Reviews

Divine Lustre – "a teaspoon of cute with a heaping tablespoon of sexy" – ha I so loved that!

Leyte – Glad you liked the fluff!

Guest – Nothing like a tiny memory slip in to bright up the day!

jordana60 – It's actually her second memory! Don't forget that Peyton had that dream about their first date as well.

Chilarie – Welcome back! I'm so happy to hear you've enjoyed the last couple of chapters. Your support has been amazing!

Tpassions – In this chapter we'll catch up a little with Nate and Haley, but Brooke's shower won't be for a while.

0o – SAWYERSCOTT – o0 – Thanks for reading. Welcome to the story!

thibbs65 – The 20 questions bit was my favorite part about that chapter. It's fun getting to write playful Leyton again. Glad you liked it!

secondstarontheright – As always thanks girl! You rock! xoxo

DeTurge – Thanks!

Destiana. Caldin – Glad you loved it! Thank you so much for all your constant support.

simplyaprillyn – You're the best! I don't know how many times I have to tell you that, but it's true, lol.

Chapter 37: Unmet Expectations

Tree Hill, North Carolina – February 2015

Her head is shaking at him in disapproval. "Again? Really Nathan? You promised him!"

"What do you want me to do huh? Refuse? This is my job. If they need us back a day early then I have to go." Nathan defended.

Haley crosses her arms over her chest. She's just about had enough of this shit. Originally Nathan wasn't due back in Charlotte until tomorrow night, but a phone call from his agent this morning had quickly spoiled that and now he was expected to be back in town by tonight. "You do realize that you were the one who signed your son up for this basketball league and you have yet to make it to any of his games! What the hell am I supposed to tell him? Jamie's gonna be crushed."

Nathan sighed rubbing his temple. "I've already talked to him. He understands." He already felt like crap for having to bail on his son yet again, he really didn't need Haley rubbing it in.

"He's nine Nathan. He doesn't understand as well as you think he does. He's probably just putting on a brave face for you."

"I already promised to make it up to him. I'll be there for the next one."

Haley released a snort. "You say that every damn time."

Nathan sighed. "I know, I'm sorry okay? It's not like I do this on purpose, but you know how tight my schedule is during the season. I don't have any say in the matter and you know that." He defended. "This isn't something new."

"Yea but we have two kids now and they're growing up fast. You're missing out on things Nathan and they're not dumb. They do notice these things."

"So what you just want me to up and quit then?" He harshly accused.

Haley's mouth quickly clamped shut. If her mother had taught her anything it was if you had nothing nice to say it was best not say anything at all.

Nathan's eyes narrowed down at her. "Well?" He waited demanding an answer.

Haley's shoulders dropped and she blew out a breath before speaking again. "Of course not." She spoke softly and sounded rather defeated. "But I'm getting tired of this Nathan and you don't seem to be offering up any reasonable solutions other than for us to just grin and bear it."

"Okay that's not fucking true. I've been pushing for you and kids to move to the city fulltime for the past two years and you've flat out refused."

"Because I don't want to uproot them from everything and everyone they know!"

Nathan rolled his eyes. "Uproot them? It's three hours away Hales and they've been there hundreds of times. It wouldn't be that hard of an adjustment."

"Maybe not so much for Liddy, but what about Jamie? All his friends are here."

"He'll make new friends and we'll still keep the house here and come back all the time. Plus he'll get to see me play all the time and hang out with all the players and their kids."

"Oh great we're bribing him with basketball now. Awesome." Haley sarcastically muttered.

"You know Hales I don't see you offering up any bright ideas." Nathan pointed out. "At least I'm trying here."

"Okay and then what about next season? Are we gonna end up moving again in a few months?" Even if they moved to Charlotte to be with Nathan full time for what was left of the season, chances were Nathan wouldn't be playing with the Bobcats come the fall. Although nothing official yet had been offered, there were a few teams that had been sending out feelers and they were all scattered across the country.

Nathan groaned. "Nothing's been set in stone yet Haley and you know I would never make a final decision without you and the kids. I could always stay in Charlotte. I like playing with the Bobcats."

