I own nothing—thanks for the reviews.

From this second story window I can hear the church bells

calling out my name. This table is set for one.

Even angels would be homesick in this forsaken town.

Two months had passed. In those two months things had certainly changed for the core group of friends. They had gone to the Sparkle Classic and although the girls didn't win, it was good to be teenagers for a while. Nathan and Haley had announced their pregnancy. Lucas and Nathan were on good terms and had even talked about baby things.

Lucas and Peyton had worked on getting their friendship back. It was hard, there was no denying that. In the beginning there was an awkward tension that filled the air when they were together. Over the last few months that faded away. She didn't ask about him and Brooke and he didn't offer any information. They slowly became the Lucas and Peyton that they were over the summer; before the drama started. The parents-to-be were currently sitting at a table in the quad eating lunch.

"Peyton, I need you to talk to me about this pregnancy", he pleaded. Peyton sighed in annoyance.

"There's nothing to really talk about", she said while shrugging her shoulders, "I'm pregnant and in a few months I'll have this little person to take care of. Lots of women do it."

"Aren't you scared?" he asked. He certainly was. He hadn't slept that well in the past few weeks. She was only five months along now. She still had some time, but she had developed a bump. That small bump led to the beginning of his insomnia. It made it all real.

"I haven't really thought about being scared. School's been crazy. I have extra classes and extra homework. It's a lot", she said honestly.

She had talked to Principal Turner after the talk with Karen and her dad, she had taken on extra classes in case she delivered early, or god forbid something happened; she could still graduate on time.

"Well, think about it", he demanded, "and then come to me so that we can talk about it", he said softer then his earlier words.

"Luke, there's nothing for me to be worried about. The baby is healthy, that's all I want."

"It's all I want too. Well that and for us to talk", he added bitterly.

"Are you going to come to the doctors next week?" she asked, completely ignoring his comment.

"Who else is coming with us this time?" he asked resentfully.

Anytime they found anything out someone else was in the room. The first ever appointment; Brooke was present and he had pretty much never felt more uncomfortable. Then Nathan had gone. Peyton rolled her eyes.

"I'm pregnant; I'm supposed to have the mood swings", she pointed out.

"I'm serious Peyton; why can't we ever experience it by ourselves?"

"Because, I don't want to upset Brooke", she offered lamely.

Lucas groaned. He and Brooke weren't exactly broken up; they were kind of on hold. She told him he needed to sort things out and he had. It was just a matter of telling the girls everything.

"She won't care, we're having a baby Peyton; she gets it."

"Lucas, can we please not do this now", she begged. He opened his mouth again, but shut it quickly.

"Fine, but we better do it eventually", he said as he left the table.

------------------------------

"You know, you don't really need tutoring anymore", Haley teased as she walked into the room she was once very familiar with.

Nathan smiled and she felt her heart melt. "I know, I was just thinking", he said quietly.

Nathan and Haley had become closer to what they once were. They had applied to both Duke and Stanford. Haley was four months along and they were happy. That's all that mattered.

"When do you think the letters will come?" Haley asked as they sat together. Nathan chuckled.

"Soon, we sent them out a few months ago", he watched as Haley gulped, "you okay?" he asked in concern.

"Yea, just trying not to puke", she said through a laugh.

"Well, if you need to go ahead. I'm an old pro at holding back hair", they both laughed.

"What were you thinking about before I walked in?" she asked quietly.

"That, Jimmy Edwards kid. I don't think I've ever seen someone so angry", he said in disbelief.

"I know; I can only imagine how Luke feels. They used to be really good friends. We all did."

"I was also thinking about how far we've come in the last few months", he said as he stared down at her. She smiled.

"We certainly have dad", she teased. He smiled before placing his hand over her barely there belly.

"I still can't believe it", he whispered; "now I know how Peyton felt."

"How's she doing?" Haley asked in concern.

"Good, well as good as she can be", he justified. Haley nodded in understanding.

"Ellie was an amazing woman", she acknowledged.

"I'm glad she came into Peyton's life when she did. She needed some type of motherly influence."

"You are amazing", Haley said in adoration. Nathan smirked. He leaned his head down to hers and their lips quickly moved together. Her hormones had been all over the place. One minute she was crying, then she was throwing things, and then she would act like none of it ever happened.

"Other then that how is she?" Haley asked as she pulled away; case in point.

"She's good. Her mood swings have pretty much stopped; which is always a good thing", he chuckled, "she has a lot of work to do though", he said in concern.

