Brooke sighed as her exhausted body fell back onto the bed. She hated sleeping alone and would probably never get used to it. Sure there were all the times when Lucas traveled but she had made up for his absence by lining up a bunch of pillows next to her like a warm body. She'd even go so far as to spray his cologne on them just to be near his comforting yet arousing scent. Now she was all alone except for menacing thoughts taking over her head and heart and the tiny seed growing inside her belly.
It had been a rough two days. She could have set the whole building on fire and that wouldn't have gotten rid of Gordon, Chantal, Haley and Peyton. Brooke hated being alone but at the same time she felt suffocated in the presence of her friends. Chantal was a sweet girl who had been through so much so young and Brooke took comfort in the thought that at least she meant well. Over the years she had grown close to Haley and enjoyed their sister like relationship but she couldn't help but to be a little angry. Angry that Haley had known about Luke's indiscretion all along, angry that it took so long for her to finally tell the truth, angry that Haley had chosen the "right" Scott brother and was living a life of eternal bliss. Peyton, on the other hand, had been her best friend for what seemed like forever. As time had passed and life took them in opposite directions, they had seemingly grown apart. But now at the worst possible time…here was Peyton loving, loyal and supportive as ever like no time had passed since their inseparable Tree Hill days. And Gordon…well, what could she say? Gordon was just Gordon.
Finally Brooke had the peace and quiet she had so desperately craved. Chantal was at her own apartment tending to her child. Gordon was back in his place in SoHo as well and Haley was safely tucked away in the penthouse suite of The Waldorf Hotel with her sons. The only person left was Peyton. When Brooke wanted to talk, Pey was there to discuss work, fashion, and all the events they had missed in each other's lives. When Brooke wanted to cry, Peyton was there to hold her. And when Brooke just needed silence, Peyton to knew how to be quiet.
The two women had stayed up late watching TV until Peyton had grown tired and finally retired to one of the spare bedrooms. Brooke was exhausted as well but sleep didn't come easily. Memories of the good times with Lucas would creep into her head. They made her laugh and cry all at the same time. Then just as that warm feeling settled over her heart, she would go back and relive that awful day. It was a day that started out like any other. All Brooke wanted to do was see her new nephew and talk to her sister in law before going off to the arena to support her husband and brother in law in one of the most exciting games of both their careers. It was supposed to be so simple, then Haley had dropped a bomb. And just like that Brooke's entire world was turned upside down. Now the only thing left were memories and an aching heart. Memories, an aching heart and the baby she had so desperately wanted.
Brooke plopped down on the couch and turned the television back on. Lucas had been so giddy the day the 50 inch Plasma flat screen had been delivered. She sighed as she flipped through the channels, all 600 of them, another Luke favorite. But there was nothing on at the late hour. Instead Brooke's eyes wandered over to the VHS and DVD collection. There in an unopened box was a copy of Lucas and Brooke's wedding that had recently been digitally remastered and transferred to DVD. With shaking hands, Brooke loaded the DVD into the player. A tear fell down her cheek as the camera instantly cut to Lucas and Nathan getting dressed at Karen's home along with their childhood buddies Mouth, Fergie and Skills.
"Lucas Scott, you got your mind right, brother?"
"Getting there, getting there", Lucas grinned. "I'll be okay as soon as I see Brooke come down that beach in a white dress."
"It's not too late to back out, homey", Skills joked. "My car is parked out front if you want to forget about all this marriage business and run away to Vegas."
"No can do, Skills", Lucas smiled. "The only place I'm going is to the beach to be with my girl."
Brooke remembered the day just like it was yesterday. She had never been so nervous…or so happy. It gave her chills to watch when she skipped to the scene where she and Lucas recited the vows they had written themselves.
"Brooke, I stand here before you in pursuit of a lifelong commitment. You are my best friend, soul mate, and will soon be my wife. You complete my heart and soul, and I am a better man today because of you. You've shown me what it feels like to finally live, and the true meaning of happiness. You've made me realize that in life I will never have to settle for anything, and I can be proud and secure with all my imperfections.
We compliment each other beautifully, You wear the pants and I'm just the belt that holds them up. Together we can face the world and be comforted in knowing we will never have to face it alone.
I can't wait to start our lives together, as one lifetime with you could never be enough. I will always support you and our relationship, through the good times and the bad. I promise to love you all the days of my life."
