Disclaimer: I do not own OTH or its characters
I also do not own 'Takes So Long' by The Weepies.
So this is it. It's obviously the longest chapter as well. Please leave a review if you liked my story!! Thanks all!! Enjoy!
Takes So Long
"Brooke" Dr. Theriot broke both her and Peyton from their tears. "I think it's great that you are able to open up. That is what I'm here for, but tell me something, why do you say that this is your fault? You weren't the one driving, you are not the one on trial. Yet you are carrying around this guilt that you shouldn't be. Weren't you hurt pretty bad in this crash as well?"
Brooke took a second before answering to look at Peyton to try and read her face. All she could see though was that Peyton was wondering the same thing. "I guess I don't know how to not have this guilt. I mean if I would have never broken up with Jason then he wouldn't have been upset and he probably would have seen Robert crossing the street."
"You don't know that Brooke." Peyton interjected. "Oops, sorry." She said while looking at Dr. Theriot.
"Peyton's right Brooke. We don't know what would have happened that night. Upset or not, Jason still may have not ever seen Robert crossing the street. It's unfortunate what happened, but in no way is this your fault."
"But what can I do to not feel this way. Every day I think about that poor boy, and I think about Jason in his jail cell, and I think about how Peyton felt getting that phone call about me in an accident and I just can't…help…it."
"The beginning is realizing what you need to overcome, once that is established we can begin the healing process. We know now that what we are working towards it getting your feelings of guilt over this experience nonexistent. It's going to take some work on your part, but I have no doubts that you are a strong woman and I already know that you have an amazing support system. I'm not sure how Jason's trial is going to affect you, recovery wise, so I only want you in the courtroom if you are testifying. I do not want you to hear anything other than what you absolutely have to."
"I think I'll be able to do that. I'm not very interested in what the prosecution is going to say about Jason."
"Great. I'll want to see you again tomorrow, same time, and then after that well cut back to two days a week, until you feel like you don't need to come that often. If you ever feel like you need to come more often than that, we can arrange that as well. Brooke I'm going to be honest. Some days are going to be harder than others, but those are the days that you need to preserver, those are the days you fight back. Okay?"
"Yes ma'am. That sounds like a plan to me." Both girls got up from the couch and walked over to Dr. Theriot to shake her hand. As they were walking out of the office, Brooke turned around just before exiting and looked at Dr. Theriot. "Thank you" was all she said as Peyton grabbed her hand and together they walked out of the office.
Brooke & Peyton's Apartment: Current time, Wednesday
"Have you called him?" Brooke asked Peyton who was sitting on her bed with her sketch book out.
"No. But I've thought about it."
"Why don't you just call P.? It's been three days and he's not going to be here much longer. You two need to talk. I know I promised that I would stay out of it, but I hate seeing you so miserable. Especially since I'm finally starting to feel better." Brooke said with a hint of guilt behind it.
"I don't know what to say Brooke. Do I just let him think that it's okay what he did? Would I ever be able to fully open my whole heart to him again? I can't answer yes to either of those and I don't think I should."
"I think that's why you need to talk to him. P he loves you okay. With love comes understanding. I'm more than positive that he knows that even if you guys get back together it's not going to be like before. Not right away anyway. You told him you needed time and he's given that to you. Now it's your turn to give him what he asked for. An answer."
Peyton stuck her tongue out at Brooke in a playful manner. "Since when did you become so smart? And why do you always have to be right?"
"You're just lucky I guess!" Brooke responded while joining Peyton on her bed. "I'll be okay you know."
"What?"
"When you leave for LA. I'll be okay."
"Brooke, what?…I'm not leav – "
"I know. Not today or tomorrow, but when you do I just want you to know that I'll be okay here. I don't in any way want to be part of your excuse. You can no longer say you have to stay because I need you."
"Okay Brooke, but I don't ever plan on leaving New York…or you." Peyton said with a slight blush.
"You will." Brooke said. "I'm your best friend for a reason. I know what you're thinking sometimes even before you do." With that said Brooke jumped up from the bed, slapped Peyton on the butt and skipped out of the room.
