Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill, nor the characters Lucas and Peyton.

Hi you guys here is the latest update! I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while, but I'm back. Let me know if you are still following and forgive me.

Previously Chapter 5:

Peyton remained silent, arms folded across her chest. Heart heavy.

Sure that he had failed to reach her, Lucas hung his head in defeat, but it was then that he felt himself enveloped by slender arms. With her arms around his neck, and his chin resting atop her head they clung to all they had left-each other.

"I don't want to lose you either"

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Chapter 6

Peyton sat amidst a sea of boxes. Most of David things were packed as well as some of her belongings. She had been successful at making the place appear uninhabited but she soon came to realize that packing away David's possessions didn't erase the memories that went with them. Nor did it erase the new found hurt she experienced when she thought of him.

The week that proceeded David's funeral had been a blur, for both her and Lucas, but together they managed to get through it. The funeral itself- a somber, silent affair.

As much as she would have liked to stay and pity herself for her hardships, she had a life to get back to. There were people that counted on her, bands that put their future into her hands.

Peyton stood to survey all she had done.

"Thought I might find you here", a dry voice from the doorway startled her.

She whirled around, heart thudding in her chest but as soon as she recognized the intruder , Peyton visibly relaxed.

"Luke what are you doing here? Its late."

"I looked for you at my place and you're things were gone," he replied, hands shoved into his pockets. Peyton sighed. "Thought I'd get a head start on some things here, she gestured to the boxes on the floor. "Besides I didn't want to wear out my welcome."

Their eyes locked and she eyed him curiously noting the weariness in his pose and remembering the restlessness she heard in voice. "You okay? " Peyton asked hesitantly.

Lucas nodded in response, but she was hardly convinced. He dropped his eyes and turned away.

In the dull light of the room; Peyton watched as he surveyed his surroundings, perhaps in quiet remembrance.

"Luke, you didn't have to come." Peyton's soft voice drew him back to her.

He stared at her, surprised, and shook his head. "I wanted to. I had to. I've been dreading coming here."

Uneasy, Peyton tilted her head, her face still worried. "Okay. Do you want to be alone?"

"You don't have to leave." After a few seconds of silence Lucas cleared his throat, drew a breath. "So, you're packing up the past?" He took a step further into the room.

"Not everything, but some things." She paused. "If that makes any sense."

Lucas was quiet for a moment, thoughtful. "Who would have thought we'd be here right now?"

Peyton stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, before embracing him completely.

"Before I forget," Peyton started as she pulled away from their embrace. "I saved this for you. I thought you should have it. You don't already have a copy do you?" She walked over to the mantle and picked up a picture taken of both David and Lucas.

Lucas made his way over to Peyton, and removed the picture from her grasp. His blue eyes roved over it, taking it in. The edges of the picture were worn down to a soft crinkle and a bend around the left upper corner made whatever hand writing on the back difficult to read. He chuckled, low and rich.

"What?" Peyton asked.

"David and I weren't even speaking when we took this picture, but his mom just had to have a new picture of the two of us." Peyton stared at him, perplexed.

"David didn't tell you?"

"No. Care to enlighten me?"

"This photo was taken after David accused me of being in love with you." Lucas laughed lightly and rubbed the back of his head.

"What? When?" Peyton asked.

"Right after the two of you were married. Of course I told him I wasn't, but he didn't believe me. We didn't really speak for weeks after that. It sucked."

"He never told me that, but I shouldn't be surprised, right?" Peyton responded almost inaudibly.

Peyton glanced at Lucas before going into the kitchen to retrieve them both a glass of water. "So you weren't in love with me?" Peyton asked jokingly, though in a conceited manner.

"Nope, not this guy," Lucas boasted playfully. "You're green eyes and legs didn't work for me."

Although Peyton smiled she couldn't explain why she felt a slight wave of disappointment wash over her upon his answer. There was a time she used to believe there was hope for the two of them.

But opportunity presented itself in the form of David. He offered her everything she could ever want, and who was she not to take it? He loved her, and she loved him. She did. At least she wanted to believe she did.

Lucas looked at the picture one more time before pocketing it. Guilt tore at him, he never did apologize for lying to David- for denying his accusations back then and now he'd never get the chance.

Peyton sat drawing on her bed, the fine line of her brow furrowed in deep concentration, as she tried to drown out her worries through her art. Her pencil moved with violent precision against the sketch pad, but she was hardly impressed by what she had produced. A frown settled on her lips at the sight.

A knock on the door drew Peyton from her thoughts, quickly she flipped over the drawing concealing its contents.

"Are you decent?" Lucas asked, as he playfully covered his eyes, hoping his antics would dispel any lingering tension from the awkward encounter the night before.

