Just a reminder that I posted Chapter 8 and 9 at the same time so if you have read chapter 8 yet go back and read it now!

I had massive writer's block with these last two chapters, sorry they suck.

Enjoy :)

... ... ...

Derek, Peyton's half brother, is coming home and she's excited to see him again.. She hasn't seen him since her senior year of high school and they have only talked a couple of times a year since. The last time they spoke was not long after Peyton had moved back to Tree Hill, long before her pregnancy and it completely slipped her mind to tell him he's now an uncle.

Peyton has a hard time keeping Keith calm during the medal ceremony at the Marine base. The seven month old doesn't want to sit still in his mothers lap for long, and the toys Peyton brought with her aren't keeping his interest.

After the ceremony Peyton spots Derek talking with a group of fellow marines, a few meters away from her. She approaches the group, Derek's back is to her and he hasn't noticed her behind him. She waits until he's finished his conversation before alerting him to her presence.

"Congratulations, Big Brother!" she calls.

"Peyton, you came," he says as he turns to face her. "And you brought a baby," he adds, confused.

"Surprise! This is your nephew, Keith," she tells him proudly. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I meant to, but everything has been a little crazy lately," she adds, apologetically.

"I can imagine," Derek says. They walk around the base together while Peyton fills her older brother in on everything that he's missed in her life since they last talked. Well, she tells him nearly everything, she leaves out the fact that Lucas is Keith's father, and what their situation is now. She's invited Derek to stay with her at her place for a couple of days while he gets his place set up and she thinks it would be for the best if he doesn't know the whole situation.

They walk back to the car, ready to leave. Keith is sitting on Derek's hip, fascinated with the medals on his uniform.

Derek shocks Peyton when he turns to her and asks, "What's the deal with you and Lucas? You haven't mentioned anything about him. Did you two get back together?"

Peyton pales, "Why would you say that?"

"Are you trying to tell me that Keith isn't Lucas' son?" Derek laughs. "He doesn't resemble you at all."

Peyton sighs, she really hoped they wouldn't have to have this conversation, not yet anyway. "Lucas is Keith's father," she says, letting out a heavy sigh. "But it's complicated, he doesn't know."

"What do you mean he doesn't know? He still lives in Tree Hill doesn't he?" Derek asks.

"Like I said, it really is complicated," she says, taking Keith from him and strapping him into his carseat.

"We have a long drive back. I'm sure there's enough time." he says, before climbing into the passenger seat of the comet.

"Well?" Derek asks, impatiently after they've been driving for 10 minutes and Peyton obviously isn't going to be the one to start the conversation.

"Like I said Lucas doesn't know, but he's around."

"What the hell does that mean?" Derek barks, and Peyton can tell he's getting angry, which is exactly what she was trying to avoid by keeping him in the dark. He's still so angry at their biological father and she doesn't want him directing any of that anger unfairly towards Lucas.

"It means he doesn't know Keith is his son, but he's in his life. How many different ways do you want me to say it?" she asks, slightly frustrated.

"I don't know. As many as it take until I understand with that actually means," Derek responds, equally frustrated. "Who does he think Keith's father is?"

"I don't know," Peyton shrugs. "He's never asked. I wouldn't have been able to lie to him though if he did."

"But why didn't you just tell him?"

"He was married." she says quietly, scared of what his reaction will be.

"Peyton!" he chastises. "You were the other woman?" he asks, clearly irritated at how big of a mess this actually is.

"No! No! They weren't together when I fell pregnant. I told you it's complicated," she snaps. "Just let me explain!"

"Alright."

"Do you remember last time we talked, I'd only been back in Tree Hill for a few weeks, and I told you about Luke's girlfriend?" Derek only nods.

"They were engaged, but she left him at the altar. We had a little too much to drink one night after she left him and I don't even remember how it happened, but we slept together. I went on tour with an artist on my label, found out I was pregnant, and when I came home they were married," she pauses. "I was too scared of what his reaction would be to tell him and he was happy. I didn't want to ruin that."

"And what he doesn't know how to do the math?" Derek questions, sarcastically.

"I'm sure he would have figured it out for himself, but he doesn't remember anything from that night either."