"Ow! You'll be sorry!" Peyton hollered at her. She loved having Brooke back. Ever since she started seeing Dr. Theriot Brooke had become more and more like herself again. She had only been to two sessions but everyone could see the difference. Her second session was harder but only because it was right after she testified. Peyton loved it, more for the fact that she could tell Brooke was starting to move on and move forward, than for the fact that she finally had her best friend back. Brooke's part of testifying in the trial was completely over and she did as Dr. Theriot had told her and hasn't read nor heard about any of the trial. Peyton on the other hand knew that it wasn't going very well for Jason. The papers were tearing him to shreds and to top it off the victim's family had just filed a civil suit against him. She only hoped that Brooke wouldn't have to give her testimony there as well. She also secretly hoped that he would be found not guilty, if only to ease some of Brooke's guilt, but she knew that was a long shot. All she could do was be emotionally available to her if she needed it.
"I just need to get it over with". Peyton thought out loud. She walked across the room and picked up her phone, she scrolled down to the name she wanted to dial. "Hey, it's me…do you think we could talk?...yeah, I'll see you in a few." It's now or never. She thought.
"Hey!" Brooke exclaimed when she opened the door and saw Lucas, who she wasn't expecting. "Oh shoot." She said while covering her mouth. "Does she know your coming or are you surprising her?"
"No" Lucas said with a big grin on his face. "She invited me. She's expecting me."
"Okay good, because I thought I may have just ruined the surprise." Brooke replied while pulling Lucas in for a hug. "Let me go get her."
"You don't have to. I heard you all the way from my room." Peyton joked while walking towards the two standing at the door, with her arms crossed over her chest and giving a slight nudge to Brooke's with her shoulder. "I guess we can talk back in my room." Peyton said to Lucas.
"Yeah sounds good." Lucas said with complete uncertainty. For the first time in a long time he couldn't read Peyton, he had no idea what to expect from this conversation, but his gut was telling him it wasn't good. He began to feel sick to his stomach while walking
back to Peyton's room. I don't remember this hallway being so long, he thought to himself. Once inside the room Peyton sat down in her computer chair across from her bed.
"Have a seat." She said to Lucas while motioning to the only other available seating place, her bed.
"So why do I get the feeling that this talk isn't going to go my way?" Lucas said as he took a seat on the edge of Peyton's bed. She turned in the chair to face him; he was close enough to her that he could reach over and touch her knees. He wanted to so bad, but he refrained. Instead he just kept his hands in his lap.
"Lucas" Peyton began very somberly.
"I don't like the sound of that." Lucas joked.
"Luke this is serious, don't joke." Peyton said sternly. She scooted closer to him, until they were knee to knee. "Luke I've been doing a lot of thinking these past couple of days. It's been hard, I've thought about our happy times together and our bad times. I loved when we were together, I was happiest when we were together. But it hurt so badly when you left; it was so hard to get over you. But that's what happened I got over you. Sure I'd love to be 'us' again, but I just don't know if we can ever be the same 'us' that we were before and I don't want it if it's going to be different. I don't want to be in a relationship where I'm questioning every move you make. I don't want to have to ever question whether or not we're going to make it. Right now I am. I do question if 'us' is the right decision, I figured if I'm even questioning it, then it can't be right."
Lucas didn't know what to say, all he really wanted to do was run from the room. This couldn't really be happening, sure he made a mistake but he was making up for it. He was doing everything he could to make sure she knew how much this meant to him. "What do you mean you 'got over me'?" Lucas finally spoke while standing up from his position on the bed. "Peyton we almost had sex, you don't almost have sex with someone that you are 'over'!" He began pacing around the room.
"Lucas –"
"No" Lucas cut her off before she could say anything else. "I don't want to hear it. Listen Peyton" Lucas walked over to a sitting Peyton and grabbed her hand in his. "You're not 'over' me, I know you're not."
"How can you say that? How would you even know? Peyton stated back defensively taking her hand back.
Lucas knelt down to be eye level with her. "Because I see it in your eyes and I feel it in my heart." Peyton immediately looked down at his shoes. "You can deny it out loud all you want Peyton, but I know it's not true. We are meant to be together, and I know that we will be together. We are forever." He lifted her face so they were looking into each other's eyes again. "I know you're scared Peyton, but I promise I'll do anything to make you not scared anymore, just give me that chance."
