Author's Note: For Jess! Good luck on the annuities, Ma. I miss ya!

"Ms. Davis, will you be back in time for the meeting next week with Linda Albrecht? She wanted us to begin the preliminary planning for decorating the new Hilton they're building downtown."

Brooke smiled at the assistant.

"Like I'd miss that meeting? Please. Everybody who is anybody in the design world in this town has wanted that account and we got it. I wouldn't miss that appointment for all the money in the world, and speaking of, we are going to make a financial killing after this one."

"Good, this is too important. We need you, boss."

Brooke winked. She loved attention and she loved to feel needed and wanted.

"Well, I will be back in Philadelphia full time in a few days. I'm just tying up loose ends."

"That's right. The pre season starts soon."

Brooke sighed.

"Yeah…"

"You must be excited. It will be good to be home although I'm sure you miss Mr. Scott when he is away on the road."

Of course she missed him. Hell, she missed him when he left the room to grab a beer. But lately, ever since the latest excursion to Tree Hill, things had changed. Lucas was different. Even when he was with her, it was like he wasn't. She was missing him now.

"Huh? Oh yeah…um, I'm pretty excited to be back and uh…back to the meeting. Just make sure the presentations are complete. I want to review them before we go. And I need that invoice on the Bunker home on my desk as soon as possible. Oh and make a note that the McHugh's have decided to purchase the 30 grand kitchen set in lieu of the one for 12. Can we say commission?" she squealed.

With a wink and a bounce in her step, Brooke returned to her spacious office. She loved the fact that it read "President" underneath her name in gold plate on her oak door. In fact, she loved everything about her career. She had assembled a dynamite team in Philadelphia and the success and profits from her acquired contracts were speaking for themselves. Things were going great, at least professionally speaking. It was a welcome distractive avenue that could keep her busy and her mind off of ensuing personal problems.

"Angie?" she buzzed the receptionist.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Can you get me a Tab?"

"A what?"

"A cold Tab, you know, like the soda?"

Angie hesitated.

"Um, I'll try but I haven't seen a Tab since the 80's, Miss Davis."

"Oh", Brooke said.

Where had that come from? Usually a Diet Coke or Pepsi or bottled water would do. Come to think of it, she hadn't seen a Tab herself in years. But somehow being told "no", being turned down, being rejected in a way brought tears to her eyes. Brooke felt like breaking down, even if it was only over a stupid soda.

Sighing, she pulled out a stack of papers and went to work. She had contracts and audits and client feedback to read before going back to New York. She had been so leery initially of the idea of moving in with Nathan in Haley's building but it had turned out to be not so bad after all. Time had flown by and now it was time to leave. After packing and a few more days, it would be over. Of course New York was only 100 miles and a shot car or God forbid train ride away, Brooke had a feeling she would be making the trip often. She loved little Jamarah and it had been nice to get reacquainted with Tutor Girl once more.

Brooke tapped her pencil. After all these years, would a final Naley reconciliation even be possible? Hell, anything was possible and that tiny hint of hope made her smile. The two were crazy about each other. Why couldn't they make it work? It would be hard. Relationships weren't always easy. She and Lucas had worked at it daily. And what about Jake and Peyton? They had a child in the mix and they managed to keep it altogether.

Gosh, they had been friends for so long already. Brooke wondered what the future held in store for each of them. Would they always be friends? Would they always be in each other's lives? And as far as significant others, would they always remain together?

"Brooke Davis!"

Brooke jumped as she heard her name over the loudspeaker…and boy was it loud. What the hell was Angie doing, using a bullhorn?

"Angie, what's up? I hear you. People in Rhode Island heard you I'm sure", she rolled her eyes.

"Ma'am, I have no idea what you're talking about. I heard it but I didn't call you."

"Then who did?"

"Brooke Davis!"

"What the…"

Jamie, a partner, knocked on the door and entered.

"Sounds like it's coming from outside."

They immediately ran to the window. Brooke couldn't believe her eyes. The busy city street in front of her office had been taken over by horse drawn carriages. Men dressed in Old English military uniforms marched proudly with swords and guns. Jesters carried horns.

"Is it Gay pride week?" Brooke wondered.

