Brooke Davis sighed in frustration, she wrestled with the elastic band around her wrist yanking her hair up into a high ponytail.

"Hey tigger what's got you huffing and puffing like a woman in labour?" Brooke shot her friend a dirty glance which softened when she realised the other woman had coffee in her hand. She gladly took the beverage from her friend, placed a soft hand on the large bump that had emerged and then returned back to her frustrating task.

"No matter how many times I draw this goddamn dress it just doesn't translate onto the paper. I know exactly how I want it in my head but for the first time in my life I just can't get it down on paper, at this rate I'll never get it done."

Designing was her life, it had been for years and not once had she struggled to get her ideas down on paper, yet this one dress was causing her more stress than all the others she'd designed and created over the years. Work had been her solace for years and yet for some reason when she desperately needed it now it was failing her.

"Have you tried talking to Lucas?" Brooke rolled her eyes.

"Are your crazy pregnant lady hormones messing with your brain – why exactly would I talk to him?" Haley laughed, causing Brooke to glare at her friend.

"My hormones and my brain are exactly the way they should be, I think maybe you're the one that's going crazy. Surely Lucas is the one person you should talk to."

"You do get what's going on right? How could I talk to Lucas about it?"

"Look Brooke after all these years I doubt I'll ever understand the two of you, but clearly you need to do something otherwise the rainforest might have been completely used up for paper before you have that design right."

"I'm not talking to Lucas – end of discussion. Tell me about baby things instead." Haley rolled her eyes at Brooke, who in turn pretended not to notice, gulping down caffeine and returning to her sketchpad instead.

"Everything's fine, just as expected. In just a few weeks I'll be in excruciating agony and craving any and all drugs available."

"Way to scare the person who wants children." Haley laughed.

"Honestly Brooke it's not that bad – I mean it can't be right or I wouldn't be having number three."

"I can't believe you won't tell me whether you're having a boy or a girl – it's just mean. All this time I could have been designing gorgeous outfits but I don't want to get it wrong."

"I can buy clothes Brooke, but this is just for us. Everyone knew with Jamie and with Megan, this time we just want it to be us that know. Besides Skills is taking bets on the sex of the baby so you'd have an unfair advantage if I told you now." Brooke raised an eyebrow.

"You're okay with people betting on the sex of your child?"

"Sure I am, I told Jamie to put money on it for me so I know I'm winning." Haley grinned and Brooke laughed in spite of herself before bending back over her work.

"Sweetie this dress needs to be ready in just two months, and you've been trying to do it for about five. Maybe it's time you accept it's not going to happen and do what other people do." Brooke threw a glare at her.

"I am doing what other people do, in case you haven't noticed Hales your dress was a Brooke Davis original, Karen's dress was a Brooke Davis original – the first dress was an original. What does it say about this that I could design a wedding dress for you and Karen and for a wedding I walked out of but I can't design one when I'm marrying who is supposed to be the one." Haley rubbed Brooke's arm sympathetically.

"Lucas is the one and don't forget it. I mean he made the shot right – which if I haven't told you before is a very odd way to decide to get married but it will be a good story for the grandchildren. Brooke have you ever considered that the reason you're struggling so hard to make your dream dress for your dream day is because it's unattainable perfection." Brooke leant back in the chair considering what Haley was saying.

It was strange that she'd known Lucas would make the basket before the ball even left his hands.

He tore the blindfold from his eyes and looked straight at her, hope surging in his eyes as she slowly smiled at him.

"Well husband-to-be you're a pretty good shot."

"It went in? We're getting married?" She licked her lips and smiled.

"Well it went in so I guess we are." With each word they both spoke they took a step closer to the other.

"Serendipity Brooke." They were just inches apart when he pulled a small velvet box from his pocket, he crouched on one knee and flipped the box open. "Marry me." It was a statement and not a question because now they were finally in the same place there could never be doubt that marriage was exactly where they were heading. She smiled and placed her hand out for him to slide the ring onto her finger.

