to back away but Brooke looked up and shook her head, "come on baby, that is so embarrassing."

"Why is it embarrassing? It's a natural part of life," Brooke replied.

"Not mine," Nathan told her.

"It is as long as you're which me. I left a post it stuck to a twenty dollar bill on the kitchen table, just find the box that matches the words on the post it," as Nathan walked away dejectedly she called, "I love you."

0000

Nathan wondered how there could be seven billion different brands and such for tampons. Why in the world did a woman need that much fucking selection? He hid his face as an older woman walked by but when he looked up he was surprised to see Jake and Lucas standing beside him.

"What are you doing here," Luke asked.

"My girlfriend forced me to go on a fucking thirty day search for this," Nathan held up the post it.

"Oh," Luke just grinned, "that sucks."

Jake looked over the boxes and picked one out, "here you go."

Nathan checked the words and looked up at Jake in amazement, "how did you do that?"

"I have two sisters and an OB/GYN for a mother," Jake replied.

As they walked toward the cash register Nathan asked Luke, "what do you want to do for your bachelor party, besides a stripper and beer?"

"Haley and I agreed to no strippers," Luke told them.

Jake and Nathan laughed. At Luke's look of confusion Jake smacked his back, "dude, do you even know Brooke and Peyton? There is totally going to be a stripper."

"You really think so," Luke asked.

"If I know my girlfriend, and if Jake knows his, then you can be assured that there will be a naked man," Nathan replied.

"And you two are okay with it," Luke asked.

Nathan put the tampons on the conveyer belt, "we're getting a stripper so I figure its fair. Plus I trust them."

"Nathan, Luke and Jake," Deb smiled at all three boys.

"Hey mom," Nathan bent and kissed her cheek.

She glanced at the conveyer belt, "Brooke?"

"Yeah," he rolled his eyes.

Deb patted his cheek, "you're a good boy. Oh Luke, I was so pleased to get an invitation to your wedding."

"You helped her out a lot during the trial," Luke replied.

"You two are good kids," Deb told them. Luke gave her a hug and felt his heart begin a fast rhythm. In less then a week he'd be marrying Haley.

0000

Tuesday was a rough day. Almost everyone had two finals and yet they still had a ton of finalizing to do. Not to mention Brooke, who couldn't manage to get Haley's dress just right. Wednesday was better. It was the night of their respective parties. Everyone met at Haley's house before dividing.

"Have fun," Haley told Luke and added a kiss.

He gave her a long hug, "don't do anything I wouldn't do."

She winked and then was being pulled by the girls out of the house toward the huge Hummer limo out front. Luke watched as they all filed in, "will they be okay?"

Nathan laughed, "come on, let's crack the keg before he decides to run after them."

Lucas obediently followed the guys back into the house. They spent an hour or two taking turns playing Madden and NBA Live. Then after everyone was at least marginally drunk they squeezed into two vans and headed off toward the biggest strip club in Carolina.

0000

Haley stepped out of the changing booth in neon pink booty shorts and a black and pink bustier, "this is so not me Brooke."

"Hot Mama," Bevin called out.

Everyone laughed and Brooke looked her over, "Haley, you are hot!"

"Plus it doesn't matter if it's not you," Peyton added, "because you won't be wearing it for long."
All the girls hollered and Haley just blushed scarlet, "you guys!"

"Come on tutor girl," Brooke motioned for her to go change, "we still have a few more stops to make."

0000

Lucas stared at the woman who was standing above him. Her legs were on either side of his hips and she was quite naked. He gulped and took another sip of his beer, "this…this is amazing."

"I'd say so," Nathan replied and tucked a single into the thong of the woman in front of him. He was a guy, he responded to simple things, but his heart was still in the very capable hands of his girlfriend, wherever she happened to be.

"Can I take you home honey," Tim's question had everyone looking at him, "what?"

The stripper shook her head, "honey, I'm a stripper not a whore."

"You are an idiot," Nathan told him.

"Why, what's the difference?"

The stripper huffed and accidentally kicked Tim in the stomach on her way down from the table. One of their friends and fellow basketball teammates fell over laughing, he was ridiculously drunk. Lucas and Nathan just laughed.

0000

Haley took another shot and felt it burn down to her toes, "dude, I can't drink anymore."

"Yes you can," Brooke began to say but the limo slammed to a halt.

A moment later everyone was outside with the driver and Brooke was pissed. Haley tried to comfort her but she wasn't having it.

"It looks bad," the driver told her.

"Let me explain supply and demand. I supply the credit card and I get to demand service," Brooke told him through clenched teeth. Haley didn't see her wink at the driver.

Suddenly a tow truck pulled in front of them. Haley sighed, "thank God."

The man who got out was attractive but that wasn't what got Haley's attention. He barely looked at the limo but stated that he, "knew what was wrong."

"Can you fix it," she asked.

