Sorry it took me so long to update the wedding. I've been crazy busy with work and college. I hope this was worth the wait!
Chapter 21
Peyton couldn't feel her legs. They were shaking and she had butterflies in her stomach. She was moments away from walking down the aisle and becoming Mrs. Lucas Scott. She couldn't believe how this whole charade played out. Less than a month ago she thought this man was an arrogant jerk who didn't have respect for her and her baby… She stopped herself from thinking that way… In all fairness he didn't know about Avery and Peyton never took the time to explain why she needed him to be quiet or anything really…
Getting to know Lucas was amazing… He was incredible and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. She was nervous and excited all at the same time. Peyton looked slowly in the mirror. She had her hair swooped up and a line of jewels in it. Brooke had made the most beautiful strapless dress she'd ever worn and Karen had loaned her the necklace she wore on her wedding day. Peyton thought she looked really nice and she hoped Lucas would think she looked gorgeous.
Peyton walked out of the bathroom and stood in the middle of her room. She was ready and didn't know what to do. Her dad was going to come and get her when it was time and she sent Brooke away so she could have some alone time but now she wished she wouldn't have done that. She looked around the room. She couldn't believe that she was getting married… She was so excited and alone and it was driving her nuts. She just wanted to become Mrs. Lucas Scott.
She stood there thinking about her future with Lucas. How'd he'd be with Avery and how fun it would be to be pregnant with his children. She thought about the events they'd attend and she hoped he'd be supportive of her business. Her life was about to change and she couldn't wait.
She was pulled out of her thoughts by a knock on the door. "Who is it?" She said as she walked to open it.
"It's me?" She heard Lucas say on the other side of the door.
Peyton stopped "you can't see me in my wedding dress, Lucas. It's bad luck!" she said through the door.
"I just wanted to tell you that I'm heading downstairs and I can't wait to see you walk down the aisle and agree to be my wife"
Peyton smiled "I can't wait, either"
"Peyt" Lucas said through the door
"Yeah" she answered
"I love you"
A huge smile fills her face "I love you too, Lucas. I'll be down in a few minutes"
Peyton heard Lucas leave and then a few minutes later there was another knock on the door. Peyton walked over to it again "Who is it?"
The door flies open "It's me!" Brooke said crashing through the door carrying Avery.
"What are you two doing in here?" Peyton said smiling at her daughter
"Well Avery was a little fussy so we thought we'd come in here and keep you company. Gwen told your dad fifteen more minutes and I was going crazy so I knew you must be."
Peyton smiled at Brooke and walked towards her to take Avery from her. "I'm so anxious." She says and she takes her daughter and gives her a big hug. "This just all seems surreal to me. I mean I never thought in a million years I'd find a man so perfect that I'd want to spend the rest of my life with."
Brooke smiled at her best friend "I can't believe that you're going to marry Lucas Scott"
"I know. It's crazy!" Peyton said with a huge smile on her face
"Peyt, I'm extremely happy for you. You deserve to be happy and I hope all of your dreams come true. We've been friends for so long and I've seen the hurt in your eyes when Jake didn't want to be a part of Avery's life and I know how hard it was for you to turn him down… You've been through so much and you're an amazingly strong woman and I hope you and Lucas has a wonderful life together." Brooke said with tears in her eyes. "I love you P. Sawyer and I'm so glad Lucas called me and I get to be here for your wedding"
Peyton put Avery down in the playpen and gave Brooke a big huge. She had tears streaming down her face. "Brooke, thank you so much. I'm so glad you're here too. You know you've always been more of a sister to me than just a friend and…." Brooke just hugs Peyton tighter and they share a sisterly moment. Brooke pulls away and wipes the tears from her eyes and she starts laughing at the situation.
"Oh you're messing up your face!" Brooke said with a smile on her face
"Well we better fix it then" Peyton said
She walked into the bathroom and Brooke followed her and they fixed her face. As they were putting the finishing touches on Peyton's make-up there was a knock on the door. Brooke went and answered it. Larry was standing there in a tuxedo. "Well Papa Sawyer you look hot!"
Larry smiled "You don't look so bad yourself, Brooke" he responded "Is Peyton ready? It's time to get going"
"She's ready." Brooke answered "She's a little nervous"
"I bet she is" Larry said
"Where is she?!" A voice asked behind Larry. Larry moved to the side to see Gwen standing there.
