Authors note: I own nothing. flashbacks in italics...
Lucas Scott was sitting the front row of the church. He was fidgeting, he was nervous and his heart was breaking. Lucas Scott knew this was going to be a hard day. He took in a breath and looked towards his brother, and then her. She was as beautiful as ever. She had her hair in a bun, Haley had helped her get ready. She was beautiful, but then again Lucas Scott couldn't remember a time when he had seen Brooke Davis not be beautiful. Lucas Scott wondered how he had ended up here, how they had wound up in this moment.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate," the minister spoke as he stood at the front of the church. Lucas was watching, but he wasn't hearing the words being spoken. Instead he was so lost in thought, his heart was broken and all he could think about was how they got here…
"Brooke," he nearly whispered as he looked at her, "god you're beautiful," he said. She felt her heart race as he walked towards her, he wrapped his arms around her, "I've missed you."
"I've missed you too Luke," she said resting her head against his chest, "I've missed you too."
"You're beautiful Brooke," he said with a smile, "Julian is a lucky guy."
"I feel pretty lucky too," she said. She was lucky, she had finally found the guy who made her feel safe again, the guy who would save her. "How's Sawyer?"
"Good," he said, "Peyton said she is feeling better, so that's good."
"Luke, what's going on with you," she asked concerned, knowing that something was bothering her broody friend.
"I don't know," he sighed, "it's just things are not how imagined them, you know? Things aren't working."
"Peyton," she asked in almost a whisper, he nodded looking at her with hurt in his eyes, "what's going on Luke?"
"We're separated," he said looking down, ashamed, angry, but mostly afraid. Lucas Scott was afraid. He was afraid of Brooke and how he felt, what he wanted to say.
"I'm sorry, Luke, I had no idea," she said wrapping her arms around him.
"Yeah," he laughed slightly, "things change I guess. I mean we've been separated for four months and she hasn't even told you, you're getting married today and she's not here."
"Luke, that's not fair, we are both busy," Brooke said sadly. She knew he was right, she and Peyton's friendship would never be what it once was. When she thought about her life, about who she wanted standing next to her when she married the man she loved, the truth was it wasn't Peyton. Haley had become that person, the one you tell everything too, well almost everything.
"Are you happy Brooke," he asked looking at her in a beautiful gown she had created.
"I am," she said, "I am happy Lucas. Julian loves me."
"Do you ever wish you could go back," he asked pacing, "back to a moment where everything changed? You told me that there are only a few of those moments that you can point to and say that's where it all changed."
"That was a long time ago, we were kids," she said.
"That night in New York, Brooke," he said looking at her, "that night, the night of the state championship."
"Luke," she said tears streaming her face, "don't."
"Sometimes I wish I could do it over," he said tears streaming his own face, "I wish I would have wrapped my arms around you instead, Brooke, I wish that you would have stayed."
"Knock knock," Haley said as she opened the door, she was caught off guard a bit seeing Lucas and Brooke's tear stained faces, "Brooke it's time," she said.
"Ok," the bride to be said as she wiped her eyes, "I'll be right there."
"Ok," Haley said as she shut the door leaving them alone.
"Are you happy," he asked.
"I am, Lucas, Julian loves me, and he chose me," she said, "with him I'm not just a footnote in someone else's love story."
"I am sorry f I made you feel that way," he said, "Brooke you were so much more than that, you still are."
"I gotta get out there," she smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
"Your dad, is he here," Lucas asked.
"No," she said shaking her head, "but I can do this alone, it's how I've done a lot of things."
"Or," he said with a slight smile, "I could walk you down the aisle."
"Luke," she said in almost a whisper.
"I want you to be happy Brooke, that's all I've ever wanted, and I could never really give you away," he said as he held his arm out, "but I would be honored to walk you down the aisle to your happily ever after."
"Ok," she said as she placed her arm in his.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate the life a young man, Julian Paul Baker. Julian was so full of excitement, hope, passion and love. Those who knew him will always remember that smile, his enthusiasm. Julian loved life, and he loved sharing it with his wife and their son." They all sat quiet listening to the words being spoken about Julian Baker. No one could really wrap their head around it. He was on his way to the airport in L.A., he was finishing filming and trying to catch a flight home to surprise Brooke on their second anniversary when his car was hit head on by a drunk driver.
Lucas sat beside Nathan, who had his arms around Haley. Brooke was sitting beside Haley, tears streaming her face, she held her son, Davis, who was only fifteen months old against her chest. Jamie sat with Karen and Lily, while Deb held her granddaughter. Grace Penelope Scott, named after her godmother. Brooke and Julian were surprised when Brooke wound up pregnant. The doctors had told her it wouldn't happen, but it did. They made a baby, together. Davis had been the light of Julian's life, and he was constantly flying between Tree Hill and L.A. filming. When the minister finished speaking about Julian, Brooke made her way to the front of the church, she wanted to speak about her husband.
"Julian Baker," she said in almost a whisper, tears streaming her face, "I love you so much." Lucas wanted to wrap his arms around her, to hold her in his arms. He wanted to wipe her tears away, but it wasn't his job. This Brooke Davis wasn't his to hold. Her heart belonged to another man. "Julian has been this amazing constant in my life the last few years. He has been my rock, my friend, and almost two years ago we stood here in this church with our family and friends and he became my husband," Brooke said wiping her eyes, "Julian is my world and I don't know what I will do without him. Julian was this crazy boy who made me smile at a time that was dark for me, he gave me hope. He made believe that I wasn't just a footnote in someone else's love story," she cried.
"Go," Nathan whispered to Lucas.
"I don't know what I am going to do," Brooke sobbed standing beside Julian Baker's casket.
"Lucas, she needs you," Nathan said with his arm around Haley who was holding baby Davis, Lucas nodded.
"Brooke," he whispered as he wrapped an arm around her, she looked at him and he saw fear, hurt, pain, anger and sadness in her hazel eyes. She laid her head against his chest, he stroked her back as he kissed the top of her head, "I'm so sorry." She cried into his chest as their friends and family watched, Karen made her way to the front of the church, leaving Jamie and Lily with Andy.
"Honey," Karen said as she walked towards Brooke and Lucas, "come here," she said wrapping her arms around the woman she thought of as a daughter, "I'm sorry honey," she said leading Brooke to sit with her next to Haley and Nathan. Lucas stood there, watching helplessly as his mother tried to comfort Brooke. He hadn't seen her so broken in a long time and it nearly killed him.
"Thank you," she whispered as she walked towards him, he was sitting on the sand watching the ocean.
"Brooke," he whispered looking at her, "you don't have to thank me."
"I do," she said sitting beside him, "Luke it means a lot to have you here, you know. We've been through a lot me and you, and I'm glad you've been here these last few days, I don't think I could've done this without you."
"I'll always be here for you," he said, "no matter what, ok."
"I couldn't have made it through today without you," she said wiping her eyes.
"I'm not going anywhere," he said as he put his arm around her, "ever," he meant it. As much as it hurt him to see Brooke with Julian, it hurt him much worse to see her this way. But there was nothing in this world that would make him leave her. He wanted to be in her life and it didn't matter how he fit, he just knew in his heart that he had to be there. He couldn't imagine not having her, and now her son in his life. "I promise," he said as he kissed the top of her head.
Ok...not sure what you will think. I am Brucas all the way, but don't think Brulian is too bad. I love the sweet goofy Julian, but I love Brucas too, so this is me having my cake and eating it too. Read and review please...thinking I might continue this one on...what do you think?