A/N: Okay so obviously I haven't updated in awhile…I apologize for that but I've been really busy with school and everything and I have had this chapter sitting on my hard drive for who knows how long. I didn't really intend for it to go this way but I found it increasingly harder to add lighthearted moments to the chapters. It's just not the tone of the story. I figured what I'd do is end the story and write a sort of pre-quel about how they got together and stuff like that. It'll be all those flashbacks I intended to put in this story so it will be fun and much less sad. I pretty much promise no tears at all!

That being said this is NOT the final chapter! Close to it but there will probably at least one more maybe two depending on the reviews I get. If no one is reading it then I won't bother. So here it is the almost last chapter.

Chapter 5: Forever ain't what it used to be

He held her hand like he had every other day, but today was different, today she held on right back. Today Brooke Davis was awake. The day he had been waiting for but everyone said would never come was here. He stared down at her face and she stared back up at him smiling wider than she ever had before. She memorized every line and curve of his face, she never wanted to forget what he looked like, she never wanted to be in the position where she couldn't see his face everyday again.

"I missed you."

"I know you did."

"They kept telling me that you wouldn't wake up but I knew you would."

"I had to see you again." Was her response.

"I love you."

"And I love you Luke. What's with the serious face? I'm okay now."

"I could've lost you."

"You know I would never leave you."

"I know."

He heard the creak of the hospital door. It opened slowly, the people behind it not wanting to disturb the occupant of the room.

"Are you ready to go?" Came the voice from the doorway.

"Yeah." He answered somberly.

Lucas Scott stood up slowly. It was as if time has slowed down, he never thought this moment would come, not for them. It was supposed to be forever. He glanced down at the empty hospital bed. The only thing starring up at him was the bare mattress that once held the only thing in the world that mattered to him. The sheets were gone. No more dull hospital blue. Just an empty space. He sighed looking at the bed. Things should've been different. He turned fully towards the door and the two people waiting for him, sad smiled adorned both their faces. This was supposed to be a happy occasion. Finally getting him to leave the hospital, this wasn't how it was supposed to be. One last look towards the bed and he was out the door.

Haley wrapped a supportive arm around his waist as they walked down the hall. He smiled at her, it was sad, and nothing like the smiles she was used to receiving form her best friend.

"Who were you talking to?" Nathan asked him.

"Brooke." Came his sullen answer.

Nathan and Haley both nodded and the three continued walking, eyes downcast, as they made their way out of the hospital. It wasn't supposed to be like this. The drive was silent. Neither Haley nor Nathan knew what to say to Lucas. He sat in the back of the car starring out the window, the drive seemed like it was taking hours though it was only mere minutes. The car pulled to a stop in front of the Roe household and Lucas got out without a word to the cars other occupants. He trudged towards his house and stopped momentarily to look at the porch swing, a small smile gracing his features.

"I love you Broody you know that right?"

"Of course I do, and I love you Cheery."

"When you're a big famous basketball star will you still love me?"

"I don't know I'll have so many beautiful women throwing themselves at me."

"Lucas Scott!"

"I will always love you Brooke Davis. We are going to be together forever."

Tears spilled down his face as he relived the memory. Being back home made everything more real. She was actually gone. He approached the door that led to his room and opened it cautiously. He looked in and sighed when he saw it was empty.

"I was hoping she'd be there."

"Me too Luke." Haley offered.

"I lied."

"What?" Haley asked. Confused at her friend's sudden confession.

"To Brooke. I lied; I told her we would be together forever…I thought forever would last longer than this."

He sobbed uncontrollably now. He leaned against the wall of his bedroom and slid down to the floor resting his head in his hands. Haley sat down beside him and rubbed his back. She had never seen him so distraught and it made the pain she felt in her heart so much worse.

"I want her back."

"I know, me too. We all want her back."

"I'm going to give you guys some time. I'll be at home." Nathan said to no one in particular as he exited the room.

"Okay."

"Why don't you go lay down."

He nodded and stood up. She watched him make his was over to the bed and collapse onto it. She wiped away the few remaining tears on her face and moved to stand next to his bed.

"I don't know how to live without her." He admitted.

"You did it before, when you two weren't together."

"But she was still there. She isn't going to be at school on Monday. I won't see her at Tric or the café. She won't be at the mall with Peyton or cheering me on while I'm playing ball. She's gone. It's not the same and it never will be."

"You're right. It's not the same but no matter how bad you want it Brooke isn't coming back. You know that right?"

"Yeah."

"Try and get some rest I'll be in the living room if you need me."

"Hales wait!"

She turned around and looked back into the room and the look of distress on her friend's face.

"Do you think you could lay with me. I don't want to be alone."

"Of course."

Lucas stirred in his sleep. He reluctantly opened his eyes and looked around the room, Haley was gone, probably in the living room. He sighed and rubbed his hand across his face. This can't be happening. This can't be my life.

His thoughts ceased when a familiar smell flooded his nostrils.

"Brooke? It can't be Brooke; she's gone.

"Hey boyfriend, why the long face?"

She was there in his room sitting there at his desk, like nothing had happened. Maybe it had all just been some horrible twisted dream.

" I thought you were gone." He sobbed.

"We said forever right?"

Just like that she was gone, replaced by the image of Haley in his doorway.

"Hey I thought you might be hungry."

"No thanks Hales."

"Luke you have to eat something. You're going to kill yourself like this."

"What's the point of living if she isn't here?" Tears poured down his face as he asked the question that broke Haley's heart. She had never seen him so distraught, so inconsolable. Without hesitation she walked towards him and wrapped him in a tight embrace.

"Don't ever say that Lucas! Brooke wouldn't want you to give up."

"I can't do this without her. We promised forever; she can't take that back!"

"Just because she's gone doesn't mean you won't still love her Luke. No matter what you'll always love Brooke; death can't change that, it can't take away the memories you have of her or your feelings. Those are there for life."

Lucas just nodded in understanding and laid his head on Haley's shoulder. That was how Nathan and Peyton found them hours later.

"Hey Peyt."

"Hales."

Lucas didn't acknowledge the presence of his friends when the entered the room. It wasn't until they joined him and Haley on the floor that he attempted to talk.

"It doesn't feel real."

"I know"

"I never thought we would lose her."

"She was the best friend I ever had."

"She was the best person I've ever met."

They all nodded at this sentiment. Brooke Davis was better than all of them and the world would be empty without her.

They sat together in silence on his bedroom floor resting against each other and taking comfort from each other. This was going to be a hard time for all of them; but they would bet through it together because it would always be them; together forever.

A/N 2: I hope people don't hate me for taking the story in this direction but since when was this story all rainbows and sunshine? Review and tell me what you thought…