Peyton and Lucas were on the outskirts of town, laughing as they walked hand in hand, watching Lily weave through the selection of Christmas Trees. Karen had sent them out with her SUV to choose a tree, and Peyton could only chuckle at how Lucas and Lily's eyes went wide; she wasn't sure who was more excited. She had no idea Lucas was so crazy about Christmas.
Crazy might have been an understatement.
"OK, we're looking for fullness of branches, height, greenness, and smell," he outlined to Peyton, his face changing when he saw the smile she was trying to suppress. "What?"
"Look at you, all excited for Santa," she teased.
"Hey," he said indignantly, "this is my favourite holiday."
"Mine too," Peyton insisted. "I'm just less of a dork about it, that's all."
"I'm not a..."
"Lukey!" Lily cried happily from 20 feet ahead. Peyton just laughed when Lucas groaned at his sister's loud - and public - use of that nickname. "This one!"
"Let's see," he said as they approached her. He lifted her into his arms and inspected the tree. "Nice form. Great smell. Very green. No loose needles." He nodded appreciatively and pretended he didn't see Peyton shaking her head. "Looks like you found it, Lil."
"I found the tree, Peyton!" Lily said excitedly.
"You sure did," Peyton laughed. "And want to know the best part?" The little girl nodded. "Now I'm going to buy us some hot chocolate, and we get to watch Lukey try to get this tree onto the roof of the car!"
She pulled Lily into her own arms as Lucas scowled at her, then he kissed both girls' foreheads as he pulled out the cash to pay for the tree and flagged down someone who worked at the little tree farm. He watched them walk over to the little canteen, smiling when he saw Peyton blowing on Lily's drink to cool it down.
"She's a sweetheart," the attendant said to Lucas as she took his money.
"She's something," he said, shaking his head. He wasn't sure which girl the woman was talking about, but he knew his response would have been the same no matter what.
"Cute family," she mused, watching as Peyton and Lily approached. Peyton was holding Lily's hand, and both girls were smiling. Lucas realized how they must have looked.
"Oh, we're..."
"Luke, we're going to wait in the car, OK?" Peyton interrupted. Lucas could only nod.
He thought his heart was going to beat out of his chest. Apparently that kind of misunderstanding was common when you had a sister 18 years younger than you. It had happened before, and he'd always taken it with a grain of salt. This time, it was different. He knew exactly why, but it was so light years too soon to be thinking of a family, that he wanted to push those thoughts to the back of his mind.
The girls giggled in the warm vehicle as Lucas and another man hoisted the tree onto the roof, and Lucas just hoped Nathan would be at the house to give him a hand when he got back.
"Thanks for the help," he said, only half-joking, when he got back in the drivers seat.
"We got you hot chocolate," Lily said sweetly from her car seat.
"You did?" he asked, as though that was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for him.
"Of course," Peyton said with a shrug.
She reached for his hand after he'd turned the key, and they drove home - well, to Karen's - with Lucas singing Christmas carols along with the radio, and Peyton and Lily laughing at his antics. As they pulled onto their street, Peyton rest her left hand on Lucas' shoulder, and he looked over at her and gave her the most perfect smile she'd ever seen.
And she had the overwhelming feeling that this was somehow her future. Her, and him, and a child in the back seat. She didn't know why she wasn't terrified by that, but she assumed it had a lot to do with how insanely in love with him she was.
Nathan was at the house, ready to help Lucas with the tree, and Peyton hugged him tightly when she got out of the car. They hadn't seen each other since Charlotte. Well, no one other than Haley and Jamie had seen him since Charlotte.
"So good to see you," Peyton said, her chin resting on his shoulder.
"You too, Sawyer," Nathan insisted. He really did feel like she was becoming like a sister, and though they spoke on the phone fairly often, it was nice to be able to spend time with her.
"Dude, get your hands off my girl and help me out, here," Lucas teased, putting a hand on his hip after lifting Lily out of the car.
"Nathan!" Lily shouted. Nathan just laughed as he knelt down to hug the little girl.