But somehow through all the agony that the years had brought them all the uncertainty had melted away before she got on the plane to Tree Hill. She had known that she wouldn't be going to New York again, at least not for a while and only for business. She knew that going to Tree Hill would mean starting a future that she finally acknowledged she had wanted since she was sixteen – a future that despite everything she'd never stopped wanting.

"What's with the face dude?" Lucas looked up at his brother scowled at him. "Wow that's even worse what did I do?"

"Disturbed my concentration."

"Sorry, I thought you'd sent the novel to the publisher now." Lucas rolled his eyes.

"You think my worried face and pissed off demeanour is frustration over a book. You've got to be kidding me. Nate I'm a writer and I've spent years writing letters to Brooke declaring my love. The ironic thing however is that I'm struggling to write my vows." Nathan laughed.

"Sucks for you man I've already got my speech done." Lucas glared daggers at his brother.

"How was that helpful?"

"Talk to Brooke, maybe you guys have more in common than you think you do." Lucas' brow creased in confusion.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Nathan smirked.

"Let's consider for a moment what it could mean, the writer struggling with wedding vows, therefore the designer might be struggling with the wedding..." Nathan raised his eyebrows as he trailed his words off.

"The dress? Brooke's struggling with the dress?" Nathan shrugged.

"For two people who have a connection that's spanned years and miles who are getting married you don't communicate much."

"I thought she might take it as a sign that it wasn't the right thing." Lucas had struggled with his vows for weeks now, never quite being able to broach the subject with Brooke because despite his happiness she was here, his joy at their impending wedding, which as an added bonus meant his family was still in Tree Hill not seeing the point of leaving and then coming back so soon, it still felt completely unreal. When she'd told him that the ball had gone straight through the net he didn't think it could possibly be real that she was by default saying they were getting married. It seemed impulsive and slightly crazy given that just a few months ago they weren't even on speaking terms nor had they been for years. He was obviously overjoyed by the turn of events, but he felt like he was hanging on a precipice waiting to fall over the edge. He felt like he was just waiting for something to end this because it always happened. And truth be told the wedding was slightly rushed, seven months to plan a wedding was not that long a time frame. With the fact his family was still taking residence in his house Brooke was staying with Nathan, Haley and the children, which meant there wasn't all that much time they were actually together. Truth be told he still felt as lost now as he did when she showed up at his door. So yes, Nathan was right they did need to talk. And he tried to tell himself that if they truly were meant to be talking about it wouldn't change anything – but if the past had taught him anything it was that if there was a way to screw things up one of them would find it.

"Hey pretty girl." Brooke looked up from her makeshift studio in one of Nathan and Haley's guest rooms and smiled at him. He figured it was a good start. "How are things going with the wedding outfits?" The smile faltered just a little, long enough for him to catch it – but only because he'd been looking for it.

"Just two more to do. But since one of them is for the baby who won't be arriving for a couple of weeks and therefore we don't know the sex of my hands are a little tied. Plus of course they'll need to be alterations done for Haley post baby."

"What's the other outfit?" Soft hazel eyes met icy blue and Lucas was resolute in not allowing her to deflect the question.

"My dress." He only just managed to stop himself from smiling – so Nathan had been right and there was something.

"I would have imagined it would be the first one you wanted to do." The fact she couldn't quite meet his gaze told him more than any words could. "Brooke I know you're struggling with it. I'm struggling with my vows. I never told you before because I was worried that you'd think it meant something more than it did."

"Haley thinks that I'm struggling with my dress because I'm being too much of a perfectionist."

"What do you think?"

"I can understand her rationale. So why is the writer struggling with the words?"

"Maybe Haley's theory applies. Brooke I don't want you think I'm not beyond ecstatic about this but it feels like we're jumping into it. In six years we've not spoken at all, but now we're getting married. I left New York thinking that this would never happen, within weeks you were standing at my door and challenging me to make a shot that would decide our lives. Since then it's been more about the wedding than it has been about us." He felt his breathe almost stop as he waited for her reaction.

