A/N: Thanks for the reviews, everyone. Things take a different turn at the end of this chapter than I had originally plan, but that's where my muse insisted the story needed to go. Don't like it? Blame her. Anyway, here's the last chapter for the next few days since I don't think that I'll have the time to write too much this weekend. Sorry about that, but I promise that there will be a new chapter up by Monday night, at the latest. So, onto the story...

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The next morning, Peyton woke up earlier than she had meant to. She had wanted to spend the next thirty-odd weeks in bed. But even so, six-thirty in the morning was really early for her. The blonde considered trying to go back to sleep but since her stomach kept growling furiously at her, she knew that wasn't going to be an option. Peyton opened her door and walked into the kitchen. She shrieked in surprised when she saw Lucas sitting there at the table.

"What are you doing here?" Peyton clutched her chest. He had really surprised her.

"I had to beg Brooke to bring me here. And then she made me promise that I would wait until you woke up on your own."

Peyton frowned. She was going to kill her best friend for doing this to her. The least the brunette could have done would have been calling Peyton's cell phone and telling her of Lucas's presence. But no, Brooke had let Peyton unknowingly walk into his trap, wearing only a long shirt that he had given her. She so wished that she was wearing pants at the moment. Especially when she felt his eyes on her legs and she heard his swallow hard.

Lucas quickly looked away from the gorgeous unclothed legs and stood up. "I'm sorry about last night."

The young artist looked at the author. She could tell that he was exhausted and indeed, sorry. Peyton shook her head. "Go home, Lucas."

"Peyt, please don't do this. I need to talk to you!"

"Go home," she repeated. "Go home and sleep. You look tired and you obviously need your sleep."

He had to smile at the fact that she still cared. Even when she was mad at him, she still tried to take care of him. "I can't. I know that I won't be able to sleep until we talk."

"Well, I don't know if there's anything I want to hear from you right now."

"I punched Julian."

Peyton's eyes grew wide. "Color me mistaken. You hit him?"

Lucas nodded. "I think I broke his nose."

She could feel the blush rising in her cheeks. The mental image of Lucas hitting Julian was a hot one. Peyton loved his sensitive and sweet nature, but she had to admit that there was something really sexy about Lucas being all manly and violent.

"I wish I could have been there to see it," she said.

"About that, Peyt… I didn't invite Lindsey. Julian did."

"What?"

"He called her and told her that I wanted her there. But I didn't. YOU are the only person that I wanted to be there."

Peyton slapped her own forehead. How could she have been so stupid. OF COURSE, it was Julian who called Lindsey. "What an ass!"

"I can't believe you dated him," Lucas said, quietly. He didn't want to fight with her, but they needed to clear the air about it.

"He wasn't like that with me. He was sweet and caring and charming. But it was all an act, something that I realized the more we fought." Peyton looked at Lucas. "Besides, I needed someone to distract me from my broken heart."

"Did he?"

"From being sad? Sometimes. From you? Never."

Lucas nodded. "I know what you mean, Peyt. You just described my relationship with Lindsey."

"Are you mad at me for dating Julian?"

"Of course not. And I'm sorry at how I reacted to the news. If Lindsey hadn't show up, I would have taken you in my arms and told you that it didn't matter to me. He was your past and I wanted your present and your future."

Peyton lowered her head. "I would have like that."

"Me too," he said. "So, you're not mad at me because of Lindsey showing up, right?"

"No, I'm not mad. Well, I am mad, just not at you."

"Good." Lucas watched her. "So where does this leave us, then?"

"I don't know," she replied honestly. Her stomach grumbled and she blushed furiously.

Lucas smiled. "Sit down and let me make you breakfast."

"Fine, but after that, you have to go home and get some sleep, okay?"

Lucas nodded. "Sounds good to me. Oh and Brooke told me about the label thing. I think it's a great idea."

"You do?"

"Definitely. I mean, if anyone could do it, it would be you, Peyton."

"You said that almost like you meant it." She lowered her head in embarrassment. God, why did he keep having to make her blush?

"I do mean it, Peyt." He turned to look into her eyes and he smiled, warming her body all the way to her toes. "I believe in you."

------

Brooke quietly made her way downstairs, later that morning. She was feeling guilty for having let Lucas come over, but she had wanted to make sure that he put ice on his hand. The young designer hoped that Peyton had slept in late, like she usually did. No such luck.

She found the downstairs empty. Lucas was gone and Peyton wasn't in her room. Brooke's overactive imagination started running away from her. She knew that Peyton was all hormonal and moody and wondered if her blond friend could have actually done something to Lucas. The brunette was lost in little murder scenario in her head that she didn't hear Peyton come in.

"Look, who's finally up," Peyton said, closing the door behind her.

"Where have you been? Are you okay? Is Lucas okay? Where is he? You didn't do anything to him, did you?"

