A/N: Welcome to my season five! In this world, Haley is not a witch to Peyton, Lindsey is harder to like and Lucas is a lot more honest with himself. Lucas and Peyton also get on a lot better than they did in season five. This is another story that comes from another random idea about how Lucas and Peyton might have found their way back to each other, with less heartbreak. This will only be a few chapters long. Let me know what you think. Still very new at this! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill. Everything belongs to the Schwahn.
Peyton was hit with a wave of nostalgia as she entered her old school high. The corridors ahead of her held many memories for her. Many of them were painful, for several reasons. The day of the shooting still haunted her as did the stolen moments her and Lucas had shared there over the years. Peyton took a deep breath and shook her head slightly. Her and Lucas had been getting on better than she had expected. Seeing him with Lindsey didn't get any easier but she was determined to keep her head held high and deal with it. It was hard and she felt like the only person who knew how hard it was for her, was Lucas himself. And Brooke, of course. She could never pull the wool over Brooke's eyes and for the most part she was glad.
She stepped into the old school gym and smiled as she remembered her high school days of cheerleading and basketball games. She was pulled from her reverie by the wolf whistles from the new Tree Hill Ravens. Lucas looked over to what had caught his players' attention and he couldn't blame them. Peyton was wearing skinny jeans, black boots, a Clothes over Bro's tank top and Eliie's leather jacket. Her hair bounced around her shoulders as she walked.
"Show some respect!" Lucas and Nathan both barked at the same time. They looked at each, both slightly confused before breaking into a laugh.
"Yeah, show some respect, that's my Aunt Peyton!" Jamie hollered and he ran towards to her.
Peyton bent down and pulled Jamie into a hug.
"Thanks Baby James," she whispered. He smiled at her and ran back to the bench.
Peyton walked over to where Lucas, Nathan and Skills were standing.
"What's up Sawyer? You ready for your big night?" Nathan draped his arm over her shoulder.
"Getting there, kinda nervous," she smiled. "I just came to let you guys know you're all on the VIP guest list. Junk's on the door so you won't have to queue or anything. And I've got a booth reserved for you."
"What you got to be nervous for, Skinny Girl? Tonight's gonna rock, you could pull this off in your sleep."
"I hope so. Anyway, I gotta run, the bands will be sound checking soon and me and Junk still have some things to sort out. Plus, with Brooke out of town I said I'd check in on Millie. See you guys tonight." She smiled at them all and turned to leave.
"Aunt Peyton?" Jamie called.
"Yeah, buddy?"
"Can I come with you? I wanna help."
"Aunt Peyton's got a lot to do today Jamie, she doesn't need you under her feet." Nathan answered for her and Jamie pouted.
"Actually, you know what Baby James, I could really do with your company today." Nathan looked over at her with his eyebrow arched. She chuckled.
"No seriously, I really could. Besides, Hales is coming down when school's out to help anyway so it's fine. Let's go, kiddo." She took his hand and he ran to take it. Lucas watched them as they walked towards the exit. Peyton threw her head back in laughter at something Jamie had said and she bent down to pick him up and threw him over her shoulder.
Nathan laughed to himself. "That kid loves his 'cool' Aunt Peyton."
"Well, P. Sawyer always had a way with the Scott boys!" Nathan laughed at Skills' comment and Lucas faked a chuckle before looking at his feet.
"It's okay, Brooke. I'm not mad at you, you have work and its fine. Haley's helping me out at Tric and then we're going to get ready together."
"I know, but I feel awful. This is your opening night and I'm going to miss it. And you're gonna be stuck there with Lindsey and Luke and –"
"Brooke! I'm a big girl, I can deal with it, okay?"
"Okay, call me if anything happens and don't forget to wear that killer dress I made you. Nothing like showing Broody a bit of what he's missing." Peyton could feel Brooke's smirk over the phone.
"Okay, Brooke. Look I gotta run, I'll call you later."
"Okay, P. Swayer. I love you."
"I know. I love you too, B." Peyton closed her cell as Haley entered the club.
"Hey Foxy, how's it going?"
"Hey Peyt. Going good, thanks. How about you? Nathan said you'd taken Jamie with you. You didn't have to you know, the kid can be told no once in a while."
"Don't be silly. It's been fun having him around. He helps keep me occupied on things I'd rather not be thinking about." She smiled weakly.
