A/N: You're reviews are still awesome and thanks for all your ideas. I loved yours and I'm going to use it next chapter. Apologies in advance for there being no Brooke this chapter - next one, I promise!


Peyton had lunch and ice cream with Nathan but declined his offer to spend the evening with him and Haley. She wanted to prove to herself that not only could she cope with being by herself but could manage without having Lucas around. She changed into some more comfortable clothes, put some music on the record player, and strolled into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine.

She had been worried that she'd feel nervous and spend all evening looking over her shoulder but there was something about being in Lucas' home that made her feel safer and more comfortable. She knew she could call any one of her friends if things got too difficult but she was pleasantly surprised by how calm she felt.

She sat down on the sofa and pulled her feet beneath her. She leaned forward and picked up the folder Lucas had given her before he left. She flicked through the boy's drawings and she was definitely impressed. She spent a little longer, looking at them and trying to take some meaning from them and decided to stop by the gym tomorrow to speak to him.

Her cell rang and her stomach flipped when she saw Lucas' name on the screen.

"Hi," she said, sighing happily as she answered the call.

"Hey, how's it going? You missing me?" Lucas closed his eyes from the first syllable of her greeting. All he'd needed to hear all day was the sound of her voice.

"Of course. You get to the hotel okay and everything?" she asked, leaning back on the sofa.

"Yeah, I'm all settled in. I'm kinda lonely though." Peyton could feel his pout over the phone.

"Well you better stay lonely," she said, laughing. "Have you seen Lindsey yet?"

"She picked me up from the airport. She wanted to go to dinner but I don't know, I'm just not comfortable with that, I guess."

"I guess it's a bit weird. But you don't have to worry about me, Lucas. I know dinner will just be dinner," she said, smiling to herself.

"I know, babe. But to be honest, I'd rather be alone. I'm more than happy to lay here and think about you."

"Yeah? Shall I leave you and your thoughts alone?" she teased and Lucas laughed. "I had a look through those drawings by the way."

"You did? And what did you think?"

"They're good. I'm gonna stop by and see him tomorrow."

"Cool. Make sure Nate's there though."

"Why?"

"There's just some kid on the team who showed a little too much interest you, that's all."

"Luke you're not jealous of some kid are you?" she said, teasing him.

"No," he laughed. "But he's a bit of a tool so just be careful."

"I will. I guess I should let you go, babe. You sound pretty beat."

"Yeah, I kinda am. I'll talk you tomorrow, Peyt. I love you."

"I love you too, Luke. Bye."

"Bye, babe."

Peyton pulled the phone away from her ear slowly. She drank the last mouthful of her wine and left the glass in the sink and walked through to the bedroom. She pulled back the covers and slipped into bed. She closed her eyes and smiled as she lay her head down on Lucas' pillow. It smelt of him and she felt closer to him because of it. She opened her eyes and looked at the lamp. She took one small, sweeping glance of the room around her and leant over to switch it off.


Lucas sat on the edge of the bed and looked around his hotel room. He was excited for the new book but he just wasn't happy to be there, alone and away from Peyton. When he ended the phone call he had just sat and stared at the image of her on his phone. He chuckled when he exited her caller details and looked at his wallpaper. It was a stupid photograph of them goofing around in bed one morning. His smile fell when he realised how much he wanted to wake up to her the following morning. He sighed and figured it wouldn't be too long until he was home. It was up to him to continue the tour passed the first two weeks and he'd decided before he left that it wasn't going to go any further.

He woke up the next morning and stretched his hand out before opening his eyes. He frowned as he opened them and remembered she wasn't going to be there that morning. He hadn't slept well. He'd forgotten how cold it was to sleep in a bed without her and his thoughts were plagued with worry about her. He'd spent an hour as he lay in bed arguing with himself trying to find reasons why he should stay on the tour in the first place. He came to the realisation that anything that came up against Peyton was going to lose. But she wanted him to do this and for that alone he would force himself to get through every day of the tour.


Peyton had woken up more rested than she had expected. She had woken two or three times expecting to look over and snuggle further into Lucas' arms. Instead she buried her face further into his pillow and pulled the comforter around herself.

She walked into the gym the next morning with a coffee for Nathan and Skills. She wasn't meeting Mia until midday so she'd decided to stop at the gym in the morning.

"Skinny Girl, how you holding up being all Luke-less?" Skills called as she walked towards them.

