We own the night
"I'm at the airport, and I've got two tickets to Vegas. You wanna get married tonight?".
Peyton's heart sank to the pit of her stomach as she listened to Lucas' voicemail. She felt like she was gonna throw up. "I can't handle this right now", she thought. She had just gotten off the phone with Mia when he called. Mia had met her biological dad. She had his contact information if Peyton wanted it. As if that wasn't a big enough decision to make, now Lucas dropped this bombshell on her ass.
Peyton whipped out her phone and scrolled down to Lucas' number. Then, she paused. Why should I? she thought. He'd made her suffer the last 3 years, particularly this last year. Parading around his man-faced girlfriend, and then daring to put the same engagement ring on her ring, he was going to give to Peyton. He'd been giving her mixed messages ever since she came back into town. Let him suffer, she said to herself.
Peyton smiled to herself. Yeah, like that was ever going to happen. She had a weakness for all things Lucas Scott, and she knew it. Very few people get a second opportunity to fix a mistake they made, and if this proposal was serious, as unromantic as it was, she had to jump on it. She wasn't going to make the same mistake twice.
She took a deep breath and dialed his number. Then, she changed her mind. I'll just pack my stuff up and meet him there, she thought. That way he'll be a little nervous as to whether I'm coming or not.
She headed to her closet and grabbed a bag to start packing…..
Airport
Lucas closed the lid to his phone. "I'm such an idiot", he thought. "I wouldn't forgive me for all the shit I've put her through, and I want her to forgive me?" "Yeah, right".
"I really blew it this time", he thought. He looked sadly at his bags, and wondered if he should just head home, if he was wasting his time. But a little voice inside his head stopped him. "Why wouldn't she forgive you?", it said. Isn't that part of why you fell in love with her in the first place so many years ago?" "because she forgives people?".
She would never forget. He knew that. He didn't expect her to. He'd messed with her head, and he knew it. But maybe, just maybe, his love for her, was greater than her frustration with him. He hoped she'd see that. Heck, he just did it again. She was letting him go with that river court drawing, and he was sucking her back in with his proposal.
"I'm an asshole!" he laughed to himself. "I wouldn't marry me either!". He sighed. Then it hit him. Just in case she did come, there was one more thing he had to do before she showed. He opened his phone, and scrolled down to….
Taxi Cab
Lindsey had just settled her bags into the trunk of the cab, when her phone rang. She looked down. It was Lucas, again. She sat down in the backseat, and took a deep breath. She answered. "Yes, Lucas?".
"I just asked Peyton to marry me", he blurted out.
Lindsey nodded. "that was quick, but figures". "what'd she say?".
Lucas laughed. "I don't know. I did it in the pure dick fashion I am- over the phone. I left a voicemail".
Lindsey rolled her eyes. "romantic!". "why are you telling me this?."
Lucas sighed. "Because, in the remote chance that she says yes, I need you to know something before she does".
Lindsey paused. "ok. Go ahead".
Lucas bit his lip. "I…kissed her. At tric. The night I proposed to you".
Lindsey's eyes immediately welled up with tears. She closed her eyes, and slammed her head on the back of the seat. "when were you planning on telling me?".
Lucas shrugged. "To be honest, I wasn't". "it's not that I don't love you, Lindsey, because I do". "I just love her more".
Lindsey felt as if she'd been stabbed in the heart. Then, she thought of something. "might as well ask, she thought. "can't get any worse than being told you're second best".
"Lucas, I need to ask you something", she said, her voice shaking.
Lucas hung his head low in shame, even though Lindsey couldn't see him. "ok", he whispered.
"my ring…um….did you….um….".
"Yes, it was the same ring I used to propose to peyton", he said. "It's a family ring, Lindsey".
Lindsey couldn't handle it anymore. "so it was the ring your uncle gave your mom?".
Lucas nodded. "Yeah, it was. But that's no excuse". "I'm sorry, Lindsey".
Lindsey sighed. "I'm sorry, too, Lucas", she said and hung up.
Airport
Lucas hung up the phone and sighed. "Yep, I'm a dick", he said. He rested his head on the back of the chair. It had been a long couple of days. As much as he loved being there for Brooke and Angie, that had been emotionally exhausting. Then he made an ass of himself at the game. And now this. He needed a nap. He looked at his watch. Even though it felt like an eternity, it had only been 15 minutes since he called Peyton. He'd give her a little while longer, while he slept….