Haley sent her husband a highly skeptical look. "You're gonna give up Los Angeles, or Chicago, or Miami?" And those were only a couple on a long list of teams that had shown interest in Nathan this year.

Nathan's mouth silently flapped open a couple times.

"Yea I didn't think so." Haley turned away from him and began cleaning the kitchen countertop.

Nathan stepped closer to her. "Haley. C'mon don't be like this." He pleaded.

The brunette quickly dismissed him as she eyed the duffel bag by his feet. "You should get going or else you'll hit traffic soon."

"You really want to leave things like this?" He sure didn't.

Haley shrugged. "Wouldn't be the first time."

"Baby c'mon, I'm trying here." He reached out touching her shoulder.

She finally looked up in his direction. "Just go Nathan. We clearly aren't gonna be able to resolve anything right at this moment and I'm just really not in the mood to get into the same argument again. I'm fucking sick of it and I have better things to do right now like for example taking care of our two kids."

His hand immediately dropped from her shoulder.

"Oh and I don't?! Did you seriously just go there?" Nathan growled out. He completely understood where his wife's frustration was coming from, but that last comment was uncalled for. Nathan prided himself in being a good father and though he wasn't perfect, he was a hell of lot better at parenting than Dan Scott, that's for sure.

Haley was about to reply, but a rather loud and awkward cough interrupted her thoughts.

"Um…guys?"

Both Haley and Nathan turned over to see Lucas and Peyton with joint hands standing there in their kitchen.

Haley 's eyes had immediately widened with embarrassment, while Nathan scowled in the couple's direction at their bad timing. On the other hand their sudden appearance had probably just saved them from getting into another huge fight.

"How long have you two been standing there?" Nathan questioned.

The blonde couple quickly looked at each other. "Not long." "Just got here." They both blurted out at the same time unconvincingly after turning their heads back to face Nathan and Haley.

"The door was open." Peyton soon added.

Nathan sighed in frustration and shook his head. "I've gotta head out anyway." He relented no longer wanting to deal with any of this right now.

Lucas frowned. "Go? I thought you weren't leaving until tomorrow." Peyton discreetly stepped hard on his foot causing the blond to wince in pain.

"Change of plans." Nathan muttered as he bent down to grab his bag and slid it over his shoulder. He turned back towards Haley. "I'll call you when I get there." He leaned over to deliver a goodbye kiss, but Haley strategically ducked her head into a kitchen cabinet pretending to look for something, his face nearly slamming into the cabinet door – not that Haley seemed to be all that concerned anyway.

Both Lucas and Peyton awkwardly pretended that they hadn't witnessed the whole thing.

Nathan sighed and backed away. "I'll call you later." He grumbled at Haley. "See you guys." He added as he passed his brother and sister-in-law. "Oh and by the way Dan's dying." He announced over his shoulder in a deadpanned tone before making his exit.

Lucas' jaw dropped in confusion. "Dan's dying? Did I just hear that right?"

"Allegedly." Haley spat out as she furiously continued to wipe down the counter. "He cornered Nathan at the river court yesterday and apparently his heart is no good. If he doesn't get a transplant soon he'll die.

"And we actually believe him?" Lucas spoke out incredulously.

Peyton's face paled. "Because of the HCM thing?"

Haley nodded. "We don't know if he's telling the truth or if this is just some ploy to get back in our lives."

"Lucas." The blonde called his name in worry and proceeded to squeeze his hand.

"Sounds like a desperate attempt to me." Lucas concluded. He squeezed Peyton's hand back reassuringly. 'My heart's fine.' He mouthed her way.

Peyton gave a sad smile. She wasn't exactly convinced.

"Well with Dan you never really know." Haley spoke annoyed.

"I think the counter's clean Hales." Peyton joked as she observed how the brunette became fixated with a spot on the counter. She was rubbing at it so hard she was going to burn a giant hole right through it.

Haley halted her cleaning and sighed. She looked up at the couple. "Not that I don't love it when you two drop by for a visit, but why are you guys here? Now's just not a really good time." She was upset at herself for leaving things so unsettled with Nathan. The thickness of their tension still lingered in the air, weighing her down.

