A/N- This chapter was almost done and then I accidentally deleted it or something happened. I am really pissed about this right now. Here I go at retyping it. Sorry about the lack of updates on my stories. Things have been crazy around here and I don't have that much time to write. CHECK OUT MY PROFILE

A/N 2- Right now I'm watching season one of One Tree Hill. It's so weird not seeing Haley and Nathan married, and lots of almost Leyton. It's so strange but I love it.

Forwards and Backwards

Chapter Four

Roger and Deb Brown were hosting an engagement party for Haley and Noah at Tric. Peyton had gotten Tric decked out in romantic fabrics and colors. The main theme of the room was red roses. The normally youthful walls were covered in red lace and satin. The table tops were made of mirrors and candles were scattered random across the tables creating a magnificent glow on people sitting down. The couches in the corners had been covered with ivory fabric and red pillows. Glittering lights hung tightly to the ceiling creating a beautiful glow throughout the room. The room was full of people. Noah and Haley over the years had accumulated a lot of friends. Haley had stayed in touch with most of her high school friends and the small town made it easy. Noah was a newcomer to town a few years back but he managed to make friends fairly quickly. His father had lived in Tree Hill for sometime, fifteen years to be exact. Roger Brown moved to Tree Hill after he divorced Noah's mother. Noah befriended the most infamous family in Tree Hill quite quickly and a lot of friends came with that alliance. The people in the room where dressed to perfection. The women wore beautiful dresses and the men wore their best dress pants and shirts.

Haley and Noah's close friends seemed to be arriving later than rest of the guests. Brooke arrived on time. She came up to Haley and Noah gave them each a peck on the cheek and then her phone rang and she left with a wave. Next to arrive was Peyton and Jake. They arrived with all three kids. Peyton had spent most of the afternoon at Tric helping to get her club ready the party and she had left Jake in charge of getting the children ready and once she got home she got them re-ready, hence being late. They both gave the newly engaged pair their best of wishes and sent the kids off to the side room which had been set up for children to play and not annoy the adults. Lucas and Katie arrived next. They both wished the pair their bests and were on their way. Nathan arrived last with Maddi in hand. Maddi quickly scampered off to the back room to play with Jenny. Nathan gave his best wished to Haley and congratulated Noah and went to find some of his friends.

Katie had wandered off with her friend, Ava and Lucas was left to fend for himself. He was making his rounds around the room talking to everyone he knew but he was looking for one of his actual friends and then he found Haley, "Haley," he called out.

"Haley," he exclaimed pulling her into a hug, "congratulations."

"Thanks Luke," Haley said smiling.

"Noah," Lucas said extending his hand towards Noah, "congratulations too."

"Thanks, it means a lot to me that you are happy about Haley and I getting married, being Nathan's brother and all."

"That was a long time ago," Lucas said, "we are all happy that you two are together."

"Seriously that means a lot to both of us," Haley said giving Lucas a large smile.

"I mean it," Lucas said. "I have to go and find Katie; things have been weird since Brooke came to town."

"I could see that," Haley responded, "You are married to Brooke."

"I know," Lucas said smiling, "not for long though."

"We'll see," Haley responded raising her eyebrows. Brooke and Lucas had always been together when they weren't together but maybe now that they both seemed to be in a serious relationship, they might both finally move on.

"Don't be so skeptical," Lucas said in almost whinny tone.

"Prove me wrong," Haley replied with a little wave as Lucas walked off.

When Lucas found Katie she was sitting at the bar with Nathan and Brooke. Katie was sitting between Nathan and Brooke and was turned towards Nathan blocking Brooke out of the conversation.

"Hi everyone," Lucas said tentatively as he stood between Katie and Brooke's chairs.

"Hey Luke," Nathan said. Nathan had been sitting there listening to Katie throw subtle insults at Brooke for the last ten minutes. "Glad you're here."

"Isn't it a little strange being here?" Brooke asked Nathan, she finally comfortable knowing that Katie wouldn't say anything to her while Lucas was standing there.

"A little but it would be even more strange not being here at all."

"That's true," Brooke said. "So where is Madison tonight?"

"Jenny, Pete, Max and Maddi are in the backroom set up to keep the kids distracted," Nathan explained.

"It's hard to believe how Peyton is like a soccer mom now and Jake has a good job and they are the stereotypical household," Brooke said.

"It is pretty hard to believe if you didn't see it happen," Lucas said. Jake and Peyton had been pretty messed up but when he came back it was great. Everything slowly worked itself out and now here Jake and Peyton were, the Jagielski's.

"Was that supposed to be a shot at me?" Brooke said raising her left eyebrow.

"What?" Lucas asked shooting his head up to look her in the eyes.

"If you didn't see it happen, that's what you said was that supposed to be something about me leaving?" Brooke asked.

"No," Lucas said, "it didn't mean anything."

"Whatever," Brooke said, "I'm going."

"Brooke," Lucas said lightly as she walked away. His eyes stayed on her until she left the room and then stayed on the door for awhile.

"Lucas, you better sign those papers soon, or we are done," Katie said placing her glass on the counter and getting up and leaving. Lucas didn't even notice.

"And that's why I don't think you will sign the papers," Haley said coming up and touching Lucas shoulders.

