Sorry for the wait. It's a long chapter so I hope that makes up for it a little. Hope you enjoy.

Seven months later…

Chapter 13: Love Rescue Me

Peyton opened her eyes and immediately felt a nauseating, throbbing pain that forced her to wonder if her temples would explode if she moved her head the slightest inch. She hadn't planned on drinking so heavily, but of course things didn't turn out the way she initially planned. It was her 19th birthday the night before and Brooke was determined to give her a night to remember. Not only did she rent out an entire club for the night, but she also rounded up some people from Peyton's job and they were able to get Brandon Boyd from Incubus to sing some songs for her.

It was quite the night to say the least; complete with an acoustic serenade of Stellar, while Peyton sat on stage fighting back embarrassment as a shirtless Brandon crooned and sealed the performance with a happy birthday salutation.

She finally rolled out of bed at 2pm; it was a Saturday so she didn't have to go to work. She took a long glance at a picture of Lucas that sat on her mantel before immediately walking over to her laptop and sitting down at her desk. A couple of weeks ago the two blondes decided that emailing would work better than the telephone calls. Their hectic schedules and the massive time difference was really becoming a nuisance in their efforts to communicate. But truth be told, Peyton loved the e-mail idea. There was something so sexy about reading Lucas' words.

When she opened her inbox and saw the e-mail from Lucas entitled 19 Things I Love About You, the throbbing in her head somewhat subsided and shot down her body until she felt it percolating between the hollow of her thighs. A Brandon Boyd serenade had nothing on a Lucas e-mail.

The email was rather long but Peyton loved every bit of it. From 1 to 19, ranging in descending order of triviality, Lucas poured his heart out to her, expressing everything he loved about her from her adorably infectious laugh to the purity of her heart. He ended the e-mail by thanking Peyton for changing his life before apologizing to her for the cheesiness of the e-mail.

God she missed him…terribly.

After wiping away a few tears from her face, she began typing him a response e-mail.

---

An annoyed Claire Fuller sat at a table in the UNC library. She had Lily sitting on her lap, and she should have been studying for her Anthropology exam but she couldn't stop thinking about Lucas. Basketball season was over and Lucas was working in the maintenance department at an auto garage in Brunswick County. The job paid pretty well and Lucas definitely needed the financial security.

Claire's annoyance stemmed from the fact that in a span of two hours, Lucas texted her five times to see if Peyton sent him an e-mail. His laptop crashed a week earlier and he entrusted Claire with access to his email account for the purpose of printing out Peyton's e-mails for him to read when he got off of work since they didn't have internet access back at the house. Claire made a promise that she wouldn't read the e-mails, so Lucas was satisfied with their arrangement.

They had developed a semblance of a friendship over the first seven months of her stay. They were as close as Lucas would allow, knowing that Claire's stay was temporary. The plan was for Claire to stay for her freshman year only and by her sophomore year, she would stay on campus while Lucas found another babysitting alternative.

Claire was many things, and perceptive was definitely one of them. She could certainly tell that Lucas was making an effort to keep their relationship somewhat impersonal, but she did everything in her power to change his stance. She wasn't trying to be his girlfriend or anything, she was just trying to get him to lighten up and have some fun while Peyton was gone.

From what she was hearing, Peyton was having some fun of her own in LA, partying with her best friend and hanging around with her ex-boyfriend. Lucas was a handsome kid, and an overall great catch in her opinion, so it bothered her that he was so hung up on some chick that he had just started dating before she broke it off and moved across the country. It reminded her so much of her past relationship with a guy back home that she was still bitter about. He was two years older than her and he left for college while she was a junior in high school. For two years she didn't have any fun without him, even breaking her neck to keep in contact with him while he was in NY, only to have him tell her to stop calling him right after she graduated high school.