Derek doesn't say anything and for the first time since she started driving Peyton's wishes he would. Peyton looks over at her brother trying to figure out what he's thinking.

"I managed to make a real big mess of everything, hey?"

... ... ...

Peyton's birthday arrives and Brooke is throwing a small party at her place and Peyton has been really looking forward to it. It's not often these days she has a reason to dress up.

Brooke keeps her promise and the dinner is simple with just their small group of friends. Keith happily sits in his high chair, babbling to everyone and trying to join in their conversations.

After dinner is over it's time to open presents and Peyton insists her friends didn't need to get her anything. She saves the largest gift for last and the tag on the wrapping paper tells her that it's from Lucas and Keith. It surprises her just how heavy the gift is as she places it in her lap.

"I wonder what it could be," she muses.

She pulls back the wrapping to reveal a large frame with silver plaster molds of Keith's hands and feet. "Oh, Luke," she says in amazement as her fingers trace over the glass of the frame. "This is too much!"

"Of course it isn't," he insists.

"I love it," she leans over to give Lucas a hug and places a kiss to Keith's forehead, who is sitting in Luke's lap.

It's starting to get late and Keith is resting his head in the crook of her neck, twirling her curls in his fingers. She looks down at him happily and notices that his eyes keep fluttering closed, it is time to get him home and into bed.

"I better go," she tells Brooke. "Someone's getting sleepy. Thank you so much for tonight,"she says, hugging Brooke tightly. She straps Keith into his car seat as Lucas helps take the presents to the car.

"Peyton, wait," Luke calls, stopping her before she can get in the comet.

"What's up, Luke?"

"Ahh... nothing, I was just wondering... What are you doing Friday night?" he asks.

"Nothing," she replies, confused. "I'll probably just be at home, like I always am on a Friday night."

"Well I was thinking that we could, you know, go out... for your birthday," he stammers. "We could see a movie, maybe grab something to eat," he nervously runs his hand through his hair.

He doesn't know why he's so nervous, ever since Jamie's party his conversation with Nathan just keeps running through his head. Nathan is right, Peyton will never just be a friend. He realized that he had to do something about what he was feeling because if he waits too long it may be too late. But what if they don't work out? It won't just be Peyton he will lose this time, Keith's involved now as well.

"It could be like another present from me. I know you haven't had a chance to go out much since Keith was born."

"You know calling me a spinster really doesn't help your case," she raises an eyebrow at him.

"I didn't mean it like that," he says, quickly correcting himself. "I just thought..."

"I know what you meant, Luke," she cuts him off with a laugh. "I was just teasing. So Friday? What should I wear?"

"Anything, that doesn't matter, wear sweats if you want."

Peyton laughs, "Okay."

"Alright, so I'll see you then... I mean I'll still see you tomorrow. I just meant..."

"I got it," she tells him, before he can start babbling again.

... ... ...

Peyton drops Keith off at Brooke's house on Friday night just before she has to get home and wait for Lucas to pick her up for... whatever tonight is. She refuses to think of it as a date. That he asked her out of anything other than pity. She doesn't want to think of tonight as a date and then get her hopes up if she's wrong.

Brooke opens the door and takes in Peyton's outfit, ripped jeans and a band tee that looks like it has seen better days. "Please tell me you're going to change when you get home?" Brooke asks, dubiously.

Peyton sighs as she enters the house. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing, Brooke?"

"Well, aren't you a little under dressed?" she says, scrutinizing Peyton's outfit choice.

"No," Peyton tells her.

"But he asked you out on a date," Brooke says, pointedly.

"No, he didn't. He asked if I want to see a movie and maybe grab something to eat. there's a big difference between maybe grabbing a bite to eat and a date. Hell, he told me I could wear sweats if I wanted, and I nearly did," she laughs. "He only asked me to go tonight because he feels sorry for me."

"That's not true," Brooke protests.

Peyton shrugs, and rolls her eyes. "I can't argue with you any more. I have to go or Lucas will beat me home," she says, before placing a final kiss to the top of Keith's head.