"I'm bearing up," she said, grinning. "Here." She handed them both a coffee.

"Thanks, Sawyer. You sleep okay last night?" Nathan asked.

"Yeah, I did actually. Better than I thought. So which kid's the artist?"

Nathan pointed him out and called him over. Peyton smiled at him as he walked up to her. He was nervous and shy. She handed him his folder and he took it, only looking up for a moment.

"You're good," she stated and he looked up, surprised. "You've got some real talent."

"Thanks. And thanks for looking at them so quickly."

"No problem. Can I offer you some advice though?" The boy nodded. "Draw something you want to draw. Draw something from inside your head. I mean, these are good but you're practiced enough at the skill of drawing. Use your imagination. Draw something that means something to you and I guarantee it'll mean something to someone else."

Nathan blew the whistle as she finished. The kid smiled at her. "You think so?"

"Absolutely. I'll look at anything whenever you want me to. You're on your way but its time to turn it into a passion, not just a hobby."

"I'll do that, thanks," he said, nodding his head before turning and jogging back to the locker room.

"So it's true then?" the cocky guy from the day before called over to her.

Peyton looked up, with her eyebrow raised. It only took a second for her to realise this was the kid Lucas was walking about.

"That you've got a thing for basketball players?"

"Dude, just shut up and show some respect," another player snapped.

"I'm only asking. I mean you dated Nathan before Lucas, right? And I read his book. That other guy you were with, he was a basketball playing baby daddy right?"

"If you want to lose your place on this team, then keep talking," Nathan growled.

"It's fine, Nate," Peyton said. She stepped forward slightly. "I guess you're right. I do have a thing for basketball players. But good, hot basketball players. And I've seen you and I've seen you play, dude. You don't fit my criteria," Peyton fired at him.

The rest of the team laughed and Nathan and Skills joined him. Skills even shouted "alright P. Sawyer." The kid in question shut up immediately and wouldn't look at Peyton again.

Peyton walked to the stands smirking to herself. She felt a little bad for the boy, he was just a kid. But a month or two ago, being spoken to that way with those kind of connotations would have blindsided her. She was back to being able to handle herself and that was comforting. She knew that Lucas, Nathan, Skills, hell even Jamie, would always have her back but knowing that she had her own was much better.

Nathan blew his whistle again and the boys went back to playing but he left Skills to watch them, wandering over to Peyton.

"I forgot what a bitch you can be," he said, teasing her and she nudged him with her elbow.

Peyton shrugged her shoulders. "He deserved it."

"He did. And I was proud to see you stick up for yourself. I missed Hard Ass Peyton," he said, laughing.

"Yeah, I kinda missed her too."

"Anyway, its your first weekend without Lucas. What do you have planned? Haley said she's at the studio with Mia, so I imagine you are too?"

"Nope. I've been in there all week so now it's Haley's turn. She really gets to the bottom of Mia's creativity so I'd like them to have some time together every now and again."

"So you wanna do something with me and Jamie?"

"Sure, sounds nice. You don't have to babysit me though you know?" she said, rolling her eyes.

"As if I'd even try! You'd beat my ass. The kid loves you, he'd love to spend some time with you."

"Well, alrighty then! I gotta get to the office so call me in the morning."

"Sure thing, Sawyer. Try not to break too many kids hearts between here and Tric!" he called after her as she walked away. He laughed aloud when her reply was her middle finger.


Peyton sat bolt up right in bed and glared at Jamie who was jumping up on down on the bed. He looked at her and burst in to laughter.

"What the hell are you doing?" Peyton shouted.

"Aunt Peyton, you're so funny! We're going to the beach, silly!" Jamie replied, sitting down in front of her.

"Have you ever heard of a lay in James Lucas Scott?" she grumbled.

"It's eleven o'clock, lazy bones! Come on, get up!" he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her.

"You're lucky you're a cute kid and I love you or you would be so dead right now," she said, smirking at him.

Nathan appeared at the door and laughed when he saw Peyton's face. Jamie turned to look at him.

"You were right, Aunt Peyton is funny in the mornings!"

Peyton turned her glare to Nathan who just smiled innocently.

"I need a shower, make me coffee," she said, heaving herself out of bed. She walked past him into the bathroom when the house phone rang.

