Disclaimer: I own no parts of One Tree Hill or any of the music mentioned below.
"Peyton come here." Peyton stands motionless as Lucas walks toward her. He tries to embrace her. She puts her hands up to stop him but he doesn't. She starts to pound him in his chest.
"Luke, no, stop you can't—"
She is sobbing as she buries her head in his chest. Lucas doesn't let go as her knees buckle. She gives in and sobs talking in circles the whole time. She finally starts to make sense and the last thing you hear her say is…
"I miss him."
This breaks his heart but he knows he has to stay strong for her, "I know you are not alone. We will do everything in our power to help you thru this."
They all think that they need a break so they decide to stay at Tric for awhile. Peyton is sitting at the bar having different conversations with total strangers. They ask about the dog tags also about her mother and different aspects of the industry. Lucas is sitting at the other end of the bar, he never takes his eyes off her. Not for a second. Nathan walks up to him.
"Hey bro I hope you weren't mad about what happened back there."
Lucas shakes his head, "No, I am glad that she let someone be there for her, even if it isn't me."
"Do you know what she was talking about?" He asks concern lacing in his words.
He nods, "Yea, lately with everything that has been happening to her, she is becoming—"
"You"
Lucas rolls his eyes, "What do you mean?"
"Look, she has been putting on a brave face for a very long time but I think you are starting to rub off on her."
"I still have no idea what you are talking about?" He says more confused then before.
"Look dude, you have a tendency to be very insecure about who you are with and why you are with them. It's like everything you could ever want is staring in the face but you have to find a way to mess it up, case in point, the whole thing in L.A. and the whole being jealous of Jake."
"Whatever man look all I know is she keeps bringing up the whole thunderstorm thing."
Nathan rolls his eyes, "Well, you HAVE to admit when you were with Brooke you did things that you have never done with Peyton."
"Like"
"Uh "I am the guy for you Brooke Davis" all the letters you wrote to her. She took you thru hell and back but you still stood by her. And not to mention by the way that whenever you had a problem you always seemed to run to Peyton. You have issues man and now she is realizing the difference in your actions." Nathan says listing them on his fingers.
"I mean what is it that you want me to say? I can't change the past I can't change my actions it is what it is but I am with her, married to her, have kids with her not Brooke so I don't see what the problem is."
Haley walks up as they are talking. "The point is, Peyton is very sensitive even if she won't admit it. She needs to know for a fact, beyond a doubt that—"
"God she knows that, what you want me to do." Lucas walks away and as he throws his hands up. This catches Peyton's attention so she excuses herself and goes in search of her husband. She finally finds him out back sitting on the steps. She steps out and stands there and looks out at the parking lot. She looks over to see Lucas rocking back and forth.
"Is this seat taken?" She says softly.
Lucas shrugs, "Hey you can do what you want."
"What's going on in that head of yours?" She says looking back out to the parking lot.
"Tell me something, and I need you to be totally honest with me when I ask you this."
"Okay I will try. What is it?" Luke turns and faces her, looks deep into her eyes and speaks clearly.
"You know I love you right."
Peyton nods and begins to drop her head because she knows what he is going to ask her next. "Peyton I need you to look at me. This is important."
Peyton puts her hair behind her ear but her bangs are still in front of her face. Lucas brushes it back. He strokes her curly hair. He hadn't noticed how long it had gotten. It is past her shoulders and he looks at her hair as if he was studying it. Their eyes finally lock.
"What is it about my and Brooke's relationship, a relationship that happened YEARS ago? I mean I am with you, the first time me and Brooke were together I wanted to be with you but you turned me down."
Peyton got teary eyed, "I—It's just that when I saw you too together, no, the things you went thru to be with her, you played her non exclusive game, you wrote her letters, letters that had substance, letters that—"
"Peyton I wrote a book about you, why do you compare our relationship to that?"
Peyton looked away from him, "I don't know you just seemed happier with her, you seemed like—"
Peyton rises and walks down the stairs. This is a conversation that she doesn't want to have because she is fearful of the outcome of it.
Lucas calls after her, "PEYTON!! I can't keep doing this. We have to talk about this or we will never get past it."
"Luke I—am scared of how this conversation might end, I am—"
"Peyton stop!! What happened to the girl who was so confident and secure with us? The girl who knew, even when I was being an ass that we where going to be alright."
Peyton shrugged, "Everyone has their limits Luke. I love you, with all I have but I can't do this by myself."
"What? What are you saying?"
