A/N: I live in Baltimore, MD, so I am east coast, USA, so you have a rough idea when midnight is for me. And no note today, because I know you are all waiting for Bellas party, so enjoy!

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Chapter 24 Happy Birthday Bella!

Tree Hill, North Carolina. Home Sweet Home. If he were a kid, he didn't know if he'd be bouncing up and down in his seat with anticipation, or sucking his thumb curled up in the backseat in nervousness for what was to come. He had a feeling the anticipation won out over the nervousness, because regardless of what was about to happen, he had the advantage of being physically present now, and ready to deal with whatever came his way.

He got out of the sedan service that dropped him off in front of the Benington Hills Country Club, located about 30 minutes outside of Tree Hill, where Brooke was hosting Bella's birthday party at one of their clubhouses. Thank goodness for Carolina weather- the kids were still able to enjoy the outdoors without concern, though the bite in the air said that wouldn't be the case for long. A little late to the gathering, he had missed the magician and balloon man, but was just in time for the pony rides and face painting it seemed, as he made his way through the throngs of kids that had been invited to the shindig. He spotted Haley through the glass windows, setting up something on the tables inside.

"Oh thank God! Someone I know," Lucas said, as he made his way through the doors to where it turned out Haley was organizing the gift table.

Startled, Haley dropped the bag she was holding and her hand flew to her throat. "Lucas! You scared me! Man, I hope that wasn't fragile." She said as she turned around and first gave him a hug, before reaching to pick the gift off the floor.

"Sorry about that. I was just relieved to recognize someone. Who are all these people, and where are the people I know?" He said, placing his gift bag with the rest of the items on the table.

"Well, most of them are Jamie and Wills' friends and siblings from school, some are from the country club where Brooke, believe it or not, is a member, and a few are her buyer's kids." Haley said, running through the list of people Brooke told her when she asked the same question.

"And the people I know?" Lucas queried.

"Probably at the mini carnival that's set up inside, for the parents who wanted to keep their kids indoors in case the weather got bad, which thank god, it hasn't."

They were interrupted by the sound of laughter coming from the double doors across the room, unnoticed by Lucas until he caught sight of the blond curls that were making their way through them. The ends of his mouth quirked up to form a grin, quickly falling when he took note of the dark haired man she was pressed against, patting his chest with one hand, her other arm locked through his as she stared up at him, eyes sparkling.

"…I thought that little kid was a goner for sure when he told you that anybody could have knocked down 3 measly bowling pins after you missed them. Haley, what are you doing in here, knitting her…" Peytons voice trailed off as she took her eyes from David and looked over to Haley, noticing she was not alone. "…gift? Hey Lucas, you're back!" she said smiling, acknowledging Lucas' presence.

She looked at David, putting her hand on his chest once more and saying something indistinguishable to him before letting go and making her way to Lucas. "No wonder Haley took so long dropping off David's gift. Probably snooping too, I bet."

At Haley's blush, Peyton waggled her finger. "Just can't wait like the rest of us, huh?"

Finally reaching Lucas, she pulled him into a friendly hug. "Glad to see you made it back safely. Wills will be happy to see you. Did you know your mom is here with her crew? They're at the carnival too. We're on our way back there, so I can show you the way."

Lucas stomach dropped at the ease with which she greeted him. After a month of fighting for her, and two of those weeks spent out of town, he had resigned himself to the distance she would place between him. But in his dreams over the month this was exactly how he imagined this scenario, and he looked forward to the joy her embrace would bring him. The reality however was very different, for her friendliness and warm greeting had the opposite effect, and it was thanks to the dark haired man that stood watching her, smiling; a man that was only present in his nightmares. His presence here, at a 'family' gathering, coupled with her willingness to initiate contact with him, Lucas, when before he left she did everything in her power not to, indicated to him that she had finally moved on from loving him. She had finally let him go.

A coldness crept over him, and the voices seemed to move further and further away as Peyton remembered her guest standing there and casually introduced him to Lucas. Lucas felt like he were watching himself, surprised at how well he played the game, shaking David's hand and saying nice to meet you; nodding with interest as Peyton quickly ran down his lists of accomplishments. He was on autopilot, responding to Haley, who noticed something was off, by saying he had jetlag.

