Scott House
"Uncle Lucas Is here!", Jamie yelled as he watched Lucas' car pull up to the driveway. He ran into the living room, past his parents and Brooke, who was standing by the door with a basket full of confetti. Jamie stood in front of the front door, waiting for Lucas to walk up to the step and be poised to ring the doorbell. Just as he did, Jamie flung the door open, and everyone yelled "Congratulations!". Lucas stared confused at everyone. "Congratulations for what? What did I do?". "Where's Peyton?", Brooke asked. Lucas played coy. "Why would Peyton be with me?". Just then, Brooke noticed Peyton right behind Lucas, standing stiffer than a statue, their blonde hair meshed together so no one would notice her. "You bastard!!", Brooke yelled, as she pushed Lucas aside, and grabbed Peyton's hand, pulling her indoors. Peyton laughed. "Honey!! Help!!". Lucas smiled. "You watch that hand. I paid a lot of money for that ring!". Nathan turned to hug Lucas. "Congratulations, big brother". "it's about time". Lucas smiled. "Thanks". "Hey Haley". He gave her a huge hug. "so you're finally gonna give me a partner in crime for this crazy family?". Lucas grinned. "Yeah. This one's gonna stick. I promise". Nathan shook his head in disbelief. "What?", Lucas said. "Unbelievable. My ex girlfriend's gonna be my sister in law". Lucas, Haley and Nathan all busted out laughing.
What's so funny?", Brooke said, as she walked back into the room with Peyton. "Tree Hill", Lucas said plainly. "Enough said", Brooke said. "Nathan you realize your ex-girlfriend is gonna be your sister in law now?". Nathan snorted. "Yeah, I got that, short bus". Brooke stuck her tongue out at him. "What are we celebrating?", Jamie asked. Haley smiled. "Lucas and Peyton are getting married, buddy". Peyton's going to be your new aunt". "But I thought Uncle Lucas wanted to marry Lindsey", Jamie said. "Owned!", Nathan yelled, laughing. Lucas looked down in shame. "Uncle Lucas doesn't know what he wants, Jamie", Haley said. "Ouch", Lucas said. "I deserve that, though". "Hey, better late than never", Peyton said. "yeah, after you practically beat it into his head with that flying turd—I mean comet of yours", Nathan teased. "I'm gonna beat you!", she yelled. Lucas grabbed Peyton before she could jump at his brother. "It was a beautiful turd drawing, honey", He said. Peyton glared at him playfully. "You wanna sleep alone tonight, keep it up", She said. "Oh!!", Haley said. "Using sex as a bargaining tool!! I'm so proud of you!!". Peyton laughed.
"And then we're passing this billboard sign of a tv show, and at the very bottom, it had the words "formatted to fit your tv", so this lady a few seats away from me, says to the person sitting next to her 'but how do they know how big your tv is", Peyton cracked. The whole group roared with laughter. Haley, still listening, started to clean up everybody's coffee cups on the table. "Here, let me help you with that", Peyton said as she sprang up from Lucas' lap, where she'd been sitting. "Nope", Haley said. "You're ½ of the guests of honor". "You're not cleaning anything". "Brooke, come help me". Brooke glared at her and started picking up the coasters. Lucas looked at his watch. "Wow, 11:30". "We better get going, babe". Peyton looked over at Brooke and then back at Lucas. "I was actually thinking of going back to Brooke's for the night". Lucas looked at Brooke then back at Peyton. "Ok". "Cool". "Fine". Peyton walked over to him and tugged at the collar of his shirt. "We just…when big things happen, we're always there for each other, ya know?". "Yeah, I know", he said. He kissed her. "I'll see you tomorrow.". Peyton nodded. "I love you". He grinned. "I love you too".
Peyton and Brooke walked out to Brooke's car. Brooke waited until she had safely closed all the doors and then unleashed 20 questions on Peyton. "So what was it like? How did he do it?". "You guys never left the room, huh?". "Brooke!", Peyton scolded. "Oh, C'mon!", Brooke pleaded. "Give me something". Peyton sighed. It wasn't very romantic. I kinda jumped the gun a bit". Brooke stared, confused. "He got down on one knee, and I said yes before he could even say anything". Brooke burst out laughing. "Way to be patient", she joked. Peyton smiled. "Yeah". "So when's the wedding?", Brooke asked. Peyton groaned. "Brooke, I've been engaged 72 hours". "I'm not even done twirling the ring on my finger, let alone thinking about where I'm getting married and where I'm getting my dress". Brooke scoffed. "Well, that's easy. I'm making your dress". Peyton shook her head. "No. I can't ask you to do that. That'd be too weird". Brooke rolled her eyes. "What is this, high school?". "No. You're my best friend and you're getting married, and I'm your maid of honor, and I'm making your dress". "If you're looking for someone who doesn't have any history with your man, you picked the wrong family to marry into!". Peyton laughed. "Ain't that the truth!", she said. Brooke giggled. "I was Haley's maid of honor, and well….who hadn't Nathan slept with before he married her?". Peyton cracked up. "Mean, but so true!", she laughed. The car got quiet for a moment as they approached their house. Brooke wrestled with asking something, but then decided to go for it. "Peyton?". "Hmm?", Peyton said as she turned from looking out the window. "Was it worth it?...the waiting, the pining". Peyton smiled sadly at the memory of the last year. "Yeah. I wish It would have gone down differently". "But yeah, it was". She looked at Brooke and they both laughed giddily.
Next morning
Peyton awoke the next morning and heard light snoring. "Lucas doesn't snore", she thought to herself. Then she remembered she was back at her and Brooke's house. She had slept in Brooke's room. The two girls were like sisters and had spent the night gabbing away. She got up and crept to the kitchen to make some breakfast. She was anxious to get over to Lucas', but she also knew this would be her last day at this house for a while. She wasn't on planning on moving out of Brooke's just yet, but as Brooke pointed out last night, Peyton and Lucas had a lot of things to talk about and issues to work out. "Don't let that ring become a band-aid", Brooke warned her. Peyton agreed. That's what Lucas had tried to do with Lindsey, and look where that went.
Peyton crept to the kitchen and started a coffee pot. She decided on chocolate chip cookie pancakes, a celebratory breakfast staple for her. It didn't take long for Brooke to smell the coffee and come shuffling in. "Uh-oh!". "Chocolate chip pancakes. "That can't be good". Peyton smiled. "Why Not?". "They usually mean a change I'm not going to like, even if it's a good one". Peyton smiled sadly. "I'm gonna be over there for a couple of da—", she started, but Brooke stopped her. "you don't have to explain", she said. "You're my best friend, P Sawyer". "He's the guy version of you, thus he's my best guy friend". "I love you and I love Lucas". "I just want what's best for you guys". "He is what's best for you, and you're what's best for him". "I'm just happy you're together". Peyton swallowed hard. "When you say love him, do you mean….are you still", she stuttered. Brooke shook her head quickly and firmly. "NO!", she said. "I was just keeping him from distracted from Lindsey. And I was keeping him warm for you". Peyton nodded. "You'd tell me if you were though, right?". Brooke laughed. "Probably not. But I wouldn't do anything about it either. He'd shoot me down before I could open my mouth". Peyton nodded, uncomfortably.