Chapter 21: Now What?

(Lucas is asleep in Ellie's bed. He is lying on his back. Ellie is sitting on his belly. He slowly starts to wake up. Ellie smiles at him. He smiles back and looks around the room. He starts to rub his head. He tries to recall the events from last night)

Ellie: Happy New Year daddy!

Lucas: Happy New Year, Princess!
Ellie: How was your date with mommy?
Lucas: Um… Good

Ellie: Daddy, does your head hurt?
Lucas: A little sweetheart. Where's mommy?
Ellie: I don't know.

Lucas: Ok.

Ellie: Daddy what happened to your eye?
Lucas: A man punched me at mommy's club last night
Ellie: Does it hurt?
Lucas: A little bit

Ellie: I'm sorry daddy
Lucas: It's ok, sweetheart!

Ellie: Want to hear the new song I learned last night while watching Phineas and Ferb, daddy?
Lucas: Maybe later honey
Ellie: Please daddy! (singing at the top of her lungs and jumping on the bed)

Bow, chicka, bow-wow
That's what my baby says
Mow, mow, mow
And my heart starts pumpin'
Chicka, chicka, chew-op
Never gonna stop
Gitchi-gitchi-goo means that I love you

I said a...
Bow, chicka, bow-wow
That's what my baby says
Mow, mow, mow
And my heart starts pumpin'
Chicka, chicka, chew-op
Never gonna stop
Gitchi-gitchi-goo means that I love you

Gitchi-gitchi-goo means that I love you
Gitchi-gitchi-goo means that I love you
Baby, baby, baby (baby, baby, baby, baby)
Gitchi-gitchi-goo means that I love you

(Lucas is rubbing his head. Peyton comes in laughing carrying a cup of coffee.)

Lucas: Oh, Ellie that was really nice honey but daddy isn't feeling well right now so can you please stop jumping on my bed?

Ellie: (Plopping down next to him) sorry daddy!

Peyton: (still laughing) Ellie, I told you to leave daddy alone!

Ellie: I'm sorry mommy

Peyton: Breakfast is ready. Go down and eat. Daddy and I will be right there

Ellie: Ok, mommy

(Ellie walks pass Peyton and she gives her a soft little pat on the bottom. Ellie smiles and walks out of the room. Peyton walks in and sits on the edge of the bed. She hands Lucas the cup of coffee)

Lucas: (taking a drink) Thanks, I needed this

Peyton: No problem (touching his eye) Nice shinier!
Lucas: I got it in a bar fight over a pretty girl!
Peyton: Must have been some girl

Lucas: I think she's amazing

Peyton: Good to know!
Lucas: (rubbing his head again) Why do I have such a bad hangover?
Peyton: You don't remember the 10 rounds of beer pong you played at Jackson's house last night?

Lucas: What? No!
Peyton: After the club closed we went to Jackson's house

Lucas: Yes, I remember that

Peyton: You and Nathan decided it would be fun to play beer pong

Lucas: Yeah I remember that too! I haven't played beer pong since college and I thought it would be fun!

Peyton: Oh it was fun alright! You couldn't let Nathan beat you so you kept going. It's ok. Jackson couldn't let the two of you play without him so he joined in. Brooke stayed there last night to make sure he didn't die! Nathan looks like you do!
Lucas: Aw… How'd you get me home?
Peyton: It was interesting! Haley and I helped Nathan to the house and then we brought you into the house

Lucas: So our date didn't end so well?
Peyton: It was fine

Lucas: (giving her his sexy Lucas' smile) I was hoping to get some!
Peyton: (smiling back) Oh, baby even if you wouldn't have been shitfaced you still weren't getting any last night!
Lucas: (laughing at her) It was worth the try

Peyton: Sure was. Are you hungry?
Lucas: Um… no

Peyton: I made French toast to soak up some of that alcohol

Lucas: Then I guess I'll go down and eat

Peyton: Ok, then

Lucas: Would it be ok if I kissed you this morning?
Peyton: I think that would be ok

