A/N first of all I just want to apologize if I'm late with the chapter. It took me a while to get into writing again because I lost inspiration. This actually came out as my favorite chapter. Oh and other than that you'll find out the meaning of the title. I hope you enjoy the chapter and that you're enjoying reading my words.

Disclaimer: I don't own OTH.

Lucas looked at the newspaper in front of him one more time. It couldn't be true. The tabloids were implying that Julian and Lindsey had spent the night together. Well, there was a picture of them with a girl at a pub and there was a photo of Lindsey getting out of Julian's hotel room (that's what the paparazzi said) with the SAME dress she had worn the night before. Lucas tried to stop thinking about it but he knew he couldn't just drop the news to Peyton instead he would make sure she wasn't gonna read the papers for the day. If anything had happened between Julian and Lindsey, Julian was gonna have to tell her.

Lucas arrived at Brooke's home and he noticed the newspaper on the rug. He sighed in relief and took it and put it in his jacket. He was just trying to protect Peyton.

After he'd been at Brooke's Lucas had the brilliant idea to go all the way to New York and face Lindsey himself.

Lucas stormed into Lindsey's office even if her assistant tried to stop him. He threw the paper on her desk, and she looked at him shocked.

"Is it true?" Lucas said angrily, pointing to the picture she was in.

Lindsey remained silent and kept staring at the picture. How could she be so stupid? Julian was a famous movie producer and of course he was followed by paparazzi all the time.

"Answer the question!" Lucas' tone of voice was louder and he kept on staring at her.

"You know. You say a lot by keeping your mouth shut. BUT I WON'T KEEP MINE SHUT. No." Lucas gestured and was about to open the door when Lindsey stopped him

"I never meant for it to happen." She whispered.

"Does Peyton know?" Lindsey said.

"Not..Yet!"

"Lucas.. " Lindsey got up from her seat and walked towards Lucas.

"You can't tell her. Julian already feels horrible about himself."

"And what about Peyton? Don't you care about her feelings? Do you really think she doesn't deserve to know?!" Lucas shouted so everyone could hear.

"What would she know about that? Didn't you and Peyton cheat on Brooke? Not only once but twice." Lindsey said and Lucas sent her glare.

"Don't." Lucas whispered before continuing. "Just because you edited the book doesn't mean you know something about me or Peyton. And you can't judge her! We were inconscious teenager when that happened. You, in the other hand, are an adult!" Lucas opened the door. "You should be ashamed of yourself." And with that the door slammed closed.

»»»»»»»»»»

Lucas was wandering in New York's streets with too many thoughts in his head. Why was this happening? Why to Peyton? Was really karma that much of a bitch? Lucas ended up in front of Julian's hotel and he didn't hesitate a second and got in. He made the receptionist tell him what room Julian was staying in. He knocked a few times before the door was open.

"Hey Luke, what's up?" That was the only thing he was able to say before Lucas punched him right in the face.

"You really are an ass." Lucas muttered.

"What the hell is wrong with you, dude?" Julian put a hand on his now black eye and rubbed it.

"You stay the hell away from Peyton, you've hurt her enough."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I think you know what I'm talking about."

"Oh, seriously. You are judging me now?!"

Lucas didn't say anything. He knew he had hurt Peyton back when they were in highschool. He knew how much she suffered because he was too indecisive. But he was gonna make it up to her. He was going to prove to her that he really loved her. So he walked away, he wasn't going to waste his time. He figured Julian wasn't going to tell Peyton about his encounter with Lindsey. So he would. He knew how much this was going to hurt her but she deserved the truth.

It was already night when Lucas got back to Tree Hill. He had bumped into Brooke and Chase and learned that Brooke was going to spend the night with Chase. He didn't question about it. He only told Brooke that he was gonna go and keep Peyton company.

»»»»»»»»»»

Peyton opened the door and saw Lucas with his old brooding look.

