"There are moments in our lives when our dreams come true. When your dreams come true who do you want standing next to you?" Peyton asked Lucas, hoping the answer would be her.
Without hesitation Lucas replied, "Brooke."
Peyton was not surprised by Lucas' answer but she was disappointed. She'd hope that all the time they'd been spending together would change or budge his love for Brooke but it never did.
And it had been Brooke who had been at his side when all of his dreams came true. When the Ravens finally won the championship, Brooke had been the first person wanted to see. When Lucas' book was published Brooke was the one he wanted to celebrate with.
She had also been the one standing by his side when his dreams crumbled underneath him.
[Present Day]
"Rise and shine beautiful bride!" Haley ripped open the thick curtains covering Brooke's bedroom windows. "It's time for you to get all dolled up for your big day."
Brooke groaned and covered her closed eyes with her pillow. "What time it is?"
"It's going on eleven." Haley read the time from the alarm clock sitting propped up on Brooke's nightstand.
Brooke popped up in her bed, "What? Who let me sleep in so late?" She threw the covers off of herself and she climbed out of bed. "There is so much to do before the actual ceremony starts at four."
Haley grabbed Brooke's hands to stop her from pacing back and forth in her bedroom. "Relax! Millie is fixing all of the final touches on the venue while Karen and I made breakfast for everyone downstairs. And Peyton picked up all of the dresses from the boutique."
"Are the boys with Lucas?" Brooke asked. "And does everyone have their tuxedos with them?"
Haley nodded once and smiled. "Just breathe. Everything is working out fine!"
Brooke took a step back and let out a heavy sigh. "Okay, I'm relaxed at least for now. Now where is my mother in law to be?"
Karen was waiting for Brooke downstairs in the kitchen. Karen, Lily, and Andy all got in last night but Brooke was forced to go to sleep by Haley so she wouldn't be too tired on her wedding day.
"Karen?" Brooke squealed at the sight of the older woman. "I've missed you so much!"
The two women embraced in a hug.
"You look amazing already." Karen smiled and tucked a piece of Brooke's chocolate brown hair behind her ear.
"Thank you for giving me and Lucas your blessing." Brooke took Karen's hands into her own. "I don't think I could have gone through with the actual wedding without your blessing."
Karen shrugged her shoulders. "I've been waiting for the two of you to get married for a really long time now. Sorry Peyton." She said over her shoulder.
Peyton Sawyer, Lucas' ex-wife, sat at Brooke's breakfast bar nibbling on a biscuit. "I've gotten used to people saying how much they've wanted Lucas to marry Brooke instead of me."
Brooke bit down on her lip to hold back a laugh. "Well thank you for handling it like a lady." She walked over to Peyton and wrapped her arms around her. "And thank you for being in my wedding as my maid of honor."
"Was she this pleasant and nice the first time around?" Peyton asked Haley.
Haley laughed but nodded. "She even did a little dance for me."
Brooke gasped and her hands covered her heart. "Julian had Jamie send over a CD of the music he saw me dancing to that made him fall in love with me." She pouted.
"No please don't cry!" Peyton squeezed Brooke. "It's okay to miss him today but don't let that get in the way of you enjoying your big day with Lucas."
She dabbed tears from her eyes with a napkin she found sitting nearby. "These are happy tears! It just reminded me of how lucky I am and I have every woman that I love surrounding me today and I'm marrying my soul mate."
Brooke looked around her kitchen at the women in her life.
Her mother sat in her bath robe with her glasses sliding down the tip of her nose as she read Vogue magazine while Millie sat across from Victoria with her phone glued to her ear and her mouth constantly moving.
Peyton sat with a plate of food in front of her but only nibbled on her breakfast while she and Haley giggled over their excitement for the day.
Their daughters were laid out on the couch together watching television while Karen stood brushing her daughter's hair out.
"I'm pretty damn lucky to have so much love surrounding me today." Brooke grabbed a wine glass filled with orange juice and held it up in the air. "This is to all of the beautiful and strong women in this room."
"Cheers!" Everyone yelled in unison.
[On the groom's side]
"Breathe brother." Nathan shook Lucas by his shoulders. "You weren't this nervous on your first wedding day."
