A/N Hi all, this is my first fic on here. It might feel a bit chaotic to beginning as I'm working most chapters split with flashback and present time but things will become clear quite quickly as chapters progress! Flashbacks are in italics, Present time in non italics.

Chapter One.

'Can I go now?'

'Is dinner so terrible?' Lucas sighs as he regards the impatient child.

'No. Your Mexican is always the best Daddy' She puts her hand over her mouth and continues in a whisper. 'Especially when Mummy doesn't help'

'Hey you! I heard that!' Peyton complains.

'Just joking Mummy'

'It's a good job you're so cute. What's with the hurry to escape us monster?'

'I've just only got 3 days left to say goodbye to my room'

Both her parents look at her sympathetically. 'Aw baby you're gonna love the new house once we're there. Really you are'

'I know' She nods. 'But I grew up in this one'

'I know' Peyton nods. 'We're going to be sad too but it's also exciting right? We'll be living near Nana and Grandad. You love it in Tree Hill'

'Uhuh'

'And you'll make loads more friends and we can still come visit your friends here'

'I know. I'm okay Mummy. I just wanna go to my room for a while'

'Okay'

She jumps up from the table.

'We love you monkey' Lucas pulls her to him before she escapes and plants a kiss on her head.

'Daddy'

'Sorry, sorry' He sets her free. 'Here' He rifles inside his pocket and produces a pen. 'Go find hiding places to write your name so the next people know it was your house first' He wriggles his eyebrows.

'Really? Anywhere?'

'Yup'

'Cool' She smiles and races out of the kitchen.

'When we've gotta repaint the new house after a week of being there because our kid has taken to being a graffiti artist I'll invoice you'

'I thought you'd be into drawing on the wall' He takes a sip of his wine. She doesn't answer and he knows she wasn't listening. Knows by the vacant look in her eye that she's lost in thought about their daughter. 'She'll be alright Peyt' He shifts in his chair, reaches out and rubs her knee.

'We're doing the right thing right?'

'It's not like it was a brash decision. It was always the plan to go home eventually right?'

'Right' She agrees. 'I'm just worried about how this is gonna effect them'

'I know. They'll adjust Peyt. Ollie will come round and how could anyone not like that little girl?'

'She is cute'

'The cutest' He agrees. 'We made that you know' He nudges her side.

'We did good huh?'

'You did good. I think she's got 80% your genes and 20% mine. She lucked out there'

'What's the 20% you?'

'Her love of books' He tells her like it's the most obvious thing in the world.

'I love books' He squints at her. 'I do!'

'When was the last time you read anything?'

'Yesterday'

'Sneakily reading stuff I've got in the works doesn't count'

'Why not?'

'Because you have to love my stuff'

'I do love your stuff' She grins.

'So not cool by the way. I told you, you have first dibs when it's done. It's not done yet'

They've gotten off track. She ignores him. 'Fine I'll give you the books. What else?'

'Why how kind of you. I've given you 80% and you're trying to take away the 20 I have?' He teases.

'They're both like you' She snorts. 'I think Sawyer even more so. Sure she looks like me but she's all you in personality and mannerisms. She does that squinty thing you do too which I find real disconcerting by the way'

'Disconcerting'

'When you do it, it's sexy as hell but when she does it, it grosses me out because I instantly see you. You're not meant to be reminded of things that turn you on about your husband in your kids' She rambles, pausing as she retrieves a left over nacho and stares at it determinedly.

Lucas laughs at her as she attempts to shove it in her mouth whole. 'You're insane you know that?'

'You just need to stop squinting'

'Me?! I came first. Tell the kid to stop it. I can't help it that everything I do is so damn irresistible to you' He smirks.

'I want another one'

'Nacho? They're all yours' He slides the bowl closer to her.

'No' She rolls her eyes but helps herself to another just the same. He knowingly shifts the salsa over to her. 'A bay-be' She confesses with a mouthful.

He cocks his head to the side. Assumes he's misheard. 'A what?'

