Equal But Opposite Reaction

By: Sari

Disclaimer: No, I don't own OTH. If I did Brooke and Lucas would be back together and Felix would be in a ditch somewhere. Haley wouldn't be going insane and she and Nathan would be back together.

Summary: AU Brucas. Successful bachelor Lucas Scott meets hard to get, feminist Brooke Davis and a rollercoaster ride occurs as both begin to fall in love.

Part 27

"Welcome to Las Vegas!" Lauren exclaimed pulling both Brooke and Lucas into a huge hug. "You're Brooke right? Damn, I have to respect the woman that finally got Lucas to settle down!"

Lauren grabbed one of Brooke's bags and continued talking. "Luke prepped me over the phone that all of this was supposed to be hush hush and everything. It's kind of strange being friends with someone famous and after knowing him so long you think I'd get used to it." Lauren shook her head mournfully. "In Las Vegas sports aren't a big deal so when an athlete does show up around here they immediately seek me out in hopes that I'll give a recommendation to Lucas. It's crazy. Oh, I'm being rude! Hello I'm Lauren Fisher."

Brooke tried to keep up with the whirlwind of energy the petite woman exuded but failed miserably. "Hi." She finally managed.

"And this is your sister Elizabeth right?" Lauren suddenly stopped. "Wait, if this is supposed to be your top secret wedding why isn't Haley here?"

Lucas winced knowing the question would come up. "This idea of ours was such short notice that I decided that only the people we really needed to be here should be here and that would be Eliza because Brooke wants her here and Nathan because he's my brother and best man. Brooke's maid of honor, Peyton, will be arriving in a couple of hours."

Lauren blinked owlishly and then shrugged. "Your decision Luke, so Nate how are you and Haley doing?"

"We're divorced." Nathan said without missing a beat.

Lauren visibly winced and backtracked quickly. "Wow, ok, well sorry to hear that. I'm just going to shut up now and find the car."

Lucas laughed and gave Lauren another hug. "It's great to see you again Laurie."

She smiled. "Always a pleasure Luke."

"So how did you two meet?" Brooke asked her.

"Oh wow, let's see. It was at one of Nathan's first basketball games with the Knicks and I was not interested at all but my husband Lawrence was so he dragged me there. Anyway, his friend had given us some courtside tickets which happened to be right next to Lucas's seat and before I died of boredom Lucas decided to save me by saying 'Hello.' So here I am thinking 'oh my god someone actually socializes during this disgusting show of testosterone' and I remember to say 'Hi' finally and well…from there it was history."

"Actually there's a lot more to it but that's the basic overview." Lucas said chuckling. They finally reached the SUV and everyone piled in. "How is Lawrence Laurie? I haven't talked to him in ages."

"Lawrence is caught up with the hospital right now. He's trying to get elected to the Board of the Directors." Lauren stated proudly.

Lucas whistled. "That's great, he's really young to be trying to get on the board already."

"Lawrence is a great doctor and he's done so much for the hospital in the short time he's been there he deserves it."

"I'm sure he does, Lawrence is a great guy." Lucas replied.

"Not to interrupt or anything but how are we doing this?" Brooke asked. "Are we going to just go drive to a chapel or something? I've heard that Vegas had those cheesy places with like Elvis and stuff and no offense but that's not my style."

Lauren giggled. "I'm not dragging you off to a chapel."

"Then where?"

"Lucas and I have decided to keep it a secret until we get you there so there is no chance in you backing out."

"I made it all the way to Vegas I think that shows something about my dedication."

Lauren just smiled. "You'll love it, trust me."

Almost a half hour later they pulled into a large two story house that practically screamed elegance. Brooke was taken aback by how gorgeous the house was. "This house is beautiful." Brooke gasped.

"Thank you." Lauren said opening the door. "It was a fixer upper. It took Lawrence and me a long time to get it to this point."

"I'll take Elizabeth and Nathan to their room since they look tired and then I'll show you to yours."

"Yeah, I could do with a nap. It was a long flight." Brooke said. She turned to Lucas. "Will you and Lauren be alright picking up Peyton by yourself? I don't think I could make it."

Lucas kissed her gently and pushed her towards the stairs. "We'll be fine. I'm a big kid now and all that jazz."

