A/N: I apologize right now for the long delay of this chapter. And I know it's been long because fanfiction has really changed its layout!

Anyways, I'm still not completely satisfied with this chapter, but this is one of the better copies I have for it. There is one more chapter, an epilogue, and probably my favorite chapter of this story, to this fic that will be posted very soon. Thanks for your patience.

Chapter Ten

- You're the one true thing I know I can believe in-

After an impromptu BBQ lunch, Peyton took it upon herself to clean up the mess on the patio. As she gathered the dirty plates, Peyton smiled at the laughter coming from Lily and Jamie who were being chased by Nathan around the yard. Occasionally she would sneak a peak at the three kids. It was a beautiful sight to see and would surly inspire a drawing or two later that evening.

"Peyton, why don't you have join them. I can clean up." Haley offered as she stepped outside onto the patio.

Somewhat startled, Peyton looked back at Haley and picked up another plate, "I don't mind cleaning up, Hales. Besides, it's the least I can do for letting me stay here for the past few days."

"Please, Peyton. You know you're welcome here. Besides it's nice to have another girl around. It kinda balances the testosterone around here."

"So you wouldn't mind if I stayed another night? I kinda get lonely in my house."

"Of course. And hey," Haley took the pile of dishes from Peyton's hands and set them back down onto the table. "Why don't we just sit and enjoy the afternoon for a bit? We'll clean up later."

Peyton shrugged, "Sounds good to me."

She sat down on one of the patio chairs facing the yard. Haley took a seat beside the blonde just in time to see Jamie grab Nathan's hands.

"Get him!" Jamie yelled between fits of giggles.

Lily charged Nathan with arms outstretched to tickle him. They all laughed at a squirming Nathan who playfully fell to the ground in defeat. Jamie seized the opportunity to belly flop, wrestling style, onto his father. Nathan writhed in fake pain. Lily laughed so hard she fell to the ground. Her laugh was so pure and innocent. Nothing but happiness sang from the little Scott.

"It's so good to hear her laugh like that again."Haley commented.

"Yeah, it is." Peyton agreed.

"You know, Lucas will come around too."

"Yeah, I hope so."

"Peyton, I know that you have been beyond patient with him, but I think he just needs a bit more time to get back to normal. I mean look at how long it took him to fix things with Lily."

"I know. But it's just so frustrating. And it hurts, especially when he can't even be in the same aisle as me."

"Huh? Aisle?"

"I saw him at the grocery store the other day. I was in the middle of the snack aisle when I happened to look up and there he was. He took two steps, saw me, turned and walked away."

"No, I can't believe him."

Peyton, staring off into the yard, nodded. "Then I realized that it's not just in grocery aisles. It's here too. I mean has he ever stayed more than five minutes when he drops off or picks up Lily?"

Haley started to realize the pattern. She had always asked Lucas to come in or stay for dinner, but Lucas always declined, claiming that he had errands to run. Never once had she thought about Peyton's presence being the reason for his actions.

"I'm sorry, Peyton. I never realized…"

"It's not your fault, Haley. I just wish I knew what I did wrong. I mean did I push too hard? Does he really not want me in Lily's life?"

"Well, if that's the case, then too bad. Peyton, you're great with Lily and she loves you. And I know Karen wouldn't have it any other way."

"Thanks, Haley."

"Last one in the pool is a rotten egg!" Nathan exclaimed as he ran past the girls with Jamie hot on his heels.

"Whoa, slow down." Haley called out to her boys. "I swear, I couldn't tell you who's the bigger kid. Jamie or Nathan? Oh snap. Jamie's trunks are in the washer. I better find him another pair to swim in."

Haley jumped up from her chair and chased after her boys. Peyton stood up and waited for a trailing Lily to catch up.

"We're going swimming!" Lily exclaimed as Peyton scooped her up into her arms.

"You are?!?" Peyton replied with just as much enthusiasm.

"Uh-huh. You should too!"

"Um, how about next time?"

"Aw, you always say that."

"I know. I'm sorry, Lils. But definitely next time."

"Promise?"

"I promise." Peyton sighed. She never was a fan of the water but she couldn't resist those pleading puppy dog eyes that Lily shared with her brother.

Lily raised both arms in the air. "Yay!"

"Alright, Lils," Peyton placed Lily back down onto the ground, "Go inside and get changed. Just yell if you need help."

Lily nodded her head and started to scamper towards the house. Halfway there, she stopped in the tracks and her face lit up. Her day was getting better and better.

"Lucas! You're here!"

Peyton's eyes snapped up from the little girl to Lucas who was leaning against the door frame. In a frozen state, she watched Lucas crouch down to his sister's level.

