New chapter.
Little bit of a time jump, for those of you who might get confused. ;)
One
Ten years later…
It was just past midnight, Peyton stirred in bed. Before she closed her eyes once again, she could hear a feint sound coming from downstairs it seemed. She turned over and saw that the other side of the bed was vacant. She got up and grabbed her robe, slinging it over her shoulders. Slowly making her way down the stairs, she noticed that the light in the family room was still on. Turning the corner, all Peyton could do was smile and let out a sigh.
"You still up?" Peyton echoed wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Did I wake you honey, sorry." Lucas replied.
"It's late, come to bed." Peyton took a seat next to him.
"I know. I just want everything to be perfect for tomorrow." Lucas answered, finishing the wrapping of a present of some sorts.
The present was for Lily's 15th birthday. The two couldn't believe where the time had gone, it seemed just like yesterday when she was their little baby girl. As much as they didn't want to admit it, she was in fact becoming a young lady. The transition was a bit easier for Peyton, her being a woman and all, but for Lucas it was a tougher pill to swallow. He still hung onto the vision that Lily was his cute and innocent baby sister.
"So what you get her this time…?" Peyton looked on curiously. "Don't tell me it's another easy-bake oven." Peyton tried to hold back the laughter. "Oh! Better yet. It's one of those polka dot sweaters again. Isn't it?"
"Haha, nope." Lucas snickered mockingly.
"So what is it?" Peyton inched closer to him, attempting to lure the answered out of him.
"I know once I tell you you're gonna just go and blab it to Lily."
"No I won't." Peyton fibbed, trying to convince him.
Lucas simply gave her a glare, "Not this time." He shook his head.
"Fine." Peyton finally gave into defeat. "I'm going back to sleep then. Don't take too long baby, okay." She got up and gave him a kiss.
Lucas nodded and watched as she left the room. He turned his attention back down to the table where the neatly wrapped gift still lied. He reached for a pen and scribbled something down onto a card. Before taping it onto the box, he read the message to himself...
To: Lily
Love, Lucas
He couldn't wait to see the smile on her face when she opened it. After 15 years, he thought he finally got her the perfect gift.
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Morning at last arrived; Lily was awakened by the sunlight peeking through her blinds. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes and stretched out. The smell of bacon tickled the tip of her nose and she ran downstairs eagerly. Hopping down the stairs, she finally got to the entrance of the kitchen.
Much to her surprise, well not that much considering this would happen pretty much every year the exact same way, she found Lucas and Peyton hard at work cooking up their annual birthday breakfast for her. This in itself was always a shock to her, her birthday was literally the only day either of them would ever dare to pick up a pot or pan.
They both turned around, their faces instantly lighting up seeing her standing in the doorway. "Hi sweetie." Peyton gleamed, taking Lily in for a hug. "Mmm, happy birthday baby." She added, squeezing her tighter.
"Mom… can't breathe." Lily professed.
Peyton released her grip, "Sorry sweetie, but you know I love these days."
"It's okay. So what is it, the usual?" Lily asked, her stomach grumbling.
"Yup." Lucas replied turning around, chef's hat, apron, and all. "Pancakes, bacon, and eggs." He said dropping them on her plate. "And of course, last but not least…" He continued reaching into the refrigerator. "…15 squirts of whipped cream. It is #15 right?"
"Dad." Lily laughed. "What are you gonna do when I'm 50?"
"I'm sure there are 50 squirts of cream in here, minimum." He answered smirking. "Just eat up birthday girl."
Lily giggled picking at her plate. The food tasted horrible, Lucas and Peyton did cook it themselves after all, but just having them both there made it all worth while.
"So after this munchkin, what do you wanna do? Your call." Lucas asked. "I thought we could go down to that ice cream parlor you like."
"Actually, Stacey and I already made plans. If that's okay with you guys." Lily revealed.
"Oh." Lucas responded nonchalantly. "Go ahead. It's fine."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, have fun." Lucas told her.
"You're the best daddy." Lily jumped up and pecked him on the cheek. "I'll be back soon, k." She said before running out of the house.
…
Peyton frowned as she watched Lucas seating there, just playing with the food on his plate. "You okay baby? You wanna talk about it?"
"Talk about what. How she doesn't even want to spend time with me anymore." He groaned.
"Aww Luke, come here." Peyton held him, trying to comfort him. "We both knew this day was going to come eventually. You know she still loves us though, and we love her… nothing is going to change that."
"Yeah." Lucas replied. "I just miss the time we use to spend together, you know."
"We both do." Peyton gave him a kiss. "I'll clean these up." She told him picking up the dishes.
As Peyton made her way to the sink, Lucas bent over and grabbed the box that was resting underneath his chair… it was the present he wrapped the night before. He wanted to surprise Lily with it, but she rushed off so fast he didn't have a chance to.
He undid the bow and carefully peeled off the wrapping paper. Slowly prying open the box and seeing the contents inside, it was only then at that very moment he realized that maybe she in fact wasn't his little girl anymore. He rested the box down onto the table before making his way back upstairs.
Peyton could only look on in disappointment as he left the room, obviously hurt and upset. She glanced back over at the kitchen table and saw the unwrapped box still lying there. She reluctantly picked up the gift and was saddened to finally see what Lucas had gotten her… they were a pair of ballet slippers with what looked like lilies embroidered on them.
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The same way Lucas had books and Peyton had music, Lily had dance. Ever since the day Lucas took her to her first ballet, Tree Hill's annual Christmas Eve reenactment of The Nutcracker, all she wanted to do it seemed was pirouette and chasse around the house. With her old slippers now being beyond repair, Lucas figured it was about time she had a pair that she could call her own… only if she could've saw them as well.