He followed behind as Peyton dragged David back to the carnival room, watching Peyton as she laughed and teased the new man about the beating he was going to get in the ring toss; he noticed and offered a wan smile to Haley who was glancing back at him in concern.

Nothing was breaking through the fog he was under at the thought that it was truly over; not running into his mother, who offered him looks of sympathy after she followed his gaze to where Peyton stood with David; not hugging his sister, who let him know how much she missed living with him on their boat; not Wills and Jamie, who at the sight of him, dropped the lemon sticks they were dueling with to be the first to hug him, wrapping their arms around his neck and patting him with their sticky fingers. He hugged them back and made his way to Brooke and Bella, who were getting a caricature drawn of them, Bella sitting prettily in Brooke's lap as if she knew she was being immortalized.

He went through the motions, finally saying his perfunctory hellos to everyone and making his way back outside to sit on the steps of the country club, watching the parents who were taking pictures and smiling at their offspring who were enjoying themselves on top of the Shetland ponies. He didn't even notice when Haley sat next to him, placing her hand on his back and rubbing gently.

"This is just a step back. Doesn't mean you are out of the game," she said soothingly. Inside though, she was worried herself.

Brooke had been no help this week, since Peyton had given no indication to either Brooke or Haley her reaction to the existence of the Peyton box, or any decisions she had made about Lucas. However, the continued dating of David after the disastrous first date had them worried.

When Brooke asked her why she would go out with him a second time if she weren't attracted, she simply said, "You guys keep telling me to give out second chances to Lucas, who has made plenty of mistakes. Why shouldn't I give one to David, whose only fault was that he's not Lucas? Besides, that was your type of date, Brooke, with the fancy dinner and dressing up. Maybe we'll have better chemistry if we do something that's more up my alley."

So when David came through with concert tickets to Jack's Mannequin, there was nothing left to say. And even though David came 'with Ethan' to the birthday party, it didn't escape anyone's notice that they had been inseparable since he'd arrived.

"I know that here," Lucas said, pointing to his head, "I just need a moment to know that here." He said, pointing to his heart.

"Just remember, she had to cope with that feeling for months, and you were engaged. You just have to get through today, and she's just been dating this fellow for a week. She hasn't even introduced him to Will as anything other than 'Mr. Ethan's friend,' so you've got time to fight back."

"You're right," Lucas said heavily. "I just…need a moment."

In response, Haley patted his back once more before going in search of her offspring. Moments later, Wills came running by, only to halt and run back when he caught sight of Lucas.

"Uncle Luke! Just the man I was looking for." Wills said, making Lucas chuckle weakly at his choice of words. "Uncle Nathan is going to help Jamie ride the ponies, and I wanted you to help me. Will you?"

"Of course I will." Standing up, Lucas offered his hand, which Wills took eagerly. Shaking off his malaise, he forced some excitement into his voice. "Maybe we can beat them there!"

Peyton and David were walking with Brooke, Bella, and Ethan towards the glass doors to go out to where the ponies were stationed, to give Bella another go at riding one.

Peyton smiled as she watched through the windows Wills and Lucas first walking, then running towards the ponies, Lucas scooping Wills up and putting him under his arm like a football, as Nathan had done the same to Jamie, coming from the other direction.

She cheered as Wills and Lucas beat Nathan and Jamie by a step, then burst into hysterical laughter as the two began to dance happily, only to complain loudly when Nathan and Jamie got in front of them in line while they were concentrating on their victory dance.

"It's so great your son has such a close bond with his uncle." David commented as he watched with Peyton.

She smiled at David. "Yes it is." She said, eyes glowing as she looked at the man and the boy together. "Yes it is."

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The day wound down, from William performing his rendition of 'Happy Birthday' on the stage to his cousin, to cutting the cake, to opening the presents, including a pink and purple sled from Uncle Lucas for the coming winter months, something he picked up on his book tour in Montana.