"Do me a favour and answer that will you?" she said, smiling as Nathan rolled his eyes. She closed the door to the bathroom, giving him little other option.

He walked through the kitchen.

"Hello?"

"Nate?"

"Hey man. Peyt's in the shower, she made me answer the phone."

"She okay?"

"Yeah. Jamie just woke her up so we can go to the beach."

"The kid got a death wish?"

"Who knows, man. Can I pass a message to Peyton or get her to call you back?"

"Nah, it's cool man. I'm just heading out. Tell her I'll call her later."

"Will do, big brother. Later."


"Come on, Aunt Peyton!"

"Go away," she grumbled. She was laying on her back, shielding her eyes as she looked up at the little boy.

"Please, Aunt Peyton. Just one swim?"

"You are incessant!"

"What's that?" Jamie asked.

"You're annoying."

"Well, you're mean!" he said, flicking sand at her.

She sat up and smirked at him.

"Oh, you are so dead!" She got to her feet and Jamie ran off towards Nathan.

"Dad! I made her mad!" Nathan looked up to seeing Jamie running towards him with Peyton following closely behind. Peyton caught up with him and scooped him up from behind. Jamie screamed and laughed.

"You wanna go for a swim, huh?" she said and Jamie shouted for Nathan as Peyton walked to the sea.

She dangled him above the water, playfully.

"No, Aunt Peyton!" Jamie laughed. She looked at him and put him on his feet. Jamie looked past her and smirked. Peyton went to turn to see what he was smiling at but was in Nathan's arms, screaming herself before she could. Nathan waded out a little further.

"Nathan Scott if you plan on fathering another child I suggest you put me the hell down!"

"Sure thing, Sawyer," he replied as he let her go and dropped her into the water.

Jamie stood watching and laughed before splashing into the water after them.

Peyton reappeared from beneath the water and pushed Nathan. "Very funny, Scott!" she said laughing.

Nathan picked Jamie up. "Aunt Peyton says 'hell' a lot, don't you think?"

"Yeah well, she's always been a potty mouth," he said laughing and Peyton splashed water at them before trudging back up to her towel.


Lucas was laying on his bed, reading. He put the book down when he's phone rang with Peyton's ringtone.

"Hey beautiful," he sighed.

"Hey yourself."

"You sound tired," he said, frowning slightly.

"I am. You're nephew is a menace!"

Lucas smiled. "You have a good time at the beach?"

"I did actually. Except that kid has no concept of relaxation. I chased him round all day, he doesn't stop!"

Lucas laughed but was disappointed that he wasn't the one spending time with her. He loved to see her with Jamie, it made him realise how much he wanted to see her with their children.

"He wore you out, huh?"

"He sure did. How about you? How was your day?"

"It was okay. The signing was busy which was great. I think I must have answered the question of 'Are you still with Peyton Sawyer?" like a hundred times," he said laughing.

"What'd you tell 'em?"

"I asked them if they thought I'd ever be with anyone else," he replied.

"Sweet talker."

Lucas laughed. "I try. What you doing now?"

"I'm in the bath."

Lucas groaned and Peyton laughed. "You're a vixen."

"I try."

They both smirked at her repetition of his words.

"I'll leave you to it, babe. I'll speak to you tomorrow."

"Okay. Luke?"

"Yeah?"

"I miss you."

She said it quietly and she sounded so vulnerable and honest that he felt his heart yearn for her.

"I miss you too, Peyton. More than you'll ever know."

"I love you."

He heard the way her voice changed and he closed his eyes.

"I love you too. Sweet dreams, babe."

Peyton leaned over and slid her phone along the floor. She rested back against the tub and sank beneath the water a little more. She closed her eyes and they released several tears. She knew she was doing better than she thought she would but each time they said goodbye it got harder and harder. She desperately wanted him to live his dream and become everything she knew that he could be. But her need for him was more than that. She felt selfish for feeling it but she couldn't help it. He was her dream and she wanted to live it too.


Lucas had been away for a week and each day became harder and harder for Peyton. She was just miserable without him and then she started thinking she was pathetic for that which made everything worse.

She was having dinner with Nathan and Haley that night when Lucas rang. She'd put him on speaker phone and they were all laughing and joking.

"Luke, are you ready to go?"

Haley and Nathan heads both snapped up to look at Peyton whose face fell. She grabbed her phone and took it off speaker phone.

"Is Lindsey with you?"