Peyton sent her friend a sympathetic look. "You okay Haley?"

Haley quickly nodded. "I'm fine, really."

"We're here for the kids remember?" Lucas spoke up and answered her question.

Haley's face lit up in recognition. "Shit. That's right. I'm sorry it completely slipped my mind." Between dealing with the stress of Dan's release and the ongoing tension between her and Nathan, she had forgotten that Lucas and Peyton were taking the kids away for the day. They were going to some fair in Wilmington. "Damn I'm sorry, I know I was supposed to have them dressed and ready to go. I'll go do that right now! Just give me like twenty minutes okay?"

"I can do that!" Peyton quickly volunteered. It looked like Haley really needed her best friend right now and this would give them a chance to chat alone.

"Oh you don't have too…"

Peyton interrupted. "Nonsense I'd be happy to." She turned over to Lucas giving him a quick peck on the lips before leaving. "I'll go find them."

"Thanks…" Haley softly spoke as she watched Peyton head upstairs to fetch the kids.

"So…" Lucas began as he joined Haley and sat at one of the kitchen stools alongside her. "Wanna tell me what all that was back there with Nate?"

Haley's shoulders slumped. "Not really."

"Well too bad cuz you're gonna tell me anyway."

"It's nothing really." She shook her head like it was no big deal.

"Hales I'm not blind. It seemed kind of serious."

Haley blew out a breath. "Nathan's been in the NBA since he turned 21 and I get that the lifestyle is stressful, unpredictable, and fast-paced. I've always known that and it never really bothered me all that much before. I've always been willingly to make those small sacrifices for Nate and his dream. But now it's seven years later and I'm just…tired, and it isn't just about me anymore. The kids are getting older, especially Jamie and I just want Nathan to be home more. I hate all the stuff he misses out on. Skyping with the kids only go so far."

"You guys will work it out."

"This isn't a new fight Luke. It's been ongoing for some time now and this time next year we might not even still be here."

"Huh?"

She sighed. "Word on the street is that there are going to be a lot of offers for Nathan pretty soon since his contract with the Bobcats is almost up, and as happy and proud as I am for my husband, I'm not exactly thrilled about the possibility of moving across the country and starting over."

"Hey since when is the Haley James I know afraid of a challenge? I mean as much as I would miss you guys, this could be a really fun and cool adventure." Lucas offered. "It might even make your marriage stronger taking on a new place together."

"And if it isn't?"

"I see…" Lucas nodded. He understood now what the real problem was. "It's not the moving part that's really bothering you is it Hales? I think you're more afraid that the move might make things worse between you two."

"Of course I am!" Haley blurted out. "I mean we're fighting so much now Lucas, more than ever. If we can't get along here at home, how is moving somewhere else gonna fix things? What if it makes it worse? I can't lose my husband Luke."

"You are not gonna lose Nathan. I bet my life on that. You're the only woman he has ever loved and you're the mother of his children."

"I've been nagging him a lot lately." Haley admitted.

Lucas grinned. "So what? I'm sure my idiot brother deserves it most of the time anyway." He playfully nudged her shoulder with his.

Haley chuckled.

"It's gonna be okay Haley. I know my brother and as much as Nathan loves the game, he loves you and the kids more, and he would never jeopardize that. Whatever decisions you guys make together it will be the right ones. You two will figure it out. I'm not saying it'll be easy, but you'll get it right. I'm sure of it."

"Thank you Lucas." Haley said starting to feel a little better. She needed to hear that. She really did and having it come from her best friend just made it all that much sweeter.

"Always." Lucas responded before pausing. "How come you never mentioned before that you and Nate were having problems?"

Haley shrugged. "You've got so much stuff going on with Peyton. I didn't wanna be a bother."

"Hey." Lucas looped an arm around her shoulders. "You Haley James Scott are my best friend and I could never be too busy for you. Hell I don't know what I would have done without you these past few months. Every time I called you freaking out about Peyton you were always there to set me straight."

"Damn straight." Haley teased.

