BRIEF NOTES:

So, yup. Thanks again for the great raves. I'm glad you liked the sort but sweet previous chapter. I figured to keep it that way since it'd be too anticlimactic to put the rest of the day in.

Robby turns four. This is the rest of the day. Enjoy.

CHAPTER TWENTY

A half-gentle nudge on her right side stirred Brooke Davis out of her peaceful sleep.

"Up and about, Davis. It's 0800."

She smiled. Derek might have been a homebody for the past four years, but even the homey atmosphere of Tree Hill could not take the marine out of him. "Ugh. It is way too early in the morning, D." She commented as she languidly stretched and latched her hands together at the back of his neck,

He swooped in for a good morning's kiss. "Mmm. Good morning, soldier. As much as I'd love to detain you in bed, we have to get ready – there are bags to pack and a party to prep." He stroked her hair while narrating the rest of the day's priorities.

Brooke contemplated the itinerary and was curious to know why he made no mention of Peyton or Lucas's involvement in the preparations. "It's great that you're playing Superman, babe... but, umm, what about parental involvement?" The marine smirked. Inwardly, Brooke thought she had never seen anything sexier.

"Peyton never locks her bedroom door."

She cocked her eyebrow in confusion. "So?"

"I went up to check on her... and i had to lock the door."

It took a good minute or two for his words to finally sink in.

"Oh."

Derek pulled her up from the bed and led her to the shower.

"Exactly."

"Mooooooooooooommy oooooooooopen!!!" echoed a loud wail and a throbbing bang from the other side of Peyton's bedroom door.

A vague but audible reply came from the bathroom. "Just a second, sweetheart!"

Lucas shot up from the bed. He took in his surroundings and smiled at his next thought.

It wasn't a dream.

It was all real – him, her, last night and this morning... the three mind-blowing times they made love – all of it happened. And at this moment – while his son waits at the door, expecting to be greeted; and he, for the first time, would be able to do so – there were no words for his happiness.

He got off of the bed and pulled his boxers on, excitement building up at the thought of his little boy's reaction to his presence. Today was going to be nothing less than perfect... he opened the door.

"Happy birthday, son."

Robby's mouth went agape at the sight of his near-naked father.

"You're not in timeout anymore."

A confused Lucas bent down to meet his son's eyes. "What?"

The little boy blinked twice to make sure he wasn't seeing things. "Nothing." he smiled and embraced his dad. "Morning, daddy. Mommy let you in here?" It was a question asked to secretly confirm his deepest hope.

"Well... Mommy and I were fixing stuff between us last night and it got kind of late, so--" he was interrupted.

Doesn't matter, the child thought. "Are you going to stay here now like Uncle Nathan stays with Aunt Haley and Ryan?"

Lucas was dumbstruck. He and Peyton had discussed a lot of arrangements, but they had failed to tackle that one. "Well... I..."

"Not just yet, baby. Daddy still has to fix some things over at grandma's and at work, but he can stay over as much as he wants." It was Peyton who stepped into their conversation, supplying the answer to the questioning eyes of both males.

Robby considered the reply, as indicated by the signature Scott scowl he inherited from Lucas. "Are we a family now?" His eyes bore into Peyton's, as did Lucas's... they were waiting for her answer.

She picked Robby up as Lucas stood and held the little boy between them, her green eyes sparkling with a happiness she hadn't felt in a while.

"Yes, we are, Rob... We always were."

The statement earned her two big smiles from the men, and a kiss on the forehead from Lucas.

"Cool." In the back of his mind, Robby thought this to be the best birthday he ever had, primarily because his wish had come true...

and he hadn't even blown his candles out yet.

"Hales, are you ready to go?" Nathan asked as he made his way into their bedroom. They weren't running on a full schedule today, and given the recent circumstance, Nathan's secretly made plans for him and his family were given an opportunity to materialize. He stood in the doorway, loving the sight of the mother-son tandem before him.

Haley was buttoning Ryan's shirt."Almost."

Their son looked at his direction. "Where's Robby, Dad?" the little boy was a little unsettled at the absence of his cousin.

"He's with his mom and dad, son. They're going to spend the day together – just like us."

Ryan's face lit up with anticipation, and from that angle he was the spitting image of his mother. "Yay!" He zipped downstairs as soon as his mother was done fixing his attire.

The change of plans was not dismissed by Haley. She approached her husband, who held his arms out to welcome her in an embrace. "Am I missing something?" she asked, looking up at him.