"She's in the bathroom" Brooke answered
A horrible look crossed Gwen's face "What do you mean she's in the bathroom?!"
Brooke looked at her confused "She checking her make-up and then we'll be ready to go"
Gwen started to laugh "I'm not looking for Peyton I'm looking for Avery" she said as she pushes passed Larry and Brooke. She spotted Avery in her playpen. "I'll take her" She said without hesitation and grabbed Avery. Without another word Gwen and Avery were heading out the door.
"She's a feisty woman!" Brooke said smiling at Peyton
"Yes, she is" Peyton said walking out of the bathroom
Larry looks at his daughter standing there in her wedding dress. "Oh honey you look beautiful"
Peyton blushes a little "Thanks daddy"
Brooke excuses herself and leaves the father and daughter to have a moment together. "So, are you sure you want to get married tonight? I can drive the getaway car if you've changed your mind"
Peyton slaps Larry playfully "Daddy!"
Larry smiles at his daughter "Just checking"
"I know this is fast daddy but I love him… I really do"
"Does he love you?"
"Yes, he does daddy. I can feel it in the core of my body" Peyton said with a smile
"Then that's all that matters, sweetie." He said hugging his daughter. Then he holds out his arm to his daughter "Are you ready?"
She smiles at him "Yes, daddy. I've never been more ready for anything in my life"
"Then let's go"
Peyton and her dad walked down the hall to the stairs where they descended into the foyer. Peyton looked into the living room where two rows of white candles surrounded by white roses and holly created the path that her father would lead her down to Lucas. At the end of the candle-lit, flower-strewn living room, Lucas stood in front of a frazzled minister who looked as if he'd been grabbed so quickly he didn't have time to comb his hair.
Seated on the left, dressed in the finest clothes Peyton had ever seen were Karen and Keith. On the right, dressed in a red gown borrowed from Karen, sat Anna, dabbing teats from the corners of her eyes. And beside Anna, defying convention - - as always - - sat Gwen, with Avery on her lap.
But Peyton only had eyes for Lucas. Not because he looked strikingly handsome in his black tuxedo, but because he loved her. The information was so new and so rich, she didn't want to stop thinking about it, examining it, enjoying it. She let the music of his admission that he wanted to marry her sing in her head until she was nearly dizzy from it, until her heart felt light and buoyant, until the worries of the past few days found their meaning and took flight, never to be remembered again - - except fondly.
The organist struck the opening chords of the procession music and Peyton and her father walked down the aisle. She took her place beside Lucas, thanking her lucky starts that she'd agreed to this, that his grandmother had prodded them until they decided to get married, and even that they'd gone so far as to get an actual license and blood tests just in case Gwen checked up on them. It almost seemed too good to be true. More like a fairy tale than reality.
The minister instructed them to face each other, and Peyton turned to Lucas, ready to say her vows.
He looked happier, more relaxed, than she'd ever seen him, and tears gathered in her eyes. The whole time she'd been so worried that she was doing him a great disservice by making it easy for him to avoid finding his one true love, when all the while she had been his one true love.
The minister smiles at Peyton "Do you want to say your own vows or use traditional ones?"
Peyton looked at the minister "I want to say my own"
Lucas smiled at Peyton "Me too"
"Then whenever you're ready, Peyton, you may begin"
Peyton smiled at Lucas and takes his hands, looking into his eyes, she says "Lucas, I take you to be my husband, my partner in life and my one true love. I will cherish our union and love you more each day than I did the day before. I will trust you and respect you, laugh with you and cry with you, loving you faithfully through good times and bad, regardless of the obstacles we may face together. I love the way you are with Avery and I look forward to the family we will create together. I am excited about the life we will build together and the happiness and joy that comes with that. I give you my hand, my heart, and my love, from this day forward for as long as we both shall live."
Lucas wipes a tear from his eye and looks deeply into Peyton's green eyes "I love you" he whispers softly to her.
"I love you, too." She replies.
Lucas takes a deep breath "Peyton, from this day forward I promise you these things. I will laugh with you in times of joy and comfort you in times of sorrow. I will share in your dreams, and support you as you strive to achieve your goals. I will listen to you with compassion and understanding, and speak to you with encouragement. I will remain faithful to our vows for better or for worse, in times of sickness and health. I will be the best father I can to Avery and help in raising her. I love you both and look forward to our future together. Today is the beginning of the best part of my life. I'll love you now and forever."