"I don't want you to feel like you can't ever come to me, okay? I know I've been kind of wrapped up in Peyton lately, but I will always make time for you. You come to me whenever you need me. Deal?" He playfully held out his pinky finger at Haley.

Haley smiled. "Deal." She replied as she linked her pinky with his just like they used to do when they were kids. "Thanks Luke." She dropped her head over his left shoulder. He dropped a kiss over her head.

"You think Dan's really dying?" Lucas questioned.

"Honestly these days there's not much I am certain of. Guess we'll have to wait and see. He told Nathan he wants to get to know the kids."

Lucas released a snort. "Over my dead body."

"My thoughts exactly. Nathan told him to stay away."

"And if he really is dying? What then?" Lucas wondered. "Do you think Nate will still keep his distance?"

"I have no idea. Whatever Nathan wants I guess, but what do you want Lucas?"

Lucas paused before shaking his head. "From Dan? Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

"Here you go cutie." Peyton said as she reached out towards the backseat and handed Lydia the juice box she had requested. "What about you Jamie anything to drink?"

"Not right now, thanks Aunt Peyton."

She next turned to the driver's seat. "Luke?"

"I'll just have a few sips of your ice tea if that's okay." Lucas replied. She offered the bottle of ice tea to his lips and he quickly took a few sips as he continued to drive.

"Uncle Lucas will there be face painting at the fair?" Lydia questioned.

"Man I sure hope so." Lucas responded enthusiastically. "What would you get done on your face Liddy?"

"A butterfly!" The three year old squealed from her car seat. "One on each cheek!" She decisively added.

"Oh well maybe I'll get a big hairy spider on mine." Lucas teased.

Lydia stuck out her tongue cringing. "Gross! Not a spider Uncle Lucas. They're scary." She spoke with wide eyes.

"A slimy worm?" Lucas offered instead.

"Yuck!"

Peyton chuckled.

"Fly?"

Lydia made another unpleasant face. "I'll pick one for you." She decided instead before pausing to think. "You can get the very hungry caterpillar! I like him. That's what butterflies are before they turn into butterflies." The child proudly informed the other occupants in the car.

Lucas grinned. "Well that settles it I guess. What about Aunt Peyton? What should she get on her face?"

"Do you know what you want Aunt Peyton?" Lydia questioned.

"Well…in keeping with the bug theme how about a ladybug?"

"Ooh I want one too!" Lydia quickly agreed.

"We can get matching ones." Peyton offered and winked back at the little girl.

Lydia firmly nodded from her seat. "I'll get one butterfly and one ladybug!" She then turned to her older brother, who was sitting beside her in the backseat. "What will you get Jamie?"

Jamie shrugged not all that invested in the idea of getting his face painted. "Maybe the batman symbol."

"No it has to be a bug." Lydia reminded him. "Uncle Lucas, Aunt Peyton, and me, we're all getting painted bugs."

"I don't want a bug on my face."

"You can get a grasshopper." Lydia said completely ignoring her older brother. "It's green and that's your favorite color." She added sounding quite bossy.

Jamie rolled his eyes. "I don't want a stupid bug on my face Lydia."

"You HAVE to get a bug Jamie." Lydia insisted in a whine. "Uncle Lucas tell him! He has to! Jamie has to!"

"No."

"Uncle Lucas!"

"Okay you two settle down back there. I have no problem turning this car around and taking you back home. Peyton and I can enjoy the fair without you." Lucas informed them. "Let's all get along today alright?"

"But I wanna do face painting!"

"If there's face painting at the fair I promise Liddy that's the first thing we'll do. I promise, okay?"

"Jamie too."

Jamie sucked in his teeth. "You're not seriously making me put a grasshopper on my face are you Uncle Lucas?" He questioned his uncle in disbelief.

Lucas let out an exasperated sigh. "Jamie doesn't have to if he doesn't want to Liddy."

Lydia pouted without delay. "Well why not?"

"Because no one likes to be forced to do something they don't want to do, including you young lady."

The scowl on Lydia's face only deepened. Like many children that age she wasn't a fan of not getting her way. "That's stupid!"

