A/N: So here is the second part to this short fic. I am still trying to finish some one-shots I have started, but I'm not really sure what I can get done before next week. Once school starts I usually get super busy and taking 17 units this quarter and starting a new part time job is not gonna make it any easier. But I'm staying optimistic. :)

**Reviews/Criticism is Always, always Appreciated.

ll Look me in the eyes
And tell me you don't feel a thing... ll

He knows its late, like really late. But damn it he just doesn't care how late it is, he has to get to her, he has so much he wants to say.

Like he needs her. It's always been her, and she's always been in his heart, even if he let things get screwed up. She's always been the one for him even when he let things change and go wrong.

He needs to let her know that he's sorry. Sorry for leaving her in that hotel room. Sorry for walking away from them and not waiting. Sorry for all sorts of things.

He needs to let her know that he misses her. Misses her laugh and her smile and those legs (god does he miss those). He just misses Her.

He needs her to know that he loves her. He always has and he always will.

He might be in a semi-drunken state (he might be wasted actually) but he's certain of these things. And yeah she might not have shown at the signing earlier, it might of suck that she didn't (that's why he's been drinking all night) but it doesn't change how he feels, so he has to tell her.

He has to tell her now.

And yeah she might be super pissed at him for showing up unannounced, and a little drunk and it's almost three in the morning, but he doesn't care right now, he just has to get to her, and let her know what an idiot he's been. He needs to remind her what they promised back when it was just them and the night and the stars. The promise to love each other forever.

Well as far as he's concern forever isn't nearly over, so neither can their promise be too.

So he has to see her, tonight. And remind her these things, because he's sick of wondering. Wondering what might of happened if he had stay with her in that hotel room instead of just leaving. Wondering what would have happened if he could of just given her a year. He's just sick of wondering.

Brooke once told him that people who are meant to be together, always fine there way in the end.

And by all accounts, given the fact that they have been through so much-car accidents, shootings, stalkers, and all of Lucas' dumb mistakes-and somehow they keep winding up back where it started, just him and her together, he thinks that only proves Brooke's theory right.

So yeah it might be late, but right now he really doesn't care. He just needs her.

ll I'm laying out my heart
and giving you everything... ll

Its been a really long day. She very anxiously got ready that morning trying to dress appropriate for a book signing. Her ex-boyfriend's book signing. And yeah even after a year and all that had happened it was still really weird (it just feels wrong) calling Lucas that. But that's what he is right?

He was the one who had left (she still can understand how he could just leave her like that…she's Peyton Sawyer did he forget she had a thing about people leaving?)

And he was the one who just ended it, because he couldn't wait a year. Because he couldn't just trust in their love, for one freakin year.

So yeah he's her ex-boyfriend now.

But then last week he just calls her out of the blue inviting her to this signing, and yeah it was a total shock that he had called, and she was really nervous to see him again, but she was also really proud of him. Even after everything, she was proud of him and his work. And so how could she not go?

So she spent her morning looking through her closet trying to find something appropriate to wear to her ex-boyfriend's book signing, and just really wishing she had someone to call for help. She used to have Brooke, but in the last year the two best friends have slowly lost each other. So instead she picked a pink dress (she's never been one to wear pink, but she thought the dress was appropriate for her boyfriends...her ex-boyfriends book signing) and made sure she had her copy of his book and then she was on her way.

But then she got to the book store only to see some girl-some beautiful girl-kissing Lucas-her ex boyfriend-on the cheek. And the look in his eyes when she did…

She never stuck around to hear an explanation of who this girl was, because she knew, she just knew that whoever this girl was meant something to Lucas. So she left without him seeing and instead went straight home, crying as she did so. Because they might not have been together anymore, but she thought-she felt-that even though it had been a year they weren't over.

Well, she was wrong.

So she went home and took off the pink dress and wound up in her pajamas at two in the afternoon and sat with a bottle of wine and read over and over again how Lucas Scott said he would now and forever be in love with Peyton Sawyer.

She sat and read the words and reminded herself that his words and his actions never really synced up. He always said one thing and did the other.

And realizing that made her see, for the first time in the last year that just maybe, it was time to let go of Lucas Scott.

Because it didn't matter anymore what words he had used (said or written) over the years. All that mattered was what he had done over the years. And all that pain and struggle, had her thinking its finally time to move on.

But who is she kidding herself.

He might not have meant it, but she did. She said forever, and after today and how she's feeling, it just really sucks that she did because forever isn't over.

ll If it all goes wrong,
Are you just gonna walk away? ll

Well after everything that happened to her today she was kind of hoping that the day would just end. But apparently, she's not that lucky.

She went to bed at nearly midnight. With a heavy head and a even heavier heart, and she feels like she just laid down and closed her eyes and out of know where she hears someone knocking. And she has no idea who is knocking on her door at-nearly three o'clock in the morning she realizes (apparently she slept some) as she sees the blinking numbers coming from the clock on her nightstand.