"Yea, I'm going over later to help her with some of it", they watched as that curly blonde walked past the room; anger etched into her features.

"Is she still not talking to Luke?" Haley asked.

"She is", Nathan defended her, "she just doesn't want to let him closer then necessary."

"Well, that's not very fair", it was her turn to defend her best friend.

"Lucas hasn't always been fair to her", Nathan began to get angry. Haley sighed.

"We don't need to fight about this. Let's let them figure it out."

------------------------------

Peyton opened her locker and sighed. The picture of her as the 'dark angel' was still taped to her locker.

"Say hi to my mom . . . mom", she whispered as the ashes floated through the air.

"Hey best friend", Brooke greeted Peyton as she threw an arm around her shoulder.

"Hey, flasher", Peyton was glad for the interruption. She closed her locker and they began to walk down the halls.

She and Brooke had gotten back to normal. Peyton didn't need to avoid Lucas any longer so she and Brooke spent more time together. After the initial reveal of her pregnancy Peyton was sure Brooke would cut her out of her life, and she did for about three days. Then she called and asked if she could go with Peyton to her doctor's appointment.

Brooke groaned. "That was horrifying."

"Please, it's not like half the school hasn't already seen your boobs", Brooke stared at her in shock.

"Yea, that's true", she conceded. Both girls laughed.

"How ya doing?" Brooke asked carefully.

Peyton sighed. "I wish everyone would stop asking me that", Brooke held her hands up in defense.

"I just want to make sure your not holding it all in. Stress isn't good", she said softly.

"I know that, but she died nearly a month ago. I hardly ever think about it", she lied. Her eyes caught a poster for the benefit concert Peyton had thrown.

Peyton walked into the house with the box of c.d.'s in her hands and a sonogram in her pocket; she was more then excited.

"Ellie?" she called out. She furrowed her brows and walked through the eerily quiet home.

"Hello?" she called out once more. That's when she heard it; the faint noise of a record on its player. She walked into the room with tears already in her eyes.

Brooke eyed her longtime friend.

"You know you can talk to me right? About anything", Brooke assured her. Peyton nodded her head.

"I know and I will, when I have something to talk about", she muttered.

"Fine, I'm changing the topic", Brooke said getting the hint.

She stared at Peyton and felt a feeling of pride wash over her. Her best friend was an amazing person. She was seventeen, pregnant, had just lost her birth mother and her father was stuck out at sea. Not to mention a certain blonde boy was still lingering between them.

"So, I was thinking, Clothes over Bros could so use a maternity line", Peyton watched as her eyes sparkled.

"That's a great idea Brooke", she said honestly.

"I know", she said with a smirk, "and I've already stated to think about baby clothes for when this little one pops out", she said as she stared at Peyton's slightly swollen belly.

Peyton blushed. It was obvious she was pregnant, but she could never stop the feeling that came when someone acknowledged it.

"That sounds really cool. I can't wait to dress him or her in Clothes over Bros original", Peyton laughed.

"Haley said the same thing", Brooke said as she raised a brow, "is that like pregnant woman telekinetic powers", she asked seriously.

Peyton laughed. "The only powers we have are the ability to cry at anything and puke for hours."

------------------------------

"Hey Broody", Brooke said quietly as she joined him in the library.

"Hey", he said as he looked up from his book.

"I ordered the material for your mom's wedding dress", she whispered with a smile.

The other news in Tree Hill was the engagement was a long time love.

"We're getting married", Karen and Keith announced as they walked into his room. He smiled brightly.

"Congratulations", Lucas yelled as he hugged them both.

"I'll tell her when I get home", he promised. Brooke sighed.

"What are we doing?" she asked desperately.

"You tell me", he countered.

"We're wasting time", she answered.

"You're the one who said we should take a break", he reminded her.

"I know, but now I'm thinking I was wrong", she admitted softly. He raised a brow at her.

"We need to break up", she blurted out. Lucas stared at her.

"Are you serious?" she nodded. He began to panic.

"No, Brooke we can work past this."

"Lucas, you're having a baby with my best friend."

"People have kids all the time and they aren't involved romantically", he tried to assure her.

"Lucas, you're in love with my best friend", she watched as she shifted in his seat.

"At least sleep on it", he pleaded. He knew she was right. He knew they weren't supposed to stay together; they shouldn't have ever started. But he didn't want to be alone and Peyton was keeping him at an arms length; Brooke seemed like a reasonable answer.

She huffed before answering. "Fine", she said in defeat.