'Sawyer's gonna be nine in a few weeks. She's nearly in double digits Luke and god Ollie isn't even gonna be living here before we know it' She babbles. 'I'm loosing them. Don't you want another?'

'Baby?' He wants to clarify what she's asking of him.

She widens her eyes expectantly and nods. 'Yes. Baby' She confirms. 'What?'

'Real funny' His confused expression morphs into a smile.

'Funny?' She's confused. 'I'm being serious Luke'

Said smile is quick to dwindle. 'But...what?'

'But what' She repeats amusedly and throws a nacho at him. 'Ollie and Sawyer are the best'

'The best' He confirms. 'We lucked out- another is bound to be a disaster'

Her jaw stiffens. 'Why would you say that?'

He blinks. Knows he's pissed her off. 'What?! You've taken me off guard here. I thought we were done with the whole kid thing'

'We're still young Luke. We were only seventeen with Ollie. We didn't know what we were doing. Nobody thought we could do it. Nobody thought we'd last. But we did and we waited for Sawyer and everything we went through with her, I just didn't think about it for a while. I was content-'

'And you're not now?'

'No-yes of course I am, I just, I, another you and me. Sawyer would love it and Ollie would be the best'

'I dunno Peyt' He rubs the back of his head.

'Why?' She glares at him.

'Because. I love our kids but as you just said we were seventeen when we had Ollie. We didn't have a fucking clue what we were doing and our lives were over just like that' He snaps his fingers. Her narrowed eyes intensify.

'Over' She grates.

He closes his eyes and shakes his head. 'Not over. I didn't mean that the way it sounded. You know the kids and you are my world. You know I wouldn't change anything. None of it. But I, I was actually looking forward to just getting you to myself you know?' He blurts. 'We could do all the stuff we never got to do. We could go travelling. Another kid? That's another 18 year contract Peyt'

'Is that how you see them? You don't shove them out the door as soon as they turn 18 Luke!'

'No, of course not but we don't have to know where they are every hour of the day once they're 18. We have a freedom that we've not hand since we were kids'

'I never want to be free of them'

'I just want to do things with you' He strokes her face. 'I want to take you places and be stupid with you and we could do all that-'

'We can still do all that. Another child doesn't have to stop us from living'

'I nearly lost you Peyton' His voice becomes hoarse as it always does when he refers to their daughter's birth. 'I couldn't survive going through that again' He abruptly stands up. 'I'm sorry but the answers no'

'No' She repeats. 'Just like that' She jumps up and follows him around the table as he collects their plates. 'You won't even discuss it?'

'We just did'

'No we didn't. You're not even thinking about it'

'I'm thinking about you laying unconscious in a hospital bed. I'm thinking about those few days when I thought I was going to be bringing up a seven year old and a newborn baby by myself Peyton. I couldn't do it. I needed you and they sure as hell needed you'

'And they got me! You didn't loose me! I'm still here aren't I?'

'And I'd like to keep it that way' He pushes the plates into the sink.

'You're not going to loose me. You'll never loose me. Baby stop' She shuffles in between him and the sink.

'The Doctors said that if we had another baby there was every chance you could develop the same condition'

She nods. 'And they said there's every chance I wouldn't too. But we know all that this time round. I'd be high risk but we'd deal with it'

'Are you really not going to drop this?'

She latches her hands around his neck. 'I'm just asking you to think about it. That's all'

He sighs heavily.

'Besides, making babies can be kinda fun' She kinks her brow and kisses his chin.

He laughs with a shake of his head. 'Sweetheart, tempting me with sex isn't gonna work'

She pouts. 'Why?! You love sex'

'Uhuh. And so do you. Hence why it's not gonna work. I can have you whenever I want already'

She huffs. 'Well maybe I'll start rationing you'

'Like hell you will' He jerks her hips to him. 'You know you can't say no to me' His voice becomes that low drawl that has her legs turning to jelly. Still after all these years. He smirks as she involuntarily presses herself flat against him.