Normally she would ignore it, but knocks like this-constant never ending ones-usually mean it's important. Well it better be damn near earth shattering to be waking her up at this hour. Especially considering she just barley fell asleep a few hours ago.

So she gets up, walking at a snails pace don't the hall to the door, because quite frankly whoever is at her door isn't leaving-the knocks seem to sound more frantic the closer she gets and now she's sort of unsure if she really wants to see who it is, because who really comes to your door at three in the morning with good news to tell you?

And that's when it hits her, who the hell is knocking on her door at this hour?

Who would be stupid enough to wake her (everyone knows how Peyton gets when it comes to be wakening up before she's ready, so who would be crazy enough to do it?) unless.. Unless it's something so important (probably something bad) that can't wait another second.

Or unless it's someone who doesn't know her, who has no business being at her door knocking, ok who the hell is out there? Given the fact that she once had a stalker, who annoyance has now become panic.

No one in there right mind would be out this late, and no one she knows would just be knocking at her door right now, and…and it would be just her luck that her tiny old rundown, over priced apartment didn't have a peep hole at the front door. And oh my god she's got someone knocking at her door, who could literally be anyone, and she's alone with nothing-as she quickly glances around her living room-to use for protection. That's just great.

But then that's when she hears it. A very faint voice that is all too familiar calling her.

"Peyton...Peyt, it's me." Comes muffled from the other side of the door. A little slurred and shaky, but she knows exactly who it is.

And that's just great.

ll Well, get it out now
and say what you need to say... ll

But that's all she has to hear, those few words. That's all it takes and she so willingly unlocks the chain and opens the door enough to peer out.

And there he is. Lucas Scott. Standing in her hall, with tired eyes and even more so messy hair, smelling…smelling like he swam in alcohol. Great. Freaking Fantastic.

What the hell is he doing here? Why isn't he out with that girl she saw him with early? Why is he standing at her door, right now, this late? Where was he a year ago, when she woke up in that damn hotel room alone? Where has he been all year when she needed someone t be there for her?

She thinks all this because really she has every right to be super pissed off that he is standing in her doorway-to top if all off drunk shes sure of it-and looking…looking lost and sorry and looking like he loves her or something. But he can't right? Because he's the one who left and never looked back. He's the one she saw kissing some girl earlier at his signing, a signing he had invited her too.

""Luke, what are you-" She starts to whisper.

She whispers partly because she doesn't want to wake her neighbors, but also because for some reason a whisper is all that can come out. Because she has a million questions she wants to ask, and this is all so surreal and ok never in a million years would she think that Lucas Scott would be knocking on her door again. Like ever.

"You didn't show. You said you would come-to my signing. I actually got up the nerve to call you and ask you to be there, on one of the most important days of..of my whole life. And you said you would, but you didn't" He slurs out the words, mixing and meshing together as he speaks.

And if it was not so obvious before, Peyton is more then certain now that he's passed drunk. He's completely gone. He probably has no idea what he's saying and he will most definitely not be remembering this in the morning.

ll I'm gonna love you
Baby, come rain or shine,
No one can love you,
love you as good as I ll

"Lucas please, just get in here.." She says annoyed that he sounds so accusingly and embarrassed when she see a light go on two doors down the hall. She also wants to totally change the subject so she doesn't have to answer his questions.

When he doesn't budge its her grabbing him by his arm and all but dragging him inside.

"How much have you had to drink?" She asks as she walks further inside her apartment going straight to the kitchen with him following behind.

"Not much." He lies as he rubs the back of his neck. And it might have been a year but she sees him do it, and automatically knows he's lying.

"Right. Well here, take this." She orders as she hands him a glass of water and some aspirin, yeah he thinks that's what she's giving him.

And why is she pretending like him being here is ok, like it's not a problem. Why isn't she yelling or kicking him out?

"What are you doing here Lucas?" She asks with an annoyed tone as she crosses her arms and just waits for an answer. And theres the attitude he was expecting from her.

"Why didn't you come today Peyt?" He asks, really wanting an answer. He has so much to tell her, but he just has to know.

She can't tell him that she was there and only left because she saw him with some girl. She can't let him know that she showed up expected something. She can't let him realize that she hasn't let go.

She can't, so she doesn't.

"Because…because I know that we're not meant to be." She says standing firm and steady. But she's cant look him in the eyes, and he knows when she can't, that means she's lying.

ll I made up my mind,
I refuse to let you go... ll

"I don't believe you." He shakes his head only more sure that she's not being honest with him. And the fact that she is lying about this, means something. He just knows it.

"Luke can you please just not…" She trails off, raising her hand to stop him from speaking.