"Don't tell your mommy who told you, but there are fresh gingerbread men in the kitchen. She's trying to hide them, but maybe Peyton could steal you one," Nathan said, chuckling when Lily's eyes went wide.
"I'm on it," Peyton said seriously, following Lily up the steps into the house.
She stepped into the kitchen, and Karen sent her a wink before looking quickly to where the cookies were cooling on wire racks. She obviously wasn't hiding them - yet - she just wanted the kids to think she was to give them the thrill of sneaking cookies. Peyton adored Karen's parenting style.
She waited until Karen was turned around, then lifted Lily up to grab a cookie, then set her down on her feet and quickly gestured for her to rush out of the kitchen.
"I don't know which one is the three year old," Peyton mused as she and Karen heard Lucas and Nathan come back into the house, talking to the kids and Haley about the tree.
"You should have seen him at that age," Karen said, smiling fondly. "Keith always made such a big deal about Christmas. I think that has a lot to do with the excitement he still has."
"That explains it," Peyton said softly. She knew the holidays were an especially difficult time for Karen and Lucas, and she sent Karen a knowing smile.
"And it's Christmas!" Karen proclaimed, gently patting Peyton's arm and making her laugh. "Don't be a Scrooge."
Karen handed a box of Christmas decorations to Peyton, and then winked and went off to instruct the boys on where to put the tree.
Peyton looked around the room and smiled to herself from where she stood. Haley was keeping the kids occupied with a little Christmas craft that included red, green and silver glitter pens and a few store-bought place mats, and Lucas was standing with his hands on his hips, glancing at his mother with an irritated look on his face as she told him to move the tree 'a little to the left'. Nathan just laughed and took it all in stride, no doubt just happy to be home for a bit. He had another two games in Charlotte before Christmas, then was back out on the road two days after the 25th.
Peyton looked through the box in her hands, and pulled out a little green Christmas sweater. It was hand-knitted, she could tell, and there was a penguin wearing a Santa hat on the front.
"My sweater!" Lucas cried happily.
"Oh honey, please tell me you aren't going to try to wear this," Peyton teased as everyone laughed at Lucas' enthusiasm.
"No, you goof," he said, walking over to her and taking the sweater from her. "Mom made this for me. Hang on."
He disappeared into his bedroom while Haley and Karen exchanged a glance. They both knew exactly what he was doing. He emerged moments later with a photograph in his hands of he and Keith, wearing matching sweaters with penguins on the front.
"Oh my God," Peyton said sweetly. "That's so adorable."
"Right?!" Karen laughed. "Keith hated it!"
"Well, he was a grown man," Nathan pointed out.
"I just wanted them to match for the photo," Karen explained. "And I still have that sweater, too, so someday you can have a photo of you and your son in matching sweaters."
As soon as she'd said it, Karen's face changed, and it seemed every adult in the room was holding their breath, waiting for Peyton's response to that statement. Lucas was sure she'd be running out the door and never looking back.
But instead of freaking out, Peyton just leaned over, kissed Lucas' cheek, and smiled at Karen.
"What?" she asked when she noticed the way everyone was staring.
"Nothing," Nathan laughed, shaking his head. "Nothing at all."
Peyton shrugged one shoulder and walked away from them and back into the kitchen, and they all laughed softly as Lucas shook his head.
His girl was a keeper. She was a keeper, and she had absolutely no idea.
----
Peyton and Haley did the dishes after finishing their dinner, and they could hear Lucas and Nathan playing with the kids in the living room. Karen had gone out to a holiday party at a friend's house, and so it was just the four 'adults' and Lily and Jamie.
"You know? Every time I see you, you just look happier and happier," Haley pointed out, grabbing another plate to dry and put away as Peyton wiped down the counter.
"Well...I'm...I mean..."
"I guess it's easy to be happy when you get what you've always wanted," Haley said, smiling when Peyton did.
"Not everything I've always wanted," Peyton argued. "But this family is pretty amazing."
"Are you saying that you...I mean, eventually...want a family? With Luke?" Haley asked, barely able to keep her excitement in check.
"Well...whoa. OK. I just...That's crazy to say," Peyton said with a chuckle.
"Is it?" Haley asked delicately as she wiped her hands.