It was then that she decided she wasn't going to date anymore. And she was happy being single. She was meeting a lot of new people in college and experiencing everything that she didn't allow herself to experience in that two years that she lost waiting for that loser. But of all the people she had met since being in North Carolina, Lucas, even in his state of pathetic Peyton withdrawal, certainly intrigued her more than anyone. However, from her perspective, his difficulties in letting himself go definitely rested in his refusal to let Peyton go.

With that in mind, she sent Lucas yet another text confirming that Peyton had not replied to his e-mail.

Eight days later, and there was still no word from Peyton.

Lucas took Claire's advice and decided not to call Peyton's phone during those seven days even though it killed him to do so.

"You're not her boyfriend," she said plainly.

"But what if something's wrong with her or what if something happened?" he appealed.

"There's nothing wrong with her," Claire responded somewhat definitively for someone who didn't know what was going on with Peyton as much as Lucas did. He hit her with a quizzical stare.

She cleaned it up, "I mean…I'm sure she's just having fun or just really busy with work."

Lucas sighed and placed his hand on the back of his neck. "I guess you're right. I'm not her boyfriend and she doesn't have to check in with me."

"Exactly."

Claire smiled and playfully bounced Lily on her knee. The little girl had warmed up to Claire considerably in the seven month span. It was a feat that Claire felt exceedingly grateful for. She had grown to care about Lily as much as she did about her own brother and sister. She couldn't imagine having kids of her own, partially because she couldn't see herself being in a relationship, but she certainly would not be opposed to adopting someday just like her aunt and uncle were poised to do.

Lucas looked at Claire humorously, "You know it's hard to believe that you've been living here twice as long as Peyton stayed here."

"Maybe it's probably because you and Peyton acted like a married couple while she was here."

"No we didn't," he chuckled.

"Maybe you're right, but I guarantee that if you start sleeping with me and cooking my meals, it'll feel as though I've been here forever," she added.

She paused and then smiled graciously in Lucas' direction, "But seriously, I'm going to miss being around you and Lily once the school year is over."

"We'll miss you too," he said sweetly. "But we'll still see you whenever your uncle has barbeques or whatever other events they plan. The Fullers have been incredibly supportive and almost like second parents, so that means that you and I are like family," he reasoned.

Claire rolled her eyes, "how about we slow down a bit on the family declarations? I've got enough family members back in Florida."

Lucas grabbed Lily out of her lap, "How come you never talk about them?"

"I guess I'm just bitter. I practically raised my two younger siblings and never felt like it was appreciated. Not from them and not from my parents. It's weird because I feel more appreciation from you for helping out with Lily, and I'm getting a place to stay in return."

After a beat, Lucas shrugged boyishly, "I'm sorry."

"You've got a real gift with words there."

Lucas smiled the first real genuine smile she'd seen since her stay at his house. She wished she could see it more. In fact, after seeing that smile, she wished she wasn't leaving him after the school year was complete.

"So I have a suggestion," she turned her body completely towards Lucas and Lily.

"Should I be afraid?"

"It depends. Starting tonight is the beginning of Freak Week, a week of non-stop partying before students start preparing for exams and final projects."

"Freak Week?!" Lucas drawled out. "You're not serious, are you?"

"As serious as a heart attack."

Lucas raised his eyebrows comically, "well you have fun with that."

"You're going out with me."

"No I'm not. I have Lily to take care of."

"Actually my aunt and uncle are expecting us to drop Lily off within the next three hours so she can stay the night," she smiled sweetly.

"We're you planning on telling me that information at some point?"

"At some point."

"I'm not really in the partying mood, so I'll just have a quiet night at home by myself and you can go out and be a freak this week."

"Lemme guess, you're going to read The Great Gatsby or The Winter of Our Discontent for the fiftieth time?"

"Maybe."

"Or maybe you're going to think about calling Peyton for the millionth time?"

Lucas blew out a breath, "maybe."

