"I'll be seeing you," he said with a half smile as he stepped through the doorway of the house they shared. The house he grew up in and the house they would someday raise a family.
It was like a catch phrase for them. He had said it to her with a cocky grin all those years ago on a river court at the end of a country road, after he defeated her on and off again boyfriend and his half-brother Nathan Scott. She had said it to him after his winning basket at the state championship game; just seconds before he came to her and admitted his love for her.
She could still see that love in his eyes. See the boy in the man. The door clicked shut and Peyton Sawyer, soon to be Peyton Scott, stood in the middle of the bedroom she shared with her fiancé Lucas Scott, soon to be husband.
Everything was laid out and prepared. Her wedding dress, made exclusively for her by THE BROOKE DAVES, aka as Peyton's best friend, was safely packed away and ready to be taken to the church.
She heard a movement behind her and turned to see Lucas' mother, Karen and smiled sweetly at her. In that hotel room in LA, when they recreated his proposal without her saying someday but yes, she had told him that she wanted his mother at their wedding. And true to his word, of making all her dreams come true, they set a date and made sure Karen, Andy and his little sister Lily could be there.
"Are you ready to go?" Karen asked as she walked toward Peyton. She stopped beside the bed, preparing to pick up the wedding dress and help Peyton take it to her car.
"I think I have been ready for this for a long time," Peyton admitted. She dipped her head shyly - a patented move by Peyton Sawyer when she felt the embarrassment of true emotion envelope her.
"I think we all have," Karen told her. And then smiled.
Peyton began to laugh and shook her head knowingly. Peyton turned to pick up her small red bag, holding her shoes and make-up Brooke insisted she bring so she could help her get ready at the church.
"Peyton," Karen said calling her back. Peyton turned.
"I know you lived most of our life without a mother," Karen said as she took Peyton's long slender hand. "I hope after today I can become the mother you have missed in your life."
Peyton began to cry. Fat tears formed and slid down her cheek. She bit her lip. "I would like that. I would like that very much."
"Mommie," a small voice said behind them breaking the mood. "Why is everyone sad?" Lilly looked at both women with a questioning gaze.
"Oh, honey," Karen said as she knelt down beside Lilly. "Sometimes people cry when they are happy too."
"Then you and Peyton must be really happy," Lilly said observantly.
"You have no idea," Peyton said. She walked toward the two of them, and the knowledge hit her. When Lucas slid that gold band on her finger she would not only gain the love of her life but a mother and a sister as well. She would finally have the family she longed for. So it was true, Lucas Scott really was making all her dreams come true.