"Whoa, what's with the twenty questions?"

Brooke breathed out, calming down. "So, where were you?"

"I was dropping Lucas off."

"Intact?"

Peyton raised an eyebrow. "Yes. I didn't do anything to him. I can't promise that I will be able to make that same statement about somebody else, though."

Brooke put her hands up defensively. "I know what I did was stupid and I should have dropped him off at his house, but you should have seen him. I did what I thought was best for both of you. I'm sorry that you don't agree, just don't hurt me."

"I wasn't talking about you, psycho. I was talking about Julian."

"Oh. Well, yeah. Did Lucas tell you him punched him?"

Peyton blushed, nodding. "Yeah. I wish I had been there."

"I wish I had my camera phone out! I so would have recorded it for prosperity."

"Was it as hot as I think it was?"

Brooke narrowed her eyes. "I don't know, you have a nasty little imagination there, P. Sawyer. They weren't naked and covered in oil, so I'm thinking your fantasy might be a little different from what really happened."

Peyton stuck her tongue out. "So, you told Lucas about your offer to fund my label, huh?"

Brooke looked away. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I'm not mad you told him. In fact, I glad you did. He convinced me to do it."

The brunette clapped her hands together. "I knew he could! This is awesome!"

"Yeah, and it gets better," Peyton said, smiling. "Before dropping him off, he made me drive to Tric."

"Isn't it a little early for some heavy drinking?"

Peyton laughed. "I told Lucas that, too. But, actually he took me upstairs to show me an little office that he would let me use, rent-free, for my label."

"So, we in business?"

"Absolutely!"

-----

Haley walked into the bedroom with out knocking on his door. She found Lucas asleep, face down in his pillow. She had been worried about him all night and was glad to see that he was okay. Nathan had forced her to give him until morning before she went and checked up on him. She sat down at the corner of his bed and smiled. It was funny how sleep could make the most tortured of soul look peaceful. Then, despite how hard she tried to keep it quiet, she sneezed loudly, effectively waking the boy from his slumber.

"Huh?" That was all he could manage. He had only fallen asleep half an hour previous to this interruption.

"Good morning, sleepyhead."

"Haley?" He groaned. He remembered the last time she had woken him up some days ago. "Are you mad at me again?"

"What? No, I was worried about you and thought you might like to talk."

"No. No talking. I want to go back to sleep."

Haley tried to push him out of bed, but he wasn't cooperating with her. He didn't budge an inch, so she tried a different approach to get him out of bed and talking. "Come on, it's getting late. I'll make you breakfast."

"I already had breakfast." His voice was slightly muffled as he snuggled back into his pillow.

"When?"

"Earlier. With Peyton."

That was the wrong thing to say if he had ever wanted any chance of being left alone that morning. Now Haley was insanely curious. "What? You saw Peyton already? When? What happened? Is she still mad at you? Lucas, come on, talk to me."

"Later. Sleeping now."

"Lucas Eugene Scott, you cannot just tell me something like that and expect me to leave you alone. Spill. I need details."

"Haley…" he whined. "I just went to sleep a little while ago. Can't we do this later? Please? I promise I'll tell you all that you want to know, just not now, okay?"

"Fine." Haley stood up. If he wasn't going to tell her, then she would have to go Peyton. "Should I tell Peyton you say hi?"

He didn't respond, Haley turned to look at him and found that he had fallen back asleep.

-----

Peyton and Brooke were at her new office space at Tric. They were examining the place and discussing decorating it.

"P. Sawyer, you have to listen to me. There's been studies made and a soft pastel color promotes good feelings."

"Still, I'm not painting the walls pink, Brooke. You know I hate pink!"

Brooke rolled her eyes. "Yes, I know. You had to paint your walls a blood red color."

"It was pretty."

"It was gruesome."

Peyton shrugged. "I liked it."

"I shudder to think what prismatic atrocity you're thinking of painting the walls of the nursery." Brooke groaned. "Or worse you'll draw some creepy depressing angst-ridden "everyone leaves" thing on the wall. That could damage a child, you know."

The blonde laughed, but thought about what she had said. "Speaking of a nursery, we don't have an empty room for one."

"That's true, we don't."

"Brooke."

"What?" Brooke gave her an innocent look. "I'm just merely stating that Lucas happens to have an empty bedroom at his house."

"Are you that sick of me already, that you're kicking me out of the house?"

"No! I just think that a lot can happen between now and when you give birth. You could even be back with Broody."

Peyton gave her an exasperated look. Her cell phone rang. It was a welcome interruption. "Hello?"

"Hey, girlie."

"Haley! How are you doing?"

"Fine. And I'm glad to hear that you are feeling better than last night."

"Yeah, I am."

"So," Haley began. "I heard you saw Lucas already."

