Author's Note: Flashback sequence written in Italics...

She remembered the day at Deb's house when she had literally burned her past away. Every material and superficial thing she had brought with her to Tree Hill had gone up in flames and smoke. Everything except one item.

Brooke eyed the large princess cut diamond set on a studded platinum band. It was one hell of a rock, every woman's dream. She remembered the day it had lovingly been placed on her finger…

"Peyton, you need a man!" Brooke complained.

Peyton grinned.

"Men are stupid. Stupid and complicated. We can't all meet Mr. Prince Charming like you did in one of those modern day coming of age real life fairytales."

Brooke rolled her eyes. Enough with the melodrama already.

"He pulled my dumb ass out of a frozen pond the night we all had the brilliant idea to get shit faced then go ice skating."

"He saved your life. It's romantic."

Brooke smiled.

"Yeah…I guess it kind of is. He's crazy about me, he's hot, he's super rich, all the bitches are jealous, I get treated like a princess, he's rich…"

"Uh, you already mentioned that one."

"I like to emphasize the good stuff", Brooke shrugged. "Sue me."

"Don't rub it in, dude. Killian is a real catch, probably like the last decent guy out there. You know my philosophy…men are like toilets, either they're all taken or they're all full of shit so congratulations, B. Davis, you just hogged the last working stall."

"Bitter, are we?"

"Hell no", Peyton laughed. "Besides, I've got you. Why the hell do I need a man?"

"Hel-lo! To accompany you to those lame ass, boring as hell charity functions so I can be off the hook. Pey, you know I hate those damn things!"

"Me too but you know how it is. Our families donate a whole lot of dough, you and I get dressed up in Donna Karan evening wear, show our pretty faces, smile for the cameras, clap for the speeches, then…"

"Get loaded at the mini bar?"

"You said it, sister", Peyton assured her.

They took another look in the mirror. Sheer perfection. Long blonde curls cascaded past her shoulders. The silk pale gown with the "barely there" straps accentuated her smooth shoulders. And Brooke was equally stunning in a sleeveless, strapless dark blue number with a sexy split up the side. Her hair had been neatly pinned in a pageant perfect bun with neat, even bangs covering the top portion of her forehead.

"We look hot."

"Always", Peyton shrugged in agreement.

Brooke made a face.

"Something is missing. We need jewelry…lots of it."

As if on cue, the doorbell rang. It was a courier from Tiffany's with an assorted arrangement of the finest jewels for the women to borrow for the evening. He opened the boxes and the two pounced like vultures on a decaying animal carcass. Gorgeous earrings, necklaces and bracelets. After a few minutes of intense discussion, the best friends were all set.

"Madam, this was sent especially for you", he said to Brooke, pointing to a lone, plain, black box.

Brooke shrugged and opened it, gasping as she first laid eyes on the most exquisite ring she had ever seen.

"Oh. My. God! P. Sawyer, are you looking at this?"

"Whoa! I was looking until the damned thing blinded me in one eye."

Brooke turned to the courier.

"Sir, as much as I love this, and I really, really, really, really, really do, there must have been some mix up at the store with the delivery…"

"There's no mix up", Killian appeared, a dozen red roses in one hand, giving them to Brooke along with a peck on the lips.

"Killian! I might have known you'd be behind all this. What is going on? What are you doing here? I thought you were in Chicago on business."

He smiled.

"My only business tonight is here with you", he said, huskily, sinking down to one knee. "Brooke Davis, I love you with all my heart. This ring isn't just some loaner for you to wear tonight to your event, it is a permanent testament of my, our, love. Please make me a very happy man, sweetheart. Marry me."

Brooke's whole body began to shake. She was in a state of pure disbelief. She had the man of her dreams holding the engagement ring of her dreams.

"Yes, Killian", she squealed. "I love you! Of course I will marry you!"

He slid the ring on her finger and gave her a kiss. Brooke admired her left hand as Peyton hugged and congratulated her. It was the perfect proposal. Brooke had done more than well for herself. She was a beautiful, young woman from a prominent and well respected family. She was a social butterfly, a college graduate, an empowered working woman and on her way to being the new wife of a handsome, successful, ambitious stock broker. It was a dream life. They would marry, purchase a few homes, travel, have a couple of equally gorgeous children and Brooke would commit to the life of a full time socialite. Shopping, keeping up with society and its latest trends all the while raising money for worthy charities would become her main focuses. Then, like seemingly all the families in their wealthy, closely guarded inner circles, they'd live happily ever after.

