A/N: Back already! This idea came to me towards the end of We Belong Together. It's a bit different to my other stuff, probably going to be a lot more angsty and probably won't be too long.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or its characters.

Peyton stood in the living room of the house that Brooke had just brought for them. Brooke stepped out of her new bedroom and shuffled past a stack of boxes. She looked sadly at her best friend but put on a smile and breezed over to her.

"Do you like it, P. Sawyer?"

Peyton turned to her, smiling slightly. "It's beautiful. But you didn't have to do this. You didn't have to come back here for me. Just like Nathan didn't have to fly out to me."

"Peyton, I know you're struggling right now. But we did those things because we love you and whether you want to admit or not, you needed us then and you need us now," Brooke replied, rubbing her arm.

Peyton looked over at her and then quickly looked away, wrapping around her arms around herself. She winced slightly and Brooke knew it was down to more than just a chill.

Peyton took a deep breath and turned to Brooke smiling. "Okay, come on. Let's get to Nate and Haley's. Haley said she wanted to see me as soon as we got in and as Nathan picked us up, she'll know we're here," she laughed,

"Are you sure you're ready Peyton? Everyone is going to be there. He'll be there. And so will she," Brooke asked, cautiously.

"I know. But I'm not hiding any more, Brooke. I'm not hiding from what happened to me and I won't hide from him either. I just want to get back to normal."

Brooke smiled. "Alrighty then, don't say I didn't warn ya!"

"I won't," Peyton replied, laughing. "Besides, who's going to pick a fight with me looking like this?"

Brooke turned to her and her smile had gone.

"Don't joke about it, P. Sawyer," she snapped.

"Sometimes it's all I can do," Peyton said quietly.

"I know. But that doesn't mean I like it," Brooke replied, sighing as she opened the front door.

"They're on their way," Nathan said to Haley as he walked towards her, sliding his cell back into his pocket.

"You hear that Jimmy Jam? You're Aunt Brooke and Aunt Peyton are gonna be here soon!" Haley said to her son.

"Cool!"

"Do you remember what I said to you about Aunt Peyton?" Nathan asked, sitting down next to him.

Jamie thought for a moment. "You said that she doesn't look like she normally does but it's not very nice to say anything about it so I need to be a grown up," he repeated, nodding his head in confirmation of understanding at the end.

"You're a good kid. You fed Chester today?"

"I'm on it!" he shouted as jumped got out of his chair and ran for his room.

"Does she really look that bad?" Haley asked, making sure Jamie was completely out of the room.

Nathan sighed and looked up at his wife. He nodded his head. "Yeah. She's in bad shape, Hales. But try not to make a big deal of it, okay?"

"I know," she nodded. "Is she really ready to see everyone?"

"She says she is. And you know, Peyton. We do this on her terms or no terms at all."

"Okay," Haley replied nodding. "What do you think he's going to do?"

"By he, I'm assuming you mean Lucas?" Nathan asked, slightly annoyed.

"Yeah. He still doesn't know?"

"Well did you tell him?" he snapped.

"No, of course not. Peyton asked us both not to tell anyone."

"Good," Nathan said, before sighing again. "I don't know how he's going to react, Hales. But as it's Lucas, there's a pretty good chance it's going to be the wrong way."

They were interrupted by a knock at the door. "That'll be Peyton and Brooke," Haley said. "I told everyone else to be here at three to give Peyton a chance to get her bearings."

"Thank you," Nathan said, kissing her. "I'll go get the door. You call Jamie down."

Haley watched as Nathan walked to the door. She took in a deep breath. Brooke and Nathan had both told her how Peyton looked and how bad it was and told her to prepare herself.

"Jamie Scott. Get down here!" she shouted up the stairs. "Our guests have arrived."

Jamie appeared at the top of the stairs and walked down them, following his mother into the living room. She played with her hands and paced slightly wondering what was taking Nathan so long.

"Hales," he called her, softly and she turned.

It took every ounce of restraint to stop the gasp that caught in her throat. Tears sprung to her eyes as she took in the sight of Peyton Sawyer.

She had a large cut above her left eyebrow. Dark blue and black bruising surrounded both eyes, one of which would not open completely. Scratches were scattered around her cheeks. One side of her jaw was swollen and her bottom lip was split quite badly. Peyton was wearing a strappy top and shorts and Haley could see the extent of her injuries. Hand prints and finger marks ran all over her legs and arms. She had cuts, bruises and scratches along her neck and shoulders.

Haley swallowed as she moved closer to her old friend.

"Peyton," she said, trying to stop her voice breaking. She stepped even closer and hugged her, gently, scared of hurting her. "I'm sorry, I promised I wouldn't do this-"

"It's okay, Foxy. And I'm okay. Really, I am," Peyton said to her as she returned her hug. "I missed you," Peyton finished as tears filled her eyes. She blinked them back, determined to remain strong.