"Sometimes I forget." She said smiling tiredly.

Once Brooke, Elizabeth, and Nathan were settled Lauren took Lucas outside to talk about what they were going to do tomorrow.

"You were lying to me earlier…about Haley not being here." Lauren said while fixing them both a light dinner before they were to leave. "She is going to be here right? That divorce couldn't have killed her and Nate's relationship that much."

"It's complicated but she is going to be here. I just didn't want her flying up with us because of the situation with Elizabeth."

"Ahh…Elizabeth is the new girlfriend?"

"Yeah."

"And you approve?" She asked incredulously.

"It doesn't matter if I approve or not, it matters if Nathan is happy and he is. That's enough for me."

"Haley's your best friend." She put in pointedly. "What about what she wants?"

"Nathan's my brother." Lucas replied. "I'm sick of being the one to mend their marriage. If it's over then it's over Laurie, just leave it alone okay?"

"Alright, I'm dropping the subject." She said. "Are you parents coming?"

"I called Brooke's parents while she was sleeping and they're going to make it and I called my mom and Keith."

"Dan?"

"Business trip."

"Ouch that's harsh."

Lucas shrugged. "It isn't his fault I decided to push the wedding up, and change the location, and cut down the guest list about 200 people."

"Are you sure Peyton's going to be able to get Brooke out of the house tomorrow?" Lauren asked worriedly. "I can get everything set up by the time they get back but if they come back earlier than 2 PM we'll have a problem."

"I've booked them a spa treatment and appointments to get their hair and nails done." Lucas said. "That should take them until at least 4 and afterwards they'll have to get dressed."

Lauren nodded making jotting down stuff on her notepad. "We're going for simple elegance right?"

"Right, Brooke has that classic kind of beauty and she deserves a beautiful wedding, even if it's not going to be publicized to hundreds of people."

Lauren smiled at him. "You two are perfect for each other. I'm so glad you finally found someone for you."

"I'm glad too, I was beginning to lose faith. He smiled contently. "Then Brooke came along and restored it. I love her so much Laurie, this has to be perfect."

"It will." She insisted. "They don't call me the wedding planner to the stars for no reason Luke, I'm damned good at what I do."

"I know, I trust you."

She looked at her watch. "We should go get Peyton now."

Brooke woke up disoriented before realizing that she was in Las Vegas, miles away from all of her friends and family getting married in a way that had never even crossed her mind before. Growing up in the spotlight and then having a career in the spotlight pretty much guaranteed that every aspect of your life stayed that way. But now her wedding would be private and viewed by only a couple of people and although the idea appealed to her it also frightened her to death. What would her mother think?

"Hey what's wrong you look like you saw a ghost?" Peyton asked her.

"I think I'm getting pre-wedding jitters." Brooke said smiling weakly. "Tell me I'm doing the right thing."

"You're doing the right thing." Peyton told her firmly. "Lucas is great for you and you're great for him. You don't want a huge wedding because you don't handle pressure well, and you're going to get up because it's 9:30 in the morning and we have an appointment to go to."

Brooke look horrified. "It's MORNING?" She groaned and rolled out of bed. "Holy shit, why didn't you wake me up when you came in last night?"

"Lucas didn't want me to, he said you were tired."

"I was but I at least wanted to see you before I was lost in dream land."

"We got back late, it was okay. I fell asleep almost immediately. Flying across the country isn't what I call fun." Peyton assured her. "Go get dressed and I'll meet you downstairs."

Brooke nodded. "I'm glad you're here Peyt." She said smiling gratefully.

Moments later Brooke was in the shower when arms encircled her and she turned around to face her soon-to-be husband who was grinning at her. "Hey beautiful."

"I'm showering." She replied bluntly.

"I'm here to help." He said in between the hot kisses that he was placing on her wet neck.

She moaned before pushing him away. "Peyton said we had an appointment to go to. What appointment?"

"Spa, hair, and nails." He murmured hands sliding lower.

"Stop it!" She groaned. "Get out now!"

He grinned. "You don't want me to leave."

"Yes I do." Brooke said.

He kissed her sweetly his fingers working wonders. "I'll make it quick." He promised.

