I own nothing—thanks for the reviews.

The jump is only a few weeks lol . . . next chapter will be about a week later in time.

Okay, another chapter just because of the holidays and also because you are all amazing reviewers!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!
For a moment when the blare of the TV subsides
And then song fills the air, playing every night
A change in the key feels like a change in the season

Brooke Davis loved a wedding. This wasn't exactly a secret. The whole concept was extremely romantic. A man and a woman coming together to forever bind their love, or in this case re-bind. Today was the day of Nathan and Haley's vow renewal.

She hurried around the room applying last minute touches to anything and everything. She glanced at the clock and sighed; she loved weddings, but right now she most definitely didn't love the two pregnant women.

"Come on P. Sawyer", Brooke's voice bellowed.

"Give me a minute!" she demanded from behind the closed door.

"I've given you five!"

She heard a low grumbling and a definite swear word before the door finally opened.

"You know, I cannot wait until you get pregnant and have to pee every half hour", the blonde hissed as she pushed past her best friend.

"Now, now . . . let's not get testy."

"Testy? Brooke I'm eight months pregnant, I'm not testy, I'm pissed", she clarified.

"Well, it's not like you can back out—"

"I know, I know, I'm in the damned wedding party", she barked out.

"Well, that's the spirit", Brooke muttered.

"Tutor re-wife-to-be, let's hustle", Brooke yelled in the direction of the other bathroom.

The door opened and a 'testy' looking Haley walked out. "Brooke, I cannot wait till you get pregnant—"

"And have to pee every half hour. I know, I know", she waved her hand at Haley.

The three of them walked out of the bridal room and began their journey to the aisle.

"Okay, so Brooke you're walking with Cooper and—"

"Hot Uncle Cooper!" Brooke sang out.

"Umm, yea and Peyton you're walkingwithLucas", Haley rushed out.

The pregnant blonde stopped in her tracks and glared at Haley.

"I'm sorry?"

"Peyton please", Haley whined.

"Hales, you seriously cannot expect me to walk down the aisle with him."

"I thought you guys were still friends?"

They had both agreed to remain civil and they had. But civil meant polite hellos and goodbyes and discussions about the baby. They hadn't had a real conversation since they broke up; that was three weeks ago.

"We are, but that would be awkward", Peyton pouted.

Haley turned to Brooke with a pleading gaze.

Brooke shook her head. "It's Hot Uncle Cooper", she whined and stomped her feet repeatedly.

"Brooke, please do this for me", Haley begged. The music had begun and the guests were waiting.

"Fine", she said as she rolled her eyes.

"Thank you."

Peyton smiled at Brooke, but the brunette glared at her and shooed her forward.

"Peyton Sawyer", Cooper said with a smirk.

"Hey Coop", they linked arms and proceeded down the aisle.

Brooke walked out and linked arms with Lucas.

"She can't even walk with me huh?" he asked with a hurt expression. Brooke squeezed his arm reassuringly.

"Give her time."

The wedding march came on and everyone stood for the bride to be.

------------------------------

The vows had been re-said and the rings had been exchanged. Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Scott had walked down the aisle and now they were celebrating. The tent was set up on the other side of the garden. Guests were talking amongst themselves and took turns on congratulating Nathan and Haley.

Lucas clinked the knife against his glass and the chatter and laughter ceased for the moment. He cleared his throat and began his speech.

"The last time I gave a speech about Nathan and Haley was . . . well at their first reception. I remember saying, prepare to be surprised. Well, I have to say even I was surprised. Because . . . you see, they do something that's very rare to see in someone our age. Actually, it's very rare to see in anybody. They give their hearts to each other, unconditionally. That's what true love really is. It's not this fairy tale life that never knows pain, but its two souls facing it together and diminishing it with unconditional love. To Nathan and Haley Scott."

Everyone raised their glasses. Nathan and Haley sent a thankful glance to him. Peyton stood and walked to the microphone. Lucas brushed past her and caught a whiff of her perfume; he closed his eyes and sighed.