A very satisfied Bella was lying her head drowsily on Peyton's shoulder, cozily wrapped under a blanket in the cooling dusk as Brooke was saying goodbye to Ethan and thanking him for coming to the party. Peyton was sure that wasn't all they were doing, but she was happy for her friend. Ethan was a great guy, and since she had gotten to know him over the week when he came to dinner at Brooke's house, or when she stopped by the store and he was there, she whole heartedly approved of her friend's new love interest.

She had already said goodbye to David, accepting his kiss on her cheek before he went to wait for Ethan in the car; she probably should have told him those two would be awhile.

She looked up in the twilight as Haley walked by and sat next to her on the steps where she cradled Bella, waiting for Brooke. They sat in silence, watching as their boys wrestled with their uncle and father, peals of laughter and shrieks echoing through the night, the edge of overtiredness punctuating their childish voices.

"Looks like someone had a good birthday." Haley said quietly, looking at the sleepy baby. Bella snuggled against Peyton and succumbed to sleep, secure in her godmother's arms.

"She's not the only one who enjoyed it," Peyton said, smiling as she smoothed back Bella's hair and kissed her forehead, swaying gently to rock her. She looked back out at the boys, now punchdrunk on sleepiness and excitement, ganging up to tackle Lucas, who pretended to crash to the ground, Nathan 'coming to his rescue.'

"You looked like you were having fun yourself." Haley nudged Peyton with her body, smiling.

"You can stop digging, Hales, David's just a friend." Peyton said, still looking at the boys.

Haley visibly relaxed, grateful Peyton was not looking at her.

"That doesn't mean you can run to Lucas and tell him he still has a chance because David's not serious." Peyton said seriously, still not looking at Haley.

Haley started, then stared at Peyton's profile. "How… how did you?"

"How did I know you've been helping Lucas out the entire time?" Peyton finally turned and looked at Haley.

"Hales, you've been Luke's best friend since before you could walk probably. And I know the boy's not psychic, so it had to be you telling him where to 'run into' me all the time, and what my favorite flower and candy was. Just like I know everything you've given me, every secret about him you've shared with me has been in his best interest."

She smiled. "And I know it's been in my best interest too. But that still doesn't mean you can keep a secret worth a damn, Mrs. Haley James Scott. Which is why when I ask you if seeing me with David made Lucas jealous, you're going to tell me…"

"It broke his little heart." Haley gushed out. "If he could've cried without 50 million people seeing him, he would've."

"Really?" Peyton asked.

"No, but it was close." Haley admitted. "I don't think he realized until that moment just what you went through when he was with Lindsay."

"Good." Peyton said, rocking Bella as she shifted. The women fell silent as Bella smacked her lips, then settled again in slumber.

"Haley," Peyton said softly, thoughtfully. "Can you promise me if I give him another chance it'll work out this time? That I won't end up with my heart broken?"

Haley looked down thoughtfully, before turning back to Peyton. "I wish I could guarantee this will all end in 'happily ever after.' But life has no guarantees. What I can tell you is it's worth the risk. I can tell you that we will all be there for you through this. And I can tell you that if this doesn't work out, I will have lost a best friend, because I told him I would kill him if he hurt you again."

Peyton chuckled at the last part; Haley spoke again. "But I guess then my question to you is, how will you know it's worked itself out? What does your 'happily ever after' look like to you? Knowing what your goal is is the only way you'll know you've reached it."

Peyton looked out at the blond haired man flying the blond haired boy around in circles. "My goal's never changed; my 'ever after' has always been the same as his I guess."

Gathering her courage, and setting her heart free to feel the emotions that had been boiling beneath the surface since Lucas began her quest, Peyton finally spoke the desire that had never fully left her heart.

"I guess I'll know it's worked out…when Peyton Sawyer becomes Peyton Scott."

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Come on, tell me. How many of you were worried about David. You can be honest, I won't hold it against you- heck, I wrote it that way!

Sorry, Julian cant come back. I like Ethan and its my story. Plus, Julian only works with a secure Leyton, and we don't have that here, so sorry Brulian fans. But be honest, all you Brulianers out there. Before Julian came in the picture, weren't you rooting for Brooke to hook up with Ethan during the Angie arc (whats your first name Dr Copeland? ;))?