Chapter 26: Preparation
Peyton wakes up and rolls over to lay on her husband's chest only to find that he wasn't there. She sighs as she sits up and looks around the room. The room was empty and she felt a little twinge of sadness. She gets up and quickly gets dressed. She then makes her way down the stairs and into the dining room. Sitting at the table were Karen, Gwen and Avery. Avery smiles when she sees her mother and Peyton walks into the room.
"Did you get enough sleep, dear?" Karen asks "Lucas said you've been really working hard the last few weeks and haven't had much sleep"
"I did. Thank you" Peyton says "I didn't realize how late it is. I should have gotten up a while ago"
"Oh, no dear" Gwen says "You sleep as long as you want while you're here. We'll help with Avery and you just relax"
Peyton smiles at them.
"Are you hungry?" Karen asks "We're just about to eat. The guys went golfing at 8 this morning"
"I am hungry actually" Peyton says sitting down next to Avery's chair
"We're having waffles" Gwen says with a smile
"Sounds wonderful" Peyton replies looking at Avery "What time did she get up?"
"Lucas brought her down with him" Karen says "He's gotten much better with her"
"Lucas is wonderful with her. I couldn't have found a better man to be her father or my husband"
Gwen and Karen both light up "Lucas couldn't have found a better women either" Gwen says with a huff "He's lucky to have you"
"We're lucky to have each other" Peyton answers
Karen and Gwen both nod "So do you have any ideas for decorating this year?" Karen asks
Peyton smiles "Yes, how about a peppermint twist theme"
"That sounds wonderful" Karen says "We're going to need to go shopping"
"Shopping!" Gwen says "How exciting"
"There is a Christmas wonderland shop in town. How about we go after breakfast?" Karen asks
"I'm game" Peyton says
Gwen looks at Peyton. She can tell something's wrong with her. "Peyton, are you ok, dear?"
"Yes, why?" Peyton asks
"Your eyes look sad" Gwen says taking a bite of her breakfast
"I'm fine" Peyton answers "Thank you for asking"
The three women eat breakfast chatting about what they're going to do while they're out. They finish breakfast and get ready to go.
"So should we head to the Christmas shop first or end up there?"
Peyton sighs "I think we should go there first and see what we find and then venture from there"
"I agree" Gwen says smiling
"I'll drive" Peyton says
"And I'll sit in the back with Avery" Gwen says smiling at the little girl
Peyton smiles at Gwen "I think she'll like that"
"Great" Karen says "I just need to get my purse"
"Me too" Peyton says
Both women walk away and get their purses. They return to the front door where Gwen is standing with Avery.
"We're ready" Gwen says smiling
"So are we" Karen says opening the front door
The women walks out and getting Lucas' car that he left for Peyton.
"So" Gwen says "How does it feel to be done with school?"
"Great" Peyton says "Now I have to start my company"
"You'll be great!" Karen says
"You know" Gwen says "Lucas makes plenty of money so really there's no need for you to work"
Peyton starts laughing "There is no way I can sit at home and allow Lucas to support me"
"Why not?" Gwen says "I'm sure there will be more babies and that will keep you busy enough for a while"
Peyton's face drops and Gwen notice.
"There will be more babies, right?"
Peyton takes a deep breath "That's the plan"
"Well good" Gwen says "I'm kind of surprised there isn't one on the way yet"
Peyton tenses and Karen notices.
"Is everything ok, dear?" She asks softly
"Yes, no, I don't know" Peyton says "Lucas was going to talk to Gwen about this before this happened"
"Before what happened?" Gwen asks
"You harassing me about another baby" Peyton says
"I'm doing no such thing!" Gwen says sharply "I was just asking if you and Lucas were going to have more children"
"With that underlying tone of yours" Peyton says softly
"I do not have an underlying tone" Gwen replies and crosses her arms not saying another word
Karen could sense something was wrong "Peyton, is something wrong?"
Tears start running down Peyton's face
"Honey" Karen says softly "Please don't cry. Whatever it is you can talk to us"
Peyton starts crying harder and pulls into the parking lot of the store. She parks the car and Karen turns to look at her.
"Peyton, honey, talk to us"
Gwen undoes her seatbelt and moves forward so they could all talk.
"Peyton Scott, what on earth is going on?" Gwen says snapping a little
Peyton wipes her tears "We've been trying" she says in a tearful voice
"Ok" Gwen says
"I can't get pregnant" Peyton says crying uncontrollably now
Karen looks at Gwen.