Lucas: Really?
Peyton: Yeah…

(Lucas sits up and kisses Peyton. It is a long deep kiss. She pulls away and smiles at him)

Lucas: You're still a great kisser!
Peyton: You're not so bad yourself

Lucas: (grabbing her hand) I'd like to talk about what's going on here

Peyton: Yeah, we should probably do that

Lucas: Can we agree that there is something going on here?
Peyton: I'll agree to that!
Lucas: Can we agree that we want to continue to have something go on here?
Peyton: I can agree to that too!
Lucas: Ok, then
Peyton: Just don't go have a heart attack on me!
Lucas: I don't plan on it

Peyton: (getting up and starting to walk away) I'll see you downstairs

Lucas: (grabbing her arm) Wait!
Peyton: what?
Lucas: (pulling her back to the bed) I want an other kiss before you leave
Peyton: (bending down and kissing him) Ok

(Peyton smiles at Lucas and Lucas smiles back at Peyton. She walks out of the room and down the stairs to the kitchen. Jamie and Ellie are sitting at the counter eating breakfast. Nathan is laying his head on the kitchen table. Haley is at the stove making eggs. Peyton laughs at him. Brooke walks in the front door and into the kitchen)

Brooke: Morning all
Peyton: How's Jackson?
Brooke: He looks like Nathan!
Peyton: Yeah that's how Lucas looks too!

Brooke: Men will be men!

(Lucas walks into the room and sits next to Nathan.)

Peyton: Luke, do you want eggs or French toast?
Lucas: do you have any doughnuts? Those are the best hangover food!
Peyton: Yeah I actually do

Lucas: Can I have one and some French toast?
Peyton: Sure

(She takes the box of doughnuts over to the table and then a plate of French toast. She refills their coffee cups and then grabs a doughnut before going to stand by the counter)

Ellie: Mommy, what are we going to do today?
Peyton: I don't know

Ellie: How many more days until my family has to go home?
Peyton: They're going home on January 11th.

Ellie: 10 days then
Brooke: Yep but I'm staying longer

Peyton: (looking surprised) you are?
Brooke: Yeah, I think so. Jackson asked me out again for tomorrow night. I want to see where that's heading. Millie can run Tree Hill and I can work from LA. I might stay the whole month of January if that's ok with you

Peyton: Of course it is! We'd love to have you

Lucas: That's funny! I was thinking about staying too. I have to write the screen play for the movie and I thought I can do it from here the same as I can do it from Tree Hill plus it will give me more time with um… Ellie! I mean if it's ok with you, Peyton?

Ellie: Yes! This is the greatest day ever!!!
Peyton: Sure you can both stay except Brooke you have to move out of my room!

Brooke: I thought I'd move into the spare room

Peyton: I could go furniture shopping and put a bed in the office downstairs for you Lucas

Lucas: I could sleep on the couch in there.

Peyton: It is a pull out

Lucas: that would work

Haley: So wait a minute the Scotts are the only one's going back to Tree Hill?
Brooke: Looks that way

Jamie: That stinks! I want to stay too momma

Haley: We can't. You have school and I have work

Jamie: that really stinks

Nathan: We can come back on the weekends

Jamie: Really?
Nathan: Sure why not. If everyone's here we might as well be here too

Peyton: That would be fun!
Brooke: yeah it would

(The phone in Peyton's house starts ringing)

Brooke: that's weird this phone never rings

Peyton: (laughing) Bill collector

Brooke: (grabbing the phone and looking at it. Her face drops) It's Dr. Johnson's office

Peyton: Oh ok

(Peyton takes the phone from Brooke. She walks into the living room and answers it)

Peyton: Hello?
Grace: (through the phone) Peyton?
Peyton: Yes

Grace: (phone) I'm sorry to call you on the holiday but I was at working picking up my coat and your test results were on the fax machine. I called Dr. Johnson and she said I need to call you right away

Peyton: (Sitting down) Ok…

Grace: (phone) Peyton, your biopsy came back normal. It wasn't cancer!
Peyton: (relief washes over her face) really?
Grace: (phone) really. Now you have to have a blood test once a month for a year but the cells found right now are not cancer! Finish your chemo and relax!
Peyton: thank you so much for calling, Grace. Happy New Year!

