Title: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Chapter One: Winter Wonderland

The white blanket of snow covered the streets of Tree Hill making the season feel just a bit more like Christmas. A smile played upon her lips as the white snowflakes began to drizzle down from the black sky; it never snowed down in California, well at least not in her zip code. The frosty air bit at her lips making them a tad chapped, but she didn't mind. From the distance she was still able to see the huge Christmas tree in the town's square, the lights glittering in the dark, there was a rustle of wind making the bright yellow star dance upon the tree top. Another blow of the wind causing her to shiver as her companion wrapped his arms around her.

"Absolutely gorgeous."

He whispered into her delicate ear. She nodded in agreement still staring at the tree. He held his laugh inside, he was talking about her.

They walked hand in hand out into the snow covered street as he tried to hail a cab, their winter gloves cutting off skin to skin contact, and a second later a yellow taxi pulled over to the curb and helped load in their luggage into the trunk. He asked where the couple was headed and the young women gave him the address to her childhood home. Ten minutes later they pulled up to the red brick house, the holiday lights outlined the size of the house, and the opened curtains gave them a peak of the Christmas tree inside. They paid the cabbie and he lugged their suitcases to the front door.

"Are you ready to meet my dad?"

He didn't answer as he rang the door bell, but held onto her hand giving it a gentle squeeze indicating he was ready as he'd ever be. The front door opened quickly the older man smiled immediately as he pulled his daughter into a hug.

"Peyton, my girl, I've missed you."

"I've missed you too, daddy.

They stayed like that for a second and pulled apart. The smile on their faces said what words could not. He turned to look at his daughter's companion.

"There's someone I'd like you to meet. This is Julian."

She turned to the man that she could love and then to the older man she did love. Julian quickly took of his gloves and extended out his right hand.

"Mr. Sawyer, it's finally nice to meet you. I've heard nothing but good things."

Larry Sawyer looked at this young man carefully, trying to sum up if this Julian fellow had good or bad intentions for his little girl. He didn't want his daughter's heart to be broken a second time because god knows once is enough. He shook the young man's hand and smiled as he spoke.

"I hope so. And Julian, it's Larry."

The small group walked into the living room and chatted for a few moments before Larry had excused himself for the night. They wished each other pleasent dreams and with that Julian and Peyton were left alone in front of the chimney's fire and a cup of eggnog.

"See it wasn't so bad."

Peyton told her boyfriend as she took a sip from her cup. His laughter filled her ears.

"No. No, it wasn't."

***

Lucas Scott sat at his computer screen looking at the blank document for what seemed like the millionth time. Every sentence, every line, every paragraph he wrote was met with the 'delete' button. Nothing seemed to sound right, his inspiration had disappeared long ago and he didn't know when it would come back. He sighed in frustration as he wanted to deeply bang the computer against the wall.

The ruffle of the sheets caused his attention to move towards his bed. The moon's light showing through the transparent curtains outlined the face of his girlfriend. He noticed she was sound asleep and yet his inspiration was still gone. He closed his laptop and went to his side of the bed, giving up for the night.

He woke up the next morning and found the other side of the bed empty and cold. He called out her name; she came out the bathroom quickly running her hands through her chestnut hair.

"Lucas, you're supposed to be up already." Her voice nagged him as she put on her boots. "We're going to meet Haley and Nathan at their house before we go out to lunch."

He quickly remembered and all but jumped out of the bed and quickly got ready. Ten minutes later they were out the door and on their way to his brother's home.

"Let's walk."

She had asked and he agreed. A new fresh blanket of snow covered the town and they hugged their coats closer to their body to keep warm. They walked the few blocks to the nearest café and ordered a couple cups of coffee before heading over to Nathan and Haley's house.

***

Peyton woke up the next morning in her old bedroom. The red walls staring back at her as she snuggled into her blankets until all you could see were the layers of her now much longer straighter hair. She heard the door to her bedroom open and the deep footsteps that kept getting closer and closer all she could do was smile underneath the comforter. He whispered softly into the blankets.

"Wake up sleeping beauty."

The sound of his voice made her giggle as she pulled the warm comforter away from her face. Green eyes meeting brown and smile meeting smile. She noticed him fully dressed. Peyton had promised that she'd show him around her home town and she always keeps her promises. She slowly climbed out of her bed and grabbed some warms clothes before heading into the bathroom to have her girl time. Half an hour passed and she walked out in jeans that hugged her body, two layering tees, her ugg boots, and a matching scarf. Julian enjoyed looking at her, he always did no matter what she was wearing.

"Let's go. I still have to get my dad a gift."

She held out her hand and he gladly took it, lacing their fingers together and smiling as they made their way out the door for the day.

"Let's walk."

He requested and Peyton put her dad's keys back in her bag.

"Ok."

They walked with his arm wrapped around her waist and she led them to her favorite café, other than Karen's. They hadn't noticed that moments prior to walking in another couple had walked out with coffee in their hands.

A/N: so there you have it! can you guess who the other couple was?? I'm going to be updating this story every hour or so, as I'm writing them ;). Maybe a couple chapters today and the ending chapters tomorrow :D on Christmas day :D seeing as this is suppose to be a Christmas story.