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Peyton quickly made her way out of the large reception room and down the hall toward the elevators, not noticing Haley standing a long the wall to her left. Haley's gaze followed Peyton until she entered the elevator. She didn't know exactly what had happened but the tears that were freely flowing down the tall blonde's face were a dead give away that something else had gone wrong the day that was supposed to be perfect.

Haley made her way back toward the reception room deciding not to go after Peyton immediately. When she reached the large entrance, she noticed Nathan slowly walking out of a side room with his head hanging. Haley watched a little longer as he walked out of the back door and toward the beach. Damnit Brooke. She thought as she looked back and forth between the elevators and the back door, trying to decide which friend needed her most at the moment.

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Peyton exited the elevator on her floor and made her way toward her room. She looked around her room surveying what had become her home away from home. This isn't where she was supposed to be right now. She was supposed to be in the honeymoon suite with Nathan, her husband. Only he wasn't her husband now. She slowly removed her wedding gown, not being able to stomach being in it anymore. She slipped into a pair of shorts and a tank top.

She walked out onto her balcony and looked at the stars. Why? That was the only coherent thought that was going through her head. Why had this happened this way? Why had Brooke waited for so long? Why didn't she try and stop the wedding? Why did Nathan refuse to become her husband? Why was she alone yet again when she had done nothing wrong? Crocodile tears here still falling down her face as she spaced out looking at the moon.

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Nathan walked out of the hotel and made his way toward the beach. The place he had always felt most at home. Well after the basketball court that is. Those were his places of refuge. The chaos of the game and the peacefulness of the beach had always made him feel more safe than anything else in his life.

What did I just do? He silently asked himself. He wanted to turn around. To go back and make Peyton understand that it was just a mistake but he knew in his heart of hearts that it wasn't a mistake. It was the best thing he could do, not only for Peyton but for himself. We walked a while longer in the sand before he sat down looking out over the water. He sat there for several minutes watching the stars and moon dance on the waves. As he watched, silent tears started falling from those crystal blue eyes that had been so happy mere hours ago.

Tears. Something he hadn't experienced much in his life. He could count on one hand the amount of times he could remember crying. Once when his college basketball team lost the championship by one in the last 2 seconds of the game, once when Dan finally looked him in the eyes and told him he was proud of him, and once when Whitey died six months ago. Three times, in the course of a life time that he could remember crying. But here he was. Tears falling down his cheeks. A deep pain in his chest that words couldn't even begin to explain. He wasn't sure if it was tears of regret, of sad, of anger. No, it wasn't any of those. What he was feeling was loss. Like what he felt when Whitey died, only deeper. He had lost her and he knew it; even if she didn't.

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Haley stood frozen in her position in the hall. She had always been good friends with both Nathan and Peyton and she hated seeing them in so much pain. She thought about getting Lucas and having him go to one of them. But how would she explain what she assumed was going on. No. This was a situation that she would some how have to try and help herself.

She turned to go to the elevator, not noticing someone was right behind her.

"I'm so sorry," she said to the person before she realized who it was. Once she looked up, she saw that it was Brooke. Haley's soft look changed to one that would scare a pirate. "What did you do, Brooke?" She asked a little harsher than intended.

"What do you mean what did I do?"

"I'm not stupid. What happened? What did you say to Peyton? Or to Nathan? Or to whomever. Why did I just see Peyton race toward the elevator in tears and Nate walk the other way?"

Brooke looked down at her shoes. "I didn't...I didn't say anything to Nathan." Brooke looked up at Haley. "I couldn't lose her Hales."

Haley took a deep breath and put her hand on the other brunette's shoulder. "I know." She paused looking Brooke right in the eye, looking for any sign of selfishness. To her surprise she found none.

"I'm gonna go," Brooke said gesturing toward the elevator. Haley nodded in understanding and turned to go her own way.

Haley made her way out the back door that Nathan had used earlier. She took her shoes off and carried them as she made her way up the beach. It wasn't long before she saw Nathan sitting on the beach with his knees pulled to his chest. She made her way up to him and sat down without saying a word. He lifted his head from his knees and looked out over the water not acknowledging her presence.

"Nate? You alright?" She asked. It was a stupid question and she knew it. He shrugged and then shook his head: no, he wasn't ok. "What happened?"

He turned his head looking her in the eyes. "Brooke," was all he said. His eyes were red from crying. She put her hand on his back and nodded. There was nothing else she could do.

Soon music from the reception could be heard. A few seconds later the first notes of "God Bless the Broken Road," could be heard. It was their song. Yes it was a country song but if fit them completely. As the song filled his ears his breath hitched and the tears began to fall again. Haley scooted closer putting her arm tightly around him. To her surprise he leaned into her like a child who had fallen off his bike or had his first broken heart.

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Brooke made her way into the room. She walked in slowly not knowing what to expect when she walked in. She looked around and didn't see Peyton. Then she glanced toward the balcony and saw the tall blonde staring out over the water. She made her way toward the door and out to the balcony leaning against the glass door for a few minutes.

"Why?" Peyton asked not looking at her. Her voice had no emotion to it.

"Huh?" Brooke asked startled.

"Why now?" Peyton asked finally turning to face the girl.

Brooke looked down seeing the pain, hurt, and confusion in the taller girl's eyes. "I...I don't know."

"You don't know! You've had years, Brooke. Literally years. And you wait until the day of my wedding to tell me?"

"I'm sorry Peyton. I'm so sorry." She said taking a step toward her. "I know that it doesn't make it better. I know that saying sorry you make you hurt any less. I don't know what exactly happened. I don't know why you aren't with Nathan right now. But Peyton...I couldn't lose you knowing that I didn't even try to keep you." She moved a little closer so she was standing right in front of Peyton. "I love you Peyton."

Peyton stared at her for a few seconds. "You love me now because you thought you were going to lose me Brooke. You had a chance to have me. To have all of me. But you didn't want me while I was there. I'm just like some god-damned thing to you. Some thing that you want and now that it's in limited quantity you just have to have it."

Brooke winced at the harshness of her words. "Peyt," she started as the reality of what Peyton had said settled in. Yes she had her chance and gave it up. But she wasn't ready before she thought she had more time. Oh my God. I have treated her like the new line of Gucci bag. Brooke thought. "Peyton, look at me." She said placing her hands on either side of the girls face. "I love you. Ok? I love you. This isn't just a case of the 'I wants' this is a case of being so in love with you that I can't breathe when you aren't around. The thought of you being with someone else kills me inside. I love you." Brooke said wiping away Peyton's tears with the pad of her thumb. "I was stupid for waiting so long. You'll never know how sorry I am. But I'm here now. Begging. Please Pey. Please give me a chance."

Peyton looked the shorter girl in the eyes for several minutes. She then leaned in placing a short sweet kiss on Brooke's lips. "Ok."

Ok here it is. Review and let me know what you think.