"Hey we don't say that." Lucas scolded. "You know better than that and your mother would not be pleased."

"Jamie said it first!"

Jamie scoffed.

"Well how bout from now on no one says the word stupid, deal?" Peyton interjected noticing that Lucas' patience was starting to wear.

"Um hello you just said it." Jamie quipped and shortly after the entire car burst into laughs.

"Okay well from this moment on." Peyton teased through a chuckle. "Wise guy…" She playfully stuck her tongue out at Jamie.

"Aunt Peyton's funny." Lydia commented appearing to be in better mood now.

"Well little lady I think you owe your big brother an apology. You weren't being very nice before." Peyton told her.

Lydia blew out a breath, but obeyed nonetheless. "I'm sorry Jamie. You don't have to get a bug if you don't wanna."

"It's okay." Jamie replied. "Hey how about I get the Spiderman symbol instead? It's still a bug." He offered in a compromise.

Lydia grinned and quickly nodded. "Now all of us gots bugs!"

Lucas and Peyton both laughed.

"Hey hold on a minute so Jamie can get a spider but I can't?!" Lucas said rather dramatically.

"Well duh Spiderman's not scary Uncle Lucas." Lydia quickly pointed out.

"Gee well I'm sure glad that's settled." Lucas mocked.

Peyton's cell went off at that moment.

"Oh it's Brooke." Peyton announced as she took the call. "Hey B!"

"Hey P! Where you at? Are you running late? I'm already here."

Peyton frowned. "Huh?"

"I'm already at the baby boutique." Brooke repeated. "Are you almost here? You will not believe all the really cute baby crap I already want. I literally want everything in this store. You don't think Julian would mind if I get pink hats for the boys do you? They're so unbelievably adorbs."

'Shit.' Peyton mouthed to herself. She had completely forgotten about her plans to go shopping with Brooke. They had made them shortly after Brooke had moved back into town. "Oh my god don't hate me, but I completely forgot that was today. I thought we were doing that tomorrow. I honestly don't know where my head was at. I'm so sorry Brooke."

"It's fine really, just hop in your car and make your way over here now. I can wait."

Peyton cringed over the line. "Actually I can't." She replied. "Lucas and I kind of decided to go out of town today with the kids. We're checking out this fair."

An awkward pause.

"Oh."

"I am so sorry Brooke. It was an honest mistake. Have you been waiting long? I feel just terrible about this."

"No…not that long." The brunette lied trying her best to play off her feelings of disappointment. Julian was away this week for work and she had been looking forward to spending the day with her best friend. Since moving back the couple of times she had seen Peyton so far had been hanging out with everyone else and today was supposed to be just the two of them. The plan had been to meet up at this little children's boutique Brooke had been dying to check out and then afterwards they were going to have lunch to discuss what kind of baby shower Brooke wanted. "Don't worry about it."

"I'm so sorry. How about we try for tomorrow? I'm one hundred percent all yours tomorrow I promise."

Brooke sighed. "I can't. I have a bunch of client calls all day tomorrow remember? Today was the only day this week I could do."

"Crap." Peyton cringed once more as she vaguely recalled Brooke mentioning something like that when they had made these plans. "I'm so sorry Brooke."

"It's fine, just forget it okay? No big deal." Brooke brushed it off.

"Well I'll make it up to you soon I swear. Let's plan for another day? Maybe next week?"

Peyton could hear Brooke sigh into the phone. "Yea sure. That sounds good. I guess I can call Hales to see if she wants to grab lunch instead."

"That sounds like a great idea!" Peyton said quickly agreeing. "I'm pretty sure she's just hanging out at home today."

"Yea I'll give her a call then." Brooke decided, not wanting the entire day to be a complete waste.

"Oh and even better you can tell her all the details about the baby shower."

"Um…yea I guess I could do that." Brooke replied a bit thrown off by the request. Sure Haley was helping with the planning, but technically it was Peyton who was throwing the shower. "But um don't you think it's kind of important that we go over that stuff together? Just um so that you understand exactly what I would like…"

"Haley can just fill me in at work. She's done the whole baby shower thing before so I'm sure she'll have no trouble relaying what you want."

