"Close your eyes and open your mouth."

Lucas shook his head.

"Think I was born yesterday? It'll be a cold day in hell before I fall for that one. It reeks of a setup."

"I am so hurt", Brooke pouted. "And I thought we were working on the whole trust issue. It is a two way street, you know."

"Brooke, I trust you with my heart and even my life. What I put in my mouth is a different story, however."

For a month they had decided to give it a go. It had been difficult but they had taken it slow and so far so good. Lucas and Brooke enjoyed one another's company at work and home, which became much more spacious when Nathan moved out and he and Haley rented their own place across town. But "date nights" were fun as well and the two had decided to have dinner at a downtown sushi bar.

"Eat it. I promise it's good."

"I'll take your word for it."

Brooke rolled her eyes

"Why won't you taste even a little bite?"

"It looks slimy."

"Lucas Scott, who comes to a sushi restaurant and doesn't eat the sushi?"

"Me."

"I see that now. Look, if you didn't like Japanese food, you could have just told me. We could have gone somewhere else/"

"Why? This place is fine."

"Luke!"

"What? I like Japanese. Look at my plate. I have Chicken Teriyaki and rice and don't forget the Miso soup. I love this stuff. They should put it in a can and sell the hell out of it at the grocery stores."

Brooke smiled.

"Are you done?"

"No. I forgot to mention the Sake. You can't have a good Japanese meal without Sake."

"Finished now?"

Lucas nodded.

"Yes, I am."

"Good. Now open wide."

She picked up a piece with her chopsticks. Lucas made a face but conceded. Brooke somehow always got her way.

"Do I have to do this?" he checked one last time."

"Yes."

"Let's make a deal. You look like the kind of gal who knows a good bargain when she sees it. Let's see…what if, what if I promise to kiss you later?"

"You were gonna so that anyway now quit being such a baby. It won't kill you. It's sushi. It tastes delicious. You'll love it."

He closed his eyes as she dropped the delicacy into his waiting mouth.

"Broo…"

"Don't fight the feeling. It's already halfway down your throat. Just chew and swallow, babe."

He did as he was told and it really wasn't that bad. Actually, she was right…it was kind of good. He opened his eyes to see her giving him that all too knowing "I told you so" grin.

"Okay", he finally swallowed it all.

"You still alive?"

"Barely."

"Oh admit it. It's so good."

"I wouldn't go that far. It was okay."

"I am so proud of you", she cooed as she began to stuff her own face.

God, she was beautiful, perfect…even with soy sauce dripping down her chin. He lived for the time they spent together. Everything he had gone through had been worth it. He'd made the life change on his own but having Brooke around for a girlfriend definitely made it easier to keep walking the straight and narrow path. For the first time ever he was truly relaxed and happy, looking forward to each new day with hope and renewed excitement for life itself and what was to come.

"So what are we doing when we leave here?" he asked.

"Dart? Pool?"

"Nah. I don't feel like playing."

"You mean getting your ass kicked by a girl again."

"Ha ha. You're a little hustler, you know that? In fact, I look forward to a rematch because I was bamboozled."

"Excuses, excuses", she rolled her eyes playfully. "So you don't want to go out, which means it'll probably be another Blockbuster night."

"Watching movies sounds good but I was thinking we could leave here and take a walk by the docks."

Brooke smiled.

"A moonlit stroll by the beautifully lit river hand in hand with Tree Hill's most handsome and eligible man?"

"You got it."

She made a face and stuck out her tongue.

"No thanks. I'd rather just go with you."

He balled up a napkin and threw it at her.

"I'll remember that one later."

"Oh I'm so scared", she pretended, leaning over the table so the two could share a kiss.

Lucas reached for his wallet.

"You ready to get out of here?"

"Potty break first", she announced.

"Again? Jesus! Brooke, you just went right before dinner."

"We drank a lot of liquid. Don't you have to pee?"

"No. No, I don't. I don't have to whiz every ten seconds. That's only you and those little old ladies in my grandma's Canasta club."

"Is my Loverbug embarrassed that his little Sugar Muffin has an active bladder?"

"Sugar Muffin?" he laughed. "Your new nickname is Piss N Boots."

Brooke ignored him.

"I shall return in a few minutes. Try not to miss me", she winked, kissing his neck before heading to the bathroom.

"I'm not buying that whole bathroom bit. I think it's just a way for you to dine and dash and stiff me with the bill."

"Could be…could be not", she playfully grinned.

At the next table an older gentleman with a salt and pepper beard smiled as she had been observing the young couple's lighthearted banter.

"She's a real firecracker, that one."

"That she is", Lucas agreed.

"And a real looker, too."

Lucas smiled proudly. It was a good feeling to walk out in public and know he had one of the hottest numbers in town on his arm.

"Yeah…she's really beautiful."

"You're a lucky young lad."

Lucas nodded. He was reminded of that fact every time she smiled at him.

"Don't I know it, sir."

Brooke emerged from the restroom. She smiled and nodded a polite "hello" to the friendly, older stranger her boyfriend had been chatting with and he returned the greeting.

"Ready, babe?" she asked.

He helped her with her coat and kissed her cheek.

"After you."

The held hands and left the restaurant on foot. Together they were a physically striking pair, two unusually good looking young people blessed with obvious kind genetics. Their very presence immediately commanded the attention of passersby. Lucas Scott and Brooke Davis were the epitome of young love.

He put his arm around her and she snuggled deeper into his embrace as they stopped at a picnic table. Brooke stood in front and Lucas snaked his arms around her waist. Her hair blew in the breeze as they stood in comfortable silence. She let out a sigh of contentment as her fingers grazed across his arms.

"I could stay here forever", she smiled.

He placed another kiss on her forehead.

"So could I."

It was their moment, a time to be together, a time when nothing else mattered and no one else existed. They were oblivious to the fact world and the people that walked near them. And most of all, they were oblivious to the kindly bearded man that had been seated so close to them at the sushi place, oblivious even as he snapped away shots of them on his digital camera.