Luke knocks on her front door not long after she's arrived back from dropping Keith off. She opens the door and is momentarily too stunned to say anything. Lucas is standing in front of her wearing dress pants, and a nice button down shirt. He even put on a jacket and a tie.

She suddenly feels very under dressed.

"I, uh... I'm not ready yet," she stutters, once she's snapped out of her thoughts and can talk again. "I was running late dropping Keith off," she lies, letting him into her house. "I'm gonna go get changed."

She hurries back to her bedroom and grabs the first dress she can get her hands on.

"Okay, I'm ready," she calls, as she comes out of her bedroom. Luke is standing at the end of the hallway, a bouquet of flowers in his hand that she didn't notice before.

"Thank you," she says graciously, accepting the bouquet. "I'm just going to put these in some water before we go."

Luke escorts her out to his car, his hand on her lower back the entire time. He opens the passenger door for her and helps her into the car.

"You're really pulling out all the stops tonight," she jokes.

"You weren't running late, were you?" he smirks at her knowingly, once he's in the drivers seat.

"No," she laughs.

The whole night definitely feels more like a date than just two friends hanging out. Luke takes her to a nice Italian restaurant and then to a movie and he refuses her offer to pay for anything.

She was wrong, it's definitely a date.

She's nervous as Luke walks her to her front door, her heart thumping in her chest. She doesn't know why she's so nervous. It's only Lucas, they've seen each other everyday for months. But the night turned out drastically different than anything she was expecting.

She turns to face him once they reach her door. She wants to invite him in, to talk. If they're going to start dating, if Lucas even wants to continue after tonight, then Lucas needs to know the truth. She can't let whatever this may be progress any further without him knowing everything. But she knows if she invites him inside they probably won't do any talking.

"I had a really good time tonight," she says instead.

"Good," he replies and snakes his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him. "So did I."

He closes the distance between them and places a soft kiss to Peyton's lips. Peyton opens her mouth, inviting him to deepen the kiss, and Luke doesn't hesitate to accept the offer.

Peyton pulls away, suddenly breaking the kiss. "You should probably go," she says breathlessly, playing with his tie. "I still have to pick up Keith."

"I'll see you tomorrow?" he asks, disappointed that the night is coming to an end so soon.

"Yeah, of course," Peyton nods and watches as he makes his way back to his car before unlocking her door and going inside.

... ... ...

Luke opens Peyton's front door and lets himself into the house. He can hear Keith's giggles coming from the kitchen and it puts a smile on his face. He makes his way into the kitchen to see what is going on. Keith is in his jumper, facing Peyton who is currently bent over, pulling something from the oven. He leans against the counter beside her.

"What are you doing?" he smirks.

"I made cookies," she says with a pleased smile, placing the tray of cookies on top of the stove to cool. "Want to try one?" she asks, holding out a plate of cookies that are already cool enough to eat.

"Uhh..." Luke says, eyeing the plate apprehensively, making Peyton laugh.

"Come on," she says, excitedly. "Keith likes them." Lucas looks over his shoulder and sees that Keith has a small piece of cookie in his hand, and is happily nibbling on it. Well, if Keith has given them his seal of approval, they can't be that bad. He slowly reaches over and takes a cookie from the plate, causing Peyton to laugh again at his reluctance.

"Mmm..." he takes a bite, and is pleasantly surprised. "This is actually really good," he says. "They taste exactly like..."

"Your moms?" she finishes for him and he nods. "She gave me her recipe with precise instruction so that even I couldn't mess them up."

"These are better than my mothers." He dips his finger in the discarded mixing bowl, and scoops up a bit of the remaining cookie dough, smearing it over Peyton's lips.

"Hey!" she starts to protest, but is silenced by Luke's lips on hers. Her hands come up to wrap around his neck as he licks the cookie dough from her lips then immediately deepens the kiss.

Keith not happy that he isn't getting all of his parents attention, squeals loudly to get the focus on him. Peyton breaks the kiss and ducks around Luke to lift Keith out of his jumper.

That is how things have been between the two of them since their date, the kissing and flirting has become a regular occurrence. Neither of them has tried to actually talk to the other about what has changed in their relationship. And secretly she's glad because she doesn't think she's ready to have that conversation with him yet.