That really wasn't the point, but Brooke decided to let it go. "Fine." She simply answered, admittedly through gritted teeth. "I'll talk to you later, bye." She abruptly hung up.

Peyton frowned putting her phone away.

"What was that all about?" Lucas inquired noticing the frown.

"I kind of forgot I had plans with Brooke today and now I kind of stood her up."

"Everything alright?"

"Yea totally." Peyton replied putting on a smile. "I feel bad, but she totally gets it and besides I can catch up with Brooke anytime. This fair however is a ONCE in a life time opportunity that the four of us absolutely CANNOT miss." She teased earning a giggle out of Lydia. "I'll make it up to Brooke later." She told Lucas. Even if Brooke was really mad at her, Peyton knew Brooke well enough to know that it would eventually subside, especially if she showed up with lots of ice cream.

"Okay then." Lucas replied seemingly satisfied with her answer. Peyton didn't seem all that worried about it, so there was little reason for him to be either.

Tree Hill, North Carolina – June 2010

"Hey where are you? Aren't you back in town yet?" Peyton questioned as soon as his voice greeted her over the line.

"Yea I'm back from the airport already, just crossing into town." Lucas replied. "But Brooke just called with some crisis at the store, something about a burst pipe and it's too late now to get a plumber to come out so I'm gonna swing by there first on the way home."

"I still don't know why you wouldn't let me pick you up from the airport." She complained.

"It was faster to just grab a cab plus it's paid for by the publishing house so why the hell not right?"

"Sooo how did it go?" Peyton eagerly questioned. With the exception of a few exchanged texts she really hadn't had the chance to talk to him today.

Months ago Lucas had finally decided to send the book he had written to every publishing company out there. Most of them never bothered to get back in touch and the few that did sent big fat rejection letters his way. Not that he was naïve enough to expect that anyone would really be interested in this little book he had written anyway, but hey at least he tried. If the published author dream didn't happen Lucas was okay with that. He had a job he loved coaching the sport he loved, he was surrounded by good friends and family, and best of all he was living his life alongside the woman he loved more than life itself. He really had nothing to complain about. Life was good. Lucas Scott had everything he needed and honestly he didn't need anything else.

But as it turned out more good things were coming Lucas' way. A couple of weeks ago he was contacted by Lindsey Strauss, an editor who worked for a publishing company in New York City. She was interested in Lucas' book and wanted to set up a meeting and fly him out there.

"Babe I think it's really happening. After the meeting with Lindsey, her boss and some other people, everyone seems to be on board." Lucas replied excitedly. "They're gonna draw up the final terms of the book deal and that's pretty much it I guess. I should probably get some sort of agent to look it over."

"Lucas you're gonna be a published author! I am so proud of you. This is amazing. I knew you could do it."

"I still can't believe they actually liked the book."

"Of course they did! It's a beautifully written story and more importantly it's honest. It comes from the heart." Peyton told him.

"Thank you babe. Having your support really means a lot. "

"I love you."

"I love you too. I couldn't have done this without you."

"Yea pretty much." She teased. "Oh I baked a cake to celebrate!"

Lucas laughed. "You baked a cake?" He questioned in a warily tone. His girlfriend wasn't exactly a wiz in the kitchen. She was more likely to burn it down.

"Jerk." She replied picking up on the tone. "And Haley supervised." She begrudgingly revealed after a beat.

"There we go." He teased. "Oh damn I just realized I'm gonna need my tools. Can you bring my tool box to the store?"

"Sure."

"Make sure to come through the back. The store front is already locked up for the night. I just got here." Lucas instructed.

"Lucas?" Peyton calls out. She's already at Clothes Over Bros with his tool box in hand. She had stepped through the backdoor only to be greeted with utter darkness and complete silence. It didn't seem like anyone was here. Where were Brooke and Lucas?

"Luke? Brooke?"

Once again she hears nothing but silence.