Brooke knew there was an undeniable truth about what he said. For some reason it had been easier to focus on the wedding than on taking their connection and building a relationship. They were actually surprisingly estranged for two people about to get married. She'd thought that coming here and agreeing to marriage was the step she'd needed to take in order to move forward with her life, with their lives and letting him in. But the truth was the way she'd gone about it meant that they were left not having to confront their past. New York had been a confrontation that was a long time in coming but it certainly didn't bring the past to a conclusion, while she wasn't a fan of the whole 'closure' terminology it did seem that they needed to be able to draw a line under what had gone on before.

"I guess it seems like a huge turnaround for you. Lucas when I came here while you were in hospital I realised something that I'd spent years trying to ignore or forget. The reason I left in the first place was because I'd have forgiven you. If I'd stayed it might not have been immediately but I would have. And I didn't want to because I didn't believe that you meant what you said. I left and built a life that didn't include you. But I missed you, everyday. I just wouldn't let myself acknowledge that. Everything I said to you I needed to say, but what I needed more was to know that what I felt for you went both ways. And I know I didn't throw myself at you the second I knew but the truth is not a day has gone by since I first fell in love with you that I haven't wanted to be your wife."

"I love you Brooke Davis." He pulled her close to him, crushing her against him as his lips found hers. Words running through his head like wildfire, somehow he knew his vows would come easy now.

Lucas smiled as he surveyed all he could see, Brooke had outdone herself with the arrangements. The oak tree provided a shady focal point for him to stand with the priest, he was able to turn and look out over the water. A perfect vista for such a glorious day. The rows of white chairs were divided by a thin red carpet aisle that would soon bring his bride to him. At the ends of each row was a twist of wire holding a white metal bucket that held a bouquet of Gerber daisies, white ranunculus and calla lilies. He felt an overwhelming sense of happiness as he watched a clearly overjoyed Megan practically skip up the aisle. She scattered white rose petals that were soon trampled on by Jamie. Pride at his important job written all over his features. He looked over at his best man, his brother. Nathan looked so proud of the elder two of his three children. Baby Callum was snuggled comfortably against Andy's chest in the front row. Next to approach them was his baby sister. Lily held a just a bunch of lilies as she did her best to glide along the aisle as she had been shown previously. A surprisingly slim considering she had a baby just a month ago Haley made her way towards them next. Lucas didn't fail to miss the shared look between Haley and Nathan, still so much in love after 12 years and three children.

And then there was Brooke. Her arm looped through his mother's as the person she'd chosen to give her away. Brooke looked stunning, he felt his heart beat fast and he knew that this was absolutely the start of the rest of his life.

"What can I say to you that I haven't already said? What can I give you that I haven't already given? Is there anything of me that isn't yours already, my body, my mind, my heart, even my soul. Everything that is me belonged to you long before this, and it shall be yours long after this. I will follow you anywhere and everywhere you lead, hand in hand and heart in heart." Her words were heartfelt and passion filled as she bound herself to him.

"Tall oaks from little acorns grow. There was a spark, one small spark when I looked at this woman, a girl as she was then, one night she rescued a friend and I saw a glimmer of the person she was underneath a hardened act. And I felt a spark then, I won't pretend it has been easy for us to get here but from that spark almost thirteen years ago something amazing has truly blossomed. Since that day this woman has taken root within my heart, and she has grown majestically until my love for her is as tall as the highest mountain and as wide as the largest ocean. And now that we are here nothing shall ever part us." She almost cried at his words, finally she could believe that their love was enough. That they could have the life they had always wanted. That the past could be forgiven and forgotten and they could be Brooke and Lucas, Cheery and Broody, husband and wife.

Thank you to everyone who has continued to read this story and to those who reviewed I really appreciate each and every one. I hope this has remained as good as the one-shot it was originally intended to be and no one has been disappointed by the continuation. Thanks once more.HiH