Grace: (phone) Happy New Year to you too Peyton

(Peyton hangs up the phone and notices Haley, Nathan, Brooke and Lucas standing in the doorway. They all have worried looks on their faces)

Brooke: Well?
Peyton: Normal… They came back normal. I don't have cancer! I have to finish out the chemo I'm taking right now and then I'm good

Lucas: What about monthly check ups?
Peyton: I still have to have them but I'm not going to worry too much about those

Brooke: (walking over and hugging Peyton) I'm so relieved!
Haley: (walking over and hugging her too) Me too

Nathan: This is the best news!
Lucas: (smiling at her) I'm glad to hear it Peyton!
Brooke: Don't act like we didn't see you two making out last night! Get over here and hug her!

(Lucas walks over and hugs Peyton. She smiles at him and he smiles at her)

Brooke: So are you two like together now?
Lucas: We have to talk about it, Brooke!
Brooke: Interesting
Peyton: Stop Brooke!
Haley: Here we go again

Nathan: Just don't have a heart attack again, Luke!
Lucas: I don't really find that funny!

Peyton: Me either!
Nathan: Well I don't want Haley to get hit by a car again either!
Haley: That is so not funny!

Nathan: What can I say I'm hung-over!

(Everyone starts laughing and Lucas hugs Peyton again. They both had a look of relieve on their faces. The look of love in their eyes was priceless. Their friends notice the way they are looking at each other and smile. This could be an awesome year for the gang. Haley looks at Brooke and Brooke looks at Haley… They know they have to make sure it's an awesome year for Lucas and Peyton!)

---------------------------------------

(Lucas is lying on the couch and Nathan is lying in the oversized chair. Ellie and Jamie are playing Rockband on the Wii. The girls are gone)

Nathan: I should get the couch I'm taller.

Lucas: You snooze you lose! I was here first!

Nathan: Do they have to play that game?
Lucas: I think Peyton and Haley put them up to it!
Nathan: Where did they go?
Lucas: Shopping!

Nathan: Why?
Lucas: Probably to talk to Peyton about the fact that we were kissing last night!
Nathan: Yeah, I'd kind of like to talk about that too

Lucas: Right now!
Nathan: Why not it's not like we're going to get any sleep

Jamie: (pausing the game) Uncle Lucas, you kissed Aunt Peyton last night?!
Ellie: (turning around) Daddy, are you going to get married now?
Lucas: thanks a lot, Nathan! Come here you two!

(Lucas sits up enough so that Jamie and Ellie can sit on top of him. They both look at him with wide eyes)

Ellie: I would love if you married mommy!
Lucas: El, mommy and daddy just went on a date. When grown-ups go on a date they sometimes kiss. That's it! No one is getting married

Ellie: (looking sad) Are you going to kiss mommy again?
Jamie: (laughing) Yeah, Uncle Lucas are you going to kiss Aunt Peyton again?
Lucas: (smiling at the thought) If she wants me too!
Ellie: Yes!
Jamie: That's a good plan Uncle Lucas!
Lucas: I thought so!
Jamie: Um… come on Ellie. Let's go play in your room so that your daddy and my daddy can rest because they aren't feeling good

Ellie: Ok, Jamie

(Ellie and Jamie run out of the room and Nathan looks at Lucas)

Nathan: You know they are totally going to tell Peyton you want to kiss her again!
Lucas: That's ok. I told her this morning that I wanted to kiss her and she was excited about it

Nathan: Don't screw this up!