Lucas rolled his eyes and plopped himself down. "I had other things to worry about that day like Brooke not causing a scene over Julian bringing a date oh and the health of my bride who was eight months pregnant."
Nathan laughed and took a seat next to Lucas on the couch. "You've had a very strange sense of luck happening when it comes to you and weddings. I wonder what crazy thing will happen this time around."
"That is what I'm worried about." Lucas sighed heavily. "I'm afraid something is going to happen to Brooke or she won't show up at all."
Nathan patted Lucas' shoulder. "That woman has been waiting for several years to marry you so there is no way she isn't going to show up."
"Then something bad is going to happen to her. I just have a gut feeling that something is going to go wrong." Lucas shook his head. "Tree Hill weddings have the worst luck in the history of the world."
Nathan laughed and pulled out his phone to call his wife. "Hales?"
"Yeah babe?" Haley answered on the other end of the phone.
Nathan pressed the speaker button on his phone so Lucas could hear the conversation going on between him and his wife. "What is Brooke doing at this very instant?"
"You want detail from detail?" Haley teased. "Brooke is seating down sipping on water and munching on toast while getting her hair done."
"Is she sick or upset?" Nathan asked to help relief his brother's tension and worry about his bride.
"Nope. She has been dancing around and smiling all day." Haley answered. "Lucas, relax and enjoy your day. We love you boys." She hung up.
Nathan slid his phone back into the pocket of his pajama pants. "Happy? Because your bride seems to pretty happy."
Lucas smiled widely and clapped his hands together. "I'm happy now!"
"Go then let's go get dressed." Nathan pulled himself off of the couch and offered his hand to Lucas who took his help to get off of the couch.
[Back to the Bride]
"Oh Hales!" Karen stood at the bottom of the stairs next to the wedding photographer, Quinn Evans, who is Haley's sister. "You look stunning."
Haley's auburn colored locks were pulled back into a slick bun that was finished off with classic pearl earrings and two pearl bracelets resting on her wrist.
"Thank you." Haley gracefully made her way down the stairs in her floor length gown. "So do you Karen!"
Brooke made a simple black cocktail dress for both mothers, her own and Lucas' mother.
Peyton playfully cleared her throat at the top of the stairs. "The bride is ready for her big entrance."
"Peyton!" Everyone heard Brooke squeal from her bedroom.
"Out of all days that you don't want to be a diva you pick today?" Peyton teased her. "C'mon out!"
Brooke exited her bedroom and gasped filled the empty air as she made her way down the spiral staircase.
Her first wedding gown of the evening was a strapless ball gown. The skirt was all tulle that was adorned with single pearls to match her bridesmaids' dresses. Her hair was curled but pulled up into a curly ponytail.
A pearl necklace swept across her breasts to go along with the matching pearl earrings she was wearing.
"Do I look okay or do the gasps mean I look terrible and I should go change right away?" Brooke stopped in front of Karen and Haley.
Both women looked at one another and began to tear up.
"You look beautiful Brooke." Haley cried as she handed over Brooke's white roses with one single rose sitting properly in the middle of the bunch.
Brooke began to fan her eyes. "No crying yet! You are going to make me cry and then I'll ruin my make-up." She pointed her index finger at her best friend. "Hales, you did this to me last time."
Haley laughed through her tears. "I'm sorry but my best friend makes the most beautiful bride I've ever seen."
"Hales! Come here." She pulled her into a tight hug. "I love you."
Haley dabbed her wet face with a tissue so she wouldn't mess up her make-up. "I love you too!"
"The limo is here!" Sawyer shouted.
Sawyer and Lily were both due to be additional bridesmaids in the wedding while Lydia was assigned the role of flower girl.
Sawyer and Lily wore similar gowns to their mothers' white gowns but their gowns had a slit that stopped near their knees. Both young women wore their hair curled and down their backs.
"You look beautiful, Brooke." Sawyer smiled.
Brooke stepped off of the steps and toward her soon to be step daughter, "So do you gorgeous."
Flashes went off as Brooke fixed a few of Sawyer's loose curls.
"You ready for this?" Sawyer asked. "The next stop is the castle where you will be announced as Mrs. Brooke Penelope Scott."