"Hold on," he put his tool box down and that's when Haley realized it was a stereo. As the techno beat came blaring out he ripped his pants off and began to gyrate toward her. All the girls screamed and giggled in complete surprise.

"I'm going to kill you," Haley whispered to Peyton and Brooke.

0000

"Jeremiah was a bull frog/ Was a good friend of mine/ I never understood a single word he said/ But I helped him drink his wine," Luke paused and then smiled at Nate, "and he always had some mighty fine wine."

Nathan waved his hand in front of his face. Luke reeked of booze, "you are drunk man."

Luke allowed Nate and Jake to prop his arms on their shoulders, "joy to the world/ all the boys and girls!"

"And tone deaf," Jake added.

Luke looked around, "where are we going?"

"We're going to get you back to Hales' house and into bed," Nathan told him.

Behind them Mouth and Skillz were dragging Fergie, who had found himself in a similar position, "Haley is going to be pissed at you!"

"I think she's staying at Brooke's house until the wedding," Jake called back.

"Good thing," Jake scrunched up his nose at Luke's breath, "because he is really, truly hammered."

0000

Thursday was the rehearsal dinner. By the time it rolled around everyone was over their respective hangovers, although Tim still complained of a stomach ache. Karen had agreed to have to the dinner in her café. With Brooke's help the café became a wonderland of soft lighting and floral scents. The tables had deep red table clothes and Karen used her best china.

Brooke did many rounds to make sure everything was perfect. She wanted Haley and Luke's day to go off without a hitch, she wanted perfection. Finally Nathan rose from his seat beside Luke's chair and gently took Brooke's arm before spinning her into his arms. She smiled up at him, "it's not dancing time yet."

"You need to sit down and get something to eat," he reminded her.

"I know but I don't want Haley to have to worry about anything," Brooke replied.

Nathan kissed her lips and backed her toward her side of the table. The table was long with the three bride's maids, Haley and Luke and then the three groom's men. Brooke sat because she knew when her boyfriend wouldn't budge. She took a bite of the chicken cordon bleu that Jake had prepared and felt her mouth watering, "Jake this is amazing. How did you do this between the History final and the dinner?"

He shrugged, "I'm gifted. Peyton is a very lucky woman."

Peyton laughed and winked down to him. She rose and tapped her fork gently on the glass, "I'd like to propose a toast."

Everyone hushed as Peyton turned toward Haley and Luke, "Saturday will be the best man's and the maid-of-honor's speech so I figured I'd throw mine out tonight. Haley, you are an amazing woman. What you bring to this relationship is your unfailing love, your empathy and your ability to recognize hurt and to heal. Lucas, you just joined our group not even a year ago but I all ready feel like you were the missing piece. You bring your positive attitude and your fighting drive. I wish you both only the best. I can't wait to see how much more in love you two fall as the years go on."

Haley and Luke both rose to her and then sat again as Jake rose, "Lucas, as Peyton said you haven't been with us for all that long but somehow you were a piece we had been missing for years. You healed each of us individually and then as a group. Hales, I have known you forever and I have to say that you have blossomed into an amazing and talented woman. You have always been my Hales, a little sister to me. I couldn't have found better mates for the two of you."

By the time Jake sat Nathan had to scoot over to Brooke, who was dapping her tears, "I love weddings."

"It's not the wedding yet," Haley dapped at her own tears.

Nathan squatted so Brooke could hide her face in his shirt and smiled at Lucas, "you see why I couldn't wait for your wedding? She's completely vulnerable."

Brooke slapped his chest as he laughed at his own teasing. She didn't stop to really feel the strength of his heart beneath her hand or to really sink into his warmth.

0000

Friday night was a group night. They ate together and drank some wine before the boys left for the night. Right before midnight Peyton and Rachael went up stairs to bed. Brooke and Haley sat and drank another glass of wine and talked. They mostly talked about their futures and their hopes and dreams.

"…and I want it all with him," Haley concluded with a smile, "thank you so much for making everything go so smoothly. I couldn't have done anything without you."

Brooke smiled and rose, she held out her hand, "come with me."

Haley took her hand and followed her into her library. When she snapped on the lights her jaw dropped. The dress that was on the mannequin was so perfect.

"Oh my God, Brooke," Haley's tears ran over and down her face. She walked over and touched it in awe. It wasn't huge or ostentatious, it was off white, with pearls sewn in and it was long sleeved but off the shoulder. It was her fantasies come true.

"Do you like it," Brooke asked, watching her to see any signs of lying.

Haley looked at Brooke and tilted her head in shock, "how could I not love it?"

Brooke smiled as Haley hugged her. Everything was going to be perfect.

0000

Felix sat in Nikki's car outside of Lucas' house. Tonight was going to be the last night that he was going to be socially ostracized, he would have Brooke and Nathan would be out of the way. Nikki had similar thoughts except she knew without doubt that soon she would have Jake all to herself.