He Didn't Have To Be!

Chapter 10

If was a little after one in the morning, Peyton was still awake, she couldn't sleep, she try warm milk, she try counting sheep, like her father told her to do when she was younger. But nothing was working. She tossed in turned, she just couldn't get comfortable. She missed sleeping next to Lucas, she closed her eyes again, and started to hum a little song, she usually sings to Andrew to help him to sleep. Her eyes opened again, at the sound of her phone beeping, she grabbed her phone, then smiled. " Love you to baby." she sighed, happily. Then within minutes she was out like a light.

Lucas could sleep either, he tossed in turn over in over. He had gotten so use to sharing his bed with Peyton that sleeping alone wasn't something he ever wanted to do again. So he got up out of bed, went back to his laptop and started writing. He then realized he left his phone out in his car, so he jogged out to his car in grabbed his cell. As he walked back into the house he noticed a new message. He smiled, as he readied the three words. He noticed that it was sent over an hour ago, he felt bad that he didn't reply back fast. So he figured better late than never, so he replied back the three important words. He wondered if she was asleep, or was she having trouble sleeping to. He looked at the clock, it's was now almost two in the morning. There was no way he was or wanted to sleep without her, so he decided to go to her.

Peyton was woken by the ringing of her cell. She was to sleepy to even look at the call ID " Hello" she said sleepily

" Sawyer, where are you?"

" Nathan?" she said, with a little yawn. She sat up looking around the room, for a second there she forgot she wasn't at home with Lucas.

" yeah it's me, where are you?" Nathan said, in a serious tone.

She turn the lamp on beside Megan's couch. " Nathan, what's going on?" she looked at the clock, " it's like four in the morning."

" look I know your not at home, so where are you?"

" I'm at Megan's, why?"she snorted

" I need you to get up, and get dressed, I'm on my way. Wake Megan up and tell her to watch Andrew."Nathan said in a demanding voice. He hung up before Peyton could disagree with him or asks questions.

Peyton huffed loudly , " what the hell?" she did what Nathan told her to do, within moments later, Nathan knocked on Megan's door. Peyton open it, " what the hell is going on Nate ?" she questioned in a pissed off voice. Her eyes narrowed at his, Megan noticed the sadness in his eyes, She walked over to stand beside Peyton,

Nathan rubbed the back of his neck, " it's Luke, there's be an accident."

Her heart stopped beating for a moment. "How bad?" she asked in a trembling whisper. As soon as the words left Nathan's mouth, Megan grab Peyton, Peyton clamps her eyes shut, she clung onto Megan's arm as her mind processed the words she was being told. She felt like the wind had been knocked out of her.

" he's in the hospitals, I don't know much Haley's with him. She sent me to get you, we didn't want you driving."

" let's go then" she said in a calm voice, she follows Nathan outside without a word. They drove to the hospital in compete silent's. She has millions of negative thoughts moving around in her head. He could died, he could died think she didn't want to spend the rest of her life with him.

" Peyton " Nathan said, as he park the car. He knew what she was thinking, " peyt, he's going to be fine. "

"He hates me," she whispered, as she looked over at him, "He's going to die thinking I didn't want to marry him.."

"I don't know what happened between the two of you, but I know that Lucas loves you." Nathan try to reassure her.

"I broke his heart again Nathan," She said, as she finally let the tears she was holding in go.

"It's going to be okay," Nathan said, as he pulled her into a hug." we got have faith Peyt, " he continued to speak as he helded her, "Come on he's probably waiting for you." She looked over at him in nodded, " come on" he said again, as he got out of he car. Peyton was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even notices that they were at the hospital already.

Nathan held her hand as they walked into the hospital, her heart was beating fast, her mind was going hundred miles a minute. Her eyes glazed with tears, as she try not to cry again.

" oh Peyton your here," Haley said, as she ran to her. Pulling her into a hug.

" how is he?" Peyton asked, as she pulled away.

" He broke his foot, a few bruises, and bruised his ribs, he has a concussion nothing to bad, right now, all we have to do is wait for him to wake up."

" So he's going to be okay?" Peyton asked, as she crossed her arms over her chest.

" The doctor said he has to wait for him to wake up. To see where they go from there." Haley said, as she sat down.

" So what exactly happen? " Peyton asked, as she sat down next to Haley. "And when did this happen?" she was confused cause she knew he was home last night cause he called her a little after eleven, and then he text her this morning around one, so he was okay than.

" well the officer that I talk to said, that Luke was hit head on my a drunk driver, " Nathan told her, "They got the call around two this morning, I just don't understand why or what had him driving at two in the freaking morning."