But he can't just stop it, he's never been able to.

"It's really late, and just, you can take the couch and sleep and just please ok?" Peyton says as she wakes away from him and gets as far as the living room. She's trying to shut this little reunion down before he starts with his words.

Because even though she knows that he says and does two different things, when it comes down to it, his words always wins out.

"No please, if you don't want to talk, then just listen ok.." He trails off and watches her, waiting for her to stop him, when she doesn't he starts again.

"I know its been a year, and that's a really long time, but I just want you to know that I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Peyton. I never should have just walked out on you and-" He says looking at her as she finally looking him in the eye.

"So why did you then? Why did you leave?" She asks, because Lucas Scott is standing in her living room after one hell of a year of her wondering why he just couldn't wait, and she still really wants to know.

"Honestly…I was scared." He whispers. "I thought you were saying no to my proposal and-"

"I never said no." She says determined to make him see that. Because she never did say no. She's replayed that day over and over again in the last year, and she knows she never said no. She might not of told him yes, but she never said No.

"I know that now, but…God Peyton I am so incredibly in love with you and when you said you-we weren't ready all I heard was no." She notices that he said he is in love with her, not that he was, He is…

ll Lay it all on the line,
this time we can take it slow
Let's live it like we're not afraid... ll

"It might not matter to you anymore…its been a year but I just had to tell you that I am so sorry for what I've done, because I lost you, and there is no one to blame for that but me." And as she hears this, she realizes this is the first time he's never completely taken responsibly for his actions. So maybe she should be honest too.

"I was there Luke. At the signing I was there." She whispers as Lucas looks over at her and sees as her eyes fill with tears.

"You were?"

"Yeah I was there. And god I am so proud of you. I always knew you could do it" She smiles as he nods in appreciation, because for as long as he can remember its always been her encouraging him and helping him make his dreams come true, he really wishes he could of done the same for her.

"I just.."

She knows if she admits the next part, the part of the story that explains why she didn't stick around it will be blatantly obvious what made her leave. Why she cared he was with another girl. But it doesn't really matter, because he's with someone now, so why not just tell the truth for once. Because it will probably break what's left of her heart?

Yeah there's nothing left, so what has she got to lose?

"I saw you with your girlfriend, and I just didn't want it to be-" She says trying to make him see how hard it would be for her to see him with someone new.

Lucas just stares at her, totally clueless as to what she's even talking about. What girlfriend?

And then he remembers, the very insignificant meaning but maybe more convincing looking kiss he and Lindsey shared right before the signing started. God, they really do have the worse timing sometimes, don't they?

"I don't have a girlfriend. There hasn't been anyone, anyone since you. I don't have a girlfriend." He says it twice trying to reinforce it.

And as he watches as the slightest of smiles form on her face, and it make him smile too. Because how can she really think he can just move on from her? She's Peyton Sawyer. He's been hoping since the eighth grade that one day Peyton Sawyer would be Peyton Scott. It something he still hopes for everyday actually.

And she didn't really see that one coming. No girlfriend? But what did she walk in on? Who was the girl she saw him with?

Lucas can see her as she tries to figure this out.

"I do have an editor though. And she friendly kissed be on the cheek right before we started. In like a friendly way, I'm guessing that's what you saw?" He asks as he finally inches close to her and takes his hand in his. It might be too soon, but he's been standing with her for the last ten minutes and he couldn't stand here any longer without touching her.

"Oh.." Is all she can say. The irony of her response is not lost on either of them.

And damn it, they really do have the worse timing sometimes, don't they?

"I know it's been a year and I was a complete jackass, but Peyton you have to know that I still love you. And you promised to love me forever too…" He says like a little boy who says it just like the sky is blue and the sun is yellow. Like it's something he knows for sure.

And she really, really wants it to be that easy. But can it be, considering?

"Luke-" She whispers shaking her head.

"No Peyton, please listen…I know I have a lot to make up for. We have a lot to talk about but I miss you everyday. And I know we've been through a lot, a lot of stupid stuff that I put us through because I was stupid and scared, but someone once told me that people who are meant to be together, always fine there way in the end." He says as he takes her hand again and then with his other lifts her chin to look into her beautiful emerald eyes.

"Because I feel it in my heart, don't you?" He whispers, smiling hoping she remembers that day years ago in the halls of their high school. When she closes her eyes and smiles, he knows she remembers that day.

"Yes…" Is all she can say as she pulls him to her.

Because it might not easy, but when it comes down to it, she knows that it's might have been a year, but she still needs him with her. She still misses him. She still loves him.

And she really did tell him once that she was gonna love him forever.

And forever isn't over yet.

ll Like it's never gonna fade away,
Don't treat it like another day.
Let's live it like we're not afraid... ll

-FIN.

Song: "Rain or Shine"-Matthew Perryman Jones