Brooke smiled and covered her heart with her hands. "I'm so ready! Ladies, let's do this." She turned on her three inch black heels to face the rest of her bridal party.
"The rest of you go ahead in the limo." Victoria ordered. "I'd like to have a few moments with my daughter before she gets married again."
Everyone obeyed Victoria's order and they all filed out of the house and outside to the limo.
"My beautiful daughter." Victoria took Brooke's flowers out of her hands and sat it down so she could hold her hands. "You once told me that Lucas Scott was the one boy you'd give it all up for."
Brooke began to tear up at the memory. "That was the day I thought he walked out of my life for good."
"Well he didn't and I see how happy he makes you." Victoria gave Brooke's hand a squeeze. "You have one of the biggest hearts known to man and you deserve to be happy. I know this time I don't get the chance to give you away but if I were then this is would be me saying you have my blessing and happiness to marry this man."
Brooke gave her mother a hug. "Thank you mama."
"Enough of that. We don't need you crying again!" Victoria smiled and linked arms with her daughter. "Now let's go to the chapel and get you married."
Brooke and Victoria walked out of the home and joined the rest of Brooke's wedding party in the long white limo waiting for them at the end of Brooke's driveway.
"You ready for this?" Nathan fixed his brother's tie as they waited in the groom's suite in the castle they'd rented out for Brooke's and Lucas' wedding.
It was the same castle that Brooke and Julian had married in but it was Brooke's dream venue and she wanted her dream venue for her dream wedding.
"I'm more ready than you know." Lucas smiled and shook out his hands at his side. "I can't wait to see her walking toward me."
Nathan smiled and stood beside his brother as Quinn continued to snap photos of them.
"You think you'll cry?" Nathan asked with a laugh.
Lucas button up his suit jacket. "I'm pretty sure I'm going to cry when I see Brooke in her wedding dress for the first time."
"Everyone is waiting and ready." James came back into the suit to inform his father and uncle. "Brooke arrived about ten minutes ago and I got a sneak peek at her. She looks amazing Uncle Lucas!"
"Don't spoil the surprise for me." Lucas said anxiously.
Jamie threw his hands up in the air, surrendering. "Well let's go and do this. Dad, you are that way." He pointed down the hallway and turned to lead his uncle Lucas out to the chapel to wait for the rest of them.
Each row of chairs was filled with guests from both Brooke's friends to Lucas' friends and family. Lucas' old publicist, Lindsay Strauss, sat in the crowd with her husband and newborn son.
Alex Dupre also sat in the crowd of wedding goers with Chase Adams. Despite Alex having a huge crush on Brooke's first husband, Julian, she and Brooke developed a real friendship after Alex married Brooke's good friend, Chase.
Lucas ran down the few steps of the chapel and greeted his mother with a kiss on the cheek.
"I love you." Karen whispered to her son. "This is your chance at true happiness so enjoy it."
Lucas smiled, "I love you too mom."
Christina Aguilera's Save Me from Myself was the song they'd chosen to have Brooke walk down the aisle to while everyone else walked down the aisle to the traditional song.
The wedding march began to play so Lucas took his place up at the chapel as he waited for his bride to come out.
Nathan and Haley were the first of the wedding party to make their way down the aisle. The happily married couple was Brooke's role model couple. Brooke looked up to them for a love that everyone knew was going to live on forever. It was a love that people wrote stories about.
Peyton walked down the aisle with James while Sawyer walked down the aisle by herself as did Lily. Lydia walked down the white aisle with Jude and Davis at her side. She threw out white rose petals to guide her Aunt Brooke down the aisle.
Each guest rose to their feet as Save Me from Myself began to play.
Brooke rounded the corner on the arm of her father. She couldn't help but smile when she saw Lucas standing at the end of the chapel with a smile on his face.
"Aunt Brooke sure does look beautiful, doesn't see?" James whispered to his uncle.
"She looks beautiful everyday but today she looks like an angel." Lucas replied.
Brooke took a deep breath to keep herself from crying.
"Mouth the words to the song to distract yourself from crying." Her father whispered into her ear.
Brooke smiled and nodded once. "When I'm about to fall somehow you're always waiting, your open arms to catch me."
She slowly made her way up the long white aisle with her father.