Now Peyton has to wipe her eyes. The wedding continued and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. The minister concluded "You may now kiss your bride"
Lucas smiled a large smile at Peyton and then leans down and kisses her. She kisses him passionately and Lucas responded. They kissed for several minutes and Brooke cleared her throat so they would break apart. Lucas and Peyton walked back down the aisle as everyone congratulated them. Smiles were all around.
Gwen was the first one in the receiving line and she had Avery with her. Lucas looked at the little girl and smiled "Grandma, I'll take her" he said with a smile.
"Well it's about time you got married, Lucas!" Gwen said as she handed Avery to him "I hope you two are so happy together. Be nice to her Lucas and always value her. She's a wonderful woman"
Lucas smiled at his grandmother "Oh, I know she is and I love her with my whole heart"
Gwen smiled at Lucas before hugging him and moving to Peyton. "Well young lady!" she said with a smile
"Well what?" Peyton asked returning the smile
"Are you sure you can handle this family?"
"I've done pretty well so far, haven't I?" Peyton said with a smirk on her face
"Yeah, you have! I'm so glad that you married my grandson. You're the best thing that has ever happened to him. You and Avery are a wonderful addition to our family."
"Thank you and we are honored to be a part of this family" Peyton said as she hugged Gwen. They stood there and accepted congratulations for all their guests and finally were alone in the foyer. Lucas leaned over and kissed Peyton. "Well Mrs. Scott shall we join the other's in the reception hall?'
"I'd love to Mr. Scott." Peyton said with a smile
Peyton and Lucas enjoyed their first dance, cutting the cake and so much more at their reception. After a few hours of partying, Lucas and Peyton snuck away. He found her black wool coat, and she covered him to make sure no one caught on to what they were doing as he brought his car around to the front of the house.
Even as she jumped inside, Lucas grabbed her arm and dragged her across the seat so he could kiss her. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her tightly against him, as his lips pressed against hers with greedy delight.
"I think I've been waiting all my life to do that."
Peyton's heart thudded against her ribs. "I think I've been waiting for you all my life," she admitted candidly.
In one quick, emotion-filled movement, Lucas crushed her against him. "I won't disappoint you," he promised in a fierce whisper.
Grinning foolishly, she pulled away from him. "I know you won't, but save the discussion and promises for later. All this talking is cutting into precious time. It's almost daylight already. If we don't leave soon we won't have much time before we have to get back."
"We're not coming back," Lucas said, and drove his car away from his parents' home. "At least not for about two weeks."
"But Avery…"
"Will be fine with my parents, or your parents, or the whole damned lot of them. I want to get away. With my wife for a while."
"you're right" she said, an odd thrill building in her chest. Not only was she leaving her responsibilities behind for a few weeks to be with the man she loves - - her husband - - but she was embarking on a mysterious journey…
"I don't have any clothes!" she burst out suddenly
"Won't need 'em" Lucas said casually.
"Come on, Lucas" Peyton said, but she giggled "Of course I'll need clothes. We have to eat."
"We'll get room service"
"How about the plane ride?"
"I own the plane. Even if either one of us or both of us walked on buck naked, the pilot's instructed not to notice or care. Besides, even flying commercial you'd look perfectly normal in that suit." He faced her grinning mischievously "See. You do have clothes. So we can eat out… once. Unless we just go to a different restaurant every night."
"You're incorrigible."
At that he laughed. "No, I['m not incorrigible, I'm just in love. Finally, completely, head over heels in love." He paused for a second, faced her in the dark car, his expression solemn and serious. "To tell you the truth. It's so odd I don't have a clue about what to do."
Peyton scooted across the seat so she could squeeze his arm and rest her head on his shoulder. "You're doing fine. Just keep saying things like you're head over heels, finally and completely in love for the next forty or fifty years, and you won't have a thing to worry about."
"Good" he said, then pressed his foot on the gas to speed up their journey. "Did I ever tell you my family owned an island?"
She glanced at him "No."
"Well, that's where we're going," he said, and her head still on Lucas shoulder, Peyton, settled into the comfortable seat.
"It's literally halfway around the world," he continued, explaining a little about the island, its people and the Scott Industries holding there.
As they drove along the dark North Carolina road to the airport, Peyton listened contentedly to his excited voice. Lucas wasn't merely opening up a whole new world for her, it seemed he was finally allowing himself to enjoy that world, too.
Maybe he had been waiting his whole life for this.