"Huh," Lucas said snapping out of his trace.

"Just now you didn't take your eyes off Brooke until she left the room and that's why you two aren't over because you both still like each other," Haley said.

"If you say so," Lucas said, he looked back at the door, "I'm going to leave." Haley looked at Nathan and just rolled her eyes.

"You need to quit proving my point," Haley exclaimed, "if you just going to deny it." Lucas waved her off and made his way to the door.

"Aren't they funny?" Haley asked Nathan as soon as Lucas was out of ear shot.

"A little," Nathan said with a small smile.

"They will end up together, it's just meant to be," Haley said.

"People used to always say that about us and it didn't work out that way," Nathan said.

"That was high school this is the real world and now everything is working out for us, just separately," Haley said.

"Yeah," Nathan mumbled. "Shouldn't you be making the rounds not sitting here talking to your ex-husband," Nathan said clearing his throat.

"I guess," Haley said. She began looking around the room for Noah and he was standing in the corner of the room looking at Nathan and Haley talk. She looked at him and he motioned for her to come over. "Well see you around, Nate," she said giving him a small half smile and quick hug. Haley ran over to Noah and gave a hug and a kiss and fell into the strength of his arm. Nathan picked up his drink and took a long drink.

"Hales, why are you always with him?" Noah asked trying to be nonchalant.

"Nate?" Haley said giving Noah a small look.

"Yeah Nathan," Noah said.

"We have a history, we are nothing now but Nathan and I are always going to be there, there is nothing we can do about especially considering that we share a daughter," Haley tried to explain.

"Sometimes you two seem so close and I'm on the outside," Noah said revealing his insecurities about their situation.

"Nathan was the first guy I fell for, for whatever reason we got married and now we have a daughter of course we have a connection but if I wanted to be with him I would, I want to be with you so stop worrying."

"Okay," Noah said. Haley could feel his body relaxing slowly. Their situation was complicated, if she wanted to be with Nathan she would be, right?

Lucas caught up with Brooke exactly where he thought she would be, sitting on the table at the rivercourt. "Brooke," Lucas said ever-so lightly.

"What do you want?" Brooke asked hastily.

"What is this with us?" Lucas said impatiently, "Why can't we just be friends?"

"Because it will always be there, us," Brooke said, "You have Katie and I have Stephan. Our lives are fine all we need to do is sign the papers."

"I know, don't you ever wonder what could have been if you hadn't left or I had came with you?" Lucas asked.

"Everyday until I met Stephan," Brooke said quietly.

"I still do," Lucas whispered.

"What did you say?" Brooke asked.

"I still do," Lucas said more audibly. Brooke sighed.

"I still find it crazy how perfect everything is down here," Brooke said, trying to change the subject.

"The only thing that is perfect is Peyton and Jake, everyone is still messed up. Nathan and Haley are still meant to be together but she is still to mad at him and now she is getting married ruining all of their chances. I'm dating the girl who broke up the pair of them which is really screwed up. Everything is still messed up but just a little better and more civil than what they were before," Lucas explained to Brooke.

"So you aren't happy?" Brooke asked.

"I am, but I thought it would be different, not how it is," Lucas said. "It was supposed to be us and now its not and it will never be."

"I guess not," Brooke said slowly.

"So…" Lucas said trying the trying to get the subject a little less intense.

"I love it here," Brooke said, "This is home!" Lucas laughed. "I love everything about this place, each little thing I see I think of something else that happened."

"What does the rivercourt make you think of?" Lucas asked curiously.

"Honestly?" Brooke asked.

"For real," Lucas replied.

"You and specifically coming down here and sitting with Mouth watching you play," Brooke said with a large smile on her face.

"I remember when we started dating for the first time, all of the guys thought it was crazy, I was dating Brooke Davis, head cheerleader," Lucas said with a slight chuckle in his voice.

"I remember, that was a long time ago," Brooke said.

"Only like seven years ago," Lucas said, "just seven."

"This place is full of magic," Brooke said.

"Lots and lots," Lucas replied. He looked at her; she was dressed perfectly as always. She had on strapless royal blue silk dress and she looked perfect. Her eyes were full of wondering and almost sadness.

"Quit staring," Brooke said giving Lucas small slap in the chest.

"You look sad," Lucas said hoping not to get slapped.

"How'd you know?" Brooke said, "Nobody ever noticed."

"I guess I still know you," Lucas said, "it has been a long time but our connection is still here." Brooke looked at his and reached up and kissed him, a small kiss on the lips. They broke and looked at each other and went into a deeper, meaningful kiss. Lucas broke away from the kiss. "Stephan and Katie," he said simply wiping his mouth with the backside of his hand.

"I know," Brooke said. "We can't hang out in these placing that have so much meaning."

"Yeah," Lucas said.

"So, I will drop the papers off at your house tomorrow and you can sign them and give them back, okay?" Brooke said.

"Okay," Lucas said, "I will get them back as soon as possible."

"Okay, I will see you around," Brooke said.

"Bye," Lucas said lightly.

A/N 3- So there is an update. It has been so long and I'm so sorry. Check my profile it says why so please stay with me. I will update this as so as I update rest of my stories, even though I love this one right now. Please review. It makes me want to update so much sooner.