A/N Hey guys n gals, I just want to say a major thank you for all the support and lovely reviews I've been getting for this story and to say sorry about the not so speedy update! I've just had four horrible days of exams and not a whole lot of time on my hands. Anyway enough of the boring stuff, here's the next chapter...

'Hey sweetheart' Mark greeted upon Peyton walking into his rather spacious kitchen. Her sweet smile faltered as she took in his guests; Lindsey and Lucas sat at the round table, gathered round a stack of magazines, little Lily splayed out on the floor nearby, colouring. Her stomach flipped upon seeing her boyfriends sister, the girl she'd come to call her friend. She didn't know how to look her in the eye when she'd completely betrayed their friendship.

'Hey, We just popped over to give you and Mark these' Lindsey tapped the glossy pile of mags.

'There for organising weddings' Lily said knowingly, scrambling to her feet and holding her hand up to be high fived by the skinny blonde. Peyton smiled at her, playfully slapping their hands together as she sat down in the only vacant seat, in between Lucas and Mark.

'Thanks Linds, You didn't have to do that'.

'It's cool. So have you guys set a date yet?' She raised her brow, taking a sip of her coffee.

'Not yet' Mark rolled his eyes at her, placing his hand on Peyton's shoulder as he pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek. Lucas found himself inwardly cringing.

'You're going to marry Mark aren't you?' Lily's inquisitive brown eyes looked up at Peyton.

She nodded.

'I'm going to be an artist just like you when I'm big'

'Looks like you've got a little fan here' Mark chuckled.

Peyton lifted her onto her lap. 'You can be whatever you want Lily, don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.'

'Look at you, you're going to be a great mum someday Peyt' Lindsey smiled, watching her talk to the little girl she'd come to love.

'I dunno about that' Peyton mumbled shyly.

'You will' Lucas spoke to her for the first time upon her arrival. She was well aware of the intense gaze he was giving her but was determined not to so much as glance at him.

'So have you two got any future babies on the agenda?' Mark queried.

'We're gonna wait for a while' Lucas answered. Lindsey' sudden frown didn't go unnoticed. She'd made it clear that she wanted children of her own and soon, but Lucas wanted to wait; Lily was his priority and he only wanted to do what was best for her.

'Why would they want a baby when they've got me?' All four adults laughed at her sincere tone. 'What?' Lily whined. 'I'm the bestest'

'Yes you are' Lucas agreed, reaching across the circular table and tapping her nose. Peyton swallowed, suddenly wishing she'd not lifted the infant onto her lap when his arm purposefully brushed against hers on it's way back to the table top.

'Where do babies come from anyhow Luke?' The whole room suddenly fell silent, all eyes on Lucas, awaiting his answer. He opened and closed his mouth, trying to decide what would be best- the stork? the cabbage patch? god forbid the truth.

'I...Well..you see...' He sighed.

'Love' Peyton answered simply when several awkward moments of Lucas stuttering past.

'Love?' Lily looked up at her.

'Uhuh, when two people are very much in love' She confirmed, twiddling a piece of Lily's short brown hair around her fingers. Thankfully, she was satisfied with the answer and slid off of Peyton's lap, a pensive look on her face as she settled herself on the floor and carried on drawing.

'Thanks' Lucas smiled at her.

She nodded somewhat uncomfortably, grabbing herself a magazine off the pile and flipping it open to try and distract herself from lingering on his more than appealing body. His leg grazed against hers only seconds later, apparently he'd seen her looking. Peyton's eyes jolted up to find Lucas' stare on both Mark and Lindsey, all in deep conversation about weddings. She swallowed, giving him the benefit of the doubt and calmly moving her leg away but seconds later his foot had found her again, his denim trousers brushing against her smooth legs.

'We were thinking of going to Europe, weren't we Peyt?'

Peyton nearly fell off her chair, jumping when Mark touched her shoulder.

'Huh, what?' Peyton averted her gaze to her fiance.

'Europe, for our honeymoon?'

'Oh yeah' She nodded, forcing an uneasy smile. 'Europe, Honeymoon...I've always wanted to go travelling' She forced her eyes back to the wedding magazine in front of her, pretending to read but was soon distracted from her little act when Lucas' leg deliberately rested against hers again. She caught his eye and shot him a deathly glare which didn't have the desired affect. Instead of moving away, his hand discreetly crept onto her leg. Her chair screeched against the wooden floorboards as she rose to her feet, her eyes fuming.