Peyton laughed. "What are you doing, crazy?" She slid toward the middle of the bed. "And just to be clear, I wasn't the one walking around naked in someone else's house. You should know better."

"Naked? I was hardly naked." Lucas clarified, stepping into the room.

No, he wasn't completely naked. That was a slight exaggeration on her part. But, as she recalled, the way his boxers hung low at his waist he had hardly left anything to one's imagination.

Heat stole into her cheeks as unexpected desire coursed through her. She hid her face behind her hair and she desperately tried to will the image away.

"Fine, whatever. Lets not talk about it anymore."

"Okay", Lucas agreed with a nod of his head, though he smiled at how easily flustered she had become. To refrain from talking about it would be the easy part , but willing his mind to not think about it was another matter in itself.

"You were gone before I could get breakfast started this morning, do anything interesting today"? Peyton asked.

"You mean other than take a cold shower."

"Luke! " Peyton exclaimed as she put her face into her hands.

"Kidding", he retorted with a playful glint is his eye. No, Not really," Lucas then replied.
Peyton looked up at him immediately. "You're lying. Have you been seeing the baby?"

Lucas ran a hand through his hair and sank down onto the edge of the bed. "I didn't tell you because I wasn't sure how you'd feel about it. You aren't mad are you?"

He looked at her for any signs of anger or disappointment, but her expression was guarded. Not sure if that was a good thing, to be safe Lucas mentally prepared himself for any sudden reactions.

"I understand Luke". That was the truth; she had no choice but to understand. No matter the choices David made in the time that she'd known him, Lucas' loyalty to him has never faltered, and she didn't expect that to change now. She admired that.

"You do?" She nodded in affirmation. "Good."

"So, since we're being honest here is there anything you'd like to tell me?"

"No. Not that I can think of," Peyton replied as she eyed him skeptically.

A smile tugged at the corners of Lucas' lips. "Now you're the one that's lying. The nurse told me she ran into a blond that fit your description at the hospital earlier today. In fact she pretty much described you to a tee."

A rush of embarrassment climbed up into Peyton's face and she had to look away. "I guess you caught me." She looked at him and offered him a tensely apologetic smile. "I'm sorry about before. It was never my intention to make you feel guilty about seeing Melissa."

"I know," Lucas acknowledged. "I take it that this wasn't your first time visiting her."

Peyton let a frustrated sigh escape her lips. "Why can't I just be normal? I want so hard to stay angry at David, to resent the baby and not feel an ounce of remorse, but I can't. "I've seen her almost everyday this week," she confessed softly.

Lucas leaned into Peyton, their shoulders pressed together. "You're not abnormal Peyton. You just have a good heart, you always have. It sets you apart from most of the people I know."

Peyton smiled at his words, genuinely touched, but she couldn't help but wonder if Lucas thought David had a good heart taking into account what they knew now. It was at the tip of her tongue to ask for his opinion, but she thought better of it. She didn't want things to become awkward or strained between them. Over the last few weeks they had been enjoying each other's company, she didn't want that to change.

"Do you have an update on Melissa?" Peyton asked.

"You mean other than still being sick and parentless? If so, then no."

A silence lapsed between them.

Lucas scratched his head and looked at her. "The nurse asked if I would consider taking her in temporarily." He let out a small chuckle. "Can you believe that?"

Peyton eyed her feet. She hadn't expected that. What if the staff had asked her? It was possible, for she was told both David and his mistress's parents were consider to elderly to do so, perhaps they were waiting for the right time to ask.

Although Lucas had laughed at what Peyton presumed to be the possible absurdity of raising Melissa---or being a father when he least expected it---she could tell that he was actually contemplating the matter. "I can believe it. You'd make a great father Luke."

Lucas smiled and for a while she sat and listened attentively to him as he informed her of his fears, but she was also listening for the question she was certain he would ask of her at any moment. Lucas stopped talking; his hand moved slowly to hers and took hold of it. She heard him take a breath which she could only assume was for courage. She watched as his mouth opened.

"Peyton-"

" Luke, if you're going to ask me to accompany you in taking care of Melissa, I don't think I can." Her eyes fell shut for a second. "I can't."

"How did you know I was going to ask?"

She shrugged.

It shouldn't have surprised him as much as it did. If there was ever any indication that she knew it should have been when he felt her tense beside him and her hand begin to pull away from his.

Lucas stood from where he was perched on the bed "You can't or you wont?" He countered in hopes that she'd clarify. "I was under the impression that you liked her and enjoyed spending time with her."

"I do," she paused. "But visiting her and taking her in as my own are two different things."

So that was chapter 6!

Those who are still reading, I loved to know what you thought of this chapter and what you'd like to see happen next or what you believe will happen next.

-Carmen Jessica-