"Do yourself a favor and take a night for yourself without torturing yourself over a girl that—"

"Okay I get it," his voiced raised a few octaves, "she has her own life in LA and she's not going to wait around for me, so I shouldn't wait around for her, right?"

"That's the spirit," she belted out triumphantly.

"Not really. Where is this party anyway?"

"It's at my friend's house."

"A house party?!? Sounds…amusing," he said sardonically. "Will there be kegs and liquid ecstasy?"

"Yeah but make sure you take the stick out of your ass before you walk in the door. Oh and if you see underage drinking, don't call the cops."

Lucas threw her a spurious smile and twisted his neck in a way to show that he wasn't really in accordance with the idea. After an extremely drawn out pause and a "pretty pretty please" from Claire, complete with a protruding bottom lip that reminded him of Peyton in that particular moment, Lucas finally acquiesced, "Alright I'll go."

"Great. It'll be good for you, I promise."

So it was settled, Lucas Scott was going to a party.

---

Peyton impatiently banged on the copy machine for fifth time, more ready than ever to haul the damn thing out of the window. Work was becoming more and more of a chore and the only thing she loved about work was seeing her co-workers…at least the ones that didn't boss her around and treat her like a 12 year old kid.

It had been four days since she sent her e-mail to Lucas and she got nothing in return. She told herself that Lucas was just really busy with Lily and his job and he would respond when he had the time. She couldn't be mad at him; she herself was swamped with obligations. Later that night she was meeting up with a band she had heard perform a week earlier. They were really talented and they were also unsigned. Peyton couldn't wait to hand their demo to her boss to show him what an eye she had for talent. Jake was still working on getting studio time to make his demo and Peyton needed to find some new acts in the mean time.

There were three of them in an unnamed band: Van, Travis and Curt. Calling them a gregarious group of guys was an understatement to say the least. She had a meeting with them after work and if she was being completely honest with herself, she was really looking forward to hanging out with them.

After she finished counting down the seconds until her workday was over, she grabbed her purse and ran out the mailroom. She absolutely had grown to despise the building in which she worked; she felt the building was stifling her, keeping her from the essence and very core of her passion for music.

There was something about being around a group of guys that shared her passion and her appreciation, not only for music, but for life. These guys were crammed into a one bedroom apartment, living off of money from gigs, and eating cheap takeout every night. There was something about their hunger, their fervor, that made Peyton feel alive and invigorated, something she hadn't felt in seven months.

Peyton met up with the boys at a lounge in LA. She was doing her best to keep her mind off of Lucas and their growing separation. As much as she tried to rationalize Lucas' lack of communication and attribute it to him being busy, she couldn't help but feel disappointed and feel as though she was slowly fading from his life.

---

"Okay are you ready yet?" Claire yelled through the bathroom door.

Lucas opened the door, "I mean I have clothes on and Lily's all ready, but don't parties start at like 11:00 or midnight?" He looked at his wristwatch, "It's barely 8 o'clock."

"What if I told you we were going somewhere before the party?" She said with a raise of her eyebrow.

"I'd tell you that I don't like surprises," Lucas said rather abruptly.

"Maybe that's your problem. You're predictable and…boring. You're like a zombie."

"And this observation is based on--?"

"I don't know many 18 year old boys that I would have to beg to go to a college party."

"Do you know any 18 year old boys that support themselves and support a ten month old baby?"

"No but that's not the point. You're letting your situation define you, prevent you from living your life and doing things that 18 year olds should do. Be spontaneous, be a little reckless. Lily is not going to turn into little orphan Lily if you go out to dinner with me and attend a college party."

"Do you get all those little motivational speeches off of a website or do you think of this stuff all on your own?"

"Are you going or not?" She said impatiently.

Lucas looked at her pointedly and then softened his stance, "Yeah I'll go I guess," he said petulantly.

She nodded her head victoriously and turned towards him, "So the motivational speech worked, huh?

"No, I'm just starving and dinner sounds really good."