"He told you? And here I thought he'd sleep until late in the afternoon."

"I woke him up," Haley said without the slightest bit of remorse. "Unfortunately, he only let it slip that the two of you had breakfast before he fell back asleep."

"Ah, and you are dying for a story."

"Of course."

"How about I start off with this little tidbit? Lucas punched Julian."

"This morning?"

"No, last night before he left the party."

"Nice…" Haley chuckled. "Nathan's going to be so jealous. All he's wanted to do since he met Julian is punch him."

"According to both Brooke and Lucas, Julian's nose is completely busted."

"Let's see him try and be charming now," the young wife said. "As much as I'm enjoying the thought of that jerk with his nose broken, I still can't believe Lucas punched him just because he used to go out with you."

"Oh, that's right, you still don't know!" Peyton had forgotten that Haley and Nathan were still out of the loop. "Lucas didn't invite Lindsey. Julian did. And he told her that Lucas wanted her to come."

"Poor Lindsey."

Peyton would have glared at Haley if she had been in the same room with her. "I'm going to let that slide because I know she was your friend for a while. But anyway… Last night, Lucas begged Brooke not to drive him home and instead take him to the house."

"How very Lucas."

"Brooke relented only after he promised to wait until I woke up on my own," Peyton related the story to her friend. "Unfortunately, Brooke didn't think to warn me ahead of time and this morning I stepped out into the kitchen half-naked to find Lucas waiting for me."

"Why were you half-naked?"

"I had just gotten up and I didn't think we had a visitor at six-thirty in the morning."

"What are talking about here, just panties?"

"No! What am I, Brooke?" Peyton asked and Brooke turned and gave her a questioning glance. Peyton shook her head and continued her conversation with Haley. "I was in a long t-shirt. But I wasn't wearing any pants!"

"That must have been torture for Luke."

"It was no picnic for me, I'll tell you."

"So, you guys talked?"

"Yeah, he explained the whole Lindsey situation and told me that he wasn't mad at me because I went out with Julian."

"That's big of him," Haley said, sarcastically.

"But still, it was nice to hear. And then we talked about the whole starting my own record label because Brooke told him about that last night."

"Oh yeah, what did he say?"

"He said that he knew I could do it and that he believed in me."

Haley could hear her friend smiling as she said it. "So you're doing it, right?"

"Yeah."

"Good."

-----

It was nearing dinnertime by the time Lucas woke up. He had realized how tired he was until he woke up, refreshed. He was sad that he had missed a whole day of writing but rest was necessary if he was going to be in tiptop shape.

He was awake, but he wasn't quite ready to leave the comfort of his bed. He couldn't remember the last time he just lounged in be and did nothing. He had slept the whole day away, so it didn't really matter if he just hung out doing nothing.

Lucas allowed his mind to go back to this morning with Peyton.

They had just left Tric and Lucas could tell that the Peyton was really excited about her new label. He was happy that he could be a part of something that would make her smile like that.

Peyton felt his eyes on her and she blushed. "What?"

"You're beautiful when you smile."

"Too bad I don't smile often, then."

He placed his hand over the hand she hand on the shifter. "It is a downright shame."

"God, Luke. You always know what to say to make me feel like a giggly teenager."

"Look who's talking. You made me feel like I was back in high school when you came out your room this morning." He laughed. "Your legs all bare and just wearing my old t-shirt that you stole years ago? I nearly had a heart attack."

Peyton became serious. "Don't joke about that. How are you doing with your HCM?"

"I'm fine. I take my pills and I haven't had any problems." He was suddenly serious. "You know, I hadn't even thought about that."

"About what?"

"Our baby might have HCM. I'm so sorry, Peyt… I can't believe that-"

"Why are you apologizing?" Peyton asked, cutting him off.

"Because our child has fifty percent chance of having it."

"Lucas, if our son or daughter has a heart like yours, then I'll be happy." She turned her hand under his so she could hold his hand. "You're a good man, Lucas Scott, with a good heart. And you're going to be a great father."

"You sure?"

Peyton brought their intertwined hands up to her face and kissed his hand. "I'm sure. I'm proud to be carrying your child, Luke."

"Thank you, Peyton." He leaned back in the seat of her car. "Hey, I was meaning to ask, where did you get your old car?"

"My dad had a friend of his hang on to it for me. Apparently my dad knew I'd be back one day and I'd be needing my car back.'

Lucas was grateful for Larry Sawyer's insight. He couldn't imagine Peyton driving anything but her temperamental old Mercury Comet. "Let me take a look underneath the hood later. I want to make sure that the mother of my child doesn't break down and get stranded."

"If I do, I'll just call you to pick me up."

"You better."

She smiled. This was nice. The two of them just being together with no drama hanging between them. "I'm glad I'm here."