If he couldn't admit it to himself there was nothing she could do.

------------------------------

It was later that night that Lucas got the wish he had asked for at lunch.

"Peyton?" he asked as he opened his bedroom door.

"I lied", she announced as she walked into his room.

"What?" he asked as he closed the door behind her.

"I'm too scared to do this", panic laced her voice.

"Do what?" he asked as he fought a yawn.

"This", she said as she pointed to herself, "give birth, raise a child, be a mom", she listed for him.

Lucas smiled. Finally, she was opening up to him.

"Peyton, you're going to be great. There isn't anything to worry about", he assured her as he walked over to his bed.

"No, I'm really not. Lucas, my mom died when I was eight, Ellie died a month ago. I have no motherly support systems", she said as she tugged at her sweatshirt.

He knew from Haley that she had been going through hot flashes. It was winter, but nearly ever window in her house was wide opened. He also knew that her urges had more or less stopped. There were not late night runs and disgusting food combinations; which everyone at the lunch table was grateful for.

"God, it's hot in here", she mumbled as she pulled the sweatshirt over her head; exposing her snug tank top.

Lucas froze. He had always admired Peyton's body. Pregnancy only intensified it. Her curves were more defined, her chest; well that was more defined also, her lips and cheeks were fuller and she had a certain glow to her that made him smile.

"Lucas, hello . . . earth to Luke", she said in annoyance as she snapped her fingers.

"Sorry", he muttered as he faced the other direction. Peyton chose to ignore the blush she saw rise to his cheeks.

"Lucas, you asked me to talk to you about this. Well, here I am. Completely freaking out", she huffed as she plopped beside him.

"It's normal to be scared. It would be weird if you weren't", he said.

"What if the baby gets sick and I can't handle it? What kind of formula do we need to buy? Am I ever going to be able to go to college? These things run through my mind constantly Lucas, like on a daily basis. How come I never get the feeling that you're scared?" she asked helplessly.

"Peyton, I get scared too", she raised a brow.

"I don't ever want to be like Dan", he admitted softly.

"You aren't", she assured him quickly.

He gave her a grateful smile, "I know, but we all turn into our parents Peyton", he said softly.

"Lucas, trust me when I tell you that there is no way you will ever be like Dan Scott. You're a million times more of a man then he is. Just think, you could have run off and gotten some other girl pregnant", he laughed in spite of himself, "but you didn't, you're here and that's all that matters."

"You know, I told you to come to me with any fears and here you are appeasing my own", he teased.

"I'm still terrified", she admitted, "but I feel like as long as we can do this together everything will be okay", they locked eyes and both felt a rush of emotions.

"You really are going to be a great mother, Peyton."

People had told her that before. Nathan said it a million times. Haley assured her of it. Brooke promised her it would happen and even Karen seemed confident in the curly haired blonde. But she honestly hadn't believed it until just now.

"Thank you Lucas", she smiled and he felt his heart melt, "you're going to be a great father", she said as she placed her hand over his.

God, he wanted to kiss her. Throw her; gently, on to the bed and have his way with her. But he couldn't . . . he was kinda with Brooke.

"Thanks, can we promise that we'll talk these things out from now on?" he joked as he pulled his hand away.

She smiled; trying to hide her disappointment at the loss of contact. "Promise."

"Alright, well, I'll let you sleep", she announced as she got up.

"You're not leaving", he said defiantly. "It's late and I don't want you driving."

"Lucas."

"I'm serious. I wouldn't let you drive at this time anyway. The fact that you're carrying my kid only adds to it", he watched as she debated it.

She stared at him. They hadn't shared a bed in a while. Actually the last time they did, she ended up pregnant. She felt her feet throb and quickly gave in.

"You're lucky I'm too tired to argue", she muttered as she took the spot that had become hers in the summer.

"Yea, yea", he teased.

Some time during the night he felt her move around. She moved closer to him. Her back placed up against his chest. His eyes fluttered open and he smiled. He gently draped his arm around her slightly expanded stomach and placed his hand firmly on her belly.

He was still scared. Who wouldn't be? He was eighteen years old and about to become a father. He was going to have to take care of a whole other life. Pay for doctor's visits, send him or her to school, and pay for college. Could they really handle this?

That's when he felt it. The soft thump against Peyton's stomach.

He felt their baby kick.

If I died tomorrow

Would this song live on forever?

Okay, so some headway was made lol, next chapter things will get better, actually worse, but then better. Let me know what you thought.