A/N: Well, this is it folks, the last chapter. It took me almost a year, but I finally finished this story. It didn't turn out the way I expected it to, or wanted it to. I still have a long way to go before I can call myself a halfway decent writer and this story was in many ways an experiment, just like my first story, "Suddenly Everything is Clear."

Anyway, this chapter is much shorter than the others. It's basically an epilogue. I'd like to thank everyone who kept up with this story and I'm sorry it took so long for me to write. I hope the ending doesn't disappoint too much because I kind of wrote this last chapter in a rush.

So, without further ado, here's the conclusion to "Falling Down."

Chapter Fourteen: Getting Back Up

"Mom?"

Lucas stared at his mother. She'd grown her glossy-black hair out and it now spilled down her shoulders. Her skin was tanned from being at sea for so long, and the bronze hue looked good on the older woman.

Now it all made sense. The Chevy didn't belong to Nathan or Haley; it was probably a rental that his mother had driven here. Karen had been upstairs the whole time, which is why Nathan and Haley had been so jittery. Obviously, they hadn't wanted Lucas to cross paths with his mother, which was understandable given the things Lucas had said to her the last time they'd been in each other's presence.

As he stood only feet away from the woman that had birthed him and raised him, Lucas felt self-loathing trickle into every pore. Karen Roe, at only eighteen, had put her entire life on hold and sacrificed all of her dreams and goals to raise him alone, a task that must've been singularly frightening and endlessly daunting. She'd always been there for him, forgiven him no matter how badly he'd screwed up, and had given him all the love and support any son could've ever asked for. And how had Lucas repaid her?

By throwing her out of his house, the house that had once been hers, the one she'd bought and paid for with endless hours of back-breaking labor. By accusing her, in not so many words, of abandoning him to go and be with Andy and robbing him of the chance to get to know his little sister. By complaining about her smothering him when she'd voiced the notion that she might finally want to move back to Tree Hill. These were all things Lucas had blasted his mother with three months ago, out of anger and frustration and fear.

He couldn't meet her eyes, so he turned away. In his periphery, Lucas noticed Nathan, Haley, and Peyton quietly slip out of the room, apparently wanting to give mother and son some privacy. Teetering on his crutches, Lucas still avoided his mother's gaze. She approached him slowly until she was directly in front of him.

"Lucas," she spoke. "Please look at me."

Timidly, Lucas complied. There wasn't anger or hatred in his mother's eyes, as there should've been. Instead, all Lucas saw was compassion and love. Then she hugged him, gently but firmly. His mother's familiar scent catapulted him back to his childhood; all those days when he'd had a bad day at school, or someone had teased him about his lineage, or any number of times when he'd needed comfort, a hug from his mother and that familiar fragrance of hers had always made him feel safe and secure.

"Mom," Lucas whispered, voice cracking. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean those things I said."

"I know you didn't, sweetie," she soothed. "I know you didn't."

Karen pulled back and prompted Lucas over to the couch Nathan and Haley had just vacated. The two sat down, Lucas awkwardly freeing himself from his crutches and plopping down on the couch cushion. His mother took his hand and squeezed, not unlike Peyton had when he'd been talking to Nathan and Haley.

"I was visiting Nathan and Haley," she explained. "Andy and I were actually in the area, and I wanted to see how they were doing. I would've come down earlier but I wasn't sure you'd want to see me."

"I'm sorry for making you think I wouldn't," he apologized. "I'm sorry for a lot of things."

Now with both hands encasing Lucas's, Karen looked him straight in the eye. "Lucas, I already told you that it's alright."

"But it isn't!" he snapped. "I had no right to treat you like that. I'm horrible. I'm a terrible son, and…"

"Stop it!" his mother's voice lashed out. Her eyes were reprimanding in an all too familiar way. "Lucas, don't you dare say that. You're a wonderful man and the perfect son. You were scared and in pain, and the only thing that hurt me was that I couldn't help you."

Lucas shook his head, unable to believe that she could be so forgiving after the things he'd said and done. "But ma'…"

"But nothing," she cut him off. "Lucas, do you remember how I was after Keith died?"

He nodded. How could he forget?

"I was in so much pain and I didn't think I'd ever feel joy again. It was as if my whole world had ceased to exist." She teared up and her voice caught. "I said things to you that I regret to this day, but you never held it against me."

