Embarrassed and tearful, Deb stood as the onlookers gawked at her like the manic psycho she surely appeared to be.

"I'm sorry", she whispered.

"It's okay", Karen ushered over to her.

"Oh Karen…"

"Sweetie, you're fine", the brunette assured her. "Why don't you go upstairs and freshen up? When you come back, we'll have cake and champagne."

"I...I didn't know. You must think I'm some sort of lunatic for going off like that. I just had a lot on my mind and..."

"No need to explain. It's okay."

Deb nodded as Karen helped her inside, both women glaring at Dan who just gave themthemost innocent ofshrugs.

"Poor Deb", Lucas whispered to Brooke from across the way. "I wonder what happened there."

"Your dad is looking overly innocent so I'm sure he had something to do with it", she rolled her eyes and walked away.

"Hey", he went after her, following her into the house. "You okay?"

"I'm fine."

He took a deep breath. Whenever a woman, any woman, huffed and puffed and said she was "fine", it meant anything but. He watched her as she made herself a mixed drink despite the fact there was an open bar just a few feet away. Her movements were hasty and her lips maneuvered into a permanent scowl. Brooke Davis wasn't a happy camper.

"Hey, hey, hey", he whispered. "Want to slow down for a minute?"

He turned her around slowly to face him.

"Luke…"

"Babe, talk to me."

"About what?"

He tucked a ringlet of dark hair behind her ear.

"About whatever is bothering you. What's on your mind?"

Brooke took a deep breath.

"It's not important", she snapped.

"Obviously it is if it's making you this upset and don't try to say you're not upset. I know you. Whatever it is, if it's important to you, then it's important to me."

Brooke looked around at their surroundings.

"Now isn't the time or place, Lucas."

He pulled her into a private room.

"Now is just as good a time as any. Besides, I can't take much more of you being so miserable. Now speak."

"Lucas…"

"Is this about last night? About all that wedding stuff we were talking about?"

Brooke looked away, tears threatening to sting her eyes.

"Look, I don't want to fight with you…"

"Good because I don't want to fight with you either."

"It's just…"

"Just what?"

"We're two different people, Luke. We've always been. I get that. I'm okay with that but…we feel very passionately and very differently about certain things, marriage being one of them."

"I never knew how you felt. I guess we never talked about it."

"Yeah…I guess we never did."

"Well, maybe we should."

"Right now?"

"Right now, right here."

She sighed heavily.

"What can I say? I'm still the dumb girl that dares to believe in the fairytale. I want it all, you know? I want the knight in shining armor on the white horse to come in and sweep me off my feet. I guess I've always wanted that. For a while it didn't seem possible. I had to give up that fantasy to protect myself, to protect my heart. Then…"

"Then what?"

"Then you came back, Lucas, and everything changed."

"I hurt you badly before and I swore that if you ever gave me a second chance, I would not let that happen again. I have done my damnest not to backtrack on that agreement. Brooke, you took a chance on me."

"Yeah, I did."

"Well how do you feel about that now? Any regrets?"

She looked him deep in the eyes.

"I love you. I love you more than you could ever know and I've never been happier."

Lucas smiled faintly.

"And what's so wrong with that?"

"Nothing. It's just that it's 'now'."

"Okay…"

"And 'now' is fine but what about the later?"

Lucas laughed out loud.

"Brooke…"

"I'm glad one of us is amused", she folded her arms.

"Sorry, babe but what do you want me to say? You know how much I love you. I tell you all the time and I try my best to show it every single day. You're it for me. I want you, I want us forever. Trustme, I am not going anywhere ever.That's how I feel and I don't need a judge or a preacher or a piece of paper to back that up. But if that's what you want…"

"Then what?"

Lucas slid down on one knee and gently placed her smaller hand inside his.

"Marry me."

"Lucas…"

"What? I mean it. I'm dead serious. I wouldn't ask if I wasn't. I love you, Brooke. Marry me right now."

She shook her head as she rubbed the inside of his palm with her thumb.

"No", she whispered.

What was left of Luke's smile quickly faded.

"Are you kidding, baby?"

"Does it look like I'm kidding?" she asked softly.

"I don't get this", he shook his head. "Brooke, sometimes I don't get you. I thought this is what you wanted."

"That's the thing", she responded softly. "I guess you really don't get me after all."

She stood to leave.

"Brooke!"

"Lucas, don't…"

Now it was his turn to want to cry.

"Don't do this. I'm sorry. Whatever I did wrong, I'll fix it. You know that I love you…"

She placed a soft peck on his lips.

"Yes, I do know that. And I love you, Broody."

"Then let's talk about this. Let's work this out together."

"Luke…"

"Whatever you want…"

She stroked the stubble of beard growing on his cheek.

"What I reallywant is for usto go back out there and join the party."

"But …"

"It's okay. Really. I'm fine. Okay? All on me, I was just having one of my notorious 'Brooke' moments. I'm sorry for the meltdown. You didn't do anything wrong. I'm okay."

"No, don't apologize…"

"It's fine. Really", she reached for his hand. "Now I am obviously the best looking chick here and you're the most handsome date. So let's say we go back out there and wow them."

She was smiling to cover up the pain and that was evident but it was no use in arguing with her. Instead, Lucas forced a smile of his own.

"Okay", he took her hand.

They made their way back outside to a celebration that was in full swing. Brooke worked the crowd, looking stunning as she did. Lucas couldn't help but watch her. God, he loved her so much. He had lost her once and God forbid he ever did again, he'd be a complete basket case. She had assured him they were okay and her bright smile and flawless Southern manners seemed to support that. But deep down he saw something else. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but whatever it was, it wasn't good. It could be the one and final thing to drive them apart forever. Just the thought of it made Lucas Scott shudder with fear.