"My love is tainted by your touch." Brooke continued to mouth the words. "Don't ask me why I'm crying."
Lucas began to cry as he realized Brooke was singing along with the song. Each lyric had meaning to their relationship.
"You've been my strength so strong." Brooke and her father finally made it to the end of the aisle as the song slowly came to an end.
"Who gives this beautiful bride away to her groom?" The officiate asked after the song came to an end.
"I do." Ted Davis replied as he placed Brooke's hand into Lucas' hand. Ted gracefully walked away from the chapel and took a seat next to his wife, Victoria Davis, in the front row.
Brooke reached up and wiped away a few of Lucas' tears. "Hey handsome." She whispered to him.
"Hey beautiful!" He smiled through his tears. "I feel like I'm in heaven today standing across from you." Lucas began his vows. "According to everyone in our lives it has been a long time coming. I told you that I was going to marry you someday and that day is here. I can't wait to be able to call you my wife and wake up to your beautiful and bright smile every morning for the rest of my life."
Brooke squeezed Lucas hands and sent a wink in his direction.
"I love you so much and I look forward to telling you just how much I love every single day of my life." Lucas continued after collecting Brooke's wedding band from his nephew. "I know Julian is looking down on us today and I hope to make him proud by caring for both you and your sons with all of my heart and being if you'll have me."
Brooke appreciated Lucas including Julian in their vows.
"My mom and I were talking earlier and she reminded me of a moment in our lives when I told her that I would have given up anything just to be with you." Brooke took Lucas' wedding band from Sawyer. "But at the time your heart was preoccupied and that brought us the beautiful gift named Sawyer Brooke. Then my heart became preoccupied with Julian and that brought me happiness in the form of Jude and Davis."
Tears began to blur her vision.
"Now we are both standing her vowing to love each other for the rest of our lives but I've never stopped loving you Lucas Scott and I vow to never stop loving you. I also vow to love our new family and cherish the love that we have surrounding and supporting us in our decision to get married." She slid the silver band onto his finger.
"Lucas Eugene Scott will you take this woman to be your wife? To have and to hold? In sickness and in health? In richer and poor?" The officiate asked.
Lucas nodded once and said proudly, "I do!"
"Brooke Penelope Baker, will you take this man to be your husband? To have and to hold? In sickness and in health? In richer and poor?" The officiate asked Brooke next.
Brooke smiled widely. "I do!"
"Then I now pronounce you husband and wife…" The officiate stated but before he could finished Lucas took Brooke into his arms and he kissed her.
Brooke wrapped her arms around Lucas' neck and prolonged their embrace. "I love you!"
"I love you too, Brooke Penelope Scott!" Lucas smiled brightly.
"Presenting to the world for the first time." Mouth McFadden said over the DJ system. "Mister and Misses Scott!"
Lucas and Brooke walked into their reception party. Lucas had removed his suit jacket and his tie while Brooke changed out of her ball gown into a body hugging strapless, white lace wedding gown.
Tamia's Beautiful Surprise began to play for the newlyweds to begin their first dance.
"So happy that I could cry! You heard that?" Brooke laughed and allowed for Lucas to twirl her around. "That is how I feel at this very moment as I stand here with you."
"You and me both." Lucas smiled and kissed Brooke passionately.
Half way through the song Lucas pulled their children onto the dance floor. He danced with his daughter while Brooke danced with both of her sons.
"Are you happy for mama?" Brooke asked Jude and Davis.
"We're happy for you and daddy!" Jude and Davis answered in unison. "Congrats."
Brooke pulled them into a group hug at the end of the song. The entire room began to applaud the new family's touching moment on the dance floor.
"Mama Time!" Brooke squealed as Carrie Underwood's Mama's Song began to play.
Karen and Victoria walked onto the dance floor. Victoria began to dance with Brooke while Karen danced with her son.
"You found the answer to my prayers." Karen said to the lyrics. "She makes you the happiest I've ever seen you and she loves you more than anyone except your mama of course."
Lucas laughed and slow danced with his mother. "Brooke has always made me a happy man."
"Why didn't you marry her the first time?" Karen asked.
Lucas shrugged her shoulders. "I didn't think she felt as strongly for me as I did for her but now I know that I was wrong."