Luke takes a seat at the kitchen table and the flowers he gave Peyton on their date are still on the table. They started to die a long time ago, but Peyton refuses to throw them out.

"Don't you think you should get rid of these now?" he asks Peyton as she puts Keith in his high chair.

"No," she looks at the wilted flowers and smiles. "I like them."

"But they're dead," he says, picking one of the dead petals off the table and flicking it.

"So," she replies.

"I'll buy you new ones," he argues, playfully.

"But I like these ones," she says.

"So, do you have a date for the wedding?" she asks, quickly changing the subject.

"Mhm. Well I hope I do," he replies with a chuckle.

"Oh, that's good. I have a date as well," she tells him, teasingly. "And you're almost as handsome as he is," she smirks.

"What?" he asks, incredulously.

Peyton laughs, "He does bare a striking resemblance to you though. He's very handsome, just like you. He has blond hair, just like you," she says, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. "But his eyes, they're green," she looks to Keith who has just rubbed his pureed beans through his hair. "And apparently, he has the hair to match too."

"You're mean," Luke pouts.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. But you're my date aren't you baby?" she asks Keith, who responds by grabbing her cheeks with his sticky hands. "Lovely," she says, wiping the mess from her cheeks with a napkin.

"Why don't I clean this up while you take care of Keith?" Luke suggests.

"Come on, messy boy," she says, taking Keith from his high chair and making her way to the bathroom to get him cleaned up.

... ... ...

Peyton feels the bed dip beside her then the weight of her son as he lands on her back. She groans, burying her head under her pillow. It's the morning after Brooke's bachelorette party and her head is throbbing. She definitely had a little too much to drink the night before.

"Go away," she mumbles into the pillow and she hears Lucas chuckle beside her.

"But I brought you something," he goads.

"Unless it's aspirin I don't want it," she replies.

"It is," he laughs and places the pills and a glass of water on he bedside table. "We'll be waiting for you when you get up," he tells her before taking Keith and leaving the room, giving her time to wake up properly.

When she finally manages to drag herself out of bed a little while later she finds Keith and Lucas sitting on the floor of the living room making a tower with Keith's building blocks.

"Having fun?" she asks, joining them on the floor. Lucas is building the tower up, but before it gets to high Keith knocks it down, eliciting excited giggles from the baby. Peyton winces at the noise as all the blocks tumble to the floor.

"Yeah," Luke answers, gathering the fallen blocks and starting over again. "How's your head?"

"A lot better, thanks," she says, pulling Keith into her lap and hugging him to her. He spent the night with Lucas last night and it was the first time she has ever spent a full night away from him.

"Did you have a good time last night?"

"Yeah, it was great. I even got a couple of guys numbers," she teases, playfully.

"No, you didn't."

"Oh, but I did. One of them was even a stripper."

"You went to a strip club?" he asks in disbelief.

"Oh, puh-lease, like I don't know exactly what you boys got up to for Julian's bachelor party," she retorts.

Luke glares at her suspiciously, "And what do you plan on doing with those numbers?" Keith leans forward in her lap and knocks over the new tower Luke built and looks up at Peyton who gladly joins in on his excitement.

"I don't know, I'm keeping my options open. Maybe I'll give them to your mom, she can add them to her collection," she taunts, knowing that it bothers him that his mother was out with them last night.

"Okay, that's enough," Luke stops her, repulsed. "It's bad enough that I have to know my mother was at a strip club with you, but now you're telling me she was being hit on as well," he shudders as he gets up off the floor and shakes his head.

"You have five minutes to tell me what you want for breakfast or you can go hungry!" he calls over his shoulder as he strides from the room.

Peyton laughs and picks Keith up from the floor, "Come on, let's go tease your daddy some more," she says, making Keith clap in response.

... ... ...

"Brooke, are you ready yet?" Peyton asks her friend as she's putting the finishing touches to her makeup. It's the day of the wedding and the ceremony has already been postponed by thirty minutes because Brooke's father, who promised his daughter he would be there to walk her down the aisle, has yet to show up. Peyton's honestly not surprised he isn't here, he hasn't exactly been present for Brooke for most of her life.