She moaned into his mouth and nodded.

"Ok people! We only have a couple hours to get this together so hurry up!" Lauren shouted as her team started unloading flowers, tables, and white linens. "I need this backyard set up as soon as possible! Where is my arch? Someone get started on it right away I need those roses on it! Who is contacting the preacher? And who's in charge of the seating? FASTER PEOPLE."

Everyone rushed around trying to comply while Lauren continued her dictating. Lucas just chuckled. "Laurie I'll see you later okay? Nate's here to help you if you need it. Elizabeth and I are going to the airport."

Lauren nodded distracted. "Have fun, be back by 4."

"So why am I coming along again?" Elizabeth asked climbing into Lauren's Escalade. "I was having fun helping Lauren."

"You're coming along" Lucas started while backing out of the driveway. "Because I want to talk to you."

"Oh here we go." Elizabeth muttered.

"I'm serious okay? I want today to be perfect."

She nodded. "I get it Luke so go ahead and talk."

"We're going to pick up Haley and your parents right now." He said gauging her reaction.

Elizabeth's face stayed blank. "Alright."

"How do feel about that?"

She glared at him. "Don't try the therapist routine on me Luke. I get what you're trying to say you don't want me to make trouble with Haley or get angsty with my parents and its fine I understand that today is your wedding day and you should be happy not dealing with my problems."

"I want you to be happy too."

"I'm happy that my bratty older sister is happy." Elizabeth finally responded. "If I have to deal with the ex from hell and my mother then I will. Brooke's put up with a lot of shit from me over the years so it's the least I can do."

"Thank you Eliza, that means a lot to me." Lucas said genuinely grateful that Elizabeth was making this so easy for him. "I'm going to talk to Haley too and your mother."

She looked surprised. "Why my mother?"

"Because I know when she gushes about Brooke and her success it makes you feel inadequate and you shouldn't feel that way. I don't want her doing it today. I don't want her doing it ever, but that'd be asking too much." Lucas said. "And Haley is just as guilty as you. She means well and she tries not to let it bother her but she can't help it when she sees you and Nathan together. It tears at her heart."

Elizabeth looked guilty. "I can imagine."

The car lapsed into silence and conversation didn't pick up again until they were walking into the airport. "You're going to be okay right?" Lucas asked her as he saw Haley up ahead and Brooke and Elizabeth's parents right behind her.

She nodded. "I'm doing this for you and Brooke, I can handle it."

Lucas looked amused as one of Lauren's many helpers whisked Elizabeth off to get dressed as soon as they piled out of the car. Another two helpers whisked away Brooke's parents but Lucas stopped the person that came for Haley. "I'll send her off in a few minutes" He assured the stressed woman. "Tell Lauren that she shouldn't dock your pay or anything."

"What's up?" Haley asked.

"I need you to tell me that you're not going to start anything today." Lucas said seriously.

"Lucas I wouldn't do that."

"I thought you wouldn't do at my dinner party either but I was wrong."

"I already said I was sorry about that."

"I know but I'm reminding you. Eliza and Nate are not here just to piss you off okay? They're here to support me on my wedding day. I need to understand that. They're not intentionally pissing you off. They're not flaunting their relationship. They're not trying to make you jealous."

"I know."

"No you don't, you just think you do."

"I'm not going to start anything." Haley promised.

"Thank you, and I'm trusting you to keep your word Hales."

Lucas watched Haley walk away and then made his way to the area where he knew Mrs. Davis would be getting dressed. "Hello Mrs. Davis do you mind if I come in?" He asked politely.

"Oh of course Lucas, I wanted to talk to you as well." She exclaimed happily. "Wonderful wedding planner you have here. Her staff is really professional."

He smiled. "Laurie's the best. I've known her for a long time."

"So what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Elizabeth."

Mrs. Davis happy smile immediately turned into a frown and her face darkened. "What is there to talk about?"

"I've known for awhile that your relationship with Elizabeth has never been the best…"

She snorted. "That's an understatement."

Lucas nodded. "Right, its worse, but I'm asking if you can put cut back on the obvious adulation you do of Brooke today for Elizabeth's sake."

"What are you talking about?" She asked coldly. "I don't treat my daughters any different."

