It had been 3 days since the debacle at Tantra. Three days of fear and worry that Peyton couldn't even describe. She'd jump at every phone ring, every out of place sound.

"You act like she is going to murder you in cold blood, Peyt."

"With Brooke Davis, who knows…" she groaned.

Lucas rolled his eyes.

Peyton stared. "Oh, don't give me that shit. If you would have calmed down and let me deal with this on my OWN time frame—we wouldn't be here in this situation right now."

"It's not my fault that she cant let go of the past."

"Christ, Luke! I'm not saying that! I'm—"

"You KNEW I didn't and wouldn't hide again. I asked you over and over to tell her. But you just wouldn't grow a backbone, Peyton. And frankly, that's not the woman I know and love. The woman I know, is strong and doesn't bend for anyone. Where in the hell did she go?"

Peyton looked at the floor sullenly. "I don't know…I just don't want anyone to get hurt."

"I don't either, babe. But the way the situation is—someone is going to, no matter how much we try and cushion the fall. Brooke…if she is still this scorned over what happened with you and I…well, I think she needs professional help. It's out of our hands then."

"Yeah."

Lucas tilted his head and ran his fingers through Peyton's hair.

"If it helps you any…I love you," he said sweetly.

Peyton looked up and couldn't help but smile. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"It helps more than you will ever know." She kissed his bare shoulder and hooked her fingers in the belt loop of his jeans.

"Let's go to the beach," she said suddenly.

"The beach? Now," he questioned.

Peyton nodded, getting a hint of energy all of a sudden.

"Let's get out of here. There is too much bad vibes just hanging down. We need fresh air and lots of food."

She kissed Lucas quickly and walked into the kitchen.

Lucas leaned against the counter, a small smile on his face. He watched her babble on as she made sandwiches and snacks. After a beat, she paused and looked up at him.

"Well, don't just stand there! Get dressed!" She waved her hands, "Shoo!"

Lucas shook his head and laughed. God, he loved that girl.

The beach was deserted just as Peyton had hoped. They drove her jeep across the beach to a secluded paradise. There were high, steep dunes on all three sides of them, like a hidden cove. The intricate vines of morning glories littered the ground. The indigo blooms were shut against the warm, summer's day. Peyton spread out her red blanket across the sand and beckoned Lucas to sit. He brought over Peyton's ridiculously large picnic basket and sat, pulling Peyton into his lap. He kissed her neck and sighed contently.

"It's so nice out here," she said dreamily.

Lucas nodded. "I know…hey, you hungry? I mean, you packed enough to feed a small army."

Peyton laughed and opened the basket.

"Yessssss." She smeared her homemade hummus on a thin slice of pita bread and shoved it in Lucas's mouth. "Mmmm!" She smiled.

Lucas grimaced, smiling painfully until he swallowed it all, washing it down with Peyton's raspberry/lemon tea.

"Do you have any REAL food in there?"

Peyton squinted her eyes. "How about my Mango Spring Rolls?"

Lucas vehemently shook his head.

"Basil Pesto Pita Pizza?"

"Getting warmer…"

Peyton sighed and rolled her eyes. "The greasy fried chicken we picked up KFC a few minutes ago?"

"Now you're talking."

She laughed and handed him the bucket."

"Here. Spoiled!"

The rest of their afternoon at the beach was lazy and wonderful. They ran into the dunes, they jumped into the warm ocean waves…in a word, it was perfect.

So when Peyton saw that dark cloud on the horizon on the way home, it didn't cross her mind…

As they got closer and closer to the loft, though, Peyton began to feel the knots in her stomach forming. And when they rolled down her street, she was nearly gagging.

Peyton looked out the window at her loft…in a spectacular blaze of fire and smoke. Her loft. Her home. Gone. Gone. Gone.

"Oh, God," She whispered.