Chapter 25…
Everyone is standing in the dining room looking at Lucas.
He looks at Peyton "What?"
She gives him a dirty look "You better go and fix this" she says "It was your idea to let her think we weren't coming"
"I know" Lucas says "But I didn't think she'd get that upset"
"Lucas" Karen says looking at him "Are you serious? You and the girls are her life"
Lucas sighs "I know" he says and turns and walks out of the room
"I'm sorry about this" Peyton says "Lucas thought it would teach Gwen something"
"I don't understand those two" Karen says shaking her head "They're probably going to kill each other"
"Probably" Peyton replies
Lucas sighs as he walks across the yard to sit next to his grandmother on the swing. He looks at her and smiles. "You still mad at me?" He says softly
"Why would you do that to me?" Gwen says looking at him
"You were giving Peyton a hard time about coming down here"
"I was just trying to make plans" Gwen says
"No, you weren't you were harassing her" Lucas says "I just figured that Peyton would want to spend some of the holiday with her family. We have to take turns with both families"
"So you're leaving before Christmas?" Gwen says with sadness in her voice
Lucas smiles "No and you can thank Peyton for that"
"Why what did she do?"
"She arranged it so her family and friends are coming here for Christmas so we could spend the whole time with you"
"I knew I liked that girl!" Gwen replied "But if she did that then why did you tell me you weren't coming"
"Because I didn't know all of this when I talked to you and then you harassed Peyton after we talked so I decided to let you think we weren't coming"
"Jackass!" Gwen says smacking his arm "If you ever do that again I'm leaving all my money to Peyton with the condition that she throws you out on your ass to live on the streets of New York!"
Lucas starts laughing.
"What's so funny?" She snaps at him
"Grandmother, do you really think Peyton will throw me out for your money?"
"Who knows! If she was smart she would"
Lucas hugs his grandmother "Truce"
"For now!"
"Good" Lucas says "Now let's go have some of that wonderful turkey!"
Lucas and his grandmother walk back into the house and into the dining room. Gwen looks at Peyton who stands up and walks over to the elderly woman and hugs her tight "Hi Gwen" She says "Happy Thanksgiving"
"Peyton, I'm so sorry for harassing you on the phone and for the way I behaved when you got here"
"It's forgotten" Peyton says
"Good" Gwen says "Now let's eat"
Everyone one starts passing food around the table filling their plates. Gwen looks at Peyton "So I noticed that my great granddaughter still doesn't have our last name" She says while taking a bit of her roll.
Peyton sigh and Lucas looks at his grandmother "Do you love her any less if she doesn't have our last name?"
"No, but Peyton is a Scott so shouldn't Avery be a Scott too?"
"I really don't see how that's any of your concern, Grandmother" Lucas says "I thought you were going to stay out of our business"
"Yeah right" Keith says laughing while Avery plays with his tie
Peyton sighs "Lucas, enough" she states "Gwen it takes a long time to change her name. First, Lucas has to adopt her then we can change her name"
"Well he is adopting her isn't he?" Karen asks which surprises them all
Lucas looks at her with surprise in his eyes "We just got here and you're full of questions!" he snaps "Can't we just eat"
Gwen knew by the tone of his voice something was up and she wasn't going to let it rest. "Lucas, it's been almost a year and you still haven't started the adoption process! That's not like you. What's going on?"
Peyton sighs "It's Avery's father, Jake." She says
Everyone looks at her and Gwen speaks up "Well what about him?"
"He has to sign away his rights" Peyton says
"So have him do it" Gwen says
"It's not that easy" Lucas continues
"Why not?" Keith asks "He hasn't seen her in almost two years"
Peyton sighs "He's fighting us"
"Why in the hell would he fight you on this?"
"He doesn't want anything to do with her but he doesn't know if he wants to legally give up his rights to her" Peyton says looking at Lucas
"That's ridiculous!" Gwen says "You have money pay him off!"
"Grandmother" Lucas says looking at her "I'm not going to pay him for Avery"
"Why the hell not?" She snaps at him
"Because that's not right" Lucas continues "He needs to make sure he wants to do it. We can't force him"
"Well give me his number!" Gwen says "I'll make a little call and pay him off myself! Avery should be a Scott!"
"I agree" Peyton says "And I plan to make that happen"
That statement satisfied Gwen for the time being.