"Because I knew Keith wouldn't have," he told her. "Besides, you'd just lost the man you loved and were going to marry, I still had all the people I loved around me when I lost the use of my legs. It's not the same thing. I should've been grateful for what I still had and not bitter about what I didn't. Keith would be so disappointed in me."

"No, he wouldn't," affirmed Karen. "Keith would be so proud of the man you've become. Your uncle wasn't perfect; he made mistakes, too, but he always did the right thing in the end, just like you."

Lucas blinked. "Like me?"

"Yes." She smiled at him and he felt just like a kid again, that kid who had always had trouble accepting compliments. "You may have lost your way, Lucas, but you're finding it back. I'm so proud of everything you've accomplished this past month, and I'm so glad you and Peyton found your way back to each other."

Surprised, Lucas squinted at his mother. "How did you…?"

"Peyton," she said simply. "She wrote to me a few weeks ago and we've kept in contact ever since. I hope you won't be upset at her, but I wanted to know how you were doing so badly so I asked about you all the time."

Lucas wasn't upset. A couple of months ago, he probably would've thrown a fit, but now all he wanted to do was throw his arms around Peyton and kiss her breathless. He didn't think it was possible to be more in love with the curly blonde than he was now, or more humbled at how enormous her heart was. And in that instant, he knew, just as he always had, that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with that woman.

"I'm glad she wrote you," he said earnestly. "And I'm sorry I didn't. I wish I could take back everything."

"Lucas." Karen reaffirmed her grip on his hand. "Life doesn't give any of us a blueprint. We have to learn as we go along and it's inevitable that we're going to slip and fall down sometimes. But so long as we keep a firm grip on who we are, then we'll always manage to pull ourselves back up and dust ourselves off. You fell down, Luke, but you never completely lost sight of who you were, otherwise, you wouldn't be here right now."

His mother always knew exactly what to say and how to say it. It was a gift, the way Karen Roe could spin words into wisdom, and Lucas wondered if maybe she should've been the writer and not him. Plus, she was right. With that admission, the weight of guilt that had been pressing down on him relented significantly. It wasn't totally gone, but it was definitely less prominent.

"I love you, ma'."

"I love you too, son."

They hugged again and when they pulled apart, his mother smoothed his hair in that way that mothers do. "Now, I want to hear everything."

So they talked and Lucas caught her up on everything. Nathan brought Jamie home from school later on and Lucas got to spend some quality time with his nephew. Then, all six of them sat down to dinner where conversation flowed freely and comfortably. It was the first time in a long time that Lucas had gotten to sit down to a family dinner and as they ate and talked, he snuck glances at Peyton next to him, and wondered if things could be any more perfect. He'd been dreading coming here for days but it turned out to be the best thing for him.

After dinner, and after Nathan and Haley had put Jamie to bed, they found themselves back in the den. Haley and Karen sipped wine while the guys and Peyton nursed beers. They all talked late into the night and when things finally died down, it was agreed that Lucas, Peyton, and Karen should spend the night since it was too late for any of them to be driving. Goodnights were said and eventually Lucas and Peyton were alone in the guest bedroom.

Propping himself down on the bed, Lucas cast his crutches aside and grabbed Peyton, pulling her into his lap. He planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"Thank you," he whispered, and she simply smiled at him. She didn't have to ask what he was thanking her for and he didn't have to tell her. That was one of the things that was so great about them.

"I'd do anything for you, Luke." Her green eyes reflected complete love and adoration and he knew she meant every word.

Lucas's heart felt like it could burst at the seams and as they lay down on the bed, her nestled into him, he stared at the ceiling and pictured their future together; a future in which she wore Keith's ring and the two of them sported matching gold bands. That and so much more, like sonogram pictures, a nursery, and a little girl with blonde locks, blue eyes, and a love of literature and art and music.

"I'm so proud of you," Peyton said, nuzzling into his neck.

He grinned. Soon, very soon, he was going to make that future a reality.

Seven Months Later…

The sky was richly blue and clear, save for a few tufts of white, puffy clouds on this Monday afternoon. It was May and the seasonal heat was beginning to make itself known. Fortunately, a gentle breeze stood its ground against the oncoming summer weather, and ruffled the branches of the trees and the grass in defiance.