They dropped Lily off at John and April's before heading to a restaurant near the Riverwalk. They were both reluctant to talk for awhile after they ordered their meals. Of course it was Claire who broke the silence, "I know I've been riding you about being a dull, stick-in-the-mud, but honestly I'm jealous of you."

Lucas looked at her incredulously. "Me? Why would you be jealous of me?"

"You're so…" she motioned with her hands, signaling that she was trying to find the right word, "together."

"Together?! I work two seasonal jobs and I'm barely keeping my head above water."

"I'm not talking about job stability. I'm talking about the way you handle yourself. You're such an adult. You always think things through and you're responsible, and conscientious; you're always thinking about Lily and everyone but yourself. You act more like an adult than I ever did."

"But I thought you enjoyed being young and careless."

"I do but—"

"But?"

"There's an emptiness that I feel sometimes. I look at you and Lily and it becomes more apparent."

"So why don't you just give up being a freak during the week and start opening yourself up to some commitments? I'm not even talking about kids, just a relationship…something that's going to last more than a night."

Claire sighed, "I don't know. I think it's because I don't have faith in myself. Commitments have always been my downfall. It's probably why I love being Lily's babysitter. I can have it both ways…I can be the responsible adult during the day and be the reckless teen at night. I'm afraid of being tied down and then possibly realizing that it's not what I want. But you can't just suddenly change your mind and decide you don't want your kid," she laughed.

Lucas smiled, "I have a hard time believing that you wouldn't want your own kid or a child that depends on you. I can see what you mean about commitments but it's different when you're actually placed in a situation where you need to be an adult. It's not nearly as paradoxical as you make it sound."

"So you never have any desires to be free of your responsibilities?"

"I never really think about it. I just do what I need to do to take care of her. Besides, I did all of that in high school. I've gone to all the parties, I've gotten drunk, I've cheated on my girlfriend, I've had pregnancy scares—"

"You and Peyton?"

"No…me and Peyton's best friend."

"You cheated on Peyton?"

"No I cheated on her best friend…with Peyton," Lucas said sheepishly.

"Wow. I can't imagine you cheating on your girlfriend, let alone getting drunk."

"You'll probably change your tune by the time the party is over," he smirked.

"Is Lucas Scott getting drunk tonight?" She gasped, with mock seriousness.

"Maybe. You probably won't believe this but I'm excited about tonight. Even though it sounds totally contradictory to what I just told you, it will be nice to get away from everything for just one night."

"By everything you mean Peyton?"

Lucas didn't answer the question, he just looked around, picking at his dinner napkin. Claire took the hint and began staring around the restaurant at the different tables and the occupants at the tables. All she saw was couples. Once again she had to broach the conversation.

"Do you see yourself with a family down the road? Outside of just you and Lily, I mean. A wife, in-laws, a couple Luke Jr.'s running around?"

Lucas thought about the fact that Peyton couldn't have children, "Maybe not Luke Jr.'s, per se, but I'd love to make my family bigger someday. I'd love to be a father and a husband. I could be so happy with that life."

She looked up and stared directly at his face, subtly analyzing its appearance. She couldn't believe it but she was sure in that moment she was beginning to fall for him. Not just in the cute crush kind of way, but it was starting to get serious. Sure it was stupid and sure she knew that when Lucas mentioned being a father and a husband, he had Peyton in mind. All she could do was enjoy the time they were spending together at the moment.

---

Lucas looked around the apartment he was in, hoping to find something that entertained him. He was a couple of beers in, but he wasn't having any fun. He didn't know anyone outside of Claire at the party, and she was doing her own thing talking to some of her classmates. He actually scanned the room and she was nowhere to be found. Lucas happened to look around a little more, and his eyes landed on a girl with red hair that looked vaguely familiar. It was Chelsea from Peyton's art group. She walked up to Lucas and they exchanged pleasantries. Lucas and Chelsea inquired about Adam and Peyton respectively, leading to a hilarious conversation about the dinner they had together over the summer. Claire was watching the whole thing from the corner of the party, the jealousy starting to consume her, despite the effort she was making to stop feeling the way the felt about him. She saw him get up from his spot on the couch next to Chelsea and walk outside. She couldn't help but feel some relief that Chelsea wasn't capturing his attention.