"So we need to take Avery to get her picture with Santa" she says eating her dinner
"Yes, we do" Peyton says "But I thought we'd wait for my mom to join us this year"
"That's a great idea" Karen says
The rest of the meal was spent sharing polite chit chat and enjoying a great meal. Once everyone was finished they headed into the family room for coffee and night caps. Avery was running around playing and hugging everyone. She brought so much joy to everyone.
"So Peyton" Karen says smiling "Are you going to help me plan our Christmas party this year?"
Peyton smiles "I'd love too"
"Great" Karen replies smiling
"Can you also give her so pointers on decorating the house" Gwen says "She's done the same thing for years and I think it's time to spice it up"
Karen looks at her offend
"What?" Gwen says "A young hip look might be good for this place"
"Fine" Karen says "Peyton, will you help me spice up this place a little too?"
"I'd be happy to help in any way you'd like" she answers
"Great" Karen says smiling "It's nice to have family here again"
"It sure is" Gwen says smiling looking at Avery
Avery lay on Keith's lap, sucking her thumb and rubbing her eyes. He smiles at her "It looks like someone's tired"
Peyton smiles "She's had a long day" she says "I should take her up and get her ready for bed"
"Her room is all ready for her." Karen says "I had Ann Marie put an extra blanket on her crib so she'll stay warm"
"I think for tonight we're going to put her in our room" Lucas says standing up "She needs a little time to readjust here and we don't want to scare her"
Gwen smiles at her grandson "I think she'll be fine, Lucas. She's used to staying here"
"She's been really clingy at daycare when I drop her off and when I go and see her at lunch she cries when leave" Lucas adds "She'll be happier with us"
Gwen sighs "Whatever you think"
Peyton stands up followed by Lucas. "I think Luke is right. She's been a little clingy so we'll set her up in our room tonight but thank you so much for having her room ready. We'll be moving her in there within a couple of days"
Lucas smiles at Peyton and walks over to pick up Avery "I think I'm going to turn in myself. I'm pretty tired after our trip today"
"Me too" Peyton says yawning
"Ok, good night kids" Keith says "Lucas, golf tomorrow?"
"Sounds wonderful dad" Lucas replies "Then Peyton and I are going to take Avery to cut down a tree for the family room"
Karen looks at them "You're going to cut down the tree yourself?"
"Yes" Lucas says smiling "See you all in the morning"
Lucas, carrying Avery, with Peyton on his arm, head out of the room and upstairs to their bedroom. Peyton collapses on the bed and Lucas sits down next to her with Avery on his lap.
"What's the matter?" He asks looking at her
"I didn't think we'd get into the name thing our first night here"
Lucas looks at Peyton and sighs "You know Grandma only mentioned it because she loves Avery so much and wants her to be a legal family member"
Peyton sighs too "I know. It's just been a stressful process and it just made me tense"
"At least it's out of the way now"
"True but now she'll be moving on to another baby" Peyton says with sadness in her voice
"I'll talk to her alone. We can't control what's going on with that" Lucas says kissing her softly on her forehead "It's not from lack of trying"
Peyton just sighs and looks at Avery "Come on baby girl. Let's get you ready for bed"
"Honey, why don't you go take a hot bath and I'll get Avery ready for bed tonight"
"That sounds like a great idea"
Peyton gets up and walks into the bathroom. She undresses to reveal a bruised covered hip. Lucas opens the door and sees her looking in the mirror at the bruises. He walks over and wraps his arms around her.
"My body looks hideous"
"No, baby you're beautiful" Lucas says running his hand over her hip again "This is just temporary and we can stop whenever you want"
"Not until I'm pregnant, Luke" Peyton says sighing. She knew that Lucas loved Avery and she was his daughter but she also knew how much it meant to him for them to have a baby as well.
"If it doesn't happen it doesn't happen." Lucas says kissing her softly on the lips
Peyton takes a needle out of her bag sitting on counter she hands it to Lucas "Will you please do it tonight?"
He just takes the needle and injects into his wife as she cringes at the pain. He pulls it out quickly and kisses the injection site.
"It's all worth it" she says "I promise" she adds running her hand along his face "Is Avery down?"
"Yes" Lucas answers
"Then how about you join me in that massive tub of yours?"
Lucas smiles at her "Sounds like a great idea to me"
Lucas kisses Peyton's hip one more time and then the couple sink into the bathtub for really what will probably be their last relaxing moment of their trip.