"Dave Meurer once said, 'A great marriage is not when the 'perfect couple' comes together. It is when an imperfect couple learns to enjoy their differences.' Now for everyone who knows Nathan and Haley, they know just how different these two are. Haley is smart and witty and very classy. Nathan is none of those things", she smirked as the guests laughed, "They both have their imperfections, but they make it work. I had said that marriage isn't about the 'perfect couple' coming together and Nathan and Haley aren't, honestly I don't think there is a perfect couple out there. But I know everyone would agree with me when I say that they are the perfect imperfect couple. They give me hope, and everyone could use a little hope sometimes. Here's to the imperfect couple, to Always and Forever, to Nathan and Haley."

She raised her glass of water and the others did the same with their champagne. Haley leaned further into Nathan's embrace and smiled at Peyton.

"Alright everyone, dinner is about to be served so please remain seated and we will begin to call you up a table at a time", Mouth's voice spoke over the returning chatter.

"That was beautiful", Brooke said sincerely.

"Thanks", Peyton blushed, "God, I'm glad we're eating first", she said with pure joy in her eyes.

"That's the perks of being part of this . . . what was it? Damned wedding party?" Brooke teased as they walked to the buffet.

"Okay, so I wasn't in the best mood earlier, but I'm telling you Brooke, wait until you gain forty pounds and have to carry around a whole other person. You'll be a little cranky too."

Brooke glanced at Lucas, who was walking in the direction of the food. His eyes were solely on Peyton.

"I think, somehow, I'll be okay with that", she whispered.

"What'd you say?" Peyton asked as she picked up a plate and silverware.

"Nothing", Brooke said as she shook her head, "is that lemon chicken?" Peyton's head snapped around and a 'sweet' was heard.

Peyton went to grab the large spoon and her hand collided with someone else. She didn't have to look up to see who it was; the spark was a clear indication.

"I'm sorry", he mumbled as he put his hand in his pocket.

She stared at him and smiled softly. "It's alright."

He smiled back. "I'll start at the other end. Have at it", he joked as he pointed to the chicken. She simply smiled and nodded as he walked to the opposite end of the table.

She heard a low laugh and turned to face Brooke. "You brat", Peyton hissed out.

"Oh come on, that was priceless", Brooke said between laughs.

"No, that was awkward."

"Apples and oranges", she replied with a wave of her hand.

"Brooke, you really shouldn't try to get us together", Peyton spoke as she continued down the line.

"I'm not", she said honestly, "I know—we all know that you can't be with him until he figures everything out. We wouldn't push you to him."

"Thanks."

"But for the record, he's doing a pretty great job at figuring everything out."

------------------------------

Afternoon turned into evening and the party was still going strong. Peyton, Haley, and Brooke were off to the side.

"So, the next big party is prom", Brooke spoke with a grin.

"Don't remind me", Haley groaned.

"Tutor Wife", Brooke reprimanded.

"I'll be eight months pregnant by then. There is no way I'll be at some party, in some dress that makes me look ten times bigger then I will be", Peyton glared at her and Haley gulped.

"I didn't mean—"

"Relax, but for the record I think you should go", Peyton said, which shocked Brooke; "I don't even know if I'll be able to go. I'll either be exactly nine months along, or popping this kid out", she said as she pointed to her large stomach.

"Oh please, that is no excuse P. Sawyer."

"Brooke, it's a perfectly good excuse."

The brunette rolled her eyes, but smiled anyway.

"Who's Luke talking to?"

Brooke and Haley followed Peyton eyes.

"That's Glenda Farrell. She was with me in the other gym on the day of the shooting", Brooke said quietly. Peyton nodded and sipped her water.

"Go talk to him", Haley pleaded.

"And say what Hales?"

Haley shrugged. "I guess you don't have to say anything, but at least look at the kid when he looks at you", she left Peyton with that thought and went to talk to more of the guests.

"I'm gunna go ask Mouth to hit the 'loop' button, maybe he'll pencil in a dance for me", Brooke smiled at Peyton and left.