"Yeah, I was driving by and thought that maybe I'd take you and Jamie to the park but then I heard that you were going swimming. And since I know how much you love swimming, I thought that we could go for some ice cream after your swim instead. How does that sound?"

"Really awesome!" Lily jumped up and down.

"Alright." Lucas held his hand out that Lily excitedly high fived.

"Can you swim too?"

His now wrinkled, "Maybe next time. I didn't bring my swimming shorts."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

"Yay! Peyton promised too."

He took a moment to give Peyton an awkward smile.

"Now we all can play waterball against Uncle Nathan. He's really good."

"He is, is he? Well, we'll have to see about that." Lucas joked.

"Lucas, can you help me find my swim bag?"

Lucas stole a glance at Peyton before nodding to his sister. "Yeah, I can do that."

From the lounge chair Lucas watched his sister splash around in the pool with Jamie and Nathan. He never realized how much he missed seeing the smile that lit up Lily's face until now.

"You know, it wouldn't hurt if you smiled." Haley commented as she sat down beside her best friend.

Lucas offered a small smile making it apparent that there was something on his mind.

"Where's Peyton?"

"Oh, she just had some errands to run."

It was apparent by Haley's poor attempt of being nonchalant that she was lying. Peyton didn't have errands to run. She just figured that by leaving it would save an argument in front of the kids.

"I haven't been myself lately, have I?"

"Not exactly. But you've been through a lot lately."

"I'm sorry."

"I just miss my mom so much, Hales."

"I know. Me too."

Haley wiped the few tears that escaped from her eyes. Lucas put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her in for a half hug. The two best friends fell into a comfortable silence while they leaned on each other for support.

In the pool Nathan snuck behind his son and tossed him out of the water and into the air. Jamie's eyes shot open with surprise before letting out a jovial scream and splashing into the water again. Lily laughed uncontrollably.

"Look at her, Luke. She's happy, isn't she?"

"Yeah, she is."

"So now that we've established that Lily is happy now, what about you?"

Lucas shrugged, "I'm happy as long as Lily is happy."

"So avoiding Peyton makes you happy too?"

Lucas stiffened, "I'm not avoiding her. She's avoiding me."

"Oh, so then that wasn't you Peyton saw at the grocery store the other day? You know, the one who couldn't stand being in the same aisle as her?"

He shut his eyes, just like he did when he saw Peyton at the store. "She saw me."

"Lucas." she smacked his arm. "How could you? It's not only rude, but you really hurt her."

"I didn't mean to. Look, it was just once. I swear. But it's just..."

"What is it, Luke?"

"When I saw her, I just froze. I didn't know what to say or how to act. The things I've said to her the past couple of weeks...I know that I've really hurt her and I can't just take take it all back."

"Well you can start with an apology."

Lucas wondered if an apology would even be enough. "You know, I just don't get it. After the way I've treated her, how can she still want anything to do with me?"

"That's the thing about love. When you love someone, you don't hold whatever they say or do against them. You find a way to forgive them."

"Even if I don't deserve it?"

"Everybody deserves to be loved, Lucas. You especially." Haley reached for her friend's hand, "You've sacrificed so much for you mom and for Lily. And I really think that Karen would be proud of you for the way are with Lily. You love her, protect her and would do anything just to see her smile. And I think that if Karen was still here, she'd do the same thing for you too."

Haley offered Lucas another hug, who more than willingly took his friend's support.

"Mama!" Jamie yelled from the pool. "Jump in!"

Haley sat up and looked at Lucas, "What do you say?"

"Yeah, you too, Uncle Luke!" Jamie splashed.

"Yeah, come on Lucas! Just jump in like that." Lily encouraged her brother, but Luke politely declined.

"Next time." he replied to the kids, then turned to Haley, "Can you do me a favour?"

"Anything."

"Can you watch Lily for a while? I have something to do."

"Yeah sure." Haley nodded, "And if you happen to see Peyton tell her that we're having a pool party and her invite is still good."

Lucas rolled his eyes.

"Just be happy, Luke."

In that exact spot she was sitting in, she had told him, "It's not gonna matter whether I stay or go with us because I'm gonna love you forever, Lucas Scott,"

Blissful. Happy. Sad. Anger. Regretful. Even in any emotion or any mood, those seven words – I'm gonna love you forever, Lucas Scott – would always be the haunting truth.

Peyton sat on the cold concrete bench, blankly staring at the water gushing out of the fountain. Wiping her fallen tears from her face, Peyton swore to herself that she would never cry over Lucas Scott again. Then she laughed at herself, knowing that it wasn't going to happen because Peyton Sawyer's heart would always belong to him, no matter what.

"Feeling sentimental?"

