Lucas watched as Haley stood against the white wall, her face contorted in pain and her mascara running down her face, her dress bunched up beneath her. She slid to the floor with one long anguished cry before burying her face in her hands and sobbing uncontrollably.

Lucas sat up in looked around the room, he wanted Haley, where was she? The light turned on and Nathan rubbed his eyes, "what the hell are you awake for, it's only six!"

"I just had a nightmare about Haley," Luke replied.

Nathan sat up, they were sleeping head to foot in Luke's bed, "it seems to be going around."

"Nightmares?"

"Brooke has always had nightmares but lately they've gotten pretty bad. There was no way I was going to let her stay alone until Hales said she was going to stay with her," Nathan told him.

"She was crying in her wedding gown," Luke admitted finally.

Nathan sighed, "look man, in six hours you are going to be the proud husband of the future pop star, Haley Scott. Don't go borrowing trouble."

"James Scott," Luke looked at his brother, "she's going to be Haley James Scott."

"I like it," Nathan nodded his head after a moment with a grin.

"Have you ever considered Brooke Davis Scott," Luke had picked up on Nathan's comment weeks before when he had mentioned Haley and Luke getting married in Canada.

Nathan shook his head and laid down again, "so what if I have? I know we're not getting married any time soon. Brooke has a lot to prove before we can."

"Like what," Luke laid down too.

"She wouldn't ever admit it but she feels like she has to prove she can be a successful person to her parents before she'll allow herself to really move on. That's why I pushed Clothes Over Bros."

"Clothes over what?"

Nathan laughed, "that's what she decided to call her line. She said it was an old saying she and Peyton had forever."

"So my fiancé will be wearing Clothes Over Bros to our wedding," Luke asked.

Nathan nodded and laughed out loud again, "looks like it," his cell phone rang and he was still smiling when he answered it.

0000

Brooke stood paralyzed in shock at the scene before. Her heart simply ceased to beat. Suddenly she looked around a white room, her heart was pounding wildly now. As she looked down at Nathan, so still, her head split and she screamed as loud as she could.

"Brooke," Haley shook her friend awake.

"Nathan," Brooke swung up in bed screaming for her boyfriend.

Haley wrapped Brooke in her arms and tried to get her to breathe with her, "it's okay, Brooke. I'm right here."

"Where's Nathan? Is he okay," she asked.

"He's staying at Luke's house, honey, you know that."

When she could finally breathe again and was fairly certain that she wasn't going to vomit she lifted her cell phone and called him. When he answered she could hear the smile on his lips, "hey, baby."

"Hey," her heart began to slow.

"Have another nightmare," he asked.

Brooke smiled, "yeah. I just wanted to be sure you were okay."

"I'm fine, do you need me to come over?"

"No," she squeezed Haley's hand, "I have a bride to get ready. I'll see you later okay?"

"I love you Davis."

"I love you too," she closed her phone gently and then looked at Haley, "I'm sorry."

"I thought you were over your nightmares," Haley snuggled with her.

Brooke shrugged, "they come in surges. But no worries, now that we're up we can get the process started."

"It's only six," Haley pouted.

"There's no time like the present! Hop in the shower tutorbride and prepare for the best day of your life."

0000

"Okay, seriously, do we need to all be in the living room getting dressed when this is a twelve bedroom mini mansion," Peyton asked.

"There are only four of us," Rachael reminded her.

Peyton looked around the once clean room at all of the puffy material, hair stuff and make up, "how do four girls acquire this much shit?"

"A quarter of it is yours," Brooke reminded her as pushed another pin into Haley head. Haley yelped, "you'll thank me when your hair stays put all day long."

Haley sighed, it was ten minutes after nine. Two hours and fifty minutes until she would marry the man of her dreams, "I'm nervous."

"Don't be," Rachael told her, "there are scarier things then getting married. We're walking examples of that."

Peyton scowled at Rachael, "lovely time to bring up that!"

Rachael shrugged and Haley had to laugh, "I'm so happy all of you are bride's maids. It wouldn't have been the same without each of you."

"Thank you," Rachael gave Peyton her back and proceeded to pull up her dress, "zip me."

"Okay," Brooke lifted the mirror in front of Haley's face, "this is the bride."

Peyton and Rachael smiled while Haley looked at herself. She had never seen this side of herself. She was…glowing! The style Brooke had put her hair in was accented by soft waves and her make up was light but it made her shine.

Peyton stepped forward and gently clipped a pearl necklace around Haley's neck, "this was my mother's. Daddy says that she wore it the day they got married, so now it's your something old."

Before Haley could respond Rachael went to Haley and took her hand, "this was my grandmother's ring. She loved it and she was the only person in my family I loved," the ring was a gemstone with a deep silver background.

"My borrowed and blue," Haley asked with tears swimming in her eyes.

Rachael nodded, "your borrowed and blue."