Airport
"Thank you!", Peyton said to the taxi driver as she grabbed her overnight bag. She ran in through the double doors and scanned the room. She didn't see him anywhere. Her heart sank. "He gave up on me again", she thought. Then out of the corner of her eye, she saw a man who had been sleeping on a chair, start to stir. It looked exactly like Lucas! She breathed a sigh of relief! She paused for a second as he stood to stretch and rub his eyes. She watched him with a smile on her face. But then her smile faded, as he bent down to pick up his bag. She panicked. "He's leaving", she thought. Just like that, the words came stumbling out of her mouth. "Lucas!!".
Lucas was so startled, he dropped his bag. He looked over, and there she was!! His heart skipped a beat. She came, she came! He was so happy, he didn't know what to do with himself. He just started running towards her. She ran at him, too, and when he got to her, his first instinct was to pick her up. He picked her up and kissed her. HARD. He swung her like he'd never swung anybody in his life. He couldn't stop. He just kept kissing her, over and over. Tears streamed from both their faces. He ran his fingers through her hair. God, how he missed those beautiful curls. He couldn't think of anything to say. He just kept repeating "I love you, baby", over and over. Somehow it didn't seem like enough. Because that's what she was-his baby. His pride and joy. The most valuable thing he had in his life, was in his arms. It was at that moment, that Lucas finally realized what Peyton was talking about. Because at that moment, his entire universe snapped back into focus. She WAS his moment of clarity. Always had been and always would be.
Peyton thought she'd died and gone to heaven. She couldn't believe this was happening right now. Lucas was the best thing to ever happen to her, and she would never ever again take anything for granted. Nothing ever felt right, unless she was with Lucas. Brooke was right-this was the way it was supposed to be. And yet, she hated to ruin the moment, but she had to jab at him. She pulled away for a second and rested her forehead on his. She laughed. "Lucas, You're a mess". "You can't just call a girl, propose over the phone and expect her to come running.". His eyes grew sad. "I know, I just…". She put her finger over his lips. "You may be a mess, Lucas Scott, but you're my mess, and I love you". Lucas looked at her and breathed a sign of relief, as he pulled her back in. He wasn't done with her yet. He didn't think he ever would be.
Int-Airplane
Peyton clung nervously to Lucas' hand the whole flight to Las Vegas. It had been a bit awkward since they boarded the flight. She didn't know what to say to him. She wanted to marry him. Of course she did. However, she hesitated at the idea of a quickie wedding. She wanted their family and friends to be there. There was no way in hell she'd tell him that, of course. She wasn't going to make that mistake again. But she wished there was a way to make him think that was his idea, a la My big fat greek wedding. She chuckled to herself at the thought of taking advice from movies.
Lucas noticed Peyton chuckling to herself and wondered what was so funny. "probably laughing at my emotional retardation", he thought. He shook his head at himself. Peyton looked at him strangely. "what's wrong?". He groaned. "I'm a real piece of work, aren't I?'. She bust up laughing. "awww, baby!!". She hugged him.
Int-Vegas Airport
Lucas and Peyton quietly boarded off the plane. They each had one little overnight bag, so Lucas grabbed both bags with one hand, so he could hold Peyton's hand with the other. He pulled her into a hug. He didn't ever want to let her go. They started to walk over to the elevators to go to the rental car terminal, when all of a sudden Peyton stopped in her tracks. "Oh, shit!". Lucas stopped. "what happened?". Peyton pulled out her phone. "I gotta tell Brooke I'm ok.". Lucas looked embarrassed. "Yeah, good idea." Peyton texted Brooke, and Lucas texted Haley. Both messages were the same. "I'm ok. Don't worry".
Lucas and Peyton walked up to the rental car counter, and Lucas started filling out some paperwork. Halfway through, he laughed. "What?", Peyton asked curiously. "18, you're old enough to get married, 21, you're old enough to drink, but you have to be 25 to rent a car". Peyton giggled. "I'll split it with you". Lucas shook his head. "yeah, right." "you ruin my romantic credibility". Peyton laughed. "did you ever have any?". Lucas jokingly dropped his mouth in awe. "keep that up, I won't marry you", he teased. Peyton pouted. "No baby! I love you!", she said, clinging to his arm. He laughed and kissed her.
Lucas loaded the two bags into the car, and helped Peyton into the front seat. He grabbed the keys and started driving. "should we look for a chapel on the strip? Or away from town?". She looked at him. "Last time I made a decision about our future, you broke up with me". "don't ask me", she jabbed. He sighed. "did I mention I'm really, really sorry about that?". "no, but thanks for trying", she said. He looked around. "I got a better idea". He turned on the freeway, and headed north. "What are you doing?", Peyton said. "You'll see", he smiled.
Peyton woke up to the sound of Lucas slamming the car door shut. She looked around. They were at a gas station. He put the pump in, then popped his head in through the open window. "I gotta use the bathroom. Do you?". She shook her head. "Ok", he said, and kissed her forehead.