'Think about it?' She murmurs. 'That's all I'm asking'

He closes his eyes and drops his forehead to hers. 'Fine. I'll think about it'

She leaves a trail of open mouthed kisses across his lips then.

'Thinking about it does not equate to a yes Peyt' He mumbles.

'It'll do for now' She chimes, kissing him more forcefully this time, her tongue dipping into his mouth. He murmurs. Pulls her closer.

'Eurgh. You guys are gross'

They disengage but make no effort to separate at the interruption.

'Your mother is most definitely not gross Ollie. Have you looked at her? She's hot' Lucas retorts, enjoying the way the boy that's just disturbed them cringes. 'So hot'

'Oh my god. Shut up Dad. She's my mother'

Peyton bites her lip and looks at their dismayed son, slapping Lucas' arm lightly, silently telling him to quit being a wind up. 'How was practice babe?'

'Good' He rifles through the fridge, eager to find something to abate his growling stomach quickly so he can disappear.

'We had Mexican. I wrapped some fajitas for you over there if you fancy it?' Lucas points to the side board.

'Thanks Dad'

'Maybe zap them in the microwave, it needs warming up. There might be a few nachos left but you know what your Mumma's like with those things'

'Hey' Peyton prods him and turns around in his hold, her back to his chest instead. His hands lock around her slender waist to stop her getting far. 'Your Dad finished them actually'

'Liar' Oliver laughs as he puts his saved dinner into the microwave. 'By the way, I'm going out in a while. I'm meeting Beth for a bit'

'As long as you're back by ten' Lucas nods.

'You know most kids my age have a curfew of at least 11 on a Friday night'

'Uhuh. But thanks to us you might wind up making it through college without knocking anyone up' Peyton smiles sweetly, hoping to cut short the repetitive debate they seem to keep having.

'You're both so hypocritical. You can't have a kid at seventeen and then make said kid suffer for your stupidity'

'We learnt from our stupidity Ollie' Lucas pipes up supportively. 'We want our kids to live their lives a bit before they have to settle down'

'I get it- I was such a burden-'

'That's not what your Dad is saying Baby. You know we'd not take any of it back. Not for anything in the world. But it was hard and we want you to have the best'

'Unlike you two I'm not stupid. I get how safe sex works'

'Are you having sex?'

'Oh my god Mum. Just stop-'

'If you are I think we should talk about it-'

'You're the last person I'm gonna talk to about it' Her grumbles.

'So you are?!' She regards him intensely.

'I'm not answering that'

The microwave dings signalling his escape.

'You can talk to us Ol, that's all your Mum is saying. You can come to us about anything'

'You two are ridiculous' He grumbles. 'You can't keep your hands off each other and somehow I'm the one that needs constant lecturing-'

'We're not lecturing. We just want you to be able to talk to us, even if it's not the easiest thing to talk about'

'Okay' He looks at them with feigned sweetness. 'It makes me uncomfortable that my parents think it's okay to be all over each other, all the time. Most parents would spring apart and get a mile away from each other when their kid's just walked in on them making out'

'We're not normal though, hadn't you got that memo yet?' Peyton drawls.

'You should be thankful your parents are still into each other. We're just young and cool' Lucas quips over her shoulder.

'Oh Yeah. So cool' The seventeen year old sniggers.

'Hey. You always say I'm cool Ollie' Peyton whines.

'Mum, cool people don't need confirmation that they're cool'

'Cool Mum's do'

He looks at her for a beat. Takes a mouthful of his fajita. He can't ignore her for long though. Can't stand her sad expression. 'Fine. You're cool' He relents. 'Happy?'

'The happiest' She grins. 'Come here'

He rolls his eyes but momentarily puts his plate on the side board and traipses over to her. 'Yes?'