It was the perfect day for Lucas Scott and Peyton Sawyer to get married.

It was also the perfect place. They'd chosen to hold their wedding ceremony on a fertile grove located directly across the lake from River Road. If you knew Lucas and Peyton, you'd understand why this venue was so significant. Six years ago, back when the bride and groom had been teenagers, Peyton's car had broken down on River Road, and Lucas, then working at his uncle's auto shop, had been sent to assist her. It was the first time they ever spoke and the beginning of the journey that ultimately lead them to this day. Since the clearing where Lucas and Peyton had shared their first words was far too small to ever host a wedding, they'd opted for the next best thing.

The wedding alter, fashioned out of branches, faced the water and provided a clear view of River Road. In many ways, it was like a gateway into their past. Leading to the altar, a long carpet bisected rows of foldable plastic chairs, providing a makeshift aisle for the bride to walk down when the time came. The entire setup was simple and modest and exactly how the soon-to-be-married couple wanted it.

Further back from the ceremony grounds, an assortment of tents had been erected to provide dressing rooms for the various members of the wedding party. In the groom's tent, Lucas stood at a full length mirror putting the finishing touches on his tuxedo. He was glad it was the version that required a bowtie as he'd always had trouble with ties. Giving the bow one last tug, he glanced at his reflection in the mirror. It had been a couple of months since he'd started walking without the aid of a cane yet it still sometimes amazed him to see himself standing on his own two legs. There'd been a time when he'd convinced himself he'd never be able to again.

That time was over, and now Lucas was ready to leave it behind him for good and move forward. Forward into the life he'd always dreamed of. Today, he was going to officially make Peyton Sawyer his wife. Not long after he'd reconciled with Nathan and Haley and his mother, he'd taken his first step without crutches or a cane. It had also been the day he'd asked Peyton to marry him.

That day, Lucas had taken her out for a drive in the Comet. They'd cruised by the coastline and through the back roads of Tree Hill, her favorite mix in the CD player, the top down, and their hands joined together. Hours of joyriding later, Lucas had turned onto River Road and pulled into the little grassy knoll the Comet had broken down on all those years ago. After they'd gotten out and stretched their legs, Lucas had gently commanded Peyton to turn around and close her eyes. She'd raised her eyebrow and asked him what he was up to and complained that she hated surprises, but he'd convinced her to do it anyway.

With her back turned, Lucas had pulled out the ring box he'd tried to give her back in L.A. and kneeled down on his still creaky legs. When he'd given Peyton the okay to turn back around, and her eyes had taken in the sight before her, she'd lunged at him, grabbed Keith's ring from its velvet container, and slammed it on her finger before the words 'Will you…' had left his mouth. Then she'd pulled him up onto his feet, thrown herself around him, and whispered in his ear: "Of course I'll marry you."

It had been perfect.

The months that had followed heralded a lot of change. Nathan, Haley, and Jamie moved back to Tree Hill while Brooke opened a Clothes Over Bros boutique in the building that had once been Karen's Café. Victoria, her mother, had tried to run interference but Brooke stood her ground and made her shop a success while still running its parent corporation from the small town she'd been born in. In the meantime, Peyton had started her own record label, Red Bedroom Records out of one of the storage rooms at Tric, and had signed her first successful act, Mia Catalano, after only a few weeks of the label's founding. And then eventually, she acquired her second artist, none other than Haley James Scott, who was in the process of recording her first official album.

Of course, when Nathan had made into the NBA as point guard for the Charlotte Bobcats, she'd had to hold off on the record for a bit while she and Jamie adjusted to their radical new lifestyle. Needless to say, it had been incredible for Lucas to witness his brother finally achieve his dreams, especially after he'd come so close to losing them that night one year ago. Things had been hectic, though, and Nathan had had to fight tooth and nail to get time off so he could attend the wedding. Lucas was glad, since it wouldn't have been the same without his best man by his side.

As if on cue, the best man slipped into the tent. Lucas turned around to greet his brother, who was fully adorned in his own tux.

"Not getting cold feet are you?" the dark-haired Scott joked.

"Funny," Lucas deadpanned.

Nathan chuckled. "Seriously, though, how you holding up?"

"I'm anxious but I'm not nervous," he replied honestly. "I just want Peyton to be my wife."