Lucas: I'm going to try not to but you know how Peyton is! She runs

Nathan: Peyton! Shit! Let me see… (air quotes) Lucas, I made a mistake. I got scared and I want what you want and I want it with you. Brooke walks in, Peyton walks out and you date Brooke! Oh but wait then you kiss Peyton!

Lucas: Shut up!
Nathan: I'm not done! School shooting… Peyton tells you she loves you and you stay with Brooke

Lucas: Stop!
Nathan: I'm not finished… Night before state championship game… (air quotes) Lucas… I love you… You say... I love you too Peyton. She says: No Lucas you don't understand I'm in love with you and you say Oh and leave! So don't blame it all on Peyton. Yeah she's a runner but so are you!

Lucas: Dude, how do you know all of that?! It's sad that you can quote us almost word for word
Nathan: Every time you were in turmoil with Peyton you told Haley. Then I had to listen to how stupid you were being because you were in love with Peyton and you were hiding from your feelings for her! The worst was when you asked her to marry you and she wanted to wait. I thought Haley was going to have a coronary! She was so pissed at you. She couldn't believe you were such as ass about it. She didn't understand how you could love someone and not give them time!

Lucas: Ok, thank you for reliving my mistakes!
Nathan: I'm just saying if you would have told Peyton it was ok and gave her some time you two might be living here together raising Ellie and maybe even working on baby number 2 or have baby number 2 and be working on baby number 3. Or better yet maybe she would have come back to Tree Hill and we'd all be together like we're supposed to be!

Lucas: (throwing a pillow at Nathan) Well I'm here now and I'm not going to leave until she trusts me again and we're together

Nathan: So you're going to get together and then leave her again?

Lucas: Yeah, I have to go to Tree Hill and get my stuff if I'm going to move here with Peyton and Ellie

Nathan: You'd do that?
Lucas: I'd do anything for my family

Nathan: What if she wants to come back to Tree Hill?
Lucas: Then we'll do that but her record company and her night club are here… She's going to want to stay and I'll stay here with her!

Nathan: You really do love her!
Lucas: I've never stopped loving her. She's the love of my life.
Nathan: Yeah, I know that feeling. That's how I feel about Haley

Lucas: do you know when I fell in love with her?
Nathan: No, when?
Lucas: It was one night after a basketball game. I was dribbling my ball down the street and she was driving crazy… She almost hit me. Our eyes locked and I just knew I had to be with her…

Nathan: Hey she was my girlfriend!

Lucas: I know but you were an ass to her

Nathan: I know and I still feel bad about that and I think she fell in love with you that night too. She's always been in love with you Lucas

Lucas: But she fell out of love with me and into love with Julian!
Nathan: Do you really think just because she was with Julian she still wasn't in love with you?
Lucas: I don't know

Nathan: When you were with Brooke were you still in love with Peyton?
Lucas: (smiling) I loved Brooke too.

Nathan: I know you did but you were still Peyton's superman!

Lucas: We were friends

Nathan: Ok, you can skate around the truth all you want but you and Peyton are meant to be and it will work out. Just don't mess it up this time!

Lucas: I'll try not too!
Nathan: I'll kick your ass if you hurt her again!
Lucas: Oh, I'm not worried about you I'm worried about Ellie and Jamie. I think they'd hurt me worse!

Nathan: I think you're right about that!

(They both laugh and lay back down. Lucas thinks about what Nathan said. He's got to do it right this time and he has to allow Peyton time and space. He can't go another five years without her. He can't go one day without. He needs to prove to her that he can be the man she needs. He just hopes she'll give him the change!)

--------------------------

(Jamie and Ellie are sitting in Ellie's room playing Chutes and Ladders. Ellie looks at Jamie. He can tell that she has something on her mind.)

Jamie: Hey Ellie what are you thinking about?
Ellie: My mommy and daddy
Jamie: What about them?
Ellie: I want my daddy to live here with us and I want them to get married like your mommy and daddy

Jamie: Well they kissed. My mommy and daddy kiss all the time so that's a good start!

