Julian's POV

Julian's office, Tree Hill

Three months later

When I had decided to make a movie from Lucas's book, I hadn't expected so much resistance. It had taken forever to turn the book into a script because there had been some changes to make. And then we had searched forever for a location where we could film. From the beginning, it had been clear to my father and me that we wanted to film at the original locations and only go to a rented studio for the indoor shots. With our vision in mind and a finished script, we had started searching for a director and had found that no one really shared our ideas. It had taken us a long time until we finally had found the right director. And now it could start. Today was the first casting and I was really nervous. My father promised to come in time, but so far I waited in vain for him. Deep in thought, I opened the drawer and took out the small box that I had picked up a few hours ago at the jeweler. When I just lifted the lid and looked at the ring lying on the inside of the box on a velvet pad, I suddenly heard a noise.

"Nice rock. For Brooke?"

Startled, I let the box snap shut and looked at my father with a wry smile. "Yes, for whom else?"

"You want to propose to her?" He asked in surprise.

I nodded. "I think it's the perfect time. The script is written, everything is settled, and if the casting is successful today, we can start with the shooting soon."

"I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm, my son, but just think how long the two of you know each other."

"Half of my life," I said, shrugging.

"It was clear that you would say that." He rolled his eyes. "Let me tell you how long you know each other... 3 months. That's only 12 weeks, Julian. You can't marry a woman you know only a few weeks! "

"You sound like Mom." Sighing, I opened the drawer and put the box back.

"I know you don't want to hear it, but your mother is just worried. She had to witness how you had gone crazy about this girl and..."

"This 'girl,' as you call her, may soon be my wife, the mother of my children, your daughter-in-law," I said determinedly, holding my chin defiantly. "This time you and Mom won't destroy my happiness!"

He simply shrugged.. "You're 24, Julian. You're no kid anymore. I'm the last one who wants to dictate what you should do. It's your decision."

"Thanks." I nodded to him with a serious expression. "And now to business."

Although I concluded the topic in front of my father, it still kept me mentally busy until I came home in the evening. The first casting didn't go so well. We couldn't agree on actors for the lead roles. But I consoled myself with the thought that there would be more castings. It had taken a long time to write the script, so we would patiently wait for the perfect candidates. I looked at the clock. I didn't have much time left until Brooke came home from work. Today I wanted to surprise her with the marriage proposal and I prayed inwardly that she would say 'yes'. I didn't care what my parents thought about it. Brooke and I belonged together, and I wanted to seal this with an engagement ring. Since I had two left hands in the kitchen, I prepared only some cold food and drinks for us and placed them on the table. In the entire room I had arranged burning candles, and to make the romantic mood even more perfect, slow music was playing in the background. I was well prepared and still nervous what she would say. When the door suddenly opened and Brooke walked into the house, I felt my heart beat faster.

Brooke's POV

Brooke's house

When I entered and saw what Julian had prepared, I felt warm all over. He didn't forget it, I thought happily. Today was our three months anniversary and my desire for this state to never end, grew day by day. But I also remembered what Haley had said to me then, that there would be nothing that would drive a man faster away than the mention of marriage. But I wanted to become Julian's wife. I wished it so much that it almost hurt! And I had entrusted myself to Peyton, who recently had gotten married and probably would understand my yearning. But she just had smiled and had said 'Don't be so impatient'. When I saw all this now, the burning candles, the set table with the red roses, soft music in the background, I immediately felt like making a marriage proposal here and now. But probably I would only ruin the mood with it. As he spread his arms and grinned at me, I took a step forward, wrapping my arms around his neck and kissed him.

"Do you like it?" He asked, pointing to the table.

"You cooked?" I asked in surprise.

"Well, not exactly," he said, smiling sheepishly. "There's finger food and salad and wine and champagne."

"Exactly how I like it best." I walked over to the table and sat down. "Is there a special occasion for this..." I pointed to the food.

"You forgot?" He asked, frowning playfully.

"You mean our anniversary?" I reached across the table for his hand and squeezed it slightly. "How could I ever forget the moment when you said 'I love you' to me for the first time," I said, smiling.

"I didn't tell you on the beach at the time?" He asked in astonishment.

I thought for a moment and shook my head. "No, I don't think so. You just said 'I already miss you so much, Brooke,' and then you kissed me and I kissed you, and then we kissed again, and..."

"Yes, I remember now," he said grinning. "Somehow we just didn't want to part."

"No," I said softly. "And what applied then, still holds true today." I took a deep breath to give me the courage to finally tell him what had been on my mind for weeks. "Listen, Julian," I started, clearing my throat again. "We've been living together for several weeks now, and I think it's time to take our relationship to the next level." I waited, while looking at him expectantly, and then was confused when he started to laugh. "What's so funny?" I asked bewildered.

"That should have been my line," he said, still laughing.