Peyton sat back, and bit her lip, she was wondering the same thing, "Did anyone call Brooke?' she asked, as she looked over at Haley

"Yeah, I called her and Julian's cell both went straight to voicemail,"Haley said, as she lean her head on Nathan's shoulder,

"Can we see him?" Peyton asked a few moments later,

" Let's go asks," Haley said, as three of them walked over to the night nurse, "Excuse us, we were wondering if we could see Lucas Scott,"

"the nurse pulled up Lucas's chart, to see if he was allowed visitor, Yes, but only family at this time. Are you all family." She asked, as she looked up from the chart.

Nathan and Haley both said, yes, at the same time, "So you all are relatives to Mr. Scott?" she questioned like she didn't believe them.

"I'm his brother, "Nathan said, "This is my wife, which makes her his sister-in-law." Nathan then looked at Peyton, The look in Peyton's eyes was so heart-breaking that Nathan said the next words without really thinking. "And she is his fiance."

Peyton's eyes widen, her mouth open, " I..." she begin but stop as she start to cry uncontrollable The nurse looked up at her sympathetically. "Go ahead, his in room 212 on the second floor." she didn't believe that the blond was actually his fiance, but the way that girl, bust out crying, and the scared look in her eyes, broke her heart, she felt bad for this girl who seemed so broken...

They arrival up on the second floor, " You guys go, I'll stay here."Peyton said, as she stopped walking, she wanted to see him, but what if he didn't want her there.

"Peyton...

"No, Hale's I'm probably the last person he would want to see when he wakes up," She said, as she looked down at the floor.

"No, honey…listen to me. Lucas is going to be okay. And no matter what happened, when he opens his eyes, he's going to want to see you there." Haley said, as she grabbed her hand, "Peyton you and Andrew our his world, he loves you both, more than you will ever know. "

Peyton burst into tears, as she thought about what Haley said, she knows he loves her and Andrew, She loves him just as much, She took a deep breath, as Nathan open the door.

The room was dark, expect for a light that was on over top of the bed, Peyton took a moment to study the screen that displayed numbers and lines, blood pressure, heart rate, and who knows what else. She really didn't know what any of if meant, all she knew was as long as the heart machine was beeping, he was still alive.

Her eyes landed on Lucas's unconscious body He looked as pale as a ghost, so weak, so...tried,...so...broken. so different from the protective, stance he usually had around her. His right foot was in a cask, he had a big bruise on his cheek, there were little bruises and red scratches all over his body.

"Well, Luke, you sure in the hell like this hospital huh." Nathan try to joke, but both girls glared at him, "Sorry, I was just trying to lighten the mood." He leaned up against the wall, as Peyton walked over towards the bed.

"Yeah we know." Haley said, as she kissed his cheek, "And we love you for it."she said, then walked over to the other side of Lucas's bed,

Peyton sat down in the chair at his side, trying to keep her breathing steady and even. She leaned forward, clasping his cold, clammy fingers in her hand., she moved her fingers to the inner part of his wrist, and a burst of air rushed from her lungs when she felt a pulse. She bent her head, resting her forehead on the bed right next to his hand for a moment, waiting for her heart to slow down.

"Hey Luke, "Haley said, as she took his other hand into hers, "You really need to wake up, so I can yell at you for being out at two in the morning." She teased, " I need you Luke, I can't Lose you, I want to be strong, I do, I just hate seen you like this." she cried, Nathan walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her.

"Hey bro,"Nathan said, "You need to wake up, cause who else is going to help me, handle Haley when she gets all crazy on me." He joked, Haley looked up at him in smiled, then she slapped his chest. "Just playing baby.." he said, as he kissed the top of her head.

Haley looked over at Peyton whose head was still down, " Luke we will be back, " she said, as she kissed his forehead, she then motioned for Nathan to come with her. Both giving Peyton one last look before walking out the door.

A few moments later, she sat back up and gazed at his face. "Is this my fault?" she whispered. "Were you upset? why was you driving at two in the morning? where were you going?" She asked, trying to understand what he was thinking. She sighed loudly, "God, I hate see you in this damn hospital bed." She shook her head, thinking about the last two times she sat in this hospital holding his hand waiting for him to wake up.

She clasped his hand in both of her own. "Listen, Lucas…you can hear me, right?" Without waiting for any signs to prove her right or wrong, she continued, "Lucas I'm so sorry," she gasps out. "I really, really want to marry you, I…" She stopped short, realizing that she has to be strong for him, not the other way around. She cleared her throat and began again. "I love you. I love you so damn much, and I promise the next time you asks me to marry you, if you ever asks me again, it's not like a deserve a third propose, I will say yes, I promise, …can you please, please just open your eyes?" She bit her lip hesitantly. "For me, Luke," she finally breathed out. "Please, just open your eyes." she cried, then laid her head back down on the side of the bed.

