Tears Are Not Enough

I know I'm in the middle of writing another story, Make This Go On Forever (which I will be updating very soon, the next chapter is almost done), but I've had this idea in my head for a while now and I really wanted to put it out there. My story takes place 5 years after season six. Lucas and Peyton got married and had a daughter, Elizabeth, who's now 4. Chase came back to town and him and Brooke got back together and are now getting married. The core five, as well as Skills, Mouth, Millie, and Chase will be in this fic. Karen and the other adults will appear as well, though to a little lesser of an extent. The story will feature Leyton and Naley, as well as a little Brase, though it's not centered on any particular couple or person. All of the main characters will have been represented fairly equally in this fic when it's all said and done. Anyways, I hope you like it. :)

Headlights on Dark Roads

"Brooke Davis is getting married!" Skills said chuckling while taking a seat at the bar and popping open a beer. "And I thought I'd never live to see the day. This isn't for real, is it?"

"Oh it's for real" said Brooke, taking a seat next to Skills, showing off her engagement ring to him. "Check out the rock."

"Looks like it cost a pretty penny." Skills said, staring at Brooke's ring in awe

"Oh it definitely did." Chase responded from near by, sipping his drink. "But Brooke's more than worth it."

"You sure about that? I mean, those diamonds look pretty--" It was at that moment Brooke jabbed an elbow, hard into Skills' ribcage. "Oww Brooke! That really hurt."

"Good." Brooke said smiling. "The wedding's not for a few more months Skills so you better watch your mouth because there's more where that came from. Keep it up and you really might not live to see the day I get married."

"Oh is that a threat?" Skills asked with a devilish glare in his eyes.

"No, it's a promise."

The two continued to glare at each other before they both burst out into laughter. Skills' demeanor suddenly turned slightly solemn "Oh I'm gonna miss moments like these."

"Skills, you goof." Peyton said jumping into the conversation. "Brooke's getting married, not moving away."

Skills momentarily pondered Peyton's words before responding "Hmm…you've got a point."

Peyton just laughed and rolled her eyes. "Alright let's gather everyone together; I'd like to make a toast."

Chase and Skills got up from their seats in search of the rest of the gang, who was spread out amongst the Tric crowd. Minutes later they returned with Lucas, Nathan, Haley, Mouth, and Millicent.

Peyton cleared her throat and began her speech. "I'd like to make a toast: to the lovely Brooke Davis. I am so happy that you have finally found with Chase, the kind of love that many can only dream about. I can't think of a more worthy individual. Anyone who can see past peoples greatest faults and is able to forgive as easily as you deserves nothing but the best. Brooke…you're so much more than a best friend; you're my family and I know your future marriage to Chase will bring you the happiness you've always wanted."

Peyton than picked up her glass and raised it: "To Brooke!"

The gang all raised their drinks and took a sip, except for a teary-eyed Brooke who instead ran up to Peyton and pulled her into a close embrace. "I love you P. Sawyer" she whispered into her best friend's ear.

"I love you to too B. Davis. Now stop crying, you'll ruin you're make-up."

"It's my party. I'll cry if I want to."

Peyton laughed and Brooke smiled. She then wiped the tears from her eyes and shouted to the group. "Alright, now that I'm done crying, let's get back to celebrating my engagement! Everyone to the dance floor!"

"You up for a dance Mrs. Scott?" Lucas asked as he extended a hand out to Peyton.

"Of course." Peyton took his hand and the two headed off.

"How about you Nathan?" Haley asked her husband. "Let's go out there and shake our fun stuff."

Nathan firmly shook his head no "Absolutely not. You know I don't dance."

"Please Nathan" Haley pleaded. "I promise I'll make it up to you later…in bed" she whispered into his ear.

"You've made a very, very tempting offer, but I just can't. I really don't feel like embarrassing myself tonight. I'm just gonna sit here at the bar."

Haley rolled her eyes "Ok, whatever. Be a party pooper. I'll just find someone else to dance with me." She scanned the club briefly and spotted Skills. She walked over to him and grabbed his arm. "Skills lets dance" she said dragging him to the floor before he could say anything.

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Nathan had been sitting alone, quietly at the bar, taking in the scene when Peyton went over and sat down in the seat next to him. "Can I have two screwdrivers?" she asked the bartender. He made the drinks and Peyton slid one over to Nathan.

"You do realize I'm the designated driver tonight, right? I'm sure you would like for me to bring you and Luke home in once piece."

"And you will. It's just one little drink. Besides, no one holds their liquor better than you."

Nathan laughed and took a sip. "You've got that right. So that was a great little toast you made earlier. How will you top it at her reception?"

"Oh I'm sure I can think of something great to say at the wedding. I am married to a writer after all." Peyton said smiling. The two sat together for a moment in silence before she finally spoke up "You know Haley is dying for you to dance with her."

"I know." Nathan said guiltily.

"And you also know that as parents, we hardly ever go out and have fun nights like these."

Nathan shook his head. "You're right."

"So if you know all of these things, why are you sitting here instead of out there having fun with your wife and all of your friends?"

"Peyton you already know the answer to that question."

Peyton shook her head. "Yeah, you don't dance. I've heard it a million times. But you know what? Tonight, you are going to dance."

"Nope, not happening."

"What's it gonna take for me to get you on that floor?" Peyton asked seriously.