Ellie: But daddy needs to be mommy's boyfriend

Jamie: We need a plan!
Ellie: What kind of plan?
Jamie: We need an Aunt Brooke plan!
Ellie: What's an Aunt Brooke plan?
Jamie: We have these friends back in Tree Hill Mouth and Millie

Ellie: I met Mouth and Millie once they came out here with Aunt Brooke

Jamie: Ok, well Mille liked Mouth but was too afraid to ask him out so Aunt Brooke came up with this romantic plan to get them on a date. We need a romantic plan

Ellie: Julian, would set candles all over the house and make mommy dinner and buy her vases of roses and then I'd go to the neighbor's house and they'd have dinner by themselves.

Jamie: Aunt Peyton's favorite flowers are lilies

Ellie: I know but Julian liked roses better!
Jamie: What would he make for dinner?
Ellie: Lasagna

Jamie: I thought she liked spaghetti better

Ellie: Julian didn't know mommy very well and he always just made what he liked

Jamie: that's not cool
Ellie: Mommy once told me it's the thought that counts

Jamie: We can totally do it right. We know what your mommy likes

Ellie: Yeah we do

Jamie: Hum… I bet we could get Aunt Brooke to help us

Ellie: Ok!
Jamie: Here's what we'll do!

(Jamie and Ellie sit on her floor laughing and talking. They are coming up with a great plan to get Lucas and Peyton together. Jamie wants his aunt and uncle together as much as Ellie did and he wasn't going to leave until it happens)

------------------------------------

(Peyton and Haley are walking around Clothes over Bros LA. Haley is looking a dresses and Peyton has a weird smile on her face. Brooke is yelling at the manager. She joins her friends.)

Brooke: (talking bitchy) If you want something done right you have to do it yourself!
Haley: Trouble in Paradise?
Brooke: No, just stupid employees!

Haley: I like this dress

Brooke: Oh, you can have it!
Haley: I'll buy it. Nathan and I actually have money now. Peyton, what do you think about this dress?

(Peyton just stands there with a smile on her face looking out the window. Brooke and Haley look at each other)

Brooke: (looking at Peyton) Earth to Peyton!
Peyton: (Snapping back into the conversation) what?!

Brooke: Haley just asked you if you like the dress she's going to buy?
Peyton: (looking at the dress) Oh, yes it's beautiful. I should get a few new outfits. Everything I own is so teenagerish!

Brooke: Why do you need new clothes?
Peyton: my jeans are like 6 years old and I think the whole rock band t-shirt look is a little old, don't you?
Brooke: You just want to look hot for Lucas!
Peyton: I do not! I just think since I have my two best friends here to tell me how horrible everything I try on is it's a good time to buy new clothes

Brooke: There's a lingerie shop down the street!

Peyton: (smiling) let's go there next!

Brooke: (smiling devilishly) you're already thinking about sleeping with him?!
Haley: Brooke, she wanted to jump him the minute he walked into her house. She just knows now that he wants the same!

Peyton: (blushing) that's not true! I just need so new underwear that's all!

Haley: Well Wal-Mart has fruit of the loom on sale right now buy 6 get 6 free!

Peyton: I was thinking something a little bit more feminine than that

Brooke: She is going to nail him!

Peyton: (getting even redder) Ok, enough you two! You both love to shop do you want to help me or not?

Brooke: First we need to talk about you and Lucas

Peyton: What is there to talk about?
Brooke: Let's go to the coffee shop across the road and then I'll buy you all the clothes you want

Haley: I agree

Peyton: Fine!

(Brooke and Haley each grab one of Peyton's arms and they walk out of the store. They cross the road and sit at a table. They all order coffee. The waitress brings it over and Peyton just sits there and stares at her two friends. They all sip their coffee.)

Brooke: Spill!

