A/N – Wow, an update and it hasn't even been a full week! That's gotta be a record for me! Lol.

Thanks: TeamxxBrulianxx, pink5288, Princesakarlita411, moonkisss, tanya2byour21, babyd21, idoloveyou, koumi11, Long Live BRUCAS, Mosie1213, NYGIRL09, RealSelflessLove, Kimberlli, Mel, and kbrucas22.

Thanks so much and enjoy this chapter!!

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Like a Laceration to the Soul

Chapter 9 –

"He's perfect, Luke." Brooke admired the small infant.

Lucas managed to nod his head as he wiped away at his tears. "It's just...I can't believe he pulled through. It's amazing…and I wish Peyton was here."

"Yeah." Brooke sympathetically sighed, wrapping an arm around his body. "Her loss, right?"

Lucas seemed to take in the brunette's words. Brooke was right. It was Peyton's loss. She was missing out, not him.

"Thank you, Brooke, for being here; for helping me along the road. I don't think I'd be able to hold it together without you. You saved me."

Her cheeks blushed as he smiled at her. "Nah, I think it was this little boy that gave you enough strength." Her eyes glanced at Lucas's son. "Speaking of which, he does need a name, you know."

"He does…And I always thought it'd be Peyton and I choosing one. Everything's just so messed up." Lucas's head dropped to the floor in shame and embarrassment.

"He looks like a Sawyer." Brooke spoke up. "I mean…it only is appropriate…right?"

Lucas seemed to ponder the thought as he watched the small infant in its incubator. "Hmm…Sawyer...Sawyer Keith Scott." A small smile managed to find its way on his lips. "I like it."

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"Where's mama?" Sawyer asked somberly, attempting to eat what his father called breakfast.

"What? Are my pancakes not as good as your mom's?" Lucas attempted a joke as he took a seat next to his son.

Sawyer made a face before asking once more, "Where is she?"

"Your mom just had to take care of a few things. She'll be back." He assured, and it was his way of assuring himself as well. "Eventually." He whispered.

"Is she gone because of that lady? The lady that has my name?" Sawyer inquired.

And Lucas didn't know how to answer. To be honest and disappoint Brooke even more, or to lie and have to deal with the consequences at a later time.

"Look, about that, bud-"

"Mama doesn't like her that much, does she?"

"It's not that. It's just complicated, Sawyer."

"I know." He replied softly and Lucas could've sworn his heart broke at the face his young son made.

"Hey, bud, I have a question. About Peyton – the lady with your name. Remember what we said about her?"

Sawyer nodded slowly.

"Well…here's the thing. She wants to meet you. Get to know you a bit. Would you like that?" As he spoke, Lucas could picture Brooke's face in the back of his mind, and she looked devastated.

"I guess…" Sawyer spoke slowly. "But…would she replace mama because she's really my mama?"

"Of course not, Sawy." Lucas responded almost immediately. "No one's ever going to replace the mama you have right now, you hear me?"

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"Good morning." Brooke mumbled, walking into the kitchen to be greeted with the smell of coffee.

"Morning." Nathan greeted, bringing a cup of coffee to his lips. "Want a cup?"

"Oh, no thanks." Brooke shook her head.

"How're you feeling? Better?"

She sighed hesitantly. "Uhh, I guess. My head's still spinning though. I just need time to cool off…Hey, I have a question."

"Shoot."

"Did you by any chance talk to Lucas…about the whole situation…maybe plant an idea in his head about letting Sawyer see Peyton?"

A part of Brooke wanted Nathan to say yes; yes he did suggest it. Because that would mean Lucas didn't come up with the idea himself and that would make things slightly better.

"Oh Brooke- shit. I didn't mean to…I just said it was a decision between the both of you to make."

Brooke's face fell.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"No." Brooke cut him off. "You didn't. It's not your fault."

"I feel pretty guilty." He admitted. "I wasn't thinking…I just asked him about and then I said it was between the both of you to decide…Wait – why? Did he say he was going to let Peyton see him?"

