As the months quickly passed by, Peyton's stomach tripled in size and became too much for her small frame to handle. At thirty weeks, she found herself not having an ounce of energy to get herself dressed in a morning and remained in her PJs all day. Lucas had arranged for her to have home visits from the doctor so that she wouldn't have to travel.
"You're doing really well, Peyton", her doctor smiled as she felt around Peyton's bump. Peyton and Lucas shared a smile before Lucas took Peyton's hand within his own before kissing it softly. "I bet you're finding it awful being bed bound most of the time", the doctor continued, taking out a stethoscope and placing it against Peyton's bare stomach.
"Oh it's not so bad. I can waddle down the stairs every so often", Peyton chuckled lightly.
"Well, it won't be long now", the doctor smiled, listening to her stethoscope. "That's a nice healthy heartbeat", she smiled once more. "Would you like to know the sex?"
"What? You know it?" Lucas asked. The doctor nodded.
"We have it down on file. We do normally mention it at your sonograms but since we've been having regular check-ups it can be difficult to remember", she told them. Peyton and Lucas shared a look before Peyton turned to face the doctor.
"I think it'll be a nice surprise", Peyton told her. The doctor nodded before putting all of her equipment away and preparing to leave. "Well, this will hopefully be the last time I see you before we deliver your baby", she told Peyton confidently.
"I can't wait", Peyton grinned.
"I'll show you out", Lucas smiled softly before leading the doctor downstairs. He soon returned to Peyton's side, kissing her on top of the head before pulling into him, placing his palm lovingly against her bump. "I'm so happy things are different this time", he sighed contently. Peyton sighed contently back at him, placing her hand on top of his.
"I'm kinda nervous", she told him honestly. Lucas waited silently for her to explain. "Last time we were here we were so concerned with how everything was gonna pan out because of my condition, now? I have to think about a normal pregnancy and what signs to look out for when I go into labour and honestly? I have no idea what to expect", she told him. Lucas chuckled softly as he kissed the top of her head.
"You're gonna be fine, Peyton", he told her confidently.
"That's easy for you to say! You don't have to give birth! To a person!" she told him. Lucas chuckled once more.
"Why don't you talk to Haley?" he suggested. Peyton stayed silent for a moment as she began to think.
"That's actually not a bad idea", she smiled. "Call her for me?" she said, batting her eyelashes at him. Lucas shook his head, smirking before kissing her on the lips.
"I'll go call her now", he said, getting up off of the bed and disappearing down stairs.
"Love you!" Peyton called after him.
X
Later that afternoon, there was a small knock on Peyton's bedroom door.
"Come in", she called. The door began to open to reveal Haley who strutted into the room and sat next to Peyton on the bed.
"Wow, well, look at you", she smiled brightly.
"I know. I'm huge", Peyton said. The women chuckled together for a moment before Haley laid on her side to face Peyton.
"So, Luke said you wanted to talk to me. What's up?" she asked. Peyton sighed quickly before laying on her own side to face Haley in return.
"I'm freaking out, Hales", she told her.
"About what?" Haley asked.
"About having a baby!" Peyton replied. Haley's expression became confused.
"But- you've had a baby before", she said.
"Not naturally", Peyton explained.
"Ohhhh!" Haley suddenly understood what Peyton was getting at.
"I don't know how bad this is gonna hurt, I don't know what signs are good and what signs are bad, I don't know what drugs to ask for, hell, I'm not even sure I'll know when my waters have broken!" Peyton ranted. Haley couldn't help but chuckle.
"Trust me; you'll know when they've broken", she told her, still chuckling. Peyton still looked nervous as she began to chew her nails. "Look, it's not as gruesome as you think. Sure, it hurts like hell! But, there's stuff that can help. An epidural is great pain relief! And the doctors and nurses are the ones who look out for any bad signs so don't worry, okay? It's normal to be scared, Peyton, but you're gonna be okay", Haley told her, smiling as she took Peyton's hand within her own. Peyton smiled warmly at her, mouthing the words 'thank you'. Peyton and Haley caught up for a while whilst Lucas was at work before the school day was about to be over and Haley had to pick up Lydia and Jamie. "Shoot, is that the time? I gotta go", she said, giving Peyton a quick kiss on the cheek. "Remember what I said and you know where I am if you need me", she called as she scurried down the stairs. Haley bumped right into Lucas as she left the house, running towards her car.
"Everything okay, Hales?" Lucas called after her.
"Oh, I just forgot about my kids", she shouted casually as she got in the car. Lucas chuckled. "World's best mom right here!" she called out of the window as she drove away. As soon as Lucas got into the house, he made his way upstairs, handing Peyton a brown paper bag as he sat on the bed beside her.
"Hey, you", he said, kissing her.
"Hey. If this is a blueberry muffin I'm gonna be the happiest wifey in this whole town!" she grinned, opening her treat excitedly before pulling out a muffin. "Lucas Scott, you do know how to please a woman", she smiled, taking a bite out of her muffin. Lucas chuckled.
"You're welcome", he told her. As soon as she had finished her snack, Peyton gave Lucas a soft peck on the lips before getting herself comfortable by his side, with his arm wrapped around her shoulders.
"Where's Sawyer?" she asked.
"She's having a slumber party at Lucy's tonight, remember?" he told her. Peyton pinched her brow.
"Sure, right. God, I wish I could spend more time with her. She's probably gonna start asking who the strange fat lady who sleeps in her Mama's bed is", she huffed. Lucas couldn't help but chuckle as he began to play with her hair.
"Well, tomorrows Saturday so you'll have the whole day with her", he told her. "But, just take it easy, okay?"
"Luke, I can barely get to the bathroom, I think I've got the whole 'taking it easy' thing covered", she chuckled, kissing him full on the lips. Peyton sighed contently as she began to gently caress her growing bump. "So, what are you hoping for?" she suddenly asked.
"Well, a baby would be nice", he joked before Peyton playfully slapped his upper thigh.
"You know what I mean! Boy or girl?" she asked.
"Hmm. I think I'd like a boy", he told her.
"Really?" she asked. Lucas nodded as he began to day dream.
"I could take him out on the river court, teach him how to play basketball, how to fix a car", he said.
"Well, you can do that with Sawyer too", she told him.
"I know, I know. But it'd just be different with a son", he sighed contently. "What about you?"
"I think I'd like another girl", she told him. "Sawyer would love to have a sister, and I'd love to go through having a baby girl all over again".
"Yeah", Lucas sighed once more. "I'm more concerned for when she grows up", he told her.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Boyfriends, prom night, broken hearts- it's gonna drive me insane", he told her honestly. Peyton chuckled.
"Well, luckily for you, I'm gonna be there to reign in the crazy", she grinned at him.
"Yeah. I am pretty lucky", he said, kissing her softly.