"I just always wanted to be the kind of mom that my mom never got to be," Peyton said softly, locking eyes with the brunette, who smiled and nodded her head. "You go ahead. I'll finish up in here."
"You sure?" Haley asked.
"Yeah. It's fine."
Peyton made sure the kitchen was spotless, then she stood in the doorway and watched as Nathan ticked Lily, and Jamie giggled at something Haley said. Lucas was reading from an old hardcover as he sat in the wing back chair in the living room, and after a while, he looked up and saw Peyton standing there. He set his book on the table and walked over to stand in front of her.
"You know, you're standing under the mistletoe?" he pointed out softly, resting his hands on her hips.
"I know. I've been here waiting for you for five minutes," she said, making him laugh quietly. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers, and she let out a noise from low in her throat.
"I love Christmas," he whispered once they'd parted.
"I love you," she said, making him smile.
It was a great little moment until Lily started giggling, and Nathan let out a wolf whistle.
----
Nathan and Haley left with Jamie just before 9:00, and Lucas and Peyton put Lily to bed before curling up together on the sofa and watching Love Actually on television. Lucas was a little surprised to learn that it was one of Peyton's favourites, but when she explained all her reasons, he realized that it was kind of a given. It was a hopeful, heartbreaking, and beautiful portrayal of the lengths people go to for love. When he heard her sniffle next to him, he knew she was crying, and pulled her a little closer and kissed the top of her head. He told her he loved her, and she curled a little closer to him.
"Well, well," Karen said softly when she stepped through the door. Peyton was asleep with Lucas' arm around her as he watched the day's highlights on ESPN.
"Yeah," he sighed. "Lily's been out for hours. She was great."
"How long has this one been out?" Karen asked, moving to stand behind the sofa and pointing to Peyton.
"About a half hour," he said, turning off the television.
"Why didn't you just go to bed?"
"I just wanted to make sure you got home OK," he said nonchalantly, looking up at his mother.
"My boy," she said with a smile, leaning down to kiss his forehead as she squeezed his shoulder. He was more like Keith than she ever would have imagined. "I'm off to bed. I can't stay out as late as I used to."
"It's barely midnight," Lucas chuckled. "And when did you ever stay out late?"
"Goodnight, Lucas," she said with a laugh as she started down the hall.
"'Night, mom."
OK, now he had a dilemma. He had a sleeping girl next to him, and his bedroom 25 feet down the hall. Not that he would have minded carrying her, but he wasn't crazy about the idea if it could be avoided.
He gently nudged her, then ran his hand up and down her arm, but she didn't move. She was out like a light, so he took a deep breath, smiled and shook his head, and gathered her into his arms. He carried her down the hall and carefully tugged back the covers, laying her down gently and covering her over with the blankets. The only saving grace was that she was already in her pajamas.
He tugged off his shirt and stepped out of his jeans, and as soon as he lay down next to her, Peyton moved closer and draped her arm over his stomach. He wouldn't complain about that. He just closed his eyes and got comfortable.
"You carried me," she murmured softly, then felt him laugh beneath her.
"Yeah," he whispered.
"You're so cute," she said.
She ran her hand over his stomach, then pushed herself away from him and stood from the bed. She'd rushed out the door and into the hall before he could ask her what in the world she was doing.
She returned five minutes later - just as he was about to fall asleep - with two steaming cups of cocoa, and a little plate of cookies.
"Where did you get those?" he asked with wide eyes upon seeing the perfect little gingerbread men with their white frosting smiles and buttons. All day, his mom had told him there were none, but he could smell them in the house. He had a nose for fresh baking, and he knew she'd been lying.
"I stole them for you," she whispered needlessly. "Don't tell your mom."
"My lips are sealed," he whispered back, taking a cookie off the plate. She set their mugs on the table next to the bed as he sat up against the pillows.
"This is nice," she mused, leaning against him a little bit.
"Midnight snack?"
"That. You and me. Everything," she elaborated.
"You're not overwhelmed this time?" he asked seriously. She pulled away and looked at him with a smile, and he had his answer.
"I love your family," she insisted. She wove her fingers through his before taking a sip of her drink.