For a minute, they were silent. Lucas sensed that Nathan had something he wanted to say but he didn't push him. Fortunately, he didn't have to wait long for his brother to come out with it.

"Listen Luke," he began, taking a deep breath. "I don't say things like this often because it's kind of weird, but you're a hell of a brother and a great guy." Nathan's hand found Lucas's shoulder and he turned to stare at the taller man.

"Nate…"

"No, seriously Luke, if it weren't for you I might've been the one in that wheelchair and I probably wouldn't be where I am now if you hadn't jumped in when I was getting my ass kicked." Nathan looked down slightly. "I'm just sorry you suffered so much because of my stupidity."

Lucas sighed. "Look Nate, we've been through this before. It's water under the bridge, so let's say we leave it like that, okay?"

Nathan nodded. "Yeah, you're right." The two brothers shook hands and hugged, patting each other on the back.

"Anyway," Nathan said after he pulled away. "I just heard from Haley. Peyton's ready. Are you?"

Lucas turned back to glance at his reflection one last time as he spoke. "I feel like I've been ready for this my whole life, little brother."

"Then let's go get you married, big brother."

Life beat you up sometimes. It knocked you down and stomped on you, and it left you for dead. When that happened, you had a choice: you could curl up in a ball and wallow in self-pity or you could climb back onto your feet, dust yourself off, and learn from the experience. Lucas had learned a lot this past year, but the most important thing he'd learned was that no matter how dark the night was, the sun always came up in the morning.

Drenched in sunlight, standing at the altar with his brother/best man by his side, while his best friend of fifteen years served as the minister and his fiancée's best friend served as the maid of honor, Lucas marveled at how much had changed in a year. Last year, around this time, he'd been in the darkest place of his life, and now, he was about to step into the greatest. For one deranged moment, he wondered if this was all a dream and that he was still in that hospital room, legs atrophied and spine ravaged.

His eyes scanned the guests seated in the plastic chairs. To his left, in the front row, sat Skillz, Junk, Fergie, and Mouth and Millicent. To his right, there was his mother and Andy, Deb, and Whitey. Further back was Dr. Capshaw and his wife as well as several of Lucas's former teammates. The only person missing was Larry Sawyer who hadn't been able to make it because his ship was stuck off the coast of Iceland.

Lucas spotted his little sister and his nephew as they made their way down the aisle, sprinkling white rose petals on the carpet. Then, the wedding march began to play and he felt the very air itself shiver with anticipation. When she appeared at the end of the aisle, Lucas lost his breath as wonder and awe filled him.

Slowly, delicately, Peyton advanced toward the altar, toward him, and all eyes focused on the bride. Lucas could've described her as an angel, or a goddess, or a vision, but those terms all seemed so trite and inadequate. The silvery-white gown Brooke had designed hugged her womanly frame perfectly. Bathed in the sun's rays, her veil was like a halo above her mane of dark-blonde hair. The curls were gone, replaced by gentle waves and although Lucas had always loved her curls, the new do suited her fine. With feather-soft steps, she continued her trek up the aisle and all Lucas wanted to do was place his hands on her creamy skin and kiss her into unconsciousness.

But what really made his heart thunder and his mouth run dry, was her protruding stomach. She was carrying his child, their child, and in about a month they would truly have everything they'd ever wanted. Lucas's eyes connected with her green ones and he almost passed out from the sheer intensity of love that radiated from them. Life had tried to separate them. It had thrown roadblocks and obstacles in their way, and it had tried everything it could to pry them apart, but it had failed. Lucas had made plenty of mistakes and bad choices when it had come to Peyton and vice-versa, but it didn't matter anymore because here they were.

After an agonizingly long wait, Peyton finally reached the altar and before long, their hands were intertwined. The warmth and electricity that coursed through him made Lucas feel more alive than he ever had before. They were connected on a level so deep it couldn't be measured. Lucas knew it wouldn't always be easy. He knew there would be bad times, but that was alright because they'd get through it together. This woman was going to be by his side forever.

Lucas had fallen down but he'd gotten back up. Now, as he held Peyton's hands in his and stared into her eyes, he knew she'd be there to catch him if he ever fell again.

He never would've been able to pull himself back up if she hadn't offered a helping hand, and for that, he would love her forever.

~Falling Down End