"I'm ready," Brooke announces, and Peyton can see the disappointment on her friends face. Brooke had expected her father to be there for her today of all days. And it just makes Peyton so angry that he couldn't even be bothered to show up for his only daughter on her wedding day.

Peyton pulls Brooke in for a reassuring hug. "You look amazing, B. Davis!" She tells Brooke and they hear Victoria grumbling from the other side of the room about what terrible things this wedding is going to do for the company, causing the two of them to laugh at her ridiculousness.

"Let's do this," Brooke says, stifling her laughter.

Peyton immediately spots Lucas when she starts her walk down the aisle. He's sitting with Derek and Karen and Lily. Karen has Keith sitting in her lap, the little suit Brooke made for the occasion is already covered in drool and food stains. She smiles at Luke as she walks past him and he winks back at her.

Julian is fidgeting nervously at the front of the church. Peyton and Haley stand opposite from Julian and his groomsmen and turn to watch as Brooke starts her descent down the aisle.

It's no surprise that the majority of Brooke and Julian's relatives leave as as soon as the ceremony is over. Having fulfilled their obligation by attending the ceremony, they don't feel the need to also stay for the reception. Brooke says she prefers it this way, because now only the people she really cares about are left and she jokes that the only thing keeping Victoria around is the open bar.

Lucas finds her immediately after she arrives at the reception, snaking his arm around her waist and pulling her into him. "Have I told you how beautiful you look?"

"Not today," she says, smiling warmly. "Where's my baby?" she asks, noticing Keith isn't with him.

"Right here," he replies, flirtatiously

"Sooo not what I meant, but I guess you'll have to do," she says, letting out an exaggerated sigh and wrapping her arms around his neck as he closes the distance between the two of them and places his lips on hers.

"Keith's with my mom," he tells her when they break apart. Reluctantly they head into the reception and join the rest of the group

Lucas leads Peyton out onto the dance floor after dinner and Lucas doesn't let anyone interrupt, not even when the best man comes and asks if he can cut in. Peyton gives him an apologetic shrug and laughs as Luke leads her to the other side of the dance floor. It's only when Lily approaches wanting to dance with her brother that Peyton steps aside. Lucas has a hard time refusing his younger sister anything. She watches the two of them dance from the other side of the room.

"Hey," Derek calls, as he approaches with Keith, breaking her from her thoughts. Keith immediately reaches his arms out for his mother to take him and Peyton holds him close to her. She's hardly seen him at all today, with all the preparations for the wedding and he's going to be spending the night with Derek, so she won't see him again until morning

"I think we're going to head home now," he tells her.

"Okay, she answers, giving Keith a final hug. "You be good for Uncle Derek and I'll see you first thing in the morning," she says "Before you go, who was that girl I saw you dancing with earlier?"

Derek chuckles, shaking his head at her. "Her name is Emma, and before you ask, yes I have her number and I plan on calling her."

"Aww, that's great!" she exclaims. "Drive safe, and call me if you need anything."

"I will," he promises.

Brooke quickly squeezes in beside Peyton as Derek leaves.

"So, how does it feel to be married, Brooke Davis?"

"Brooke Baker," Brooke corrects her with a smile.

"Really?" she asks surprised. "You're taking his name? How's Victoria taking the news?"

"As well as can be expected," Brooke says. "I'll still be using Davis at the company. I think that's the only reason Victoria hasn't had an aneurysm."

"And that would be a bad thing?" Peyton responds.

"Shut up!" Brooke laughs, shoving Peyton's side.

Peyton hears Lily laugh and her attention is drawn back to the dance floor. Brooke follows her gaze suspiciously.

"Ahh," she nods, knowingly. "And exactly what is going on with you and Lucas?"

"Nothing," Peyton protests. a little too quickly for Brooke's liking.

"Yeah right!" Brooke cries. "One - it's never nothing between you and Lucas and two - I saw that kiss earlier tonight. That wasn't a nothing kiss."

"I honestly don't know," Peyton sighs, relenting. "We haven't really talked about it."

"Peyton, the two of you cannot keep going on like this. You need to talk. Julian and I are planning on leaving soon, we want to get an early night. I just wanted to come and say goodbye."