The blonde maneuvers herself as best as she can through the dark. She ends up bumping into boxes and hangers of clothes a few times, but eventually Peyton makes it past the storage area and into the front of the store. The first thing she notices is him standing there waiting for her and the faint glow coming off the several candles placed and scattered about behind him. He's dressed up too and looks pretty incredible for someone who'd supposedly just gotten off a plane.

"Hi." She says rather timidly

"Hi." Lucas repeats while grinning over at her.

A nervous giggle escapes Peyton's mouth. "What's going on?" She sets the tool box by the register and starts to cautiously make her way towards Lucas.

It's then as she's walking towards him that Peyton notices how different that one corner of the store looks where Lucas continues to stand. The blonde feels like she's just stepped into some sort of time warp. The rest of the space is still Brooke's store, but that one corner by one of the front windows has been completely transformed. It looks exactly like it used to before. The decorations and the posters on the walls are exactly the same. There's a table and chairs set up by the window, the very same ones that used to be situated there not too long ago when this place had been Karen's Café. There are two long white candles sitting at the center of the table. And she also notices the vanilla milkshake and a BLT with a side of fries sitting on the table - her usual order at Karen's.

"Lucas what is all this?" She's standing directly in front of her boyfriend now, but he still hasn't offered any explanations. Not only does he look nice, but he smells pretty damn good too. He's wearing that one cologne of his that drives her absolutely crazy. It's her favorite.

She's so confused.

Lucas still acts like a cat has got his tongue, but then he's taking her hands into his, squeezing them tightly before looking up at Peyton with this intense look that automatically has a chill running down her spine. She watches him clear his throat and swallow hard. He suddenly looks nervous and hell now she is too because it begins to dawn on Peyton just exactly what this is. There was never a broken pipe to fix. It had all been a set up.

"Holy shit." Peyton mumbles lowly. The signs are pretty clear on where this is heading and now she's deeply regretting her decision to leave the house in an over-sized worn tee, sweats, and flip flops. Not to mention that her hair is a complete mess and she's not wearing a stitch of makeup.

A small laugh escapes Lucas' lips and it's exactly the confidence boost he needs to finally begin. "Peyton-"

"Yes!" The blonde blurts out immediately. "Yes." She feels the need to repeat her reply, you know just in case he hadn't heard her correctly the first time.

Lucas' mouth flaps open and he frowns. "I haven't even asked you yet." He scolded.

Peyton closes her eyes and releases a laugh. She's an anxious bag of nerves at this point and her stomach was currently doing somersaults. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." She nods her head at Lucas, silently begging him to continue.

He takes in a deep breath. "Exactly one year ago today you walked into this café and sat at this very table, at this very spot, and ordered this very same meal, and that simple action changed my entire life. By some chance you finally noticed me and I'm so grateful that you did, and I'm even more grateful to your car for breaking down that day because it brought us together."

They both cracked a smile at the last bit.

"That single moment triggered what became the best summer of my life. I met the one person that was meant for me and we fell in love. You're my entire world and I can't imagine my life without you, and I'd like to think that you feel the same way. So, Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer, I love you and I need to spend the rest of my life with you, will you marry me?"

By this point her vision was obstructed with tears. God she really did love this man and she really couldn't live without him either.

"Um this is the part where you can now say yes baby." Lucas encouraged. He was impatient to slip this ring on Peyton's finger and take her into his arms already.

"You remembered." She spoke softly. "I wasn't sure if you would." The cake she had baked today wasn't just in honor of his book deal, but also because they had met a year ago today. Okay so technically they knew each other from high school, but they had never really interacted much until last year.

"You'd really think I'd forget?" He teased, while his thumbs softly stroked the top of her knuckles. "So are you planning on answering my question anytime soon?"

Peyton laughed and jumped into his arms. "Yes Lucas, god yes." He immediately pressed their lips together. "I love you so much." She managed to mumble out while Lucas' lips eagerly consumed hers and her hands tightly clutched onto the back of his neck.

Lucas kissed her a few more times before pulling away to retrieve the small box in his pants' pocket containing her ring. He opened the box revealing the ring. "I hope it's okay."

"I love it." Peyton quickly replied. It was perfect. Everything about this moment was perfect.

"It's Keith's ring. The one he gave to my mom actually." He confessed.