The sound of his voice frightened her in more ways than one. She wasn't expecting company, let alone Lucas'. And yet there he was. She didn't turn around to face him. Instead, Peyton heard his soft footsteps approach her. Lucas' movements were slow and cautious, especially when he sat down beside her.

The awkward tension that sat between them kept them both silent. He seemed to be lost in the memory of their past while she seemed to be lost and scared in the present.

When he finally mustered the courage to open his mouth, only her voice was heard.

"What are you doing here, Luke?"

"I was…um," he stuttered like a shy teenage boy talking to his crush for the first time, "I don't know."

It wasn't the answer she was hoping for. Peyton swallowed the lump forming in her throat and stood up. There was nothing left for her to say and the last thing she wanted to do was to start another pointless fight with him.

"I should go."

No more than three steps were taken when Lucas finally spoke up,

"I was looking for you."

He never realized how bad things had gotten between them, but he was glad she wasn't facing him. It just seemed easier to talk without having a pair of judging eyes looking back at you.

"I looked all over town for you - your house, the bridge, the Rivercourt, the beach."

Peyton turned around. Her guard was clearly up. "Why would I go to those places?"

"Probably the same reason why you're here. They're places that mean a lot to me. And it's where I go when I miss you,"

Damn him, she thought. Peyton hated the fact that he knew her well and the vulnerability that came with getting involved with Lucas Scott. There was only one way Peyton knew of that let her hide the heart she wore on her sleeve and that was to put up her brooding poker face. She crossed her arms against her chest and chewed on her bottom lip, keeping quiet. Protecting her heart trumped letting Lucas back in so easily.

"You know, I keep having this dream. Nightmare, really."

He was there to fight either. It was becoming clear that he wanted to talk. As Lucas spoke, Peyton made her way back to the stone bench and sat beside him.

"I'm at the Rivercourt with you and Lily. We're just goofing off, having fun and we're just...just so happy. But then suddenly you take Lily by the hand and you both disappear and I'm all alone. Then I wake up and for a split second, I tell myself it's just a dream - that it's all been a dream and my mom is really in the kitchen getting breakfast ready.

"But when I realize that she's not coming back... it's like I lose her all over again. And I have no one but Lily left."

There were too many tears for him to suppress. With gentle care, Peyton shifted closer to him and held him.

"It's gonna go be alright, Luke." she soothed.

When his tears ran dry a few minutes later, Lucas abruptly sat up. He wiped the moisture from his face with the palm of his hands.

"Sorry." he said. "I don't mean to keep crying on you."

"It's OK, Lucas. You don't have to apologize."

"It's ironic, you know," Lucas laughed nervously. "You try to do the right thing – be the good guy everyone makes you out to be - but in the end, it ends up being the wrong thing – and I turned out to be the ass who lost everything,"

"You're right. You are an ass, Lucas. But not in the way you think. You haven't lost everything. You still have Nathan and Haley. And most importantly, Lily is still here,"

"And what about you?"

"I'm here for you, Luke. Always. You know that, but…"

"But you also have a life. I know. And I don't want to tie you down here with me,"

"Lucas…" Peyton tried to interrupt to tell him that he had it all wrong.

"No, let me finish." Lucas insisted, "Before, I didn't want to be that selfish guy and make you stay with me. And I didn't want you to look back years from now and regret staying. But last night, it was the first time since my mom died where I actually slept through the night. Most nights I'd wake up in a cold sweat worried about how Lily is going to grow up without knowing mom. Other nights I'd lie awake wondering where you were. If you were even OK.

"But I get it now - I haven't been the brother Lily needed. Or the friend Haley needed. Or even the guy you needed me to be. So if I need to be that selfish guy for Lily's sake, then so be it. Because I don't know how to do this; how to raise Lily; how to get through life without my mom. I need help, Peyton. I need you. I need you in my life."

On the verge of happy tears, Peyton took his hand and brought it to her lips, kissing it. "I'm right here, Luke. I'm not going anywhere."

Lucas pulled Peyton towards his body and held her tight. He kissed her forehead before resting his head against hers. Whispering in her ears, "Good because I'm gonna love you forever, Peyton Sawyer."

A/N: If you read my other stories... I also apologize for not updating lately. I have no excuse, other than I just haven't been writing. I'm determined, however, to finish the ones I have posted by the end of the year (with the exception of A Senior Year to Remember just because I accidentally deleted my file for it and I'm too bummed/lazy to rewrite all of it). Destiny is near complete... I just don't have an ending I'm completely satisfied with yet and that has under gone a few rewrites already.

And lastly, I just want to let you know I really do appreciate the feedback and pm's I've receieved for my fics. Thank you.