"Peyt, it's not like that. I've got a dinner with the heads of the company tonight. She's in the same hotel, so we're going together."

"Of course."

Lucas winced and closed his eyes at her tone. He turned to Lindsey and held his finger up, closing the door on her.

"Peyton, come on, don't do this."

"Don't do what? I said it's fine," she said, fighting to keep her voice from breaking. Haley moved to her side and held her hand.

"Yeah you said that but I can tell by your voice that you're not okay with this."

"What I'm not okay with, Luke, is being without you. Do you know how much it's killing me to be apart from you?"

"And do you not think it kills me the same way, babe?"

Peyton sighed. "It's just hard, Luke. I spend my nights just wishing you were with me especially knowing you're with an ex girlfriend who you said yourself still has feelings for you," Peyton said, her voice cracking.

"But that doesn't matter, Peyton. I don't have any feelings for her. I am so stupidly in love with you, you know that? It's a dinner with seven or eight other people. It's business and if I could get out of it, I would. If I could out of this whole thing and be back with you then I would."

"I know that Lucas. But when I'm here and you're there it just doesn't always feel that way."

Nathan and Haley looked at each other wondering whether it was best to leave the room. Peyton squeezed Haley's hand for support and she shook her head slightly and Nathan nodded.

"I don't want to fight with you like this Peyt."

"I don't either, Luke. It's my fault I should have just kept quiet. I don't want to keep you, just go and have your dinner. Call me in the morning."

"It's not your fault and you shouldn't keep quiet. You should be honest with me. Peyt, please. I don't want to end this call with you upset."

"I'll be fine. Just go, Lucas. I love you."

"I love you too, believe that."

He snapped his phone shut and his fist clenched. He hated it. He hated that he'd made her feel like she had to question how he felt. He didn't blame her. He knew she had every reason to be worried or insecure and that was down to him and him alone and that's what made him so angry. He thought that maybe it was too soon for him to have thought about leaving her, let alone actually doing it but there wasn't a lot he could do it about it now. He knew that if he didn't go or tried to ring her again, she'd be a lot angrier with him. He stood and grabbed his jacket and opened the door. Lindsey smiled at him and for some reason it made him angrier.

"Everything okay? I didn't mean to cause a problem with you and Peyton?"

Lucas looked at her for a moment. "Everything's fine. We're just struggling to be apart."

Lindsey frowned momentarily. "Of course. That cab's waiting, we should go."

Lucas nodded and walked behind her slightly, wishing the night over before it had even begun.


"I'm sorry, I didn't mean for that to happen," Peyton sighed.

"Hey, it's okay," Haley said, rubbing her back. "It's difficult to be apart and I know you trust him but it would be hard to know she's there when you're not. You're not crazy, Peyton."

"Are you sure?" Peyton laughed. "Cos I feel it."

"Don't be stupid, Sawyer. We don't think you're crazy and neither does Luke. It was always going to be difficult to be away from each other, even without everything that's happened."

"I just miss him and I know it's only been a week. And now I feel horrible because he's going to have that conversation on his mind all night and think that I'm angry or that I don't trust him. I just want to see him."

"So, why don't you?" Nathan suggested like it was the simplest idea in the world.

"What do you mean?" Peyton said.

"He's in New York now right?" Peyton nodded. "Well just get the shuttle and go to the signing tomorrow. Simple."

Peyton looked at Haley for help. Haley smiled at her.

"I think it's a good idea. I can handle the label while you're gone. Go, see him. Make everything right. He's missing you just as much, Peyton. He calls me too you know? And he is so miserable without you. He'd love to see you."

"You guys really think this is a good idea?" she asked, smiling, actually coming round to the idea.

"Totally. Surprise Lucas and piss off Lindsey. Two birds, one stone," Nathan replied, grinning.

"Nathan Scott, you can be such a bitch sometimes," Peyton said, laughing.

"I grew up with you and Brooke. What'd you expect?" he said, laughing. Peyton joined him, throwing a pillow at him.

"Well then I guess I can blame you when I act like an ass!" she teased and Haley high fived her.

"Ouch, Sawyer, ouch," he said, dramatically gripping at his heart.


A/N: I actually really enjoyed writing this chapter, especially the little tiff, for some reason that I can't explain. Let me know whether you enjoyed reading it! I think you'll have an idea where this will go next...;)