"Well now I love it even more." It must have meant a great deal to Lucas and it made it all that more special for Peyton.

She offered her left hand and Lucas didn't hesitate slipping on the ring.

"Perfect." Peyton mused while sporting a giant grin as she admired her engagement ring.

They were engaged. She was marrying Lucas Scott and life couldn't get any better.

Wilmington, North Carolina – February 2015

Peyton was sitting on a bench across the street from a park watching Lucas and Jamie play basketball with some kids that had been playing when they first arrived. She has Lydia in her lap, who had tuckered out a while ago. The three year old had spent a good chunk of the fair perched on top of Lucas' shoulders once she got tired from walking around. Peyton hugged Lydia close to her body as she slept noticing how the face paint on her cheeks had already begun to smear.

"Hey." Lucas greeted as he approaches the bench leaving Jamie to finish the game with the other kids. He sits right beside her. "You need a break?" He questions ready to take his niece off her hands.

"I'm good." The blonde replies hugging the child even closer. It was weird, she had never really liked kids much, but it was different with Lydia. Jamie too. She couldn't help but gravitate towards them and she felt like she needed to protect them. Peyton assumed it was probably some form of lingering feelings from her lost memories that made her feel this way. "I love watching you with them." She confessed to him while her eyes lingered back over towards Jamie. "You're really great with them Luke and they're just so crazy about you." She had observed how the kids' eyes had lit up around Lucas pretty much all day.

Lucas smiled. "I think the same can be said for their Aunt Peyton."

"I'm not as good with them like you are. I don't even know them as well as you do." She argued.

"It doesn't matter. They love you all the same."

Peyton shrugged. "So how come we don't have any?" It was something she had been wondering about for some time now. "We've been together for several years and there are no kids in the picture. Do you not want any?" Hell she wasn't sure if she even wanted any rugrats of her own running around, but she was curious nonetheless. Most people who get married usually have kids together.

Lucas nodded his head. "I do want kids. I've always wanted to be a dad, but the timing was kind of never right for us to start having some. Work was kind of crazy for both of us early on in our marriage, and then your dad passed, and then you went back to school." He explained.

"So I did want kids?" She said a bit surprised. Even with Jake she had never pictured having kids, but then again she was still a teenager at the time.

"Yes. We were just waiting for the right time. This past summer we started talking about it more. We felt that it was time and we were finally ready. The plan was to start trying after you finished school this coming May once we moved back to Tree Hill."

Peyton's face dropped. "Oh." Start trying to have kids? As in a few months from now? "Lucas, I…" She began to stutter. The thought of being pregnant in a few short months was pretty terrifying. She was barely able to keep her own life together. There was no way in hell she was ready to be responsible for another life.

Lucas drops a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down. I'm not expecting anything Peyton. I wouldn't even dream of asking you for that right now. The only decisions that matter are the ones we make together now in the present. It doesn't matter now what our plans were back then."

"But you do still want kids someday right?" Would he still want her if she couldn't give him that?

"Of course I do." It was something he had desperately wanted for years now. He had been looking forward to this coming summer when they'd start trying, but that of course was no longer an option at the moment.

"And what if I don't?" She challenges him. "I mean I don't even know if I really like kids and not to mention I'd probably suck at the whole parenting part considering the limited time I had with my own parents." She was rambling now and it showed.

"You may feel that way now, but you'll want them. You will someday." He told her appearing unfazed by her words. This wasn't exactly a revelation to him. He remembered Peyton have the same exact doubts years prior, but eventually she came around on her own and wanted to start a family with him. He knew she just needed more time adjusting to their marriage and the future. He had no doubts they would get back there eventually. "I've seen you with these kids and you are going be an amazing mother Peyton, and I look forward to watching that happen and us parenting together someday. Just promise me that you won't completely rule out the possibility of us starting a family okay?"

Peyton swallows hard, but eventually gives Lucas a slow nod. "I promise." She supposed there was no harm in considering it.

Thank you guys for all the awesome reviews from the last chapter and please keep them coming! What were your thoughts on this one?

Until next time.