The final actual chapter...wow. Thank you guys sooo much! It means so much to me that you've given me such awesome feedback. Hopefully I'll be able to start posting my new OTH story, "The Ultimate Decision" (tentative title, probably going to be changed...), though I might wait till I get a little farther in my other stories first. Either way, the epilogue is probaby coming up later today! I hope you enjoy!

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CHAPTER 17:A Promise…

Brooke and Lucas helped Andy and Karen plan their wedding in great detail for about a month before they took a break on it at all. In that time, Lucas had gotten to the point where he couldn't keep his eyes off of Brooke for long. Watching her eyes light up with joy made it impossible not to kiss her.

This day was not like any of the previous planning days they'd had. The four of them, plus Nate and Haley, were standing in the middle of the church that they'd be having the wedding in. Brooke was leaning against a wall, chattering animatedly with Haley while the others discussed plans.

Lucas watched her distractedly, and could only think of how beautiful she looked. Glancing at Nate, he decided that was the perfect time to ask her what had been on his mind for a very long time. He murmured an apology to the others, and then headed over to two of the girls that meant the most to him.

"Hey, Luke, what's up?" Haley questioned warmly, a wide grin on her face. For a second, he wondered if she could tell what he was going to ask…but who could, he hadn't mentioned this to anyone, not even Nathan.

"I just came over to ask Brooke a question," he explained. Brooke gave him a curious look, and her eyes grew wide as he knelt down on one knee. "Brooke Davis…will you marry me, in a few years?" He pulled the ring out of his pocket, and held it up to her. Brooke was crying by then, and couldn't answer. Lucas stood, and took her hands comfortingly. "This is a promise ring…it's not the real thing yet…we're too young to be married…but I love you more than anything, and I just want to be with you for the rest of my life, and I am willing to wait as long as I have to. But the thought of you with someone else kills me. Call me selfish…but I want you all to myself."

Brooke had been staring at him the entire time, and threw her arms around his neck, holding him tightly. After a long embrace, Lucas pulled back, and slid the white-gold diamond ring on her finger. She stared at it for a moment, and then kissed Lucas happily. "I promise I'll only be yours."

The applause from the rest of the people in the church brought them back to reality, and Haley squealed excitedly and hugged both of them, staring at Brooke's ring in awe. Her eyes were filled with tears as well. She was so happy that her two best friends were finally together…for good.

"Wow, Luke, that came out of nowhere. Why didn't you tell me you were going to propose to her?" Nathan questioned, patting his brother on his back. Lucas chuckled.

"I don't know, man…it was just a thought that hit me out of nowhere. And I didn't propose, per say…I asked her for a promise."

Nathan rolled his eyes. "Propose, promise, either way, you two are stuck together," he teased. Lucas hit him playfully on the arm, and Nathan ducked away.

"You make it sound like a bad thing!"

"You forget, I'm telling you out of experience. Look at me and Hales," he explained, pulling his wife to him and kissing the top of her head. "There's no getting rid of her!" Haley turned around to protest, but he silenced her with a deep kiss.

Lucas laughed at the sight, and then turned his attention to Brooke. She strode up to him, smiling shyly. Lucas pulled her close, and she wrapped her hands around his neck. "He's right, you know." Their eyes met and held.

"How so?" Lucas questioned, kissing the tip of her nose. Brooke leaned forward to whisper in his ear.

"You are stuck with me for good now," she murmured. Lucas kissed her jaw line, then the very corner of her lips, and then finally her mouth. Everything felt so right in that moment.

"I think I can handle that."

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It didn't take long for the word to spread. Soon, everyone in their school knew the truth…which made their lives much easier. It was almost hard to keep the people away…everyone wanted to congratulate them, and ask if they ever really hated each other.

By the end of the first day after their promise, Lucas was exhausted, and his chest was starting to tighten up. He knew he needed that medicine soon, so he and Brooke decided to go try again.

"Lucas Scott, HCM medication please."

The man took the insurance card, slid it through the machine, and handed it to him with a smile. "One moment, please," he requested, before turning to go to the back room for the medicine.

Luke turned to Brooke, a surprised and happy smile on his face. "Well, I guess my warning worked…" Brooke smiled, leaning forward to kiss him happily.

"Here you go, Sir. Have a nice day."

"Thank you."

The two walked hand-in-hand, to the Café, to get coffee. "You know…this'll be the third time trying to get coffee since you came back. The first time, we were in a car accident…the second time; we broke the news to Haley about my HCM. This time…will third time be a charm? Will we actually get coffee?" Lucas questioned jokingly.

And they did get coffee that night…and sat with Andy and Karen. They were two perfect couples…and from a glance, they looked like a perfect family, too.