He really wanted to correct her and say that it was her family too. He wanted to tell her that they loved her back, and that she was always welcome, and that Lily had told him that Peyton was her 'favourite girl'. But Peyton spoke before he could.
"And I think that you're going to look really cute in that penguin sweater someday." She looked up at him, and he smiled and shook his head with his eyes closed.
They both knew that she'd just alluded to the fact that maybe someday they'd have the child to wear that little sweater and pose for a photo with him. But he wouldn't come out and ask if that was what she meant, and she wouldn't elaborate, and that was OK. They didn't need that. The allusion was enough for him. More than enough.
So they sipped hot chocolate and ate gingerbread until after 1:00, then switched off the light and fell asleep together.
When Lucas awoke alone in his bed, he was a little unnerved. When he stepped into the kitchen to see his mom, his sister, and his girlfriend baking pies, he was pretty this was going to be the best Christmas ever.
----
Her boyfriend was a dork. It was official.
That had little to do with the fact that he'd rather read than do anything else, or that he organized his socks a certain way. It had little to do with that penguin sweater, or that he'd been 'sneaking' cookies all week - though Karen would tell Peyton that she knew what he was doing, but let him think he was being sneaky.
When he unceremoniously shook her awake at 6:30 on Christmas morning, it was all confirmed.
"No," she said simply, rolling onto her side and away from him. She didn't care what he wanted, it was too damn early.
"It's Christmas!"
"No."
"Yes, it is," he countered, though he knew that wasn't what she meant. "Come on, Peyton."
"Luke. Too early," she managed. "Your mom said 8:00."
"Please," he pleaded, pushing aside the button down shirt she was wearing and kissing the side of her neck. "Entertain me until then."
"Stop it," she protested. "Luke, please."
"I'm awake," he pointed out.
"I can see that," she said, laughing as she rolled onto her back again. "You're like a child."
"It's endearing," he insisted, and she rolled her eyes.
"What are we supposed to do for an hour and a half?" she asked. He raised an eyebrow and smirked wolfishly, and her jaw dropped. "No way!"
"Peyton..."
"No. No way. No sex on Christmas," she hissed.
"Worth a shot," he said with a shrug. He leaned over and placed a series of kisses to the column of her neck and her collar bone. "What about this?"
"Hmm."
"Or...this," he murmured, pushing up the fabric of the shirt she was wearing and letting his hand caress her stomach.
"Luke," she said. He knew it was a protest, but he didn't stop. "Stop it. Seriously."
"So what am I supposed to do?" he pouted.
"Sleep! Like a normal person!"
"But...I'm awake."
OK, so she'd admit it. It was endearing.
"We could exchange gifts now," she suggested. She was already awake, she figured, so they might as well.
"You, Peyton Sawyer, are a genius," he said, tapping her nose with his index finger.
He hopped out of bed and ventured to the closet where he'd kept her gifts, and she could only laugh at the energy he had.
She wanted a coffee. Desperately. In fact, if all he gave her for Christmas was a cup of coffee, she was pretty sure that'd be just fine with her.
She reached for the few wrapped gifts without getting out of bed. It was a bit of a struggle to get them without pushing back the covers, but she managed. She heard Lucas trying not to laugh, but when she glared at him, he got the message that perhaps he shouldn't comment.
"You go first," she said, handing him a rectangular box.
He smiled like a little boy and tore into the paper. She just rolled her eyes and shook her head. She could tell he was surprised when he pulled out the new Tar Heels tee shirt and tickets to the upcoming UNC vs. Duke game came tumbling out. She smirked to herself at her creative wrapping.
"This game sold out ages ago!" he told her needlessly.
"I know," she said with a smile. "Good thing I happen to know this guy who used to play for Duke."
"He told me he couldn't get tickets," Lucas said, studying the paper in his hands.
"I maybe made him lie," she said, raising her shoulders adorably. "And since I stole your Tar Heels shirt, I figured I should get you a new one."
"I love it," he said sincerely, leaning forward to kiss her. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." She smile as he handed her an immaculately wrapped box.