Lucas walked outside because talking about Peyton with Chelsea was starting to make him want to call her. Plus Chelsea was starting to bore him when she attempted to switch subjects and talk about her classes. He could talk about Peyton all day, but the history of industrial art was about the most boring thing he'd ever heard.

He stood outside and after a minute of debating, he finally mustered up the courage to call her. He dialed her number, each press of the button making him more and more nervous. It rang and rang and rang…no answer. Shit. He sat on the curb for a half an hour staring at the screen of his phone. It never rang.

Claire was waiting by the door when he finally walked back into the house.

"Where's the hard liquor?" He asked. His face was visibly sunken and his expression held one of grave disappointment.

She gave him a solemn, sympathetic look, handed him a cup and the rest of the night was a blur.

He opened his eyes the next morning and immediately felt a throbbing, nauseating pain that caused him to wonder what the hell he drank the night before. He pulled himself out of bed and went to the kitchen to down some water and bagels. He wanted to sober up before he went to pick up Lily. He showered and got completely dressed, leaving a sleeping Claire on the couch. On the way to the Fuller's he took the opportunity to think about Peyton. He thought about the conversation he had with Claire and some of the things she said. Despite her brash outlook, she definitely had some valid points.

He had made a decision regarding Peyton and it was probably one of the biggest decisions he'd ever have to make. Lucas realized that he needed to make this decision for both he and Peyton so they could move forward with their lives. It had to be done.

---

Peyton was sure the whole apartment complex heard her scream some profanities when she finally got back home after a night out with the band. She left her phone at home, and of course the one night she doesn't have her phone with her, is the one night Lucas calls. It was 4am in LA so that meant it was 7am in Tree Hill. She told herself she would wait a little while longer to call him. She hadn't spoken to him in so long and she wanted to make sure he was awake and alert. She wanted so badly to hear his voice and talk to him about why he didn't answer her emails. She wanted to know where they stood, and if he still believed in their future as much as she did. She wanted to tell him how much she missed him and how she couldn't truly be happy in LA without him.

She thought over what she was going to say and a couple hours later, she called his phone. He answered, and she could hear him breathing rather harshly. He seemed to be walking somewhere.

"Lucas?! Lucas! Can you hear me?" Peyton spoke directly into the receiver.

The noise subsided, "Yes I can hear you."

"Lucas I miss you," she said without offering much introduction to the phone call. "I know we haven't been on the same page for awhile but—"

"Peyton we need to talk." He said those words without frills, without much emotion and Peyton was starting to feel that this wasn't going to be the conversation she hoped it would be. Her heart began slamming in her chest, anticipating the worst but hoping for the best, she took a slow, deep breath to calm herself down and prepare for whatever was next.

"Okay," she said cautiously. "We need to talk about what?"

Before he could answer, there was a knock on her door. "Hold on one second okay."

She put on a robe and headed towards the door. She looked through the peephole and couldn't believe her eyes. Her heart stopped when she opened her door to find Lucas standing in front of her, with Lily in his arms and luggage at his side. They seemed to be standing there forever before he spoke, Peyton's eyes surveying every part of his face, locking her gaze into his bright cerulean eyes, wet with unshed tears, as wide open as she'd seen in a long time.

"We need to talk about the smog in LA, because I should not be this tired, walking up a simple flight of stairs."

A tear fell down Peyton's face and it barely rolled down her cheek before Lucas' lips found hers and she could taste the salt of his own tears.

Sorry there wasn't more Peyton in this chapter. The next chapter will definitely make up for it.