"I missed you too. But you're home now, that's all that matters," she said rubbing Peyton's back.

Nathan stepped round them towards Jamie. He picked him up and put him on his hip.

"Jamie, this is your Aunt Brooke and Aunt Peyton," he said, pointing to them both in turn.

"Hi, I'm James Lucas Scott!" Jamie replied, smiling.

Brooke gasped as she stepped to him. "You're so big!"

"I got bigger, silly!" Jamie replied and they all chuckled.

Peyton smiled at him but then looked away aware of how difficult it would be for a child to see her face. Jamie indicated that he wanted to be put down and Nathan set him on his feet. He walked over to Peyton and stood before her. She looked down and he waved his hand beckoning her. She knelt down in front of him. He stepped forward and gently put his hand on her face.

"Hi, Aunt Peyton. Sorry that you got hurt," he dropped his hand and put his arms around her neck and Peyton really thought that her resolve was shot. But after a moment or two, she drew more strength from the little boy.

Nathan had his arm around Haley's shoulders and he rubbed her arm as they watched the care with which Jamie treated Peyton.

"Anyway, do you guys want a drink? Everyone else will be here soon. Skills and Mouth, and Luke and – and – Lindsey," Haley faltered at the end.

"I'll have a water, thanks," Peyton said, glossing over the mention of Lucas and his new girlfriend.

"Me too," Brooke said, smiling. She placed her hand over Peyton's knowing all too well that the expression Peyton was carrying was forced.

"I'm okay," she whispered, her voice as watery as her eyes.

Peyton cleared her throat as Haley returned with two bottles of water.

"What's she like?" Peyton found the courage to ask.

"Who?" Haley said, trying to act ignorant.

Peyton looked at her with her eyebrow raised and a smirk. Haley laughed.

"Sorry. She's nice. I get on with her quite well."

Peyton nodded. "Is he happy?"

"That's a question up for debate," Nathan snorted.

The doorbell rang again and it prevented Peyton from asking anything further.. "Okay that's everyone. They were all coming together. You sure you're ready for this?"

"None of them know?" Peyton asked.

"None of them."

Peyton took a deep breath. "Yup, I'm ready."

Jamie climbed up on the sofa. Brooke was sat on one side of Peyton but he climbed up on the other. "Don't worry Aunt Peyton. I'll look after you," he told her. Peyton looked at him and saw so much of Nathan in him that it made her heart swell. "Thanks, Baby James."

They heard the door open and the voices of their best friends filled the hallway.

"Now, I heard tell that P. Sawyer and B. Davis are back in town. That true, Nate?" they heard Skills shouting and they both smiled.

"Brooke and Peyton, really?" Mouth asked. "I missed those two!"

"Me too, dawg, me too. Tree Hill lost two of it's finest looking ladies the day they left!"

Brooke and Peyton looked at each, laughing but Brooke could tell Peyton was becoming more and more unsettled, the closer they got.

"P. Sawyer. Listen to me. What did you say before we left? You're not hiding from this. So don't be nervous. Be strong."

Peyton nodded and a sense of relief washed over her.

She looked up as they entered the room.

"Damn, P. Sawyer," Skills muttered. Mouth sucked in a breath. Peyton looked up and locked eyes with Lucas who froze at the sight of her. He dropped Lindsey's hand and his fists clenched. His stomach knotted and bile rose to the back of his throat at the sight of her. He felt sick at the prospect of someone causing her so much pain.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Peyton laughed, nervously.

"Peyton, are you okay?" Mouth asked as he crouched in front of her.

"Yeah, you should see the other guy," she joked and Brooke squeezed her hand.

"I can believe that, Skinny Girl. I remember the punch that took Brooke out the night before prom," he laughed and everyone but Lucas and Lindsey joined him. Lucas hadn't said a word. He just stood, completely lost in his own mind, trying to force out images of someone with their hands on Peyton.

Peyton was relieved that Mouth and Skills weren't pushing her. She could feel Lucas' eyes on her and for the first time she felt guilty for not telling him before. She thought about how she would feel if this was how Lucas looked the first time she'd seen him in a couple of years. Her heart would be breaking. She shook the thought from her mind; she wasn't going to let herself think that way. He was with Lindsey now. She was the other person that Peyton could barely bring herself to glance at.

Lucas stepped forward, his fists still clenched.

"Who did this to you?" he seethed through gritted teeth.

"Hi Luke, how's it going? Yeah, it's good to see you too," Peyton replied, sarcastically.

If the situation had been any different Lucas would have laughed at how much she had just reminded him of the sixteen year old girl he fell in love with. But there was nothing that was getting him past the fact that someone had hurt her.

"Who was it?" he asked again, the same anger and venom in his voice.

Peyton sighed in defeat. "It's a good job you're all here because I'm only saying this once."