"You might not think you do Mrs. Davis, it's a common mistake every parent does but the bottom line is that you do and it hurts Elizabeth for you to show your affection for Brooke so much and make her feel like she doesn't belong in her own family. Her sister is getting married today and she wants to be happy for her, don't make it harder by playing favorites."

She stayed silent and Lucas prayed that he didn't overstep his boundaries. "Thank you for bringing this to my attention Lucas." She said stiffly. "But I don't think it'll be a problem for me since I don't treat my daughters any differently."

He sighed softly. "Alright Mrs. Davis. You wanted to speak to me as well?"

"Before you started making judgments on my parenting I was going to tell you that I was happy that Brooke found such a lovely young man. Someone that could take care of her and treat her how she deserves."

"Mrs. Davis I was not making judgments…"

She held up a hand to silence him. "We've dropped the subject." She said briskly. "I'll see you at the wedding Lucas."

"See you then Mrs. Davis."

Brooke and Peyton were dropped off in front of Lauren's apartment at exactly 4:30 and Brooke looked amazed. "What the hell is going on?" She asked.

Peyton didn't answer her, instead making her way into the house. "I think Luke needs to have a word with you."

"Your damn right he does." She said taking in the people franticly running around. "Lucas what is going on?" She asked as soon as she saw his blonde head.

He pulled her into a corner. "Your wedding."

"I thought we were going to a chapel…"

"I never told you Laurie's occupation did I?" Lucas asked nonchalantly.

"No…"

"She's a wedding planner." Lucas said. "A highly paid and respected one."

"You hired her?"

He shook his head. "She's doing it because she wants to."

"We're getting married right now? In her back yard?" Brooke asked incredulously.

Lucas guided her to one of the huge windows in the kitchen. Brooke gave out a gasp that closely resembled a sob. "Oh my lord…"

"You like it?"

"I love it." She murmured taking in the pink rose petals covering the ground, the white chairs placed strategically in a semi circle around a white wicker arch with flowers entwined around it. "It's beautiful."

"Go get ready." He said smiling. "Everyone is waiting for us."

"My parents are here…" She said dazed. "My dad's going to walk me down the aisle."

"That he is." Lucas agreed pushing her to Peyton.

"Thank you."

He nodded and went upstairs to get dressed himself.

"Well what are we waiting for B, let's go get you married!" Peyton cried.

TBC

A/N: The next part is the last chapter so let me address some issues.

1 – To everyone who didn't like the Naley breakup and the Nathan/Elizabeth pairing: Oh well? I haven't like Haley in a long time and it practically killed me to make her nice in this fic. Maybe it didn't seem plausible that Nathan would divorce Haley if she was pregnant but it seemed plausible to me. Just because he's divorcing Haley doesn't mean that he's going to divorce his child and I don't think it's at all OOC. In the show Nathan knows how it feels to live with parents that love each other but hurt each other all the time so why stick a child with parents who really don't love each other? It's not like the child is old enough to understand what is going on. So in my book it's perfectly fine.

2 – Lack of Brucas: Uh what? No there wasn't a lack of Brucas at all. This whole story was centered on their relationship. It was directly mentioned in every chapter but every scene I wrote in this story affected their relationship in some way be it good or bad.

3 – Brooke/Lucas eloping: I used the term eloping because the wedding was moved and changed unexpectedly. Brooke thought what the readers thought—that they would be going to some chapel and getting married with a preacher that looked like Elvis but I'm think I wrote the characters IC for the whole of this fic and I wouldn't stop that by doing something cheesy like going to a chapel. I swear, my readers have no faith in me :(

4 – How the Naley breakup was handled: Okay everyone look back on a bad breakup that they had. Were you extremely nice and happy with that person after you broke up with them? Chances are the answer is no and I was trying to be realistic with their breakup. You have to understand in this story Naley's marriage was never a stable one and I think I portrayed Haley as being more emotionally involved in the marriage than Nathan was. You always saw Lucas talking to Nathan about his screw ups never Haley's screw ups because the fact of the matter is that Nathan has not been 100 in their relationship for a long time now.

5 – Don't see Nate with Eliza? Author's right guys. I like them together.