Peyton was looking into his eyes and could see the hurt and anguish behind them. All she really wanted was for him to grab her in his arms and hold her. Well that's what her heart was telling her, but her head was telling her to be smart. You can't just believe everything he tells you. He's hurt you before (more than once) what's going to stop him from hurting you again?
Peyton stood up and walked to the door and opened it. "Lucas I really want to believe you I do, more than you'll ever know." She was now standing beside the open door and Lucas walked towards her and was now standing in front of her.
"Peyton…don't do this." Lucas pleaded.
"I'm sorry Lucas, but…I just…can't. I think you should leave."
Lucas gave her one more beseeching glance, but she wouldn't meet his eyes. He slowly walked out of her room with his head down, he couldn't believe this was happening. He couldn't say anything to Brooke on his way out. He just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.
Once Peyton saw the solid door and knowing Lucas was on the other side of it, she shut her bedroom door, fell on to her bed and cried harder than she ever had before.
Lucas couldn't go back to his hotel and he couldn't go to Nathan and Haley's house either, so instead he spend the next couple of hours walking around the city. He was trying to clear his head, and wrap it around all that had happened. He couldn't believe she said no. She wasn't supposed to say no, she was suppose to say yes. She was suppose to tell him she's in love with him, because he's definatly in love with her. He didn't understand, she wanted time and he gave it to her, they were supposed to have their happy ending. It can't really be over, can it? He thought to himself. He finally made himself return to his hotel room when the sun started to set.
"Hey Leah, its Lucas. Looks like you got your wish, I'll be home tomorrow." He said somberly into the phone.
"Thank God!" Leah replied "I was running out of excuses for you. Look do you need me to book your flight for you?"
"Nah, I got it."
"Look Lucas I'm not very good with emotions and all that stuff, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that things didn't quite work out the way you wanted them to. Did they?"
"No, but what can you do?"
Leah wasn't sure if he was asking her the question for a real answer or if it were just a rhetorical one. "I guess you come home and immerse yourself in your work. You write a really great book, maybe it will be about heartbreak, maybe it will be about love but either way Lucas, you come home."
"I don't really have a choice do I? There's nothing here for me anymore. I'll be there, at the office, by 2:00."
"I look forward to seeing you Lucas. Bye. Have a safe flight." Leah said just before she hung up the phone. Next was coming the call Lucas was dreading most. He had to call Nathan and Haley and tell them he was leaving. He wasn't exactly sure how Haley would take it, but hey they all knew he wasn't staying here forever.
"Lucas?!" Haley said into the phone excitedly once she saw who was calling.
"Hey Haley, how's it going?"
"You mean other than me being miserable, bloated, swollen feet, and completely uncomfortable, I'm fine!" Haley said sarcastically.
"Do I sense a bit of sarcasm from you?" Lucas joked back.
"I'm sorry; I'm just ready to pop this little one out. I swear he slash she loves to kick my ribs. I wouldn't be surprised if this one is a runner. Seriously!" Haley said with a laugh, and then she stopped and took a deep breath. "So what's up?"
"Well" Lucas started with hesitation, he was just happy she seemed to be in good mood, because he didn't know what he would do if she weren't. "I'm going back to LA in the morning." He figured he'd just do it quick, rip it off like a band-aid.
"Wha – Huh?" Was Haley's reaction. "Lucas Eugene" She said sternly "…why?" With more sadness in her voice.
"It's just time for me to go back. I've been here for quite a while and Leah has been covering for me this whole time. I have a lot of work to do and." He didn't really know how to finish the sentence.
"What about Peyton, Luke?"
"What about her?" He knew he needed to be careful with his words, because Haley would surely talk to Peyton about this. "Look Haley, she told me no, okay. I went over there earlier today and we talked and she said she can't. So that's that. I'm leaving in the morning; I just wanted to let you know."
"She told you no!" Haley practically screamed into the phone. "Who the hell does – oooh she's going to get a piece of my mind that's for sure. Oh my gosh, Lucas how are you feeling?"
"Are you done?" Lucas asked a venting Haley.
"Sorry, I'm blaming the hormones. But seriously Luke are you okay?
"Not right now, if I'm being totally honest. But I'm sure I will be. I guess the distance is really in my favor now. Before I was worried about it and now I'm relieved over it. Crazy how that works out huh?"