Haley and Nathan walked back in the room to find Peyton asleep, they both sighed, "How about you head home in check on Jamie, I'll stay here, " she said, to Nathan who nodded, "Oh stop by Brooke's let her know what's going on."

" Okay, call me " Nathan said, as he kissed her, then walked over to the other side of the bed and kiss the back of Peyton's head. "You think their going to be okay this time?" Nathan asked, Haley filled him in on what happen between the two blondes.

"Yeah, I believe they will be." Haley said, as she picked up Lucas hand, "Their Lucas and Peyton they have to be."

Brooke and Julian walked in Lucas room about an hour later, Peyton was still sleeping, Haley was just sitting there with her eyes closed. She opened them at the sound of the door closing,

"Hey Hale's" Brooke whispered, as she looked at Lucas then at her best friend. "How she holding up?"

"She was a mess when we first got him, she's been asleep for a while now,"She said sadly, "How did you get in here, it's family only,"

"Told that young nurse that we were Lucas's cousin," Brooke smiled, as Haley shook her head.

"How's Luke, " Julian asked,

"No change yet, Doctors are waiting for him to wake up. " Haley said sadly,

"He is going to wake up right?" Brooke asked, as Julian wrapped his arm around her shoulder,

Haley was about to respond but stopped at the sound of Peyton's voice "Yes Brooke, he will wake up." she said, seriously, "he has to" she whispered, as she looked up at his face. Wishing she could look into his blue eyes again.

Brooke looked at her sadly, " I know honey, " she said, as she walked over towards her, "Do you need anything, we can go get some coffee, or something."

"No, I just need Lucas to wake up." Peyton told her as she locked eyes with her best friend, guilt hit her as she realized that Brooke didn't even know, what happen between the them.

"I know you do, we all do." Brooke whispered sadly,

" I got coffee, "Nathan said, as he walked into the room, Peyton continued to look at Lucas, While the others got the coffee for him.

"He asked me to marry him" She blurted out, causing them all to turn in look at her, Brooke's jaw dropped, "And I..."she started to sob,

Brooke looked at Haley who give her sad smile, then back at Peyton, "Peyton, Honey?"

"I didn't say no, I didn't say yes either." she cried, "What the hell is wrong with me? " She paused, " I love him, more than I've ever loved anyone, I want him, I need him, but I keep hurting him, why? I want to marry him, I do, but I just couldn't say yes, I open my mouth in nothing came out, I don't understand," she continued to cry,

Shh," Brooke said comfortingly, as she hugged her sideways, " It's going to be okay ."

Peyton shook her head, "You don't know that, he's going to die, thinking I didn't want to marry him, but I do, I want to marry him Brooke, I do, I want to spend the rest of my life with him, I want to give him children, I want him to be Andrews father, I would do anything if I could change who Andrews real father is, I want to be happy, I want a big house, a marriage, children, I want everything Lucas wants and I want it with him, I do, I'm going to lose him now, "she cried louder,

"Shh," Brooke repeated, digging out a tissue and handing it to her. "It's alright. I don't think you're going to lose him, I really don't,"

"She's right Peyton." Haley said, "He's been wanting to marry you seen, he was twelve, and he realized how much of an ass he was to you the first time he walked away from you after asking you to marry him, he's not a fool to do it again,"

About an hour later, Peyton rose from her chair. At Haley's and Brooke's questioning glance, she simply said: "I'm going to check on Andrew," and with that, she left. Brooke and Julian left a bit after Peyton did, Nathan and Haley stay for a bit,

Peyton returned to the Hospital, a little after eight that night,she shower and changed, and took Andrew to Brooke's so Megan could go to work in the morning, for her in finish some paperwork up. She knew that Ryan and Justin both were probably pissed at her, causes she turned off her phone, she decided Lucas was more important than her job.

SHe sighed, as she looked around the room, she hated hospitals, she was glad that everyone went home thou, she kind of wanted to spent sometime with Lucas alone.

"Hey," she whispered, as she ran her fingers through his hair,being careful of the cut that marked his forehead. ""Please don't give up Luke. You have to keep fighting. I can't live without you,I don't want to live without you." she said, as a few tears fall, " I love you." she whispered, as she lean down in pecked his lips, she then sat down in the chair beside his bed, she yawn then closed her eyes, holding Lucas hand.

Suddenly, Peyton felt Lucas' hand twitch. Her eyes, shot open, "hmm" she heard,

"Lucas?"