"And now for something new," Brooke revealed the diamond hair clips and Haley gasped. On the edges of them were small diamond angels. Brooke began to sniffle as she cupped Haley's cheek, "I am so happy for you."

Peyton wrapped her arms around Haley from behind and Rachael took her side and Haley began to cry in earnest. Brooke sniffled louder, "your make up!"

"I don't care, come here and give me a hug," Haley pulled Brooke to her and held her. She let her happiness roll over all of them. This was going to be the best day of her life.

0000

Luke paced. Nathan and Keith were sitting on the couch watching in amusement. Jake and Skillz stood on opposite parts of the room making sure they would catch him if he made a run for it. He was obviously sweating in his fitted tuxedo, yet another addition from the closets of Clothes Over Bros. Brooke had really outdone herself.

"Okay, Skillz and Jake, do you want to go get Luke a beer," Keith asked as he rose. As they were going toward the door he told them, "but if Karen asks you're getting him ginger ale."

When they had left Nathan and Keith pushed Luke onto the couch. He looked at them with a deeply disturbed look, "I can't do this! We're only sixteen!"
"Now you decide to think about that," Keith replied with a laugh.

"How could I have been so ridiculously stupid? We're only sixteen," Luke jumped up but Nathan held him back from the door.

"Do you love her," Keith's question was softly asked.

Luke looked at him in surprise, "of course."

"Then sit down," Nathan replied and pushed him down.

Skillz and Jake returned with the beer. Keith opened it and forced Luke to take it, "while I tell you this I want you to finish at least half of that. It's not easy to love a woman. They're temperamental, emotional, and most of the time they're wrong. They'll use you as a pounding bag and piss you off a majority of the time. But they'll also love you unconditionally and be your biggest fan. If you love Haley then you're willing to deal with all of that. If not, then you should go cancel this before it gets started."

Luke finished off the beer and after a deep breath he rose, "I have to go brush my teeth. If Haley smells beer on me she'll kill me."

Nathan smiled and directly his brother toward the small bathroom.

0000

The waves that crashed on the beach were peaceful. Somehow Haley and Brooke had managed to create a wonderland on a small stretch of beach. There was a small veranda where the priest and Luke stood, and many small white chairs with enough space in the middle for Haley to walk. Luke felt like he was in a dream.

Suddenly someone turned on soft music, it was beautiful and floated like the pianist was a nymph creating the music that sirens sang. Luke watched Rachael walk down, and then Peyton and then Brooke. As she took her place she winked at him. He smiled, all of the girls looked beautiful. Their dresses were a bright red with halter necks and some kind of flowy skirt that made each of them look amazing even though they were all so different.

"Look," Nathan's whisper made Lucas turn toward the end of the aisle where suddenly Haley had appeared at Keith's elbow.

Luke sucked in a breath and felt his heart stop for one long moment. She was absolutely, without one doubt, the most magnificent woman he had ever seen in his entire life. Her form grew blurry as his eyes filled with tears. He knew, at that very moment, that he was making the right decision. Haley was the right woman for him and doubted that would ever change. How could he ever even think he would feel these overwhelming emotions for anyone else?

"You're crying," Haley's soft voice reached him before he looked down. She was by his side, where she belonged.

Brooke sniffled loudly, which earned a small chuckle from those in attendance and handed Lucas a tissue. He wiped his eyes and smiled down at her beautiful face, "you look beautiful."

"You look pretty good yourself," she replied. Lucas had never seen her smile so hugely.

The service began and continued in a beautifully scripted way with the soft waves in the background. Finally the priest spoke the words that everyone had been waiting to hear, "I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Lucas E. Scott. You may now kiss your bride."

Luke bent down and captured her mouth, his whole heart growing and throbbing. Every word of his vow had only intensified his deeply seated emotions. Haley was his whole world. Nothing mattered, not basketball, not the group and all their drama, for a moment he was free in his love for his wife.

"I love you," Haley cried against his lips. He delved deeper into the kiss, provoking many chuckles among the crowd. Finally they turned and began their journey down the aisle. Brooke walked with Nathan behind them, although Nathan spent the whole minute of the walk handing her new tissues because she had soaked the others. Jake and Peyton walked behind them and Peyton was doing much the same for Jake. Finally Rachael walked with Skillz, as she passed Mouth she winked and whispered, "I love you."

He nodded, his grin was huge as he clapped.

0000

The reception was in full swing hours later. They had pitched a huge white tent lower down the beach, behind Deb's old beach house to be honest. She hadn't been inside of it since the day Nathan had told her what Dan had done. The lightening wasn't bright but mixed with candles and the lowering sun, it didn't matter.

Finally, after the dinner prepared under Jake's direction, Nathan rose and tapped his glass, "I'd like to make a toast. Haley, you're one of my oldest friends. You are amazing. You're talented and smart and capable. I truly believe that you are an angel. You've helped me despite any difference we had. I love you, Hales."

"Nathan," Brooke was all ready handing Haley the tissue as she spoke his name.