"I'm so happy for you, Brooke," Peyton says, hugging her friend.

Lucas dances with his sister for a few songs before he takes her back to his mom. It's getting late and Lily is starting to get tired, which reminds him that he and Peyton should probably get Keith home soon. He spots Peyton talking with Brooke on the other time of the room. He makes his way over to them. Brooke's leaving just as he approaches.

"Hey," he says, placing his hand on her lower back, causing her to jump. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. We should probably get Keith home and into bed, shouldn't we?"

"He's actually staying with Derek tonight, they left a little while ago," she tells him.

"Oh," his face falls. It's been such a busy day and he feels like he's hardly spent any time with Peyton and Keith today and he's disappointed he won't get to see Keith again tonight.

"Brooke and Julian are planning on leaving soon, we can leave too if you want."

After saying a proper goodbye to Brooke and Julian and the rest of their friends the two of them leave the reception and Luke drives them back to Peyton's.

Peyton unlocks the front door and turns back to face Lucas. "Do you want to come in?"

The front door has barely closed before his lips are on hers again, and she's undoing his tie and pushing his jacket off his shoulders as he undoes the zipper on her dress. He pushes her up against her bedroom door as she fumbles to open it without breaking contact with him. They stumble through the doorway of her bedroom and the two of them collapse in a heap on top of her bed.

Peyton feels Luke's arm heavy against her waist, his hand tracing patterns on her bare stomach. They've both been silent for the last 10 minutes, both trying to wrap their heads around what just happened. When she asked him inside she never anticipated that this would happen! She honestly invited him in with every intention to talk. When Derek offered to take Keith for the night she took him up on it, to give her and Lucas a chance to be alone, to talk.

It was obvious ever since her birthday that their relationship was changing and she just couldn't let it carry on any further without telling him he is Keith's father. She should have told him that first night, but her spinelessness got the best of her and instead she carried on as normal.

"Luke, I..." she stutters, the first one to break the silence.

"I love you, Peyt," he whispers in her ear.

Peyton jerks away from him surprised. "What?"

"I said I..." he starts.

"I heard what you said," she cuts him off.

"I love you and I love Keith. Nathan pointed out to me at Jamie's party that I'm playing 'dad' and he's right. I love Keith, like he's my own son and I want the three of us together, as a family."

No, no, no, no. Why did he have to say this now? Why couldn't he have just waited a few seconds longer for her to speak. She never should have let it get this far, she should have just told him the truth as soon as she came home from tour. No, it shouldn't have even got that far. She should have told him the truth the morning after when he came to see her at Tric.

Any excuse she's given herself for not telling the truth, was just that, an excuse. A reason to prevent having this conversation out of fear of what Lucas' reaction would be. But hearing him say he loves her son, their son, and wants the three of them to be a family, the only thing she's accomplished is keeping her son and his father apart.

"Oh god," Peyton groans, getting out of bed and frantically searching for clothes to put on.

"What are you doing?" Luke asks confused.

"Getting dressed."

"Why?"

"Because this is so not a conversation I want to have with you while I'm naked," she replies, pulling on the first pair of shorts and t-shirt she can find. Luke looks down as if he only just realizes his own state of undress, before joining her and pulling on the pants from his suit.

Peyton paces the length of her bedroom. She's panicking, but there's no going back now and her relationship with Lucas is never going to be the same.

"Luke, I have to tell you something," she says, her voice slightly uneven. "Just please promise you'll try to stay calm while I tell you."

"Alright," he replies, shaking his head in confusion. He has no idea what she's going on about.

"I made a mistake. A big, big mistake and if I could go back and change what I did I would. If knew then what I know now I would have done it all differently, you have to know that." she says, truly remorseful.

"What are you going on about, Peyton?" he asks and he's getting slightly frustrated that they're not really getting anywhere.

"I lied to you," she says as tears start welling in her eyes, threatening to spill over. "You remember last year when we both got really drunk at Tric?" She asks and Lucas nods, uncertainly. That was a long time ago and he doesn't understand where she's going with this.