He kissed her forehead, silently thanking God for giving her to him. "Well, you owe me twenty bucks." He smiled, replaying the scene he walked in on at the Sawyer household's kitchen.

Her brows furrowed. "What do you mean I..." then she remembered their bet. "Lucas and Peyton are back together?!?!" Her eyes widened in surprise.

"I went into the kitchen when i got there and I saw them all mushy and everything – it almost made me gag." He guffawed when she playfully hit his arm, but turned serious as he continued, "They said they were working things out, but we all know that means we're-back-together-and-pretty-soon-we're-getting-married." He laughed again, recalling his own working-stuff-out dealings with Haley from years before.

Haley had become contemplative as she took her husband's hand and they treaded downstairs. "What's the matter, Hales? I thought you'd be happy with the news." a worried Nathan asked.

She gave him a small smile. "I am. I just hope Lucas doesn't mess up this time... coz Peyton really doesn't deserve another heartbreak." Her eyes clouded with worry.

Nathan shared her concern; however, he was also certain of one thing – Lucas's newfound strength. "I'm sure they'll turn out fine, baby. If anything, I'm sure Lucas knows better than to do that downward spiral again."

She admired her husband's no-nonsense wisdom. "Let's hope you're right."

The party was in full swing by the time early afternoon had set in – it wasn't a small party since apart from family, Peyton's friends from work had also graced the occasion, but it was closed enough for the people invited to enjoy their time without having any awkward pauses.

Peyton strode off to the kitchen to refill the juice trays. She was greeted by Karen, who was also in the process of refreshing an emptied candy bowl. The women shared a few minutes of semi-awkward silence.

Karen spoke first. "So... Lucas told me the good news about you two." She looked at Peyton, hoping to read the woman's expression.

The blonde woman stilled, she hadn't realized that news could go so fast. She blushed and smiled. "Yeah... we're working it out." She returned Karen's warm gaze.

The older woman smiled. She knew it took a lot out of Peyton to have let Lucas back in, but she was grateful to know that they both hadn't given up on each other. She approached the younger woman.

"Peyton, I'm really glad that you decided to let Lucas back into your life. I know it wasn't a very easy decision on your part. Try as I might to assure you that he won't hurt you anymore, I can't... because if this stage that you're both on progresses, I tell you, arguments will ensue and some hurting actions might transpire. But down the line, whatever may happen, as long as you both know that you love each other and are willing to work through everything that life throws you, you will be fine."

Peyton remained quiet, taking in the meaning of Karen's words. It didn't take long, though, and she looked at the older woman with a smile that exuded happiness.

"Thank you, Karen. You told me exactly what I needed to hear." Peyton said as the women enclosed themselves in an embrace that spoke of comfort and assurance. There was a long future ahead, Peyton thought.

But as long as she had these people by her side, nothing else could possibly go wrong.

A pair of strong arms snaked around her waist as she fell into his chest while her neck was being nuzzled. The task of putting away the remnants of this afternoon's party was now forgotten.

"Mmm... making up for lost time." the man said as he continued to nuzzle her neck.

Peyton smiled as her hands reach out to hold onto to his head, surprised when Lucas turned her in his arms but quickly concealing it with a quip.

"Well, there's a lot of that to make up for." She intertwined her hands around his neck.

He chuckled as he bent down to slightly kiss her parted lips – a kiss that she returned with equal tenderness. Once they broke contact, Lucas spoke first.

"Let me stay tonight?" he hopefully asked, placing his forehead against hers as his piercing blue eyes bore down into her hazels.

She stared right back, warmth enveloping her gaze. If he had asked the question months ago, she would have turned him down flat out. Now, however, Lucas had managed to break her walls again – and she had become ready to let him back in. Her words strung joy in his heart as they met for a kiss.

"Stay forever."

Robert Lucas Scott was too wired from all the candy to sleep. He decided to tread downstairs for some milk.

At the midline of the staircase, he heard faint voices coming from the living room. He decided to sit down and hold his head close to the railings, for his concealment and better viewing access. Just then, slow music had begun to play.

"Would the lady care to dance?" A hand was held out, and smaller hand took it. The little boy had decided to move 2 steps down to see better, the image he saw next melted his heart.

It was his mom and dad... slow dancing in the dim light of the room.

He carried the scene all the way up into his room, the mission to drink milk before bed completely forgotten. For the first time in the little one's life, he felt like he was smiling the biggest smile he could manage. From turning another year, to having a great party, to seeing his parents get back together...

Today was nothing less than perfect.