Then she saw it. The end of the procession was a white horse and someone atop of it in a knight's full armored garb.

"Oh God, they're headed this way", Jamie said in astonishment. "They are stopping at our door."

Brooke and Jamie headed to the front where the rest of the office had speechlessly gathered. Sure enough there was a brief knock and all the people they had seen outside made their way into the space.

"We are here to see Lady Brooke Davis", one of them announced.

Brooke's eyes widened as she turned to Angie.

"Did you forget to document one of my appointments?" she whispered tersely.

"No, ma'am, Miss Davis. I would have remembered if we had any castles to decorate", she giggled.

A young girl in peasant's gear proceeded to Brooke, throwing scented rose petals in a trail.

"M' lady", she bowed.

Brooke couldn't help but laugh as she curtsied and was presented with a fresh bouquet of wildflowers.

"Why thank you. They're absolutely beautiful."

"Sir Lucas Scott", the girl presented dramatically with the wave of a hand.

Brooke looked confused. Lucas? Her Lucas? The small gathered crowd waited eagerly. A few minutes passed.

"Sir Lucas Scott", the girl said louder.

Clanking all the way down the hall, was the armored "knight" they had seen on the white horse. He walked up to her and clumsily reached to remove his head piece. He was having a hard time so a giggling Brooke helped him out.

"Thanks, babe", a red faced Lucas breathed. "It's hot as hell in there."

"Broody, what on earth are you doing?"

"Oh yeah", he cleared his throat.

"Brooke Davis…I love you. I have loved you since I was a scrappy teenager shooting baskets on the River Court. The love you have given me, the happiness you make me feel everyday is what most people pray for their whole lives. We have had our ups and downs but I know in my mind and soul and heart, that you are the woman I want for the rest of my life. Your smile, your beauty, your intelligence, the way you make me laugh, the crazy things you inspire me to do, the way you burn my pancakes in the morning…you, baby, everything about you makes life worthwhile. Everything good I have is good because I have you to share it with. You are my best friend and the love of my life. I want to make it official. I want the whole world to know just how I feel about you. I know I screwed this up the last time but I hope this time the presentation or at least the effort gets me out of the doghouse. So here goes…"

He went to bend down on one knee, squeaking and clanking as he did.

"Don't hurt yourself, Sir Lucas", Jamie quipped.

"Shit", he muttered, finally finding the little black box. He opened it and all gasped. It was a platinum band encircled with dozens of tiny emeralds and a 9 carat rock placed in the middle.

"Broody…"

"Brooke…marry me."

She couldn't speak. A flood of tears washed over her pretty face.

"Lucas Eugene Scott…"

"Just say you want forever, too. Say you'll be my wife."

She only nodded to thundering applause as he placed the ring on her finger. She had to help pull him up in his awkward attire so he wouldn't fall down.

"My very own Tin Man", she laughed through tears. "Lucas, what is going on?"

"I screwed up before, Brooke. You deserved a real proposal from the heart with surprise and romance and an actual ring. I know I hurt you the way I asked because you thought I was doing it for the wrong reasons. I'm a guy and I'm clueless but that's all I'm guilty of…of course I wanted to marry you. You mean everything to me."

"All this? The jesters and the horses and…"

"Remember what you said? As a little girl you wanted the knight in shining armor to come whisk you away and rescue you? Well, here I am, Princess Brooke, at your service. You said you wanted the fairytale…so here it is."

"Oh Lucas…"

"See babe? There's nothing wrong with just believing."

By then there wasn't a dry eye in the place.

"I love you, you know that? You are like the best boyfriend, wait, I take that back, fiancé like ever! Even though this is the wackiest, goofiest, corniest, cheesiest thing ever…I love it! It's the coolest thing that's ever happened to me and I love you for doing it."

"I wanted to make it memorable and special."

"Uh, trust me…I won't be forgetting this and um, I am kind of digging the whole knight getup you've got going on so bring that home later and it will be an evening you won't soon forget, Broody", she winked suggestively.

He grinned and grabbed and kissed her, pulling away only to curse as he had trouble adjusting his balls in his armor.

"I love you, Brooke."

"I love you, too", she kissed him. "Now get out of here…I think a cop is giving your horse a ticket."