She quickly looked at Lucas and noticed his blue eyes on her. He excused himself from speaking with Glenda and began to walk in her direction. Peyton panicked.

"Sawyer"

"Nate! Dance with me", she didn't even give him a chance to respond. She pulled him onto the dance floor.

"Wow, you bossing me around . . . feels like old times", he joked.

She slapped his arm and laughed. "Gross."

"Ouch", he placed a hand over his heart dramatically.

"Oh please", she muttered with a smile.

"So, don't get me wrong; I love dancing with my best friend, but what's going on?" she looked down guiltily.

"I'm kind of avoiding someone."

"Lucas", he said knowingly. She nodded.

"Things have been weird, and he was walking over here and I freaked out."

"Peyton", the tone of his voice made her look at him, "you both said you wanted to be friends, maybe you should try and be friends",

"It's hard. I don't wanna feel so close to him, but still have him be far away", she said sadly.

"He's doing better Peyton. I've talked to him and he's completely different, he's gunna be the Luke you used to know", he promised.

"I know he will. I just wish he'd hurry up", she sighed and they continued to dance.

------------------------------

It was nearing the end of the day and Peyton was secretly grateful. She was tired and slightly moody. She was hungry, but the food had been put away. She drank so much water, she had to pee, but that was nothing new.

Most of all, she wanted to leave because she had made it through the day without having a close encounter with Lucas.

She sat down and put her feet up on the chair next to her. Her heels had been disregarded as soon as they walked into the reception tent. She placed a hand on her stomach and rubbed it contently. The baby kicked and she smiled; it still felt weird to feel that, amazing though. Her eyes closed and she leaned her head back. Mouth's voice filled her ears, but she made no attempt to acknowledge it. It wasn't until she heard the first few chords of the song he had put on that her eyes snapped open. She lowered her head and saw those blue eyes in the middle of the dance floor.

Nathan, Haley, and Brooke stared at her expectantly, but honestly they didn't have to try and convince her because she was already on her feet the second she saw him.

He held out his hand and she slowly put hers on top of it. He put his free hand on her side and she put hers on his shoulder. They slowly started to sway together.

"I thought I was gunna look like a fool out here", he breathed out.

"You're lucky I like the song", she teased.

He laughed and unconsciously pulled her a little closer. She stared at him from beneath her lashes.

"You cut your hair", she whispered.

"Yea, I was starting to feel top heavy", she laughed softly.

"I like it", she spoke sincerely. He blushed instead of responding.

He looked good. Not that he didn't always look good to her, but he looked like a whole different person. She could tell that whatever he was doing to get his closure was working.

"You look beautiful."

"I'm eight months pregnant", she tried to disagree.

"You look beautiful", he repeated. She blushed instead of responding.

And she did. She was absolutely glowing. Her hair was pulled into a classy up-do. He liked her hair better when it was down, especially since it was curly again, but this made her look elegant.

A peaceful silence hung between the two; Lucas drew circles on her back and her arms clasped around his neck.

"So, how go things on the dream situation?" she asked casually.

"Pretty well actually", he mused. She nodded her head.

Other couples had started to dance near their tables. It was as if nobody wanted to ruin the moment the two blondes were having by stepping onto the dance floor.

"If you ever do wanna talk, I'm still here", she whispered.

"I know", he pulled her as close as her expanded stomach would allow and she rested her head over his heart.

Together they swayed to the song. Peyton's fingers would causally brush against the nape of his neck and he felt tingles run over his body. He leaned his head down and stared at her in his arms. He wanted to stay in this moment forever. She looked up at him and he swallowed hard at the intensity of her stare.

There was a lot that needed to be said. There was a lot that wanted to be said. But right now, as they stared at each other, they silently said all the things that mattered.

I love you
And I miss you
What else is there to say?


Let me know what you think! And if you've never heard the song "Far More" by The Honorary Title, I suggest you listen to it, it's a really good song lol.