"What do you mean?" Gwen asks "You had Avery"
"I know" Peyton says "We've been trying almost since the day we got home last year. I'm doing fertility treatments right now." She says taking off her seatbelt and pulling down her jeans to reveal her hip
"Peyton" Karen gasps "What in the world?"
"I have to inject myself twice a day with hormones. The morning hormones come in two separate vials but the evening ones are just one shot"
"Sweetheart" Gwen says with tears in her eyes "Why didn't you guys tell us?"
"Because Lucas and I know how important it is to you to have a Scott and we didn't want to disappoint you"
Gwen looks at her in surprise "What in the world are you talking about?" she asks harshly "We have a Scott grandchild. She sitting right here" she adds looking at Avery
Peyton cries a little more "I just feel like I need to give Lucas a child of his own"
"Avery is his child!" Karen snaps "Don't you ever feel like Lucas would love Avery any less then he'd love a child you two had together. Avery is both of your child and no one loves her any less or would love another child anymore and don't you forget that!"
Peyton smiles softly "I just feel…"
"Don't you feel anyway about it!" Gwen says "And if my grandson is pressuring you to have a baby and making you hurt yourself like that then I'm going to kick his ass!"
Peyton smiles "I'm pressuring myself. I just want to give Lucas his baby"
"He has a beautiful daughter and if you two don't have any more children he is still going to be as happy as he is right now" Karen says
Peyton wipes her face "that's what he says"
"And you don't believe him?" Gwen asks
"I just don't want him to despise me one day"
"Lucas isn't like that" Gwen says "If he says he's ok with it he's ok with it"
"You can adopt too" Karen says
"I know, I know" Peyton says "We've talked about our options. If the fertility treatments don't work we're going to try invitro-fertilization"
"Well maybe if you stop worrying about what everyone is thinking and wants and just relax and let what's supposed to happen happen maybe just maybe you'll get pregnant" Gwen says smiling
"That's true" Karen says "Stress is not a great ingredient for making a baby"
Peyton laughs "Karen"
"what?"
"That was out of character for you"
Karen smiles "Just let nature take it's course and everything will be fine" Karen says
Peyton takes a deep breath "Thank you" she says
Gwen looks at her "And you listen here missy!" she says sharply "Don't you ever keep things to yourself again. You are a member of this family and you can share things with us. We're here to help you and we care about you! This may be none of our business but didn't we make you feel better?"
Peyton shakes her head yes.
"Ok then" Gwen adds "Let's go shopping"
Peyton smiles "Sounds like a great idea"
"And then out to lunch" Karen says
The women walked around the store picking up everything that had anything to do with the peppermint twist theme. They picked up ornaments, candles, tablecloths, garland, ribbon, metal trees that were painted like candy canes and so much more. They talked about Avery and the things they'd like to do with her. Gwen was even on her best behavior and didn't pressure Peyton about anything. Once the women were done shopping they went to lunch and then went home. Lucas and Keith were sitting in the family room. Lucas was on his computer and Keith was reading.
"We're home" Gwen says smiling
"How'd it go?" Keith asks putting down his paper
"Really well" Peyton says walking in carrying Avery and going over to sit next to Lucas.
"That's good" Lucas says leaning over and kissing her
"We bought a ton of things" Karen adds sitting on the arm of Keith's chair. Keith reaches up and grabs her hand.
"You didn't bring in any bags" Lucas says
"That's what you're for" Gwen says
"Oh" Lucas replies looking at his grandmother "I'll bring them in later"
"We need then now!" Gwen says
"I think it can wait a bit" Peyton says softly
Lucas looks at Peyton. She looks like she's tired "Are you ok?" he asks softly
"Yeah" Peyton says but Lucas could tell she wasn't
"Avery looks like she's ready for a nap" Lucas says looking at the little girl sucking her thumb on her mother's lap
"She is" Peyton answers "She was almost asleep on in the car"
"Why don't we take her up and lay her down?"
"I can take her" Gwen says "I was going to go lay down anyway. We had a long day"
"We sure did" Karen says "I'm a little tired myself"
Keith smiled at her "Maybe you need a nap"
"I haven't taken a nap…"
"Since yesterday" Gwen said interrupting "In that chair when you thought we were all somewhere else"
"Well if you're going to go take a nap" Keith says looking at Karen "So am I. We haven't taken a nap together in a long time"
Lucas smiles at his parents. He loved how sweet they were together and he hoped that he and Peyton would be the same way.