"Hey Luke. What's wrong?" She let him in. Lucas didn't say anything. He was still trying to figure out how he was going to tell her. Lucas sat down, and Peyton did the same. They sat there in silent, Peyton would sometimes gaze at Lucas. Everytime she did that his heart broke even more. He knew this was the right moment

Lucas turned to look at her in her eyes, he wasn't sure he could handle if she started crying. He put a hand on her thigh before speaking.

"I have to tell you something." He began as he started shaking, Peyton kept on looking at him with a worry face.

"About Julian."

"What happened?" She quickly responded.

Lucas just stared at her. He sighed.

"Lucas, what's wrong?" Peyton took Lucas' hand into hers.

Lucas got out of his jacket the same paper he had read and shown to Lindsey earlier that day. He handed it to Peyton. His heart broke again when he saw Peyton's face saddened.

"No.. He didn't.." She said trying to keep the tears from falling down. It came out as a whisper but Lucas heard what she had just said. He knew nothing he was possibly going to say to her would make her feel better so he just hugged her.

Peyton started crying silently. Lucas felt her tears on his t-shirt. He broke the hug and dried the tears.

"I... I'm.. so sorry..." Peyton said as she started crying again, this time not hiding from Lucas. He took her in his arms.

"Shhh. It's okay." He said as he kept running his hands on her back to reassure her.

Peyton put her head on Lucas' shoulder. "No, it's not." She whispered.

"As long as you have me I will make sure you're always okay. You'll be fine, I'll protect you." Lucas whispered in her ear while he was massaging her hair.

Peyton and Lucas both felt asleep in each other's arms. She had a small smile on her face. That cozy scene was ruined when Brooke sneaked into her own house. She stopped and gazed at them. They looked like a couple, whatever had happened she knew, she was very sure, Lucas was able to make everything okay for Peyton. She closed the door trying not to make too much noise but Lucas woke up anyway.

"Brooke." His voice sounded sleepy as he got up from the couch trying not to wake up Peyton.

"Sorry I interrupted your little sleepover." Brooke said guiltily as she was about to into her room. But Lucas stopped her.

"Oh, so you and Chase are back together?"

"What did you say?"

"Brooke, you can't fool me."

"Okay, we are. I just didn't want to make Peyton feel worse after all this Julian drama and.."

Lucas cut her off. "Brooke, you know she'd be happy for you."

Brooke looked at Peyton, she noticed her eyes were red. She must have cried a lot. She felt guilty. She made Peyton go back to Tree Hill and when things got worse she left her for a guy. And she wasn't there for her.

"I should have been there. I should have stayed by her side." Brooke whispered.

Lucas approached her and put his hands on her shoulders.

"It's not your fault, Brooke. You know Peyton. And we know you always put your friends first. Peyton would be happy for you!"

"Lucas, what happened?"

"Julian cheated on her... with Lindsey."

"Lindsey, seriously? What the hell is wrong with that guy?!"

"I just have to get going.. I'll call Peyton in the morning."

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Peyton was woken up by a non stopping knock on the door.

"God. Stop! I got it." She said screaming as she got up and put a cover on her. Her face went pale when she saw the man before her.

Julian.

"What exactly are you doing here, Julian?" Peyton said bitter.

"Can I come in?"

"No, and you better thank God I didn't slam the door in your face."

"That Lucas Scott couldn't keep his damn mouth shut." He muttered.

"Well, unlike you, he actually thought I had the right to know! It wasn't really his place to tell me. But what was he supposed to do?"

"Peyton, I came here to tell you."

"You came here now. You're a little late. You should have told me earlier! You should have been honest with me. And you know what? You shouldn't even have hooked up with some random girl in a shallow pub. Oh wait, that was Lucas' editor."

"I was drunk, Peyton!"

"And you really expect me to forgive you just because you were drunk?"

"It was a mistake, dammit."

"No, no. A mistake is when you get the wrong thing at the supermarket. You don't accidentally have sex with people! That's not a mistake. And I'm pretty sure Lindsey didn't have a gun pointed at your head."