"I don't know what to say. I was so sure that this wouldn't be the ending. I don't want you to go, but if it's what you feel that you need to do, and then there is nothing I can do but support you. Are you going to need a ride to the airport?"
"Nah, I got it. Look it's late and I have an early flight in the morning, so I'll call you before I leave."
"I love you Luke."
"I love you too Hales, give Jamie a kiss for me. Tell Nathan to call me when he can. I'll see you guys soon. I wouldn't want to miss out on my new niece or nephew."
"Okay I will. Bye Luke."
Lucas hung up the phone and started packing. He knew he wouldn't be able to get any sleep tonight. Maybe I can sleep on the plane. He thought to himself.
The next morning Lucas woke up and took a taxi to the airport, he made sure to call Haley before boarding the plane, he was able to talk to Jamie and that made him feel a little bit better. Sitting on the airplane he still thought there was hope, he didn't really believe that Peyton would let him leave. Not like that, not after what happened yesterday, she would be here; she'd stop the plane from leaving if she had to.
It wasn't until the plane was in the air, and Peyton didn't show up that he realized it really was…over.
Lucas had left New York six days ago. Peyton tried to keep herself busy with work, and with Brooke, and with Haley who was getting awfully close to her due date. Nathan was away on a road trip so it was up to Brooke and Peyton to take care of her and of Jamie who Haley needed help with. Even through all of this she still couldn't help herself but to think about him. He who shall not be named. She didn't mention it to anyone, though. She told him 'no' she had no right to be thinking about him. Neither Haley nor Brooke brought up Lucas' name around Peyton. They both tried it once, the day after Lucas left, and since then they didn't try again. Peyton wasn't really in the mood and did threaten to gouge out their eyes if they ever were to bring him up again. They really like their eyes and they decided they didn't want to chance it.
"Peyton!" Brooke yelled from the kitchen to Peyton who was in her bedroom. "Peyton, oh my gosh Peyton!" Brooke screamed some more while running full speed into Peyton's bedroom.
"What the hell Brooke?" Peyton shot back annoyed.
"We have to go, Haley just called she's on her way to the hospital…It's TIME!" Brooke exclaimed while jumping up and down clapping. Peyton quickly grabbed her jacket hanging over her computer chair and the two girls took off as fast as they could go.
"You're late!" Haley screamed at the two girls once they made it to her hospital room.
"I know and we're really sorry, traffic was –"
"I don't care!" Haley shot back.
"Geez, what's gotten into her?" Brooke whispered to Peyton.
"I think it's what's getting out of her." Peyton joked. Both girls shared a giggle.
"Give me a hand!" Shot off Haley. With that Brooke ran around to the other side of the bed and both she and Peyton each grabbed one of Haley's hands.
"I've already called Nathan, Haley, he is boarding the charter plane they had for him and will be here as soon as he can." Peyton said, trying to ease Haley a little and to try to make her more comfortable.
"Oooooh, how much longer? Where's Jamie?" Whined Haley.
"Your son is fine Mrs. Scott; he is in the child care center with expertly trained professionals." A nurse answered. "You are almost ready to start pushing, take a deep breath…okay…push…..9.10 Great job Haley! Rest for a little bit and we'll be ready again."
"Oh…my…God!" Brooke cried out. "I can't watch!"
"Oh quit being such a baby Brooke, this isn't about you." Haley shot back leaving Brooke with a questioning expression on her face.
Peyton turned her head to the side and tried hard to conceal her laughter.
"What are you laughing at Blondie?" Haley threatened. That caused Peyton to snap out of it and mouthed the words 'sorry' to her. But she and Brooke still shared a slight giggle with one another.
"One more time Haley, you're almost finished." The nurse announced.
That was it, in no more than ten seconds the room was filled with the soft crying of a brand new baby. "It's a boy!" The doctor proclaimed aloud. The three girls could just look at one another in awe.
"I'm so proud of you Hales." Peyton said while running her fingers through her hair. Brooke was crying over the baby in the bassinet while the nurses were tending to him and you couldn't make out anything she was saying because she was mumbling.
"I wish Nathan could have been here." Haley said.
"I know, but he'll be here in a bit, he's going to be upset he missed it. But I'm really glad I was here Haley, if that makes up for it in any way?" Peyton said shyly.