"I'm going to pretend that you meant here with me instead of here in Tree Hill."

"What if I told you that I meant both?"

"Then I'd tell you there's no other place in this world that I would rather be." They were having a good time together and he didn't want to ruin it. But there were things that he needed to be said. "I love you, Peyton."

"I love you, Lucas," she replied, easily.

She arrived at his house shortly and they sat in her car in silence. Neither of them wanted the moment to end. Then Lucas yawned loudly and Peyton knew that she couldn't keep him away from his bed any longer.

"Thank you," she said.

"For what?"

"For everything." She leaned in towards him and kissed him. It wasn't like the desperate and passionate ones that they had shared in the previous days. It was a soft and gentle kiss and it ended far too quickly for Lucas's taste. "Now, go to bed."

He got out of the car and he barely felt the ground beneath his feet. They were getting closer, he could feel it. He gave her a small wave as he opened his door and watched her drive away. Lucas didn't have time to rejoice in the great morning he had with Peyton. He was too tired. He had barely managed to get undressed before fell into bed, falling asleep immediately.

He wanted to call her and see how she was doing, but he was afraid of being too needy. Things had progressed farther today between them and he hadn't done anything but be himself. Lucas was finally listening to Haley's advice.

And speaking of Haley…

He grabbed his cell phone and called his best friend.

"Scott Residence."

"Hey, Nate."

"Luke… I can't believe you punched Julian!"

"You upset?"

"Just jealous that you got to do it first," Nathan said. "So, what's up?"

"Well, I promised your wife I'd fill her in on my early morning activities."

"Don't worry about it," the dark-haired brother told him. "She already pumped Peyton for information and got the whole story from her."

"Your wife is not a patient woman."

"Not when it comes to gossip about you two," Nathan agreed. "I heard that she promised you breakfast, so how does dinner sound as a substitute?"

"I think I can make a sacrifice." Lucas laughed.

"Good, because I need reinforcement of the testosterone kind. Brooke's already here and Peyton's coming over once she finishes up whatever she's doing."

"Peyton's going?" Lucas cringed when he heard how excited his voice sounded. His brother was so going to tease him about that.

"Yeah. Now you're DEFINITELY coming."

"Oh, yeah."

--------

Peyton took a deep breath. She was going to lose her nerve if she didn't knock on the door soon. Maybe she should just leave. It was probably a mistake for her to even be here. No, she came here for a reason and she was going to go through with it. She lifted her hand and knocked softly on the hotel door and immediately wished she hadn't.

The door opened, revealing Julian and his broken nose. Peyton had to force herself to refrain from laughing. He looked her up and down and leered at her.

"What are you doing here, Peyton?"

"I heard that Lucas punched you."

"And you came to see if I was all right? How sweet of you." His voice was dripping with venom, but he stepped aside so she could come in.

"I came here because I wanted to ask you to leave. There's nothing more for you here. Just go to LA and make your movie."

"Ah, if things were only that simple." Julian gingerly touched his nose. "Your boyfriend did a very stupid thing by punching me."

"He is not my boyfriend," Peyton said. She wasn't sure what they were exactly. But he definitely wasn't her boyfriend… yet. "And to be honest, from where I'm standing, hitting you was the smartest thing he's done in a long time."

"How is assaulting me in front of a crowd a smart thing?" He gave her a slimy smile that made her uncomfortable. "You know, I was actually thinking of pressing charges."

"You wouldn't!"

"I think you know me well enough to know that I most certainly would."

Peyton growled. "You jerk! It's not like you didn't deserve it. You were just getting what you had coming."

"Maybe, but I don't think the law care very much about that. Well, I haven't really decided whether or not to go through with it. You could always try and persuade me not to."

"Please, Julian, don't do this." Her voice cracked. "Just be the decent guy I once thought you to be and just leave town."

"Sorry, wrong answer," he said. "The correct answer would have been, 'Don't do this and I'll sleep with you.' Let's try it again. You could always persuade me not to…"

"You pig!" She slapped him.

He held his cheek and then he laughed. "My, you're slow today. Would you like to try it a third time?"

"I'm not going to sleep with you, Julian." She quickly made her way to the door. It had been a stupid idea to come.

He grabbed her arm. "If you don't sleep with me, Peyton, I'm going to make things very unpleasant for your little sweetheart."

Her heart dropped. Peyton trembled in his grip and he smiled at her lack of effort to pull away from him.

"I can see that you're all conflicted and I respect that. I'll tell you what. You sleep on it tonight and you give me your decision tomorrow."

With that he let her go. Her stomach turned and she barely managed to keep her lunch from resurfacing. She knew she couldn't sleep with Julian. Not after all he had done. But then again, how could she let Julian ruin Lucas's life? Whatever her decision was, the end result wasn't going to be a pretty one. Why had she ever gone to see him?