Upset and mortified, I looked at him and didn't understand what had been so funny about my statement that he had to make fun of it. I withdrew my hand and got up quickly. "I don't think that's funny!" I said, glaring at him while crossing my arms over my chest. "I meant it quite seriously. And now... now I need fresh air!" I turned away, noting tears in my eyes. To weep in front of him was the last thing I wanted. He jumped up and grabbed my arm before I could reach the door. Slowly he turned me to him and looked at me with a serious expression.

"You spoiled my surprise, you know that?" He said in a low voice.

"What?" I looked at him confused because his words made no sense to me at all. But when he suddenly dropped to his knees in front of me and pulled out a small box, I reflexively held my breath. I was such an idiot! He wanted to propose to me as, I realized now, when he flipped the box open and a beautiful diamond ring came to light. My throat was suddenly tight and I could only stare at the ring.

"Will you marry me, Brooke Davis?" He asked softly.

I just nodded and suddenly noticed tears running down my cheeks as he got up, took the ring out of the box and slipped it on my finger.

"Does that mean 'yes'?"

"Yes," I breathed and then wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him.

"I was hoping you'd say that."

"And I thought you would never ask me that," I confessed with a grin and then quickly pressed my lips to his mouth again before he could say another word. I couldn't remember ever being so happy in my life. I had waited a long time for this happiness. And I hoped that from now on it would never leave me again.

Julian's POV

Audition room

A few weeks later

The pre-screening was progressing well and we had already cast most of the roles. Only the lead actors, Lucas, Peyton and Brooke, were not cast yet. But we were confident that we would find the right actors very soon. Everything was perfect at the moment. Brooke and I enjoyed our time together as a 'freshly' engaged couple and we made plans for the future. We didn't have a specific date for the wedding, as we wanted to wait until the shooting was over. And that could take months. I looked at my list of roles to cast and then to my dad. "What else do we have today?" I asked him.

"The audition of 'Peyton' and 'Brooke'."

"Good. Then let the girls in." I grinned at him and leaned back in my seat. Over the next hour, there were more than a dozen 'Peytons' and 'Brookes', but not one of them could win us over.

"We still have one left. And you will be very surprised."

When my father started to grin, I frowned in confusion. And then she came in and I felt my hands become sweaty and my mouth go dry. "Chelsea?" I stammered, just staring at her.

"Hi, Julian."

I felt my father looking curiously at me from the side and took a deep breath. I had to behave professionally if I wanted to get through this. "What role do you want to audition for?" I asked unnecessarily. Because, of course, I knew what role she wanted.

She threw back her long, dark hair and smiled. "I would like to audition for 'Brooke', who else?"

Of course she wanted to audition for 'Brooke'. That had been exactly the reason why I got involved with her 5 years ago. I had met Chelsea Cherney, a young aspiring actress, on my dad's film set. I just had returned from Tree Hill with the news that Brooke loved Lucas Scott and had been heartbroken about it. Because my mother had felt sorry for me, she had asked my father to take me to his set so I could find a distraction there. And then I had seen her there for the first time. With her dark hair and brown eyes, she had been the spitting image of Brooke. And when we had slept together for the first time, I had envisioned it was Brooke and not Chelsea who had been in my arms. The affair had lasted only for a few weeks, because I quickly realized that she wanted more from me than I had been able to give her. My heart had already been given away, and I had no second one. She had a hard time accepting my decision. There had been tears and accusations. But I had remained adamant. And finally, she had left and never contacted me again. It was a shock for me now to see her standing in front of me again. I cleared my throat and looked at our director. "Give her the script," I said in a hoarse voice. "Let her read the text."

"She was good, very good in fact. This is our 'Brooke'!"

My father was generally hard to impress, but this time he was totally excited. And I had to agree with him. Chelsea would make a fantastic 'Brooke'. But I shook my head stubbornly. "No way!"

"Because you had something going on with her years ago?"

I gave him an annoyed look. "I was 19 at the time and didn't even know what I was doing. She seduced me, not the other way around."

"Yes, I can understand that," he mumbled. "She's hot."

I looked at him in disbelief. "Okay, Dad, I know your lady-lovers are usually a lot younger than you, but Chelsea could be your daughter!"

"But she isn't." He grinned. "And honestly, Julian, I hardly believe you would push her out of your bed if you weren't engaged."

The only reason why I had slept with her was because she had reminded me of Brooke. But I didn't say that to my father. He would probably just make fun of it. He simply didn't understand what true love really meant.

"So, what do you mean, shall we call her and tell her that she got the role?"

I fought an inner battle. I really wanted to do this movie. And I needed the best actors for that. Chelsea was perfect. She would portray the 'Brooke' on screen just as my dad and I had envisioned. "For all I care," I agreed halfheartedly.

"Fine. I'll call her in a second. You won't regret your decision."

When my father jumped up and ran out of the room, I closed my eyes. I already regretted that decision because I had seen Chelsea staring at me all the time, like a fox in front of a rabbit hole. Sighing, I rose. I wanted to go home, to my Brooke, cuddle up with her and just forget the day.