'I just want a hug' She pounces, breaking free from Lucas' slack hold to smother the boy that is now an inch higher than her. 'Why do you keep growing? Just stop ok? You're not allowed'

'Keep hugging me as tight and you might get your wish. It's any wonder you've not cut off my blood supply yet'

She squeezes harder and he groans. 'I love you'

'Yep. I know. Got that'

'You know she's not gonna let you go until you say it back' Lucas grins and ruffles his sons hair. 'Do you love us too Ollie?' He chortles at the unamused teenager.

'I love you guys too' His father's right. He knows she really won't.

'What about Beth?' She wonders. 'Have you said the L word yet?'

'Mum'

'What? It's not wrong of me to care about your feelings Ollie. Where are you guys going tonight?'

'I dunno. Just out for a bit. It's not as though we've got long left to see each other is it?' He grumbles.

'You'll still be able to see her'

'Sure'

'If it's meant to be it'll be. Just because it's going to be a little while before you two see each other doesn't mean you should put pressure on yourselves to-'

'Christ me and Beth aren't having sex ok? But when we do I'm not gonna come and report it to you'

Peyton is momentarily taken aback by his admission. '...Why don't you stay out till half ten just this once'

Oliver rolls his eyes but smiles nonetheless at the small feat. 'Why thanks mother. That'll give us a lot more time to get up to no good' He kisses her cheek and scurries away before she can change her mind.

'Don't make me regret that Oliver Keith Scott!' She calls after him.

'You're hilarious' Lucas laughs.

'You think he was lying about...'

'Nope'

'He might have just been telling me what I wanted to hear'

'The boy can't lie to save his life. He puffs his cheeks out like a hamster every time'

'Mm' She frowns at his smirk. 'What're you so entertained by?'

'You. You gotta stop asking him if he's having sex babe'

'You're just as keen to know'

'But I'm subtle about it. Maybe you should leave it to me'

'What, cause you're the guy?' She kinks her brow.

'Well yeah'

'The fact that I'm a girl shouldn't be a barrier between me and my son Luke'

'Our son. I didn't say that. But whether you like it or not I remember being his age. I remember feeling like him, loving a certain girl, wanting to take it further but not being sure if we were ready'

She snorts. 'You don't remember feeling like him. You fucked me when I was 16'

He cringes. 'Don't say that'

'What?'

'Don't say I fucked you. It was more than that' He frowns. 'And as I seem to remember I managed to make you wait for a while'

'Oh because I held you down and forced you did I?'

'I think you would have if I hadn't have given in'

She rolls her eyes. 'I'm so sorry to have been so hard on you'

He shakes his head and jerks her to him. 'How about you shut up a minute and just listen to me. He's a good boy, we've raised him Peyt and you've gotta give him more credit. I've talked to him about how I felt the first time'

'Oh? So you've told him his mother coerced you into it have you?'

'No' He puts his finger over her mouth. 'Is there an off button on you?' He grins. 'Why so defensive? I told him I was scared about hurting you. I was scared about it being bad and you never wanting anything to do with me again...And I never wanted to be without you again'

'You never made out that you were scared' She whispers.

'No. I suppose I didn't.'

'I wish you'd told me that. I wasn't scared about you hurting me Luke'

'Oh I know you weren't... You were so fucking small'

'Am I huge now?' She dares him to answer.

'No pretty girl' his hands pinch at her narrow waist. 'But you're not a kid. God we were just kids when we did that the first time Peyt'

'I know...but it was special, at least it was to me'

'Baby, it was one of the very best nights of my life' He shakes his head at her. 'You know that' He tuts.

'I thought I did. I just, you're going on about how I pressured-'

'No I'm trying to tell you that I was telling our son that looking back now, my fear, my fear about loosing you if it wasn't good, it, it...I didn't realise it back then but all the thoughts I was having about you, I knew you were the one. I knew you were the only girl I'd ever want right then. I think, I think had it been anyone else I wouldn't have been so worried. Because I wouldn't have cared so much, I wouldn't have cared if they never wanted anything to do with me again. I told him that it doesn't matter if his first time is now, in a year, in 5 or 10. Everybody is different and what's right for one person isn't right for another. I said he'll know. He'll know like I knew'

As usual she's in awe of his ability to say the right things all the time. She blinks. '...Apparently you didn't though' She murmurs. 'Apparently I forced-'

'Shut up. I was the one that initiated that night actually. Remember?' She remembers. 'I couldn't help myself because you promised me you'd wait forever. That you'd only sleep with me or no one at all' He smirks.