Nate took another sip of his drink. "A lot more liquor than what's in this screwdriver. And since I'm driving us all home--"

"Alright enough excuses. You're getting out there and dancing with your wife for at least one song. Either by choice or force."

Nathan eyed his sister-in-law skeptically "Oh really?"

"Yup. So what's it gonna be?"

When Nathan failed to respond fast enough, Peyton grabbed his hand and dragged him to the dance floor "I guess it's by force then. Haley look who wants to dance with you!"

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"See now was that so bad?" Peyton asked Nathan as the two sat back down at the bar to finish their drinks.

"No" Nathan responded honestly. "But that's only because I was dancing with Haley. Otherwise it would have been torture."

The two sat for a bit and finished their drinks and were soon joined by Lucas, Haley and Brooke.

"You look really tired Peyton, you ok?" Haley asked her friend, looking concerned.

"I feel really exhausted." Peyton answered back. "It's been months since I've gotten over my mono, but I definitely am still feeling the effects."

"I can take you home now if you want Peyton." Nathan offered.

"No, you Lucas, and Haley aren't ready to leave yet. Its ok, I'll be fine."

"No really it's ok. I can drop you off and then come back."

Lucas took a seat next to Peyton and put his arm around her "If your tired babe, then you should go home. I'm kind of tired myself, I'll go with you."

Peyton smiled softly and gave Lucas a kiss on the cheek "No you're not. But thank you for lying and wanting to leave with me. You're having fun, I want you stay. But, I will take Nathan up on his offer."

"Alright then." Nathan said getting up from his seat. "Let's hit the road Sawyer."

Nathan gave Haley a quick kiss on the lips and Peyton gave Lucas another kiss and headed over to Brooke to give her a hug goodbye. "Tell Chase and everyone else I said bye?"

"There all spread around here somewhere, but I will when I see them. I'm glad you came out tonight P. Sawyer."

"So am I. I'll call you tomorrow." And with that, Nathan and Peyton headed out.

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"So did you have fun tonight?" Nathan asked Peyton as he started up the car and left the club parking lot.

"Oh yes. It was kinda crowded and it probably would have been better if we could have rented out the club, but I still had a lot of fun. Did you?"

"Definitely. But, tomorrow, it's back to the real world."

"Yeah, but it's not a bad thing. Brooke's party…having Lucas all to myself…it's been a great week, but I really miss my little girl. I can't wait for her to come home tomorrow."

"Did Elizabeth have a good time visiting Karen, Andy, and Lily in New Zealand?"

"A great time. Though I'm going to kill Andy for bringing her to the zoo. Last night on the phone she begged Lucas and I for a kangaroo."

Nathan began laughing hysterically.

"Yeah, and since your brother didn't have the heart to tell his little girl no, he let me be the bad guy. It took me over an hour to explain why she couldn't have one."

Nathan continued laughing "Elizabeth is too funny. She already has a dog, a cat, and a hamster, and now she wants a kangaroo."

"Don't forget the lizard. The girl loves reptiles. I still can't believe Luke bought her one."

"I still can't believe you let her keep it."

"Neither can I. Elizabeth is definitely too funny. One minute she's trying on my make-up and prancing around in her tutu, the next she's feeding crickets to her lizard and playing with the baby snakes at the pet store."

"A ballerina who loves reptiles."

"That's my girl." Peyton said chuckling.

The two sat together in silence for a bit before Nathan asked "Did you ever think back during freshman year of high school that our lives would end up the way they have?"

"Not at all. If someone would have told me that you and I would break up, that I'd end up married to Lucas and you to Haley…I would have told them they were nuts."

Nathan agreed. "Me too. I'm so glad we thought wrong."

"So am I" Peyton said laughing. "Me, you, and Brooke…we would be such messes right now. It's funny because now I could never picture a life without Lucas and Elizabeth in it."

"And I could never picture one without Haley and Jamie. Though I'm very happy that you're still in my life as the sister-in-law."

"Aww thanks Nate. Have I ever told you you're my favorite brother-in-law? Because you are."

"I'm your only brother-in-law Peyton. Unless Derek has started batting for the other team since I've last seen him."

Peyton punched Nathan in the arm "He's still batting for the same team thank you for very much. Not that I'd have a problem if he wasn't."

"Your gonna take your compliment back now, aren't you?"

Peyton shrugged, but then smiled "No, you're still my favorite brother-in-law."

The car filled with silence once again. A few minutes had gone by and Peyton now had her body turned on her side. She stared aimlessly out of her side window and yawned. She noticed that the car was starting to skid off the road a bit.

"Nate what are you doing?" She turned to face Nathan and her heart nearly stopped when she saw him passed out, slightly convulsing, in his seat. "Oh my gosh, Nathan!"

It was at that moment that Peyton noticed the car was heading toward a tree. She leaned over and tried to grab the wheel. "Aaahhh!"

But Peyton was too late. Nathan's car hit the tree and the two now lied unconscious in the dismantled vehicle. Nothing could be seen on the dark road, except for the slight flicker of another car's headlights heading in their direction.

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Well, I hope you all enjoyed this first chapter. I have some really great ideas for future chapters that I'm sure you all will love. If you like my story so far, please review...they truly inspire me and keep me motivated to write! Thanks for reading :)