Peyton shakes her head, "I need you to be present in this marriage. I need you, I don't need anything else just you. I need—"
"I am standing right here!!" He shouts and she turns and walks toward him.
"You may be standing there but I want to be in here, and in here." Peyton puts her hand to his chest and then takes his head in her hands. Lucas can't do anything but stand there.
Peyton sighs as tears pour from her eyes, "I don't know what else to say. I NEED YOU, NOW, NOT TOMORROW OR THE DAY AFTER THAT. I NEED YOU TO HELP ME GET THRU THIS, ALL OF IT." She shouts flailing her arms in the air.
She pauses, "You know who was with me, dealing with the death of my mother? Me, I can't do that anymore. I don't want to be in the dark alone. Help me get to the light." She says softly.
Lucas has tears in his eyes, "What do you need me to do?"
Peyton smiles through tears, "This—"Peyton takes his hands and wraps them around her. She buries her head in his neck. "This is all I need okay?"
Lucas nods into her head, "Alright, I guess I thought I had to say—"
Peyton cuts him off, "No don't just be with me and that is how I will know. I need you to show me with your actions. I mean a few little sayings and notes don't hurt either but I need your actions to speak louder than your words."
Lucas smiles, "Well you were great out there. I was amazed at your talent Peyton, really. I know I don't tell you that but you have to know that I am amazed at the person you are."
They stand there holding one another for what seemed like forever. Tears streamed down Peyton's face and Lucas fought as hard as he could before the tears came out.
Six months have passed, it's summer time and it has been pretty uneventful in Tree Hill. Whitey is getting closer and closer to the gang and their kids. Karen and Andy have gotten married and are on their honeymoon. Lily is staying with Lucas and Peyton while they are gone. Leyton is getting better. Peyton is still dealing with the loss of Derek and Chris is about to drop a bombshell and Brooke's fashion show is right around the corner.
Naley House. Keith, Davis, Lily and Jenny all come running in with a tired Peyton dragging behind.
"Looks like you need this more than me." Nathan says handing Peyton a mug full of coffee.
"Hey guys how about you go and play in the back with Jimmy and give Peyton a break."
All the kids says, "Okay." They stampede to the back all laughing and holding hands.
"Thanks, I needed a breather. Hey, take a look at this and tell me what you think."
Nathan shrugs, "Okay, what am I looking—wait are you and Luke buying a new house?"
"I thought that I would just buy it. We need extra space. All the kids are crapped up in my—our little house."
Nathan nods, "Hey listen, don't just go and buy it okay? Talk to Luke about it, I am sure he will be fine about it."
"I don't know Nate, he will try to talk me out of it, say that I am just buying stuff to deal with—you know."
"Are you?"
Peyton doesn't hesitate, "NO trust me. There are a number of other things that I could buy, not a house—a home. We have talked about this before and I just thought that maybe this is the best way to do it."
"What way? By not talking to your husband? Come on dude, seriously?"
Peyton throws her hands up, "What, I see no problem with that."
Lucas walks in on the conversation. "Problem with what?"
"Buying this house"
Lucas chuckles, "What, what house"
"This one" Nathan hands Luke a piece of paper.
Lucas sighs, "Peyton you cant buy this house."
Peyton turns to face him, "Why not?"
Lucas smirks, "Because, I already did. That is what I have been doing for the past week, finalizing everything."
Peyton runs into his arms and he collapses onto the couch. She starts to pound him on the chest. Nathan sits back and just watches and laughs. Haley and Brooke walk in as Peyton is pounding on him.
"Whoa what did we miss?" Brooke says.
"Peyton, ouch, I—oh—thought—"
"Oh shut up!!" Peyton grabs his face and kisses him passionately and then hits him one last time.
"I can't believe you." She says laughing.
"Well believe it." He kisses her with more passion.
Haley interrupts their love fest, "Uh okay let me first say ewe and second can you guys help us with the groceries?"
"Yea I have to lay Alison down."
Peyton hops off Lucas and he helps with the bags as Peyton waits for Brooke to come back.
Brooke smirks, "So you ready for this?"
"You bet!! I have some sketches, wait, let me go get them." Peyton runs out to the car, passing glances at Luke while she is out there.
"God you would think you just got married last year." Nathan groans out.
"Good I like it that way. We are finally happy, I just hope that nothing comes by and derails us."
Just then Chris Keller comes driving into the driveway.
"Do you have great timing or what?" Nathan teases.