"I never put you in a cab that night and sent you home, like I told you. I don't know exactly what happened that night because I don't remember much of anything after sitting down at the bar with you. We must have had a hell of a lot of tequila. All I remember is waking up at your house with you naked. Well at least I was naked, I, uh, never checked you," she rambles.

"But when I woke up I panicked, and left," she confesses, her voice cracking. "I shouldn't have lied to you when you came to see me, I should have told you the truth straight away, but I remember you spent the entire night talking about Lindsey and how heartbroken you were. I never thought anything like this would happen. I thought that I could just put it behind me and forget all about it."

She stops pacing and she can't bring herself to look at him, but she can feel his gaze on her. She inhales heavily, her eyes closed. "You're Keith's father," she whispers, and Lucas is so quiet and for a second she thinks he doesn't hear her.

"What? no... I can't ..." he stutters. "You left on tour because you were pregnant," he says, in a state of shock.

"NO, of course not! I didn't know then. I found out I was pregnant half way through the tour, and I should have called you as soon as I found out, but I convinced myself that it wasn't something I could tell you over the phone while I was on the other side of the country. I thought it would be better if I told you in person. I was going to tell you as soon as I came home. I was on my way to your house when Nathan and Haley told me you were married."

"I thought that night was just a dream, that I was going crazy because you said nothing happened! I never would have gotten back with Lindsey if you hadn't lied to me and run off!" he interrupts her angrily.

"Don't you dare," she objects. "Don't you dare blame me for you making a stupid mistake with Lindsey. This whole situation between me and you," she says, waving her hand between them, fresh tears running down her face. "Is my fault. I know that and I take full responsibility for that, but I will not let you blame me for what you did with Lindsey, I had nothing to do with that. I was already long gone when you decided to run off to Vegas!"

"And you told me you hated me! What was I supposed to think? I still should have told you, but you were married Lucas! I thought you were happy I didn't want to ruin that"

"It wouldn't have ruined anything!" he insists.

"Oh, don't kid yourself Lucas. If I turned up on your doorstep the day I arrived home and told you that I was going to have your baby how would you have reacted? You wouldn't have believed me, you would have accused me of trying to ruin your life because you had Lindsey back and were finally happy again. And it sure as hell wouldn't be the first time you've done that, would it?"

Luke opens his mouth to protest, but ultimately decides keep quiet because he can't deny what she's saying. He was in a completely different mindset then. He was still with Lindsey and still trying to prove to everyone that they hadn't made a mistake by running off to Vegas and getting married. If she had come to him so soon after he married Lindsey he probably wouldn't have taken the news of her pregnancy well.

"See! You say it wouldn't have been that way, but you know what I'm saying is true. The way you feel now and the way you felt then are completely different!"

"That doesn't mean I still wouldn't have been there for my child!" he argues. "And what about all the other opportunities you've had to tell me, huh?" he asks, callously.

"I was scared and you had so much going on with the movie and Lindsey and then the divorce. I thought it was just better to keep quiet than to cause any more damage."

"Christ, I've missed out on everything, Peyton!"

"NO you haven't! You haven't missed out on anything! You've been there everyday since he was born."

"Exactly, I've been here everyday for six months. I've been helping you with him, looking after him so you could work without having to worry about him. What was it some experiment? Did I have to prove to you that I was worthy enough to know I was his father?" he asks, venomously.

"I can't look at you right now. I need to leave because if I stay here any longer I will say something I really don't want to say and you really don't want to hear!" He shakes his head and makes his way towards her bedroom door.

"Luke, please don't!" she grabs his arm trying to stop him from leaving. "I know you're mad, but he's your son! We have to talk."

"Oh, so now he's my son!" he fires back at her.

"He's always been your son!" she cries desperately.

"I told you I can't do this right now," he shakes his arm out of her grip and leaves her room and continues towards the front door, still only in the pants from his suit.

"Luke!" she pleads with him, in one last attempt to stop him from walking out.

He doesn't stop, he continues as if she never spoke.

She knows it's coming, but she still flinches when Lucas slams the front door with such ferocity that a crack forms in one of the glass panels. She sinks to the floor, her legs suddenly giving way beneath her. Lucas' words 'I can't do this' running through her mind, which trigger a fresh round of tears.