"I'm here, did I miss it!" Nathan shouted as he stormed into the room. Everyone immediately turned in his direction, Brooke started crying more and Haley face showed nothing but pure amazement as she reached out for him, and he ran towards her. "He's ready." The nurse said once the baby was finally cleaned off. "Who wants to hold him first?" She asked to the new parents.
"He?" Nathan asked with pure joy in his eyes.
"Yes. He!" Haley responded.
"I'll go get Jamie." Peyton announced as she left the room to get the couples oldest child. "He'll want to be here."
On her way out the door she grabbed Brooke by the arm.
"Ow, what was that for?" Brooke asked once outside the door.
"Sorry, didn't mean to grab you so hard, I just wanted to give them some privacy."
"He is sooooo cute!" Brooke screeched. "I wonder what they are going to name him?"
"Me too! Peyton said with enthusiasm. "Come on let's go get Jamie."
The two girls skipped down the hall to the child care center where Jamie had been since Haley's contractions had stared scaring him.
"Jamie!" Peyton hollered at him.
Once he saw the two girls he took off running into their arms. Brooke took him back and asked, "Jamie you have a baby brother, are you ready to go see him?"
"Yes!" Jamie squealed while jumping up and down. Each girl grabbed a hand and the three of them walked back to the labor room where Haley and Nathan were with their brand new baby.
"Mama Dada!" Jamie screamed once he saw them. Nathan immediately scooped him up in his arms and leaned him over the bed where Haley was holding the baby in her arms.
"My boys." Nathan said with pride and leaning down to kiss Haley on the forehead.
Peyton and Brooke could do nothing but watch the happy family both with tears in their eyes.
"So what's his name?" Brooke asked eagerly.
Nathan and Haley both shared a loving glance at one another and then looked down at the baby. "Nicholas Keith Scott."
"Oh that's beautiful." Brooke said. "Can I hold him?" She asked while walking over to the family.
"Sure." Haley said while handing the baby off to her. They were all so mesmerized with Nicholas that nobody noticed when Peyton walked out of the room.
"Hey, where's Peyton?" Nathan finally asked.
Lucas was walking up to his apartment the next night after working all day long. It had now been exactly one week since he last talked to Peyton, or since Peyton last talked to him. Brooke called a couple of times to 'see how he was doing' which really meant 'how was he holding up since Peyton ripped his heart out'. Of course he still kept in contact with Nathan and Haley, but they didn't bring up Peyton's name either. He was actually relieved he had work and he was so busy, it kept him from thinking too much. It got the worst at night, when he would lay in bed by himself and he would day dream about Peyton being in the bed next to him. But of course she wasn't. He did his best writing in the middle of the night, he had to try to occupy his mind with something other than Peyton, so he wrote. Haley had called him last night to tell him about the birth of Nicholas Keith. He couldn't be happier for the two of them, and he was thrilled to have another nephew.
"Hales, I told you I will be down on Saturday. Besides I don't want to bother you guys in the hospital, I'd rather wait until you guys were at home and a little more comfortable." Lucas spoke into his phone. As he reached the top of the stairs he noticed a figure standing in front the door to his apartment. He couldn't make out who it was and started getting nervous. He slowed down his pace waiting for this person to move away from his door, when they didn't move he decided to approach them. "Haley I'm going to have to call you back." He hung up his phone and walked cautiously over to the figure.
"Lucas." The figure said.
He squinted his eyes. No it couldn't be. Could it?
"Lucas" she said again while briskly walking towards him.
It was.
"What are you doing here?" He asked still in shock by her presence.
"I'm sorry, I know you weren't expecting me and it was really a gut reaction. Sorry I should have called." She stammered after seeing his expression.
"No, it's not that. I'm just – Peyton what are you doing here?" He asked seriously. All the while his heart was beating so fast.
"Can I come in?" She asked uncertain. She was beginning to doubt her trip here.
"Yeah, sorry…come on in."
They both walked into Lucas' dark apartment and both just stood, staring at one another. Lucas didn't know what was going on, and he didn't want to give his hopes up if this meeting was a bad one, and Peyton couldn't quite find the words she was looking for.