Peyton: Spill what?
Brooke: Ok, first Julian asked you to marry him last night?
Peyton: Yes, and it was the most unromantic thing I have ever heard before! It was like he just found out I was pregnant and my dad was going to kill him if we didn't get married

(Brooke and Haley both laugh)

Haley: What did he say?
Peyton: Um let me see… Something like I've settled for being second best so I can settle for being second best for the rest of my life. You know I'll take care of you so marry me?
Brooke: He did not?!
Peyton: Um yeah he did!

Haley: that is horrible

Peyton: Yeah it was. Then he blamed Lucas and stormed out of my office.
Brooke: Where he proceed to get into a fight with Lucas

Peyton: yes! Where he so nicely told Lucas that I broke up with him to be with him!
Haley: Yeah, that made Luke pretty happy

Peyton: Made me pretty happy too!
Brooke: Ok, so we've figured out what happened with Julian now onto the kiss you planted on Lucas last night!
Peyton: It was midnight

Haley: that was more than just midnight! What happened?

Peyton: He wanted to know if what Julian told him was true… So when Mia said Happy New Year I just grabbed him and kissed him. Then I told him everything Julian said was true and we kissed again. We haven't talked about any of it yet!
Brooke: So do you want to be his girlfriend?
Haley: Hell no she wants to be his wife!
Peyton: (sipping her coffee) I think you are both jumping the gun here. I want to explore a future with Lucas in it

Brooke: So if when we got home today he is sitting there with lilies and a ring you'd tell him no again?
Peyton: I didn't say that but I think that would be moving a little fast don't you?
Haley: No, I think you two have wasted too much time as it is

Peyton: When we kissed this morning my heart skipped a beat. I just wanted to kiss him again and again. I couldn't help it. I wanted to make out with him and never stop. I felt like I did that day at the State Championship game. I felt alive and I didn't want it to stop

Brooke: (smiling) Back up…. You two kissed again this morning?
Peyton: Yes, and it was soft and sweet and I could kiss him like that every morning for the rest of my life

Brooke: Does that mean he'll be moving into your room with you?
Peyton: Brooke! We have to be careful. We have Ellie to think about now! We're not in high school the stakes are much higher now!
Brooke: oh losing your best friend wasn't a high enough stake?
Peyton: Of course it was but you were 17 Ellie's 4 and she won't understand if Lucas leaves again and doesn't come back

Haley: Peyton's right but Peyton that doesn't mean you should not try and be with Lucas

Peyton: Oh, I know and I want to be with him. You know me though. I just get scared

Brooke: You were with Julian

Haley: Julian wasn't her heart though
Peyton: You know me too well!
Haley: Lucas is probably feeling the same way.

Peyton: We have to take it slow

Brooke: Not too slow though!
Peyton: Brooke!
Brooke: What? You have a kid it's not like you haven't had sex before!
Peyton: I'm not going to jump into bed with him! We're going to take it slow

Brooke: Well I'll stay as long as he does so you're not alone with him. That way if things start to get to much you'll have me to talk too

Peyton: Ok

Haley: What if he stays forever

Brooke: Then when Peyton tells me she's ok. I'll come home

Peyton: What if I don't want him to stay forever?
Haley: (looking shocked) why wouldn't you?
Peyton: the only reason I stayed here all these years is because I couldn't come home and be around Lucas every day… If we're together there's nothing keeping me from bringing Ellie home!
Brooke: What about your club and company?
Peyton: I can open both in Tree Hill can't I?
Brooke: I guess so

Peyton: I'm putting the cart before the horse but I think I might eventually want to come home!
Haley: (screaming) That would be great!
Brooke: It would be nice to have everyone back together!
Peyton: It's settled then! I will seriously consider it!
Haley: Yeah!
Brooke: Ok, finish your coffee and let's go shopping!

(The girls drink their coffee and busily chat. They walk out of the coffee shop and hit the little boutiques along the road. Peyton wanting to come home and be with Lucas was the best news her best friends had heard in years. They were going to make sure it happened! Even if it's the last thing they do!)