His words reverberated over and over in her head. He had made a promise for all the days of his life…
Lucas Scott…just the sound of your name brings light unto my face and joy into my heart. The sight of your eyes when you smile brings me infinite happiness. The sound of your voice calms my uneasy mind. The touch of your hands brings unfathomable pleasure. The sound of your laughter brings peace to my heart. I have never thought my love for you would be so outstanding and wonderful. You have changed my life and touched my heart in so many ways that it would take more than my lifetime to tell them all. As I stand before you today, as we are united in marriage before God and our loved ones, as we devote our lives to each other and our future family, I make just one promise… to do anything in my God-given power to make you happy the rest of your life, as you have and will do for me. You are the love of my life, the joy in my heart, the peace in my mind, and the breath in my lungs. You are the laughter in my voice, the butterflies in my stomach, the smile on my face, and the tears in my eyes. This day, I devote my life to you, my heart to you, my mind to you and only you. I thank God every day, since the moment I met you, for the wonderful blessing of you. Lucas Scott aka Broody… I do. Forever and always.
Just as tears had fallen when she first spoke the words, fresh tears drenched her face four years later. That day had been the best of her life. The only one that could remotely compare was the night that Lucas had proposed to her. It was the night of Nathan and Haley's wedding. It had been a beautiful day and Brooke was ecstatic to see her two friends so happy. The ceremony was sweet and the party awesome…
"Did I tell you how beautiful you look today?" Lucas whispered.
"Not enough", Brooke joked. "Only about a million times."
"Well, let's make it two million. You look beautiful today, you look beautiful today, you look beautiful today..."
"Okay, that's only a million and three but I'll take what I can get, Broody."
"Come on", he smiled. "Let's get out of here for a second."
They walked out of the reception hall up a hill to a gazebo. A clear and perfect starry night.
"It's so pretty out here", Brooke sighed.
"It's perfect, don't you think? Beautiful day, beautiful wedding, you look beautiful...I think I look beautiful", Luke grinned. "I'm real happy for Nathan and Haley. They're a great couple. I only wish our own wedding day will be this nice."
Brooke caught her breath. It was the first time Lucas had even made reference to the fact that they might one day be married.
"I love you, Cheery", he continued. "You're everything to me. You're it for me, sweetheart. You are the one I want to come home to, the one I want to go to bed with every night and wake up with every morning. I want you to be the mother of my children. I want you to be my wife."
A huge lumped formed in the base of her throat.
"Yes", she whispered tearfully.
"Yes, what?" Lucas asked, narrowing his eyes.
She bit her lip as she felt very small and very stupid. Apparently Brooke Davis had jumped the gun about him wanting to jump the broom.
"Oh", she said. "Um, I thought you were asking me..."
"I was asking you to marry me", he said with a big smile as he whipped out a tiny black box.
Brooke breathed a sigh of relief and playfully smacked him for playing the cruelest joke.
"That was mean, Scott."
"I was just playing around, I swear. Now let me do this the proper way", he said, getting down on one knee. "Brooke Rebecca Davis, I love you. Will you grant me with the honor of becoming my wife?"
She nodded and somehow the word "yes" slipped out of her mouth along with sobs of heartfelt joy. He placed a beautiful diamond ring on her finger and they sat there in the gazebo holding and kissing each other for a long time.
Brooke stared down at her ring. It was gorgeous. Four carats of diamond in a Princess cut set on platinum bonded to a multi diamond studded wedding band. Her ring often garnered more attention than she did. Gordon was always teasing her bout her "bling bling". But more than the show and more than the cost those rings symbolized an unshakable bond built by their unconditional and everlasting love. Brooke could only stare at it.
"Hey you. Couldn't sleep?"
Peyton.
"Hey. Um, sorry if I woke you. I was just uh, trying to see what's on MTV…"
Peyton's eyes drifted over to the television and the paused image of the Tree Hill gang partying it up and Lucas and Brooke's wedding reception.
"MTV, huh?"
"Guess I'm busted."
"Whatever floats your boat, Brooke. Besides, there's no harm in remembering the good times."
"Pey, do you think…do you think I'm making the right decision?"
Peyton put a protective arm around her friend.
"I think you are scared and lonely and hurting and mad and a little confused all at once. There's nothing wrong with that. I also know that you are the strongest person I know. Whatever you decide, it'll be right for you and I will be right here for whatever you need."
"Thanks Pey. That means a lot."
"Anytime."
"This is so hard…"
"I can't imagine."
"I just wish he's never done it. God, Peyton! Why? Why did he let one stupid night ruin ten years?"
"I don't know, kid", Peyton sighed. "I wish I had the answers."
"Yeah", Brooke said as she rested her weary head on her best friend's shoulder. "Me too."