"Peyton, you flew all this way and I'm sure it's not so that you could just stand in my living room." Lucas said trying to joke, but inside he was extremely curious. "Have a seat." He motioned to the couch as he walked over and turned on the lights. By the time Lucas joined Peyton on the couch he noticed that she had been crying. This really can't be good, he thought. "Hey" he said while lifting her face to his. "Tell me what's going on. I'm getting a little worried."
"I was wrong Lucas." Saying those words made her feel better, but that feeling she knew was fleeting. He would be able to destroy that with one word. Tears were forming in her eyes and she took a deep breath to keep them back. "Yesterday something happened that changed my mind, hell it changed my life. " She began to get nervous and Lucas could see that in her eyes. "I've had so long to think about what I was going to say, and now I can't think of anything I was going to say." She said with a slight chuckle when she realized she was mumbling. "We've been through a lot, me and you, and some of it was bad but most of it was great. No, it was better than great it was wonderful, and I've been so scared that I'd never feel that way again. I had convinced myself that it was impossible, and that what we had wasn't real. It couldn't be real, it was too perfect."
"Peyton –"
She held her hand up to his chest. "Let me finish, because if you start talking I may not be able to. When you came back to New York, I thought I'd never see you again, so I was shocked. I was scared, but I was also really, really happy. But that happiness was quickly replaced by the hurt that I felt when you left. You were the one person that I thought would never hurt me, and you hurt me more than anybody. So I was scared and guarded and I didn't want to let you in…again."
She took a deep breath and felt relief when she looked into his eyes and saw the same spark behind them. He was looking into her soul and it gave her chills. "At the hospital yesterday I saw how happy Nathan and Haley were and all I could think about was how it really is possible."
"What is?" Lucas was finally able to get a thought out.
"Happiness." She answered. "The happiness that we had, it was real and it could last. I was just faking myself out; I was terrified of getting hurt again. But that kind of happiness is worth it. You are worth it Lucas." She just sat there for a while waiting for him to say something back. The longer the silence went on the more confused she became. She didn't know if it were a good silence or a bad one.
"I think I'm confused?" He finally said. "What exactly are you telling me Peyton?" Lucas stood up and started pacing around the living room trying to comprehend everything she had just said. Peyton stood up with her hands together.
"Lucas…I made a mistake. I want to be with you. I want what you want. I want us. And I think I've always wanted it, but my head kept reminding me of when you left and I just couldn't shake that feeling, but now I know you won't do that. I know that you love me and I know this because I love you too. Lucas…I love you. I never stopped." Tears were forming in her eyes now, but she couldn't take them off of him. Say something, anything. She was pleading in her mind. I need to say something, anything. Lucas was thinking the same thing.
"If I'm too late I understand. She said crushed. Still no response from the tall blonde, instead he was just staring at her. She bit her lip and took his silence to mean that she should have come, she had made a mistake in thinking that she hadn't hurt him enough to make him not want to be with her. "I'm sorry." She said before heading for the door in a panic. Just as she reached the handle she felt a hand on her shoulder and before she knew it his lips were on hers. "See, I told you we were forever. I knew you'd come around. You still have that same look in your eyes. For some reason though…it just seems to take so long, but I'm okay with that." They kissed again, a full on passionate, Lucas and Peyton kiss.
"I'm going to miss you so much" Brooke said while hugging her best friend in the airport.
"I'm going to miss you too, but we'll be back, and we'll be back often. I promise." Peyton said while hugging Brooke, both girls with tears in their eyes. "Haley, get over here girl."
"What am I going to do without you?" Haley cried.
"Don't worry about us. We both know you are doing what's best for you. I told you I'd be fine and I will. I have Haley; she'll take care of me." Brooke said with a wink and Haley nodded along at Brooke's words.
"I love you guys so much!" Peyton said trying to hold back her sobs.
"I love you big bro." Nathan said while giving Lucas a hug. "You take care of her, don't make me fly down there and kick your ass." He said with a smile on his face.
"Always, and never" Lucas replied.
The blondes continued to exchange their hugs and goodbyes with the group until their flight was called.
"You ready babe?" Lucas asked while grabbing Peyton's hand. She looked up into his eyes and nodded yes, with a huge smile on her face.
The three left in the airport, stood back with two beautiful little boys and watched the blondes walk away, hand in hand. They were beginning their forever.
A/N: So that's it. Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading and thanks for reviewing!! I'll be back!!