Lucas started heading towards the bathroom, and when he turned the corner of the convenience store, and made sure Peyton couldn't see him. When he was out of sight, he whipped his cell phone out. He dialed 411. "yeah. Operator". "Can I have the Beverly Hilton?". "Thanks". He smiled to himself as he waited to be connected.
"Where are we going?", Peyton asked confused. "It's a surprise", Lucas said secretively. "ugh. Yeah. That makes me feel better. I think I've been surprised for the rest of my life". He grinned. "You'll like this one".
2 hours later
"ok, we're almost there", Lucas said. He pulled over to the side of the road. Peyton looked at him oddly. "If we're almost there, why are we pulling over now?". He grinned. "Because you have to put this on", he said, holding blindfolds. "Are you kidding? LUCAS!". " Cut the crap already!". He smiled. "I'll make it worth your while", he said, as he started kissing her neck. She smiled. "Well, I can be persuaded". He grinned. "Yeah". She put the blindfolds on.
Lucas pulled into the parking lot of the Beverly Hilton. The Valet almost opened the door, but he stopped them, putting a finger over his lips, and gesturing towards a blindfolded Peyton. They laughed. "should we be calling the cops and reporting a stolen person, sir?", the man laughed. Lucas shook his head. "all good here. I just don't want her to know where she is. Ruins the surprise". The man nodded. "figured as much".
Lucas checked into the hotel alone, then came back to the car to get Peyton. He held her hand all the way up to their room. "Lucas, I'm gonna fall." "What the heck is going on?". "You're not gonna fall. I got you. Don't you trust me?". Peyton laughed. "normally yes. But you've got me blindfolded walking somewhere I definitely don't rec –". She didn't finish her sentence, because at that moment, Lucas put her down on a chair, and removed her blindfolds. She looked around. "Lucas, where are we?", even thought she knew the answer perfectly well. He looked at her, beaming. "You tell me". Peyton knew exactly where they were, and she knew exactly what he was about to do. He looked at her reassuringly, reached into his pocket, pulled out a jewelry box, and got down on one knee. "We're going to do this right", he said. Peyton didn't let him talk anymore. "yes, yes, yes. My answer is yes. Lucas Scott I will marry you!". She reached for the jewelry box he was holding, but he pulled it away, laughing. "Let me do this! C'mon!". She pulled him forward onto the seat she was sitting on, and started kissing him, all the while reaching back into the hand he pulled behind his back. She grabbed the jewelry box away from him, and opened it, but he said "let me do it. Please?". She glared at him for a second, then handed him the box. He grabbed the ring, and placed it on her ring finger. Tears filled Peyton's eyes. He shook his head. "Baby, don't cry!." Peyton couldn't stop. She grabbed him and started kissing him. Right now was as good a time as any. She pushed him backward onto the bed with her body…
Peyton lay on top of Lucas, as they kissed. As things got more intense, they rolled over and he got on top. He started kissing her neck, and worked his way down. She reached up and started tugging at his shirt. He put his hands under her dress, caressing her thighs. She unbuckled his pants. He moved up to lift off her dress. She took off his pants and his boxers. He took off her underwear. One thrust and he was in. Peyton moaned. She'd missed this. She'd missed him. All of a sudden Lucas stopped. "What? What's wrong?", she said. "I forgot a condom", he said, rolling over. She grabbed his face. "That's ok". "I want to". "Whatever happens, happens". "Peyton..", he said cautiously. "I want everything with you, remember?", she said. She grabbed his hand and placed it over her stomach. "especially that". He smiled and started kissing her stomach…
Int. Morning
Peyton woke up, startled. She was wrapped in sheets. The sunlight poured in from the window. She looked around. He was gone. She felt like a bomb was dropped in her stomach. "Luke?", she called out. No answer. He was nowhere to be found in the hotel room. She was having déjà vu, and she was going to be sick. "This can't be happening again", she thought. All of a sudden, the door opened and Luke walked in from the hallway, carrying a breakfast tray. She saw him and burst into tears. He quickly put the tray down and ran to her. "Peyton, honey!". He wrapped her in his arms. Her body shook as she cried. "What happened?", he asked. "I thought you left again", she said between sobs. Lucas looked at her. "and what? Miss out on being with you?". He hugged her close. "I deserve that". He lay down on the bed next to her, holding her. He brought his lips to hers. It was his fault. He knew that. He knew he had to do a lot of work to gain her trust again. But for now, he just had to make sure he stayed in her sight, so she wouldn't doubt him anymore. It wasn't fair of him to put her through that again.