That was how it was supposed to be. Brooke hugged Killian warmly. It was supposed to be the greatest day of her life, right? She was happy…right? Then why did she feel so empty?

"You still have your ring?"

Brooke looked up. It was Killian.

"Hi", she said softly.

"Hi."

She cleared her throat as he stared at her.

"We need to talk."

"That we do but forgive me for staring, my love. I just can't help myself. It's so nice to look in those beautiful eyes again. I missed that so much. I missed you."

"I do feel terrible, Killian. I owe you an explanation."

"I would like to know why you did what you did. Was it me?"

"Oh no. No. You're wonderful. It's not you, it's me, Killian."

"Did I not make you happy?"

Brooke thought of the ski trips to Aspen and Lake Tahoe, romantic getaways to the Fiji Islands and Cancun, European ventures. She remembered the many gifts he had showered her with. Killian was in love with her. He had pampered her, catered to her every whim and desire, all the while placing her on an untouchable pedestal of perfection.

"I…I was happy. It wasn't anything you did."

"If you were so happy, is it really true you left on your own?"

"Yes", she sighed.

"Why?"

"I don't know. There were so many things I was unsure of, things I wanted to change, things I wasn't happy with. All the pressure became too much and I broke."

"Why didn't you come to me or Peyton?"

"I don't know. Killian, I felt like I was wasting my life away. I felt like a failure of a daughter and a friend and a fiancée. The whole world was going crazy. I didn't know how to handle it so I took the coward's path out. I ran away. Look, I know you must hate me…"

"I don't hate you, Brooke. How could I ever hate you? I love you. But I was sick with worry when we couldn't find you. I feared the worst. I'll never understand your decision but it hurts that you couldn't come to me about it before acting out so hastily. And it hurts that you didn't consider the feelings of your parents and your friends and myself in the aftermath. Do you have any idea how much a simple phone call would have eased so much needless worrying and suffering?"

Brooke began to cry.

"You're absolutely right. I know that. It was selfish and inconsiderate of me and I'm truly sorry."

Killian looked away.

"I have to know, Brooke. Did you…were you ever sexually intimate with Lucas Scott?"

Brooke could not tell a lie. Not anymore.

"Yes."

His whole body tensed.

"If you feel you had to leave to better yourself somehow or clear your head, I can almost deal with that. You left everything and everybody behind, trading one life for another even. But to start a new relationship and sleep with another man? How could you? What about me, Brooke? What about us?"

"Killian, I…"

"How could you just erase us?"

"I, I didn't."

"Did you ever really love me, Brooke? Truthfully?"

"Of course I did."

He looked right at her.

"What about now? Do you love me now?"

"Yes", she whispered.

As crazy as it sounded, it was the truth.

"What about your little friend, Lucas? Do you love him?"

Tears streamed down her face.

"Don't do this", she begged.

"I just don't understand how any of this happened. How can you love me yet still be with him?"

"I don't know. God, I don't know anything anymore. But I never meant for things to turn out this way and I never meant for anyone to get hurt."

Killian closed his eyes. He was torn by his love and his hatred for the beautiful yet tearful woman sitting before him.

"My God, Brooke. Were you actually naïve enough to think this would have a happy ending? Tell me, just what were you thinking?"

Brooke threw up her hands in frustration.

"I wasn't thinking, Killian. It was like I was a different person. And when I ended up here, I became a different person. I spent time with a really terrific guy that I clicked with and I didn't plan anything and I didn't think. For once I just went with things. In the process I hurt you and Peyton and my other friends and my entire family. And now I've hurt my new friends and I hurt Lucas. Everything is one big mess and it's all my fault."

"Everything has certainly changed", he loosened his tie. "The big question now is, where do we go from here?"

Brooke wiped at her eyes.

"I don't know that either."

"Only you have the answer to that, Brooke", Killian sighed. "It's all up to you."