"Well Peyton and I can tend to the dinner menu if you'd all like to go and rest" Lucas says
"Sounds great" Karen says "And I'll take Avery. Gwen you always get to take her" she says walking over to take Avery from Peyton "Unless you'd like to dear"
"No, go right ahead" Peyton says kissing Avery on the forehead "Night baby"
Avery smiles at her mother "Nighty" she says clinging to her grandmother
Karen, Keith, and Gwen head out of the family room and up the stairs. Lucas looks at Peyton.
"Would you like a drink?"
"No" Peyton says sighing "I should go talk to Cook about dinner"
"Don't worry about dinner" Lucas says "She'll find us when she's ready or we'll go talk to her in a few minutes. I know you well enough to know that something is wrong with you. Did something happen with my grandmother and mother today?"
"I told them about our problem"
Lucas looks at Peyton confused "We have a problem?" he says in a worried tone
Peyton looks at him like he was from Mars "Um, yes" she says
"Ok" Lucas says nervous now "Why didn't you talk to me about it first?"
"Lucas, are you insane?" Peyton snaps
"No" he says "I don't know what you're talking about"
"The fact that we can't have a baby!" Peyton yells and starts crying
"Oh Peyt" Lucas says softly wrapping her in a hug "Honey, that's not a problem. Any way it's not a problem to me. You have to stop doing this to yourself. We're having trouble, yes, but lots of people have trouble conceiving. We're young and we have plenty of time."
"I just feel guilty"
"For what?"
"Because I had a baby with Jake and I can't have a baby with you"
"Peyton, stop it!" Lucas says "Avery is our daughter and it doesn't matter if we have anymore children." Lucas could tell Peyton was torturing herself and he didn't like it. It wasn't worth it. He sighs "I think we should stop all of this for a while. I don't like seeing you like this. It's too hard on you and I think we need to just take it easy for a while. I don't care if we have anymore children or not. You and Avery are the world to me. Who needs more than the world?"
Peyton is crying and she doesn't know what's wrong with her. "I just feel like I'm letting you down. I want to give you a child"
Lucas hugs her tighter "You already have"
"But Jake"
"Don't worry about Jake. We'll take care of him when we get home. Right now I just want you to relax and enjoy the time in Tree Hill. It's the holidays. Worry about what you're going to wear to the Christmas Party not the rest of this stuff. Whatever is meant to be will be. I love you so much and I'm happy just the way we are. We don't need any more children but if we have more children then that will be a blessing but I will not be unhappy if we don't!"
"I love you" Peyton says
"I love you too honey" Lucas says kissing her forehead softly "Now, tell me what happened with my grandmother today?"
"Nothing really" Peyton says "She was so kind about the whole situation. I just feel like a failure"
"You're not!" Lucas says "And you need to stop thinking that right now!"
Peyton just shakes her head
"Ok, enough's enough! Tonight we're going out! You're going to put on a fancy dress and high heels and put your hair up all sexy and I'm taking you to the country club and we'll have dinner, drinks, and dance all night. Then we'll come home and make passionate love like married couples should do. We're not going to worry about your hormone level or your cycle day or any of the shit we've been worrying about. We're just going to be us tonight"
Peyton smiles "That sounds wonderful but I didn't pack any dresses."
"Then come on" Lucas says standing up "We'll go buy one right now"
"Lucas" Peyton says shocked
"No, seriously, get up. We're going shopping"
Peyton smiles at her husband "I love you so much"
"I love you too" Lucas replies "I love you more than anything in this world and I'd do anything to make you happy. Now let's go!"
"Ok" Peyton says wiping her face and getting up grabbing Lucas' hand walking towards the door "Want!" she says
"What?"
"Avery"
"There are three adults in this house that will fight over her." Lucas says "Don't worry about her. Let's go!"
Peyton just smiles and walks out of the house holding her husband's hand. She needed this. It was the first time she's really smiled and it felt good. She didn't feel stressed. She felt happy to be with her husband. She knew this trip was going to be just what she needed to get her spark back. She sighs and grabs Lucas' hand and kisses it as he drives out of the driveway and heads towards the mall. She loved him so much she couldn't believe how lucky she was to have him.