"Peyton, I don't know what to say."

"Great, because I don't want to hear anything from you anymore. It's too late." And with that she closed the door.

»»»»»»»»»»

Lucas called Peyton later that day. She didn't pick up, she was busy drawing and listening to angry music, she knew that that would make her feel better. After she was done drawing, she got her phone and saw like 6 missed calls from Lucas. She dialed his number.

"Peyton! Finally. I was worried about you."

"Lucas, you don't have to constantly worry about me. I'm a big girl."

"Oh, Blondie. I will always worry about you. Especially if some egocentric asshole movie producer hurts you."

"Lucas!"

"Peyton, I'm sorry."

"I broke up with him."

"Why?"

"I can't be with someone who claims to love me and then cheats on me with the first slut he bumps into."

"Peyton..."

"I'm sorry Lucas."

"Don't be.."

"I remember Brooke saying something about Julian punching you on your first meeting." Peyton laughed.

"Actually... I punched HIM."

"Wait, what?"

"Well. That's what happens to whoever hurts or tries to hurt you."

»»»»»»»»»»

Brooke decided to spend her day with Peyton that afternoon. They opted for ice cream and soap operas. Peyton looked at Brooke with a questioning look.

"Ehm, Brooke. What the hell are they saying?" Peyton said eating her ice cream.

"I don't know. Must be something in spanish." They both laughed.

"Look, Peyton. I'm sorry I haven't been there for you lately. It's just that I got back with Chase."

"Brooke, this is so awesome!"

"No, it's not Peyton. You came here basically because I made you come back and I left you."

"Brooke, I'm happy for you and Chase. I'm happy that for once you've put yourself first."

"Are you sure?"

"Pretty sure." Peyton hugged her.

"I love you, P. Sawyer."

"I love you too, B. Davis."

»»»»»»»»»»

"But you're still doing the movie, right?" Nathan said as he shot the ball. He and Lucas were spending the afternoon together at the River Court.

"I don't know anymore."

"Luke. The movie has nothing to do with everything that's been going on. And don't forget, the movie is a big chance for you."

"Yeah, I'll just try to work with him. But I can't accept what he did to Peyton. I can't accept the fact that Peyton is hurting because of him. She doesn't deserve it."

"You still love her, don't you?"

"I can't imagine when I won't"

"So what are you waiting for? Go get your girl."

"No, she's hurting about another man and I don't want to be, you know, a rebound."

"When were you ever a rebound? Julian IS the rebound."

"I guess."

"Look at this way, there must be a reason why that movie brought her back in Tree Hill. Maybe she doesn't know it yet. But what if this is your chance? Are you going to let it go?"

»»»»»»»»»»

Lucas found Peyton on the bridge. That was the same bridge where they had talked about Peyton's mom years ago.

"You found me." Peyton whispered as she smiled.

Lucas knew she'd be there. No because someone told him, it was their strong connection. It was the fact that maybe they were really soul mates.

"Do the movie, Lucas."

"What?"

"I want you to go on and finish doing your movie and work civilly with Julian. This is your story and you should be the one telling it. You deserve this more than anyone I know. "

"Peyton"

"Don't Peyton me" She said jokingly.

"I can't look at him after what he did to you. I couldn't stand working with him."

"What happened between me and Julian has nothing to do with your movie. This is your dream, Lucas."

"Do it for me then.." She hugged him.

Lucas looked in her green eyes, he was gazing at her. Her beautiful face and her face were telling him how proud she was of him. They didn't even need to talk, they could see in each other's eyes what they wanted to tell to the other.

"I'd do anything for you, Peyton."

A/N as always review and tell me what you think of the chapter. I'm just thinking about having a Brooke/Lindsey showdown, but I don't know. I guess we'll see. Thank you again for reading my story and keep doing that! It makes happy to see that people care for my story and actually like it.

V.