"I'm proud of you." Victoria said to her daughter.
Brooke smiled up at her mother. "For what?"
"For finding two good men who love you and treat you like a real man should." Victoria nodded toward Lucas. "I approve!"
Lucas cut in and began to dance with Victoria while Karen and Brooke danced.
"I have no doubt that you will take care of Brooke and the boys." Victoria said to him.
Lucas smiled proudly at his new mother in law. "I'm glad you have faith in me to love them and care for them."
"Don't let me down!" Victoria said with a single nod of her head.
Once the song ended Lucas and Brooke began to make their way around the large room to talk to all of their friends.
"Samantha Walker!" Brooke placed her hands on her hips and smiled at the girl she almost adopted when she was a homeless teen.
"Hey Mama Brooke." Sam greeted Brooke with a kiss on the cheek. "Beautiful wedding. I'm next though." She held up her hand and flashed a sparkling diamond engagement ring.
Brooke gasped, "Jack!" She hit the young man in the arm. "I love you for this."
"Skillz? What are you doing?" Lucas walked over to his old high school friend.
Skillz peeled his eyes off of Deb Scott, Nathan's mother. "Just checking out what I've been missing."
"You're gross man!" Lucas shook his head and walked over to his bride. "Time for toasts." He whispered into her ear.
Brooke and Lucas took their seat at their table as Peyton took the microphone from Mouth McFadden who was the DJ at the reception.
"I'm honored to be Brooke Scott's maid of honor." Peyton smiled and waved Haley onto the dance floor to join her toast to their best friend.
Haley hesitated but joined Peyton at the front of the room.
"We've both known Brooke for most of our lives and anyone who knows her knows that she has an amazing heart." Peyton said into the microphone. "Brooke has been my rock and I have no doubt that she will be an amazing step mother to my beautiful daughter, Sawyer, and I know you guys have finally made the right decision to ignore all of the distractions and just be together."
"We've had some amazing moments with Brooke." Haley took the microphone from Peyton. "And I for one have discovered Brooke's hidden talent to make anything fun and I know with Lucas she has so much more fun. Her entire face lights up when she hears his name being spoken and I stand here today and I say…." Haley sniffled back tears. "It is about time!"
Everyone in the room laughed.
Haley continued. "I admit I didn't understand the two of you in the beginning but now I see that you two are meant for one another. You have an understanding of one another that no one else has and your love only grows in the face of hardship and pain. That kind of love never dies!"
"Lucas Scott and I have not always gotten along." Nathan began his speech. "There was always something pushing us away but Brooke was the one thing pushing us to get along and be brothers. She has been an amazing friend to me and my wife. She has always been an amazing aunt to my children and I know she will make an amazing wife to my big brother. Luke, you got a good one man."
Brooke hugged all of her best friends. "You guys are so cute!"
Lucas and Brooke cut their wedding cake together and lovingly fed one another pieces of the cake.
"Let's liven this party up with one last dance before we say goodbye to the newlyweds and wish them a swell honeymoon. I want the couple and their bridal party on the dance floor!" Mouth said before playing the song, Love on Top by the singer Beyonce.
Brooke entered the dance floor with Haley and Peyton on either side of her.
"Come here baby!" Brooke motioned Lucas over. "You think we should show Peyton her surprise now?" She whispered into Lucas' ear. "Someone has to have slutty wedding sex."
Lucas laughed and waved someone out onto the dance floor.
Jake Jagielski walked out of the crowd and onto the dance floor with his daughter Jenny. Peyton stood frozen and wide eyed in the center of the floor.
"Hey Peyton!" Jake offered his hand to her. "Wanna dance?"
Peyton took his hand and the couple danced as if no time had passed since they last spoke.
"Did today turn out like you wanted it to?" Lucas asked his wife.
Brooke smiled and brushed her lips against his. "I got everything I ever wanted today."
The doors to the castle opened and bubbles began to be blown in Lucas and Brooke's direction. She squealed and tightened her hold on Lucas' hand. He led her through the crowd and to their waiting limo.
The words Happily Ever After were written in white on the back window of their limo.
"That describes them perfectly." Haley thought as she watched the limo drive off into the night.