"Jimmy Jam, why don't you go and play with Chester for a little while."

"Okay. You can come and meet him after if you like?" he asked Peyton.

"I'll do that," she said, nodding. Jamie nodded too and then turned and padded out of the living room.

"Go on, Skinny Girl," Skills encouraged her.

"Okay," she took a deep breath. "You're probably all wondering if it was him and yes, it was."

"Ian?" Lucas spat. Peyton looked up at him sadly and nodded.

"He got released, they thought he'd got better. Somehow, he managed to find me in L.A and came straight for me. I don't know how, or why, he just did. He got into my flat and there was a fight. What he didn't know was that Brooke was staying with me. She got back just in time. There was some more fighting. He had a knife, he sliced at me and then I'm not really sure what happened but Brooke shoved him and he ended up falling on his own knife."

"So the bastard's dead?" Lucas asked.

"No. But he's been taken in again and they assure me he's not ever coming back out."

Lucas rubbed his face as he sat down on another sofa. Lindsey sat next to him, placing her hand on his back, but he shrugged it off.

"Damn, Sawyer," Skills muttered. "He did all of this?"

"Yeah, it was a hell of a fight," she said laughing, trying to lighten the mood. "But it's not as bad as it looks, really. I mean, I can see out of both eyes now," she said, grinning.

Brooke rubbed Peyton's arm. Everyone sat looking at her, or the floor or each other. Peyton sighed.

"What happened then? Did Brooke call the police? How did you get back here?" Lucas asked, desperate to know every detail.

"The police had already been called. My neighbours heard…screams," Lucas closed his eyes. "And furniture breaking and stuff. The police were a minute or two behind Brooke. Once the police were gone and everything, Brooke took me to the emergency room. They stitched me up but I refused to stay there-"

"Yeah, even with a knife wound," Brooke muttered.

"Come on, Brooke. It's a freakin' scratch. I wasn't stabbed!" she protested.

Haley looked over at Lucas. She felt for him. He was radiating anger and she could tell how hurt he was. Even more so because she knew that all he wanted to do was hold Peyton in his arms but the woman beside him left him conflicted.

"So, we got back and then we called Nathan."

"Nathan?" Lucas said, his head shooting up.

"Yes, big brother. That would be me," Nathan replied.

"Yes, we called Nathan, who flew straight over, packed up my stuff and brought us home. And here we are," she finished shrugging.

Everyone glanced at each other, then at Lucas. Lindsey sat looking at her hands, completely out of the loop and terribly confused about the way her boyfriend was behaving.

"Look, I don't want anyone's pity, okay?" Peyton said, standing from her seat. Everyone but Lucas looked at her. "I'm fine. It happened, I'll get over it. I'm not dead so don't tip toe around me. I'm not hiding from this."

Skills and Mouth both moved to her at the same time. They both hugged her.

Peyton looked over at Lucas and she could see the hurt in her eyes. She stepped forward.

"You must be Lindsey," she said, holding out her hand. "I'm Peyton."

Lindsey forced a smile. "Yeah, I know who you are. It's good to finally meet you. You too, Brooke."

Brooke smiled at her quickly.

Lucas studied Peyton's body as she stepped closer to him. He winced when she spoke to his girlfriend but he couldn't put his finger on why. His eyes travelled down from her arms, where he could tell she had been held; a bruise that resembled a clenched hand lay on both arms just below her shoulders. He couldn't work out where she'd been stabbed and the realisation that it was beneath her clothes sent him reeling. He looked further and he felt his heart stop as he reached her thighs. He could see bruises formed by rough hands and fingers but they were cut off by her shorts.

He stood abruptly and it startled everyone in the room. He turned to walk out of the room.

"Lucas?" Lindsey called.

"I'm fine. I'll be back in a minute. I can't – I just – I need some fresh air," he replied before storming out of the room.

Lindsey stood as if to follow.

"I'll go. If that's okay with you?"

Lindsey looked at her. Peyton stood her ground and looked back. She watched as Lindsey glanced over at Haley.

Haley nodded at her. She knew that it was difficult for Lindsey but she also knew that the only person Lucas needed to speak to was Peyton and so she encouraged Lindsey.

"Fine," Lindsey replied, sitting back down on the sofa.

Peyton took a moment, glancing back at Brooke who smiled at her.

"I'll be back in a minute. How about you get that grill going, Nate? I'm starved," she said smiling.

"Sure thing, Sawyer."

Peyton walked out of the room and headed for the front door, that she had heard slam a few seconds after Lucas' departure. She straightened herself and strode out after him. She smiled sadly when she found him on the step, with his head in his hands.

She sat down next to him.

"Hi," she said, quietly.

Lucas looked up at her for a moment before dropping his head back into his hands.

A/N: Let me know what you thought and if you'd like me to continue :)