After Nathan had dropped her off Peyton had kindly offered to look after Lily while Karen did a few errands and popped to the shops. Now she was sat on the front garden, pretending to drink some of Lily's somewhat unappealing homemade brew that consisted of what the blonde could only assume was a mixture of mud, water and what ever other ingredients she could get her little hands on.

'Is it good?' Lily smiled gleefully, repositioning the sliver tiara on her head so her hair was out of her eyes before she poured three other cups, for herself, Mr bear and Floppsy the bunny.

'Delicious' Peyton licked her lips. 'You're going to be a great little chef when you're bigger, just like your mum' Peyton praised her. 'You know she use to own a cafe where Brooke's store is now'

Lily nodded knowingly. 'I know and it was the bestest cafe ever. Lucas says so'

'He's right' Peyton nodded, with a smile.

'When I'm a big girl I'm going to have a cafe but it will be called Lily's cafe'

'Wow that sounds...' Peyton's words trailed off as her eyes inadvertantly fell upon a limping Lucas approaching the front gate. Her eyes scanned him, lingering over his bleeding arm. 'Lucas?!' She scrambled up from the tea party she was attending. 'What happened?' She exclaimed, her face etched with concern. Lucas couldn't lie that it felt good to have her pandering over him.

'I fell'

Peyton's eyes narrowed sceptically.

'Are you going to be ok?' Lily looked at him apprehensively, her innocent chocolate eyes glued to the trail of blood running down his arm. 'You're not going to die right?' Her voice quivered. Lucas smiled.

'Of course not pretty girl. It's just a cut'

'Come on, let's get you cleaned up' Peyton took a hold of his uninjured arm, ushering him inside the house and into the bathroom, Lily hot on their tail. 'Sit' She ordered. He carefully sat on the toilet seat, watching her rifle through the medicine cupboard. 'Lil you think you can go get Luke a bottle of water from the fridge?' Peyton asked sweetly. The seven year old that had been hovering nervously in the door way looked up at her.

'Ok' She nodded, skipping off down the hall.

'You sound breathless, what have you been doing?' She frowned.

'Playing basket ball'

'You over did it' She decided.

'No I didn't, you weren't there'

'You're breathless, you know you've got to be careful' She chided. 'You have HCM Luke'

'Really? I forgot' He rolled his eyes sardonically. 'Ow' He winced as she none to gently began cleaning the gash.

'What really happened?'

'I told you-'

'I know what you told me but you tell me a lot of things and more often than not what you say isn't the truth'

He huffed. 'I told Nathan everything. He punched me. I fell over. Happy?'

'He hit you?' Peyton raised her brow.

'Got it' Lily's voice chirped as she raced back in.

'Thanks Lil' Lucas smiled, gratefully taking the cold bottle with his free arm and taking a gulp.

'Does it hurt?' The seven year old placed her small hands on his leg peering at his arm as Peyton carefully used the tweezers to get out the remaining bits of grit.

'Nah' He answered, which was quickly followed by a hiss of pain. 'Maybe a little'

'Peyton's fixing you though, right?'

'Yeah, Peyt's fixing me' He confirmed, not tearing his eyes from his concentrating wife.

'You're his nurse' Lily grinned, looking up at the busy blonde with admiration.

'Uhuh, I think I need your help though Lil' Peyton smiled gently down at her. Lily's brown eyes lit up.

'Ok, I'll go get my doctors kit' She called over her shoulder, already half way down the hall.

'So you're my nurse huh?' Lucas smiled mischievously. She rolled her eyes, setting the tweezers down and turning her attention to his face. She grabbed a bit of cotton wool and poured some witch hazel on it to soothe his red cheek. An awkward silence settled and Peyton could feel his eyes burning into her.

'Stop it' She exhaled.

'What?' He asked casually.

'Imagining me in some slutty nurse outfit' She scorned.

'I wasn't...I am now'

'Urgh' She squeezed his chin a little harder than necessary. 'Behave Lucas' Her eyes softened when he grimaced as the cool ointment touched his bruising skin.

'I'm back'

Both blondes' stifled a laugh as Lily reappeared, donning a little doctors outfit.

'Here do you want to help me put the bandage on?' Peyton knelt down, lifting Lily onto her lap. 'I'll start it off' She carefully began swaddling it around his arm and then gently guided Lily's hands to take over. 'There we go, Perfect. Well done sweetie'

Lily smiled proudly.

'Thanks Lil' Lucas ruffled her hair with his free hand.

'It's doctor Lily, Luke' She whined.

'Sorry. Thanks for making me all better Doctor Lily'

'You're welcome. You should get some rest now mister. I'm going to go check on all my other patients' She waggled her finger at him before exiting to go and find some soft toys to operate on.

'I think we have a doctor in the making' Lucas chuckled.

'She told me she wanted to open a cafe earlier' Peyton smiled at him, making him quiver slightly. She'd not given him that smile in a long time.

'Peyt?' She placed everything back in the medicine cupboard before lifting her head to look at him 'Thank you'

She nodded, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. 'We should go see what she's doing?'

'Up to mischief no doubt' Lucas smiled, following her out of the toilet.

A couple of hours later Karen arrived. She was quite taken aback to see Lucas in such a state but after a convincing story from the wounded man she'd stopped questioning him and demanded he be more careful. Both blondes were on their way back to Brooke's now and completely swiped after their afternoon of baby siting. 'Do you want to go grab something to eat?' Lucas asked hopefully. He couldn't help but feel that today Peyton had let him in a little. He'd had a great afternoon spent with her and his little sister, in fact he couldn't have asked for more.

'I can't' She answered civilly.

'You can't?' He asked despondently.

She closed her eyes briefly before regarding him. 'I have a date'

'You what?' His eyes narrowed. 'With that Matt guy again?'

'No' she looked down and continued to stroll down the path. Lucas was too stunned to move and only found the ability to walk when Peyton began to cross the road. He ran to catch up with her.

'With who then?'

'Just some guy I met' She shrugged.

'Some guy you met?' Lucas asked in disbelief. He knew the previous night had been to disgruntle him but honestly thought that would be the end of it, she'd made her point. 'That's really reassuring Peyt. Is this how it's going to be now? You're just going to date anyone and everyone you meet?' He asked desperately.

She stopped in her tracks, turning to face him, faking a smile. 'I'm a whore remember?' She widened her eyes, talking to him condescendingly.

'Peyton' He groaned. 'I didn't meant that'

'You meant it last night. How you're feelings have changed that drastically in twenty four hours I don't quite understand.' She crossed her arms.

'I was angry. Just because I called you a slut doesn't mean you have to live up to the role' She ignored his comment and carried on walking. 'Look I'm really trying here'

'Me too, trying to move on' She muttered.

Lucas groaned as she sped up, walking ahead of him. He'd left his mother's house feeling they'd taken a step forward. They'd managed to last the afternoon in each others company without any snide comments or arguments. They'd actually had fun together but now he was beginning to think it was all an act on her part. She was keeping to her end of the bargain and that was it.