A/N: I'm not so sure about this chapter, but I am happy with the beginning. The next chapter is going to be that big time jump to start the next part of the story so to speak. After the next chapter this story will be placed on hold so that I can concentrate on my other stories and begin working on my new ones. So after the next chapter I'm not sure how long it will be before this one gets picked up again, but I will make sure that next week's update won't end on a cliffhanger. I guess you could say I would end it as if I were finishing a story.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Forever

"I'm proud of you, baby," Aria says happily as she sets down the paper that Sam had shown her. "I've heard great stuff about that place and I think it would be really great for you."

Sam shrugs her shoulders and sighs contently when Aria wraps her arms around her.

"What's wrong?"

"This class is all summer and this is basically our first whole summer together and now I have this class. I don't think it's fair."

Aria places a kiss behind Sam's ear.

"It will be okay because I have to work all summer in order for me to live here so I won't have a whole lot of extra time either."

"This sucks," Sam pouts as she turns around and buries her face into Aria's neck. "I can't stand being away from you."

Aria guides Sam and herself to the couch. Aria sits down and Sam rests her head in Aria's lap. Aria softly runs her fingers through Sam's hair.

"I love you, Samantha and just because we won't spend our whole summer together doesn't mean that we won't spend some time together. We'll make sure of it."

"I love you, too."

The two lovers were silent while the TV was playing an old episode of Friends, until Sam spoke again.

"Come to dinner with me and my family?"

"Always," Aria responds. "Is there a reason why you guys are going out because you don't normally do that?"

"Celebrating my class, but Peyton wants to propose to my mom."

"That sounds exciting."

Sam grins up at her girlfriend.

"I just hope mom says yes."

-Complications of the Heart-

Sam sat on Brooke and Peyton's bed while Peyton paced the bedroom floor.

"Why are you so nervous?"

Peyton stops pacing and sits down on the bed.

"I'm scared that she's going to say no. She's helped me heal this past year and I'm afraid if she says no, that our relationship will end and then I'll be broken all over again. I don't know if I can take that risk."

"You can't think like that Peyton. Mom is so in love with you that it's crazy. There is no way that she would say no."

"Well I am glad you're confident in that because I'm not."

Sam sighs as she looks at the ceiling. It was obvious that Peyton still had issues that she never dealt with yet.

"If you are not sure then don't ask. You can't head into a marriage thinking she's going to leave because subconsciously you'll do things that will send her away. If that happens then you won't just be sending her away you'll be sending me away and on top of all that, Sawyer would be devastated. Think about it Peyton, but I'm telling you she won't say no."

"I'm scared," Peyton whispers to Sam.

Sam scoots closer to Peyton.

"Everybody gets scared sometime, but you need to let yourself be happy…mama," Sam says the last part quietly.

Peyton looks at Sam with a wide smile.

"You've never called me that before."

Sam grins and lays her head on Peyton's lap.

"Marry mom and I'll call you that all the time."

Peyton and Sam both crack up. Peyton's fears slowly eased away.

-Complications of the Heart-

"Pretty mommy," Sawyer says with a smile as Brooke walks out of her bedroom. Brooke was wearing a red dress. Peyton had wanted everyone to dress up because they were going to a fancier restaurant. Peyton was wearing a black dress. Sam was wearing a nice pair of jeans because she refused to wear a dress and put on a black blouse. Sawyer was in a pink dress and Aria was wearing a skirt with a red top to go with it.

"Thank you baby," Brooke says as she smiles and looks up at her family. "We all look pretty. Are we ready to go?"

"Yeah we are, but I need to grab something so why don't you all head to the car and I'll be right there," Peyton directs.

Sam, Aria and Sawyer quickly head out the doors and Brooke raises an eyebrow.

"What did you forget?"

"My purse. Go make sure the kids are all settled in."

Brooke nods her head before placing her lips on Peyton's. Brooke walks out the door and Peyton heads quickly to her room. She digs through her drawers and finds the box she was looking for. She was going to do this. She was going to ask Brooke Davis to be her wife.

-Complications of the Heart-

Dinner had been ordered, served and eaten and the group was deciding on desert. Peyton was getting jittery and Sam concealed her smile as she clasped her hand with Aria's under the table.

"Who wants desert?" Brooke asks with a grin.

"I do. I do," Sawyer calls out with a smile.

"Before we get desert I want to do something," Peyton starts.

Sam and Aria grin at Peyton, but Brooke's eyesight is elsewhere. Peyton doesn't seem to notice. A few tables down a man had just gotten out of his sight and knelt down on the ground.

"Peyton look over there," Brooke says as she moves her head back into the couple's direction. Peyton follows her girlfriend's eyesight and frowns.

The restaurant falls into quietness as the man asks his girlfriend to be his wife. The answer is yes.

Sam looks at Peyton sadly who just shrugs her shoulders. Her plan wasn't working at all. Peyton clears her throat to get everyone's attention.

"Desert anyone?"

-Complications of the Heart-

Peyton had been quiet on her drove home from the restaurant. Her plans to ask Brooke to marry her had been ruined by some other couple that decided today would be the day they would get engaged so Peyton had kept quiet. Brooke, Sam and Aria were talking about the summer plans and Sawyer was quietly sitting in her seat and listening to the radio. Peyton turned the corner and spotted the familiar bridge that she and Brooke had visited frequently and then the idea struck. Peyton smiled and drove the car towards the bridge.

Brooke looked out the window when Peyton stopped the car.

"Baby, what are we doing here?"

Peyton grins at Brooke.

"Come on girls. I want to show you the place where Brooke and I hung out when I was younger and more than a little sad."

The girls get out of the car and walk towards the bridge. Brooke and Peyton remember the times they had there.

"What did you do here?" Sam asks as she steps forward to look at the view.

"We just sat there. My bad days got a little better every time Brooke sat down next to me," Peyton grins and turns to Brooke. "But I don't want this place to be full of sad memories for me anymore. I want this place to be a wonderful memory that I don't ever want to forget."

Brooke just looks at Peyton not knowing where Peyton is going with this.

"You have made my life better just being there and this past year has meant everything to me. You think of Sawyer as your own and I love that about you and I know that we are forever. We've been friends since we were eight and lovers since high school," Peyton pulls the velvet box from her purse that she had been holding. "And now our forever will start here," Peyton opens the box. "If you accept this proposal and say yes to becoming my wife."

Brooke, Sam and Aria had tears in their eyes. They all knew that Peyton's words were true and from the heart. Sam gripped Aria's hand tighter as she waited for Brooke's answer.

"Peyton, I don't know what to say," Brooke whispers in awe.

Peyton's heart was beating a mile a minute.

"Say yes so we can start our forever."

Brooke looks down at the ring and smiles as she looks back up to Peyton.

"Yes."

And all of Peyton's fears washed away as she slipped the ring onto Brooke's finger. Forever started now.