Brooke closed her eyes, trying to erase the past night's memory. "I'd rather not talk about it."

Nathan knew to back off. "Okay, no problem."

"Thanks." She smiled graciously. "And I'm sorry for crashing here so late last night…this was the only place I could think of."

"Don't worry about it, Brooke. You know you're always welcome here. And besides, Haley's never able to fall asleep 'til much later, she needed some company. This pregnancy thing is exhausting her."

"I wouldn't know." Brooke shrugged. "I skipped that part." She attempted a joke.

"Consider yourself lucky…" Nathan smirked.

Brooke shook her head, thinking about the nightmare her life had become. "Oh, I wouldn't say so."

"Oh, Brooke, I didn't mean to bring that into this, I-"

"It's fine…So…are you scared? About being a father, I mean."

"Honestly…it scares the hell out of me."

"You'll do fine, Nate. Being a parent…it really gives you an amazing feeling. Scary, but amazing."

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"She lives here?" Sawyer peered through the window at the surroundings the car drove into. Lucas had pulled into a motel's parking lot.

"Well, temporarily." Lucas explained. "You ready?"

Sawyer nodded hesitantly, unaware of what would happen next. Lucas went around to the back of the car to get him out of his car seat and took his hand, leading him over to Peyton's room.

Within two knocks on the door, it opened with Peyton wearing a great smile.

"Lucas." She spoke with gratitude. "Thank you." Her eyes were drawn to Sawyer. "And you must be Sawyer…Sawyer Keith Scott." She took in every inch of her son.

"And you're the lady with my name."

Peyton laughed. "Yeah, I'm Peyton Sawyer. It's so great to meet you." She gushed. "Hey, you want to see something?"

Sawyer looked cautiously back over to Lucas who nodded. "It's okay, Sawy, I'm right here."

He slowly followed Peyton over to the corner of her room where she dug through her belongings, finally pulling out a sketch pad. Sawyer watched intently as she flipped through several pages, finally her lips forming a smile in satisfaction.

"Here it is." She whispered, then pulling it away from her chest to show him.

"Wow! Is that me?" His stubby fingers traced over the sketch she presented him with.

"Yup, it is. I drew this a few hours after you were born." She elaborated.

"It looks just like I did."

Peyton nodded as Lucas watched on. This was the type of mother-son moment he pictured five years ago, when his son was brought into the world. But now, now it just didn't feel right. Too many things had changed. Too much had happened to come to this point.

"Do you want to keep it?" Peyton asked him.

"Can I?"

"Of course." She carefully tore it out of the book. "Here."

"Wow, this is so awesome! My mama is good at drawing too, but she draws clothes. She never drew me before." He smiled at her.

As the two interacted some more, Lucas's phone rang and when he checked to see who it was, he put it immediately back into his pocket.

It was Brooke.

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Brooke wiped away her tears, trying to regain her composure. She heard footsteps coming and immediately pretended she was doing something. Something besides crying.

"Hey, Brooke."

"Hey, Hales." Brooke tried to cover her shaky voice. But the façade did not pass Haley.

"Brooke, what's wrong?"

Brooke's teary eyes met Haley's as she shook her head. "It's nothing."

"It is something, otherwise you wouldn't be crying, now would you? What is it? Did you speak to Lucas?"

"No…I tried calling but he wouldn't pick up."

"I'm sure he just didn't hear it." Haley reassured her, pulling her into a hug.

"Yeah, me too." Brooke nodded, trying to convince herself. However, her tears did not stop. "That's not all, Hales." She admitted.

"What is it?" They parted as Haley questioned her sternly.

"I—I'm late."

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A/N – Uh oh! Cliffhanger!! :)

Thanks:

idoloveyou - I know things are looking even worse for Brucas in this chapter, but don't worry! Things will turn around eventually. Thanks for the review!

Mel – More drama is definitely starting up lol. I'm glad you're enjoying the story and thanks a bunch for the review!

kbrucas22 – I'm glad you like the story! Thanks for the review!

Thanks everyone! Leave a reviewww!

--Melissa :) :)