'I've kept that promise haven't I?'

'Uhuh- you better continue to do so Miss'

'Until the end of time Luke'

•••

'Hi'

'Hi' She stares at him hard. This all feels so wrong. Being in a room with him and not being able to touch him. She wants to screw the rules and throw her arms around him but logically knows that'll only result in their time being cut short.

She sits down and he sinks back into his chair on the opposite side of the table. He watches her eyes flutter around. Watches her take note of a little girl greeting her father on the other side of the room.

'How are you?'

Her head jolts back to him. She nods quickly. 'I'm fine. I'm fine'

'Peyton' He squints at her. Knows her. She's hiding.

She bites her quivering lip. 'I am fine' She whispers unconvincingly. 'You're the one in prison Luke. Not me. How're you?'

He bats his hand. 'I don't want you getting yourself in a state about me being in here- I'll be out soon. I promise'

'You don't know that'

'It's going to be fine-'

'Change your statement'

'No. Baby I don't want to spend the next forty minutes arguing about the same thing'

'You lied to me Luke-'

'I don't think you really have the right to sit there and hold that against me right now. You've kept your own share of secrets' He instantly regrets it. Wants to take it back as soon as the last syllable has left his mouth. Her eyes glisten. 'I'm sorry, I didn't-'

'No. You're right' She tersely interrupts. 'But because I love you'

'And I did this because I love you' He echoes. '...How are you feeling? Are you still being sick?'

She sniffles. Her nose is prickling. 'A bit. It's not quite as bad...the Doctor says I'm not putting on enough weight though'

His jaw juts out. 'Are you eating properly?'

'I'm trying. It's bit hard when you feel like shit and can't stomach anything because your husband is on trial for murder' She glares at him and god does he love that glare because it's his wife. His fearless wife. He's not seen her in a while. He opens his mouth but she continues speaking before he can say a word. 'We need to make a decision' She blinks.

'I've told you-'

'It's not just up to me!'

'I want what you want'

'...I don't know what I want' She whispers exasperatedly. '...Ollie won't see me. He can't look at me. He hates me'

'He doesn't hate you. He's a kid. He's seeing the repercussions and he can't bear that you're suffering'

Peyton's eyes narrow. 'You've seen him' She realises.

'He's come a couple of times'

'You said you didn't want them seeing you in here'

'Well no. But it's not like I can stop him is it? I'm not gonna refuse to see him if he rocks up here am I?'

'...What did he say?'

'What I just said'

'That's not why he doesn't want to be near me and you know it'

'Hey. Look at me' He reaches across the table and grabs her hands. She startles. Eyes flutter in search of the guard nervously. 'Look at me'

'Luke'

'Look at me' Green meets blue. 'Stop whatever it is you're thinking. Right now. You hear me?'

'Scott. No touching' They've been caught.

'For christ sake, she's my wife-'

'No touching. You know the rules'

She hastily inches her hands out of his tight hold. 'We don't have long. Don't ruin it' She begs. She can't handle their time being cut short.

He puffs out an angry breath but shifts his hands back off the table into his lap. '...Talk to him'

'You don't think I've tried?'

'Keep trying. You're his mother. You can be fucking scary when you want to be, you can make him listen. He needs you to keep him level headed right now'

'What does that mean?'

'It means he's all over the place. It means you need to watch him because if he confesses to just one person it could fuck everything up and he's not going to end up in here. He's not' Her stomach turns.

'No. He's not' She whispers.

His hand somehow sneaks beneath the table and rests on her knee undetected. 'I love you'

She purses her lips to stop herself from sobbing. Nods. 'I love you too'