She tore the paper back and saw a Clothes Over Bros box, and she narrowed her eyes at him questioningly. Why would he give her something from her best friend's line?
She opened the box and her breath caught in her throat. Inside was the most perfect dress she'd ever seen. It was just...her. Dark green and strapless, with an interesting subtle black pattern on the fabric. It was cut above the knee, and had a tie in the back that was tasteful, and the whole thing was just perfect.
"I had her make it special," Lucas explained, recalling those sneaky conversations with Brooke.
"Are you serious?"
"She asked what I like, then added in what you like," he said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"It's...amazing," she said, in awe that he had been so thoughtful. "Thank you."
"One condition," he told her, holding up his index finger. "You have to wear it to her New Year's party when we go to Wilmington."
"Done," she promised, taking his hand in hers.
"Which one next?" he asked after a moment. They each had two more gifts to open, and he wasn't sure which to go for. Small box or big box.
"Whichever one you want," she told him.
Of course, he settled on the big box. Well, what he thought was a box.
When he peeled back the paper and held the canvas in his hands, he was speechless. She didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
There it was. The River Court. Where he'd grown up. Where he'd learned to love the game. Where he'd spent countless hours with his uncle, then his friends, then his brother, then his nephew. One of the first places they'd had one of those first serious conversations. Where they'd had their first kiss.
"Peyton." He didn't know what else to say.
"You like it?" she asked, honestly worried about what he'd think. She'd based it off both memory and a photo Haley had sent her, but she was still worried she'd missed the mark.
"Amazing," he said simply. "You're...I can't believe you." She blushed and he kissed her temple. "I love you. Thank you."
"Welcome," she replied.
"Here," he said, offering her a large, square box.
She tore back the paper, then removed the lid, only to see another box.
"You're such a geek!" she proclaimed, pulling out the smaller box as he laughed. She so should have known he'd do something like this.
Sure enough, there was a smaller box inside that one, and then another smaller box. When she opened that one, she saw the little rectangular box, and she gasped.
He did not buy her jewelry. Did he?
"Luke," she said as she shook her head, afraid to see what was inside the black velvet.
"Just open it."
She did as she was told, and her hand flew to her mouth.
She'd told him ages ago - at the beginning of the school year, when they'd first started talking about more serious things - that her father had give her a silver necklace with a dove pendant when he'd come back from one of his trips. Larry had explained to her that her mother had always loved doves. She'd lost that necklace somewhere along the way, and she'd thought she'd never have anything like it again.
She really never thought Lucas would get her an exact replica.
"Lucas, this is...I'm..." There was a tear dancing in her eye as she toyed with the little bird between her fingers, and she didn't care. This was the perfect gift.
"That Saturday I said I had a study group, I drove out to see your dad," he explained, reaching out to wipe her cheek. "I showed him, and...well, his reaction was pretty much the same as yours."
He took the box from her, and motioned for her to turn around so he could fasten the necklace around her neck, and she closed her eyes as she ran her fingertips over the silver pendant.
"Thank you, so much," she said sincerely, leaning over to kiss him. "Thank you."
"Ready to revoke that 'no sex on Christmas' rule yet?" he asked teasingly. She glared at him. "No? Alright."
"Just open this," she said with a laugh, handing him his last gift.
He opened the box and started laughing. Really laughing.
It was a dark red leather-bound copy of his novel.
"What?" she asked worriedly. She didn't know whether to love or hate that he was laughing.
"Open yours," he commanded.
She tore at the wrapping of the last remaining gift, and saw a black leather-bound copy of his novel.
And she started laughing.
"Really?" she asked.
"I thought you'd like it!" he said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"OK, we know each other too well," she said, shaking her head. "Read the inside, though."
"You too," instructed.
He opened his book - his book - and read;
"Lucas,
You've inspired me more than anything in my life. I'm so proud and honoured to be a part of this. I'll love you forever for what you've given me.
-Peyton"
She opened her book - his book - and read;
"Peyton,
I don't think you know what you've done for me. You bring the best kind of safety, security, love, compassion and beauty. You're perfect, and I'm forever indebted to you for helping me finish this. You're always a part of me.
