Chapter Three

As I stood in the center of the court, and the graffiti fell from the ceiling, I felt I had helped achieved something that would be remembered for years to come. We're were, together, the Tree Hill Ravens, North Carolina State Basketball Champions. I knew I would wear that title with pride, even if I couldn't play college ball. I still had the pride of knowing that I was on one of the greatest high school basketball teams. I did wish, and still do, that my Uncle Keith could have seen it. He would have been so proud of me and Nate, and that in itself, made me proud.

The one thing I remember very vividly, was Brooke stepping aside. Her putting aside her hurt, to help show me the one person I belong with. She pointed me in the direction of Peyton Sawyer. Remembering back to the day that I played Nathan on the river court, I saw that we both had been trying to hide our feelings. Trying to make it seem like we were just friends, when I think everyone around us knew better.

In that moment, seeing the smile cross her perfect lips. Her hands cupped in front of her face, as she looked up at the falling graffiti. I knew in that moment, that I would always love Peyton Sawyer.

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Brooke sat in the empty chair beside Lucas's bed. Her eyes puffy and red, as newly formed tears fell silently. She knew she had to help her two best friends find their way back to each other. She just didn't know what to say, or what she could possibly say, to pull Lucas back to them. She stood slightly, pulling the chair a little closer before grabbing one of his hands into one of hers.

She sighed lightly, trying to form some sort of coherent sentences in her head before trying to talk to Lucas.

"Luke, I know your in there and I have to think that you can hear me. It's killing us, all of us, to see you like this. You've always been so strong and right now you just...you look so weak, so helpless..." Brooke trailed off, trying to sniff back the newly formed tears in her eyes before continuing.

"You've been a great friend to me Luke and I know that we haven't always seen eye to eye. I know we've had our tough times and our past is very deep, but she needs you. God Lucas, she needs you more than you can know. She is a mess right now, and I'm just. Dammit Lucas, I'm afraid to leave her alone. I am really afraid that she is going to do something stupid. Your the only one that can keep her straight; the only one that truly makes her happy. She needs you to wake up Lucas, we all do."

With that Brooke placed a very gentle kiss on Lucas's hand, and one on his forehead before standing up. She sighed and said a silent goodbye before walking out the door, gently closing it behind her.

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Peyton sat there with her knees pulled up to her chest, and her arms locked firmly around them. The small white device sitting beside her was speaking a truth that even she wasn't sure she was ready for. She had known something wasn't quite right with her for a little while, but even still, her first thought wasn't this.

Her eyes wondered from the small device, back to the wall in front of her. Hoping each time she looked, that the answer that it was giving her would change. Not that she wasn't happy about it, but with Lucas clinging onto life, this was just not the best time for something like this.

She violently wiped away the tears that had formed in her eyes, as she picked up the small device and chucked it against the wall. Peyton let her head fall against her knees, and her body shook from the violent sobs that seeped out.

Peyton only lifted her head when she heard the door to her hotel room squeak open. Her puffy, blood-shot eyes looked into Brooke's equally puffy red eyes. It was almost like in the look that Peyton was confessing what she had just learned to be true. Only Brooke wasn't picking up the information, which Peyton knew meant that she was going to have to say the words.

"Are you feeling better?" Brooke asked, looking at Peyton's slightly pale looking face. She felt her heart break for her friend.

"I'm pregnant," Peyton said in a whisper.

Brooke knew she had heard correctly, even if it was a whisper that was lower than the wind. She knew those words a little too well herself, from her obvious pregnancy scares with Lucas.

"Oh my god," Brooke said, her hand flying over her mouth as she watched the dams behind Peyton's eyes break and the tears flood down her face.

"I...can't...do...this...alone," Peyton said the words in small spurts when the sobs had subsided enough to let her form at least a word.

"You won't do it alone. Luke's gonna pull through this, he's tough. He just, he needs your support. He needs to know your there for him," Brooke stopped as she sat down in front of Peyton, so she could look her in the eye.

"You have to go see him, you have to tell him," Brooke said.

"Brooke, he's unconscious," Peyton said as the sobs had slowed down more.

"I guarantee you that if you tell him that, he'll come to, he'll have to. That boy wants a family of his own, more than he wants to be a best-selling author. And Peyton...he wants that family with you. You really should read the end of that thing," Brooke said, pointing to the novel on the small dresser in the hotel room.

Peyton shook her head in acknowledgment as she let Brooke help her up.

"I'll take you to him," Brooke said, more so she could actually see her go in.

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At the hospital

Peyton took the empty seat beside his bed. She pushed it closer to him, needing to feel as close to him as possible. She grabbed his hand, placing a small kiss on it, before cradling it in both of her hands. She felt the warm tears slid down her cheeks, as she opened her mouth to begin her news.

"Lucas, I love you so much, and I need you so bad right now. I need you to open those deep blue eyes of yours and flash that sexy grin of yours. I need to know your going to get through this, that we're going to get through this because..." Peyton trailed off, the words stuck in her throat, unable to come out.

"Because...I'm pregnant Luke. We're going to be parents, and I just...I cannot do it alone. This baby, our baby, needs you, needs it's father. Lucas, we need you to wake up, to pull through this, so we can be a family together. Please Lucas," The last few words choked their way out as Peyton found herself sobbing again. She laid her head on the bed next to his arm, placing his arm around her, needing to feel him close to her.

Brooke stood in the doorway, looking at what would be Tree Hill's second happiest family, alongside Nathan and Haley of course. She felt her heart jump up into her throat as her eyes came in contact with those familiar deep blue eyes.

"Luke," Brooke choked out as he stared back at her.