Haley smiled in return and gave Peyton's hand a quick squeeze. "This place looks great, Peyton. You're gonna do great tonight."
"Lets hope so. Karen's counting on me. Anyway, let's crack on and then the girly times can begin."
"Lindsey, you nearly ready?" Lucas was buttoning his shirt. Things between him and Lindsey had been tense for the last couple of weeks. They were arguing every other day. Lindsey wouldn't let go of the fact that Lucas had started writing again since he'd seen Peyton and she didn't like the fact they were being friendly towards each other.
"Um, nearly."
"Okay, well hurry up, I don't want to be late."
"Of course not, we wouldn't to keep Peyton waiting would we?" Lindsey came out of the bathroom looking pissed.
"Please do not start this again. We are going to be there for Peyton tonight okay? She's my friend and I want to support her in this. You should try and put all these insecurities and get to know her, Linds." He kissed the side of her head and he walked out of the bedroom. Lindsey didn't seem impressed with Lucas' last comment.
Everyone was at Tric sitting in a booth. Peyton made her way over after announcing the last band.
"You did good, Sawyer. It's packed in here!" Nathan handed her a much needed drink. Peyton just smiled and blushed.
"He's right you know," Lucas said to her. "My mum would be really proud to see you back doing what you love." Peyton smiled at him, silently thanking him for his words.
"Hey, Foxy, let's go dance." She held her hand out for Haley, who was laughing as she accepted.
They walked off to the dance floor hand in hand.
"Damn, Skinny Girl is looking hot tonight." Skills said to anyone who was listening. Lindsey looked over at Lucas for any sign of agreement. He didn't move a muscle, which said more than he realised.
Lucas watched Peyton and Haley together and felt himself tense when he noticed a guy had joined them and was dancing with Peyton. Haley said something in Peyton's ear and made her way towards the bar, leaving Peyton alone with her new dancing partner. He could tell she wasn't comfortable and saw her searching for Haley to help her out. The guy put his hands on Peyton's hips and she brushed them away but he didn't seem to pay her much heed.
"Looks like some one else thinks so too and P. Sawyer doesn't look to happy about it." All of the males were looking now, ready to move.
Before they knew it, Peyton was pushed up against the wall and the guy had one hand on her chin pulling her face towards him, and one of her wrist holding her to the wall.
"Nate." Lucas didn't even look at his brother and he stood from the booth. Nathan was behind him in a second. "Already on it."
The two brothers made their way to the dance floor. Lucas walked over to where Peyton was standing and his anger flared even more when he saw the fear in her eyes. Memories of her attack from Psycho Derek flashed before him and it didn't help to quell his emotions.
He pulled the guy's hand from Peyton's wrist causing him to release the grip on her face too.
"Is there a problem here?"
"Nope, nothing that concerns you." The guy returned his attention to Peyton and she recoiled.
"By the look on the lady's face, there's a problem here so I suggest you back away."
Haley had come back to the dance floor and was standing beside Nathan. She knew that look in Lucas' eyes and she was concerned for what was going to happen next.
"Back off, dude, this is no concern of yours." He pushed Lucas backwards and that was all it took.
Lucas' fist collided with the guy's jaw and sent him reeling backwards. Nathan grabbed him and pushed him in the direction of Junk and the security guards. "Jackass, when a lady says no, she means no."
He turned back to Peyton who had slid down the wall. Haley was crouched down in front of her but Peyton wouldn't look at her.
"Come on Peyton; let's get you upstairs to your office." She helped Peyton up and had to half carry her to her office. She still hadn't said a word.
Lucas and Nathan walked back over to the booth to find Owen waiting with a bag of ice. 'Nice one man, that guy's been bothering her all night but he wouldn't lay off." He walked back to the bar.
"What the hell was that, Lucas?" Lindsey demanded.
"Excuse me?" Lucas was shocked.
"Why did you have to punch him?"
"Hang on Lindsey, that guy totally deserved that punch. Lucas asked him to leave Peyton alone and he said no." Nathan intervened.
"I wasn't asking you, Nathan."
"Hey, don't speak to my brother like that. Peyton was in a horrible situation so I took care of it."
Lindsey laughed bitterly. Before she could say anything in return Haley returned with a very anxious look on her face.
"Luke, she won't speak. She's just sitting upstairs completely out of it."
And then the realisation hit him. Derek. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Brooke's out of town, right?"
"Yeah, you want me to call her?"