'Darling?' Mark asked softly, a little taken aback by the sudden clatter.

'I..I...sorry, I'm going to have to dash- I have work' She mumbled lamely.

'You've got plenty of time' Mark glanced at his watch and back to her rosy face.

'I...yeah but I...there's something I've gotta do' She kissed his cheek, gave Lily a quick hug and a small wave to Lindsey before hurrying out of there as quick as she could.

Peyton sat in her gallery office, flipping through some new artists work and attempting the arduous task of keeping her mind Lucas Scott free.

'Peyton there's a fan of yours out here, he was wondering if he could speak to you?' Her friend and owner of the gallery, Laurie Thompson, appeared in the doorway.

Peyton smiled shyly. 'Er, ok, send him in.'

'K'

'Thanks Laurie' She conscientiously ran a hand threw her hair, it wasn't often that people actually wanted to speak to her concerning her work, she rose from her chair as the door opened.

'Hi I'm...' Her words died, temporarily lacking the ability to finish her sentence. She shook herself from her stunned state. 'What're you doing here Lucas?' She snapped angrily.

'I just wanted to come see some of your work. It's amazing Peyton, you're amazing.'

A rosy blush crept up her cheeks and she exhaled heavily.

'This is the part where you say thank you'

She lent back against the wall and crossed her arms, she never was good at taking a complement, especially when it came from him. He raised his eyebrows expectantly but she didn't respond.

'O-kay' He shifted his weight. 'I'm buying a piece of yours'

A frustrated groan left her mouth. 'Luke'

'What? I can't buy a work of art that I love now?'

'Not when I'm the person that did it…you need to stop this'

'Stop what?'

'The looks, the touching, this- you being here, at my work. You're with Lindsey' She threw her hands in the air. 'Just stop everything.' She cried despairingly.

'Here it is Mr Scott. Peyt I'll let you sort the payment out?' Laurie reappeared, painting in toe.

'Yeah thanks Laurie'

The older girl propped the piece up against the wall, sending a smile toward them both before leaving. Peyton's eyes widened at the piece he'd chosen. Not to his knowledge but it was actually his. She'd done it for him before they'd broken up; for his birthday when she was just eighteen. It was the first piece she'd hung in the gallery and it had stayed there ever since. No one had ever shown any particular interest in it, maybe it had something to with how much it was. She'd found herself upping the price on more than one occasion when the odd person had queried about it.

'It's beautiful, it's mesmerising and it...it reminds me of you' Lucas bought her out of her daze as he crouched down, admiring her fine brush strokes. A girl hovered in the starry night like an angel. There was no doubt about it, the girl was her. Her blonde curls floating around her, her lips parted slightly, a content expression on her face. It was as though she'd finally found meaning, she was drowning in love 'I'm so proud of you Peyton' He grinned as he looked up at her, his smile faltering when his eyes locked with her teary green orbs. 'What's wrong?'

'Nothing' She shook her head, blinking the tears away.

'I can't stop thinking about you' He blurted, standing suddenly. He edged toward her paralysed form, reaching out and stroking her arm.

'Lucas' She pleaded, rendered helpless by her emotions. 'Please stop'

'Tell me you don't feel it, tell me you don't feel it and I'll stop. I won't so much as give you another thought but I keep thinking what if Peyton-'

'Well you should have been thinking what if when you sent me away. You had your chance and it's too late now. I've moved on, I'm in love with someone else. I spent so much time wallowing over you and I did a lot of things I'm not proud of but now I'm happy, so if you ever cared about me, just give me this, give me my happiness' He shook his head, he couldn't believe that she truly wanted Mark over him, he wouldn't. He abruptly stepped forward, pressing their lips together in a short and yet sweet kiss.

'Lucas' She pushed against his chest. 'Just, just take the painting and go' She snapped in a fluster.

'I haven't paid you yet' His face fell at her rejection.

'I don't want your money, just take it and go' She insisted.

'But'

'Think of it as a Wedding gift'

'Pey-'

'GO'

Lucas nodded sadly, grabbing his piece of Peyton Sawyer before exiting the room. She took a sharp breath, kicking her desk angrily on his departure. She hated him, she hated him so god damn much but her mind was forever consumed with thoughts of him, with what could have been. With a sudden urgency she raced from her office. 'Lucas wait'