"And Lucas, who knew last September that I would be toasting to my older brother at his wedding? You are more then a friend to me Lucas. You're one of my best friends, a confidant, but the most important thing you are to me is a brother. I wish you nothing but happiness. I love ya, man."

Luke rose and embraced Nathan. They pounded each other's backs in suitable ape style and had Brooke and Haley crying harder. Finally after a harsh gulp of champagne and a quick redo of her eyeliner Brooke rose, "Haley…oh God I promised I wouldn't cry again! Okay, I'm all right, thanks P. Sawyer. Hales, you have never looked as stunning as you do right this moment. Everything about you just shines. You're married!"
Everyone laughed and Brooke took another long moment to get another tissue, "all right. I love thee, I love but thee; with a love that shall not die; till the sun grows cold and the stars grow old. William Shakespeare wrote that. When I read that I realized that there wasn't much that I could say in a speech that would be more explanatory then those words. I hope that you'll take those words and live by them. But more then hoping, I know you two will because true love always finds a way. I don't have to waste hope on you two, you guys are the ones who supply me with it. I love you both."

0000

"Are you ready," Felix asked, gazing into the tent.

Nikki huffed uncomfortably, "yeah, let's just get this over with."

He finally looked at her. Her face was flushed and she was breathing heavily, "you okay?"

"Yeah," her voice was ice cold, "just don't screw up. We only have one chance at this."

0000

Lucas had been dancing with Brooke when it happened. He had seen Jake's intense gaze toward the flap of the tent. Brooke had sensed it and had assessed the area, "shit, for some reason Nikki's here. I should go!"
"No, you're all ready too involved, if we want her out of her calmly then you can't go near her," Lucas sighed in relief suddenly, "Nathan's going with him!"
Brooke nodded curtly and resumed the slow dance, "I can't believe she would have the nerve to show up to your wedding and try to crash it…bitch!"

Luke laughed and held her closer, mostly because he was afraid she'd decide to go outside after all, "just cool it. Peyton and Haley are talking to Peyton's Dad, they didn't notice."

The dance finished but as Brooke was walking back toward the bride and groom table she noticed a person she hadn't been expecting to see, "he did not show up here too!"
"Shit," Luke muttered as Brooke stalked toward the flap and outside. He glanced at Haley, she was laughing with his mother, and followed Brooke.

0000

"What the hell is going on," Brooke's voice was like steel. Luke walked up behind her and noticed that Nathan, Jake and Nikki were on the pier.

"It's about time that we really talk," Felix replied.

She pointed her finger but before she could yell at him Luke's hand was on her shoulder, "why are they on the pier?"

Brooke's mouth widened, she turned back to Felix for only one moment, "you, stay!"

"Wait," before Felix could finish the statement Brooke turned and punched him in the jaw, dropping him. Lucas stared in surprise, "let's go, Luke!"
As the approached the pier they could both hear Nikki's shrill voice getting more anxious. She turned and rolled her eyes at Brooke, "what the hell are you doing here? Can't he do anything right?"

"Are you saying," Brooke slid forward and in front of Jake until she was so close to Nikki that her pregnant belly skimmed her own abdomen, "that you two came to crash the reception together?"

"I'm saying that you deserve to get bitch slapped," Nikki looked at Jake over Brooke, "and you deserve the same."

"Why, because I never slept with you? Damn it, women do not make sense," Jake was clearly agitated.

"Calm down, man," Nathan told him. He was very nervous about Brooke being so close to Nikki. He had to defuse this situation, "why don't we go back to the beach and talk about this?"

"Good idea," Brooke was still looking Nikki in the eyes, "Nathan take Jake back in there. Don't tell Peyton what's going on, she'll come out here and whoop her pregnant ass."

"Yeah right," Nikki was backing down.

The tension was thick but Nathan figured that he should go about this one person at a time. As he was approaching the end of the pier toward the sand he heard Nikki's words, "you have no idea how I entertain the idea of fucking Nathan."

Nathan turned around and knew without doubt that Brooke would be pissed, "you should keep your mouth shut."

"Or what," Nathan and Jake both looked down and finally noticed that the upper bars at the water's edge of the pier were removed, if Brooke moved back anymore she'd fall over. While the waters weren't as harsh as usual there were still tons of rocks down there that's why it wasn't a swimming portion of the beach.

Nathan was working up her name on his tongue when Nikki pushed all of her weight into Brooke and watched in horror as the love of his life fell backwards toward the water with the most horrific scream he'd ever heard.

"Brooke," Jake held Nathan back, but didn't even realize he was doing so. Subconsciously he was stopping his best friend from suicide. It took every ounce of the strength Jake had to hold Nathan back.

Without preamble Nikki's own momentum pushing Brooke caused her to fall over with her and then another piercing cry mixed with the first. Felix came running up beside Jake and Nathan. Lucas turned, the horror of the last three seconds shocking him, "call 911," and jumped in after them.