Lucas"
"You like it?" he asked jokingly.
"Love it. You?"
"Perfect," he insisted.
They spent the next hour cuddling in bed until Karen and Lily knocked on the door and pushed it open. Lily rushed in and jumped up onto the bed, her hair wild and unruly, and her pajamas askew.
"It's Christmas!" she chirped.
"I know!" Luke said, just as excitedly.
"I'm going to make coffee," Karen said with a laugh, both she and Peyton shaking their head at the grown man.
"What's that?" Lily asked, looking to the painting sitting atop Lucas' dresser.
"Peyton did that," Lucas explained, winking at his girlfriend. "It's my Christmas present."
"Cool! What'd you get me?" Lily asked, looking at Peyton pleadingly.
"Not telling!" Peyton insisted with a laugh. "But I'll tell you what. I'll french braid this crazy hair of yours for you before we go out there."
"OK!"
Peyton grabbed her brush and a hair elastic, and Lily told her - for the fifth time, at least - what gifts she hoped to get. Neither girl noticed Lucas reach for his camera until they heard the click of the shutter. He just shrugged his shoulder when Peyton looked over at him. It was just too cute a moment not to capture on film - both girls in their Christmas pajamas, with smiles on their faces.
When Karen called them to the living room, Peyton gravitated to the coffee cup waiting for her at the coffee table, while Lucas and Lily rushed straight for the tree and started handing out presents. Peyton was a little surprised to see that she had quite a few.
Karen had gotten her a few little things; a mug emblazoned with the Karen's Café logo that Peyton immediately loved, a sweater in a deep burgundy colour that they all knew would look great on her, and a gift certificate to the record store in Tree Hill that Peyton had loved since the first day she'd gone there.
Karen and Lily loved their gifts as well. Peyton had gotten Karen a few treatments at the nicest spa in town, recalling a conversation they'd had where Karen explained that she loved to be pampered, it just wasn't a priority with a small child and two businesses to run. Along with the gift certificate, Peyton explained that she'd come to town when Karen wanted to go to the spa, and she'd watch Lily for the day.
Peyton had Brooke create two very different - but equally as adorable - dresses for Lily. One was strictly for play, with crinoline and sparkling sequins and a matching little tiara. The second was made of red thai silk with a black sash around the waist and lace detail. It was a Christmas dress, and Karen just smiled when she saw how excited Lily was to wear it. The older woman was thrilled at how well Peyton already knew their family. Considering Lucas didn't know what Peyton had gotten anyone, Karen was pretty impressed that she'd come up with all those gifts on her own.
Nathan, Haley, Jamie and Deb came over just before lunch. Nathan loved her painting, claiming it would go in the 'office' of his house - essentially a room he had with his trophies and memorabilia on display.
Peyton made Haley a CD of all the bands and songs she thought the brunette would like, but when she opened the case, Haley was surprised to see tickets to the upcoming Sara Bareilles show in Charlotte. She and Peyton had been talking about it the week before, and the show had been sold out for ages. When Peyton called Brooke to see if she could pull any strings, Brooke managed to get her hands on tickets within the hour. There were three tickets, so they knew it was a girls' night out.
After dinner was over and the kitchen was tidied, Lucas insisted he and Peyton go for a walk. It was cool that night, so Peyton bundled up in a scarf and wool jacket, relishing in the feel of holding Lucas' hands when they were both wearing mittens.
They walked together to the River Court - where they always seemed to end up - and sat together in mostly silence on the bleachers, looking across to the downtown area and the Christmas lights, throwing twinkling reflections on the water.
And then it started snowing.
It was reminiscent of that Thanksgiving, that first night they'd taken a walk together to the old court, and they stood together in the rain. But snow was far more magical.
"Wow," Peyton whispered, looking to the sky. She hooked her arm through his and leaned into Lucas a little bit more.
"That's amazing," Lucas said softly.
"This is kind of the perfect Christmas," Peyton mused, looking up at Lucas. He leaned down and kissed her gently, and they went back to watching the flakes fall.
"First of many," he whispered, smiling to himself when Peyton kissed his cheek.
That sounded alright to her.