"No, it's fine. It's just she's the one other person who knows what's going on in Peyton's head. But don't bother her, I can deal with it."
"Oh god, I didn't even think." Haley was upset with herself.
"It's okay, Hales. It's only just hit me too."
"Wait, what's going on, Lucas? Haven't you saved her enough for one night? Surely Haley can deal with this and we can go home?"
"No, Lindsey. She won't talk to anyone else about this. Only me and Brooke were there for her the first time."
"You have got to be kidding me? All it takes is Peyton leading some guy on and you start hitting people and answering her every whim." Everyone around the table was angry and shocked, especially Lucas.
"I suggest that you go home Lindsey. You read that book, you know exactly what incident I am referring to. I cannot believe that you would even suggest Peyton asked for what just happened or ignore the fact it's going to have set something off."
"Lucas, I didn't mean –"
"Go home, Lindsey." Lucas glared at her. She grabbed her purse and stormed out of the club.
"You guys, stay down here, I'll be back soon."
Lucas walked into Peyton's office and found her on the sofa, curled up in a ball and staring straight ahead. He walked over and knelt down in front her, taking her hand into his.
"Peyt, come on, talk to me."
She closed her eyes and a single tear dropped from them. Lucas instinctively put his thumb on her cheek and wiped it away. "Peyton, please. You're scaring me."
"It just bought back all those memories from…" she closed her eyes again.
"I know," he told her gently.
"No one's laid their hand on me like that since-"
"Peyt, I know. It's okay."
Peyton sat up and took a deep breath. "God, I feel so stupid."
"What, why?" Lucas moved to sit next her, without letting go of her hand.
She dropped her head forward and her hair fell in front of her face. Lucas pulled it back. "You have nothing, nothing, to feel stupid about Peyton. Of course, it's going to bring back those memories for you. It bought them back for me too." Peyton looked at him surprised. He smiled. "Why do you think I got angry enough to hit him?" She smiled. "Thanks for that by the way."
"No problem. Although, I was waiting for you to kick his ass the way you did Pyscho Derek," he smirked.
Peyton smiled despite the mention of his name. "Yeah, well, I didn't have a taser handy this time, did I?" They both laughed.
"You okay?" Lucas looked in to her eyes. "Yeah, but I don't think I want to be alone tonight. I'm going to ask Haley and Nate if I can stay with them until Brooke gets back."
"Of course."
Peyton moved quickly and threw her arms around Lucas' neck. He slowly raised his hand and raised it on the back of neck. He breathed her scent in deeply and closed his eyes.
"Thank you, Luke," she whispered.
"I told you years ago that I wanted to be that guy for you, Peyton."
Peyton blinked back tears. "I know, and I wish you still could be." She got up quickly and made her way back downstairs without looking back.
Lucas remained still for a few seconds, Peyton's words playing over in his mind. He recalled his jealousy and then his anger when he saw that guy with her. He began to realise that Lindsey was right. Peyton had inspired him the same way she had done all those years ago and his love for her had never wavered. He took a deep breath and followed Peyton downstairs.
Peyton made her way back over to her friends and both Nathan and Haley put their arms round her.
"You okay, Sawyer?" Nate asked.
"Yeah, just embarrassed. But I was wondering if you guys could do me a favour?"
"Anything," Haley replied.
"Well, it's just Brooke's out of town and this whole thing has just bought old, painful memories to the surface and I just don't think I can spe-"
"Of course, you can stay with us, girly. We'll have an old school sleepover."
"Sweet." Nathan teased.
"Shut up!" Haley swatted his chest. "Come on, we'll swing by your house and get some stuff for you." Haley linked her arm into Peyton's and they made there way towards the exit.
Nathan turned to Lucas. "How bad is she?"
"Uh, she'll be okay. I've seen her worse. She probably won't want to sleep, she'll be afraid to in case she has nightmares. I know it's a lot to ask, but don't leave her alone. Stay up and talk to her and if she falls asleep, don't leave her because then she'll wake up and freak out. I'll call you later and see how she's doing."
Nathan smiled sadly at his brother. He knew that his brother still felt the same way that he always had when it came to Peyton. And he knew it was killing Lucas that this time around, he couldn't be the one to look after her. Nathan put his hand on his brother's shoulder. "I'll look after our girl."
"I know, you will. I'll call you later, okay." Lucas stuck his hands in pockets and watched as his younger brother made his way to look after the person he loved most in the world.
