Peyton took a deep breathe as she looked around and couldn't help herself from smiling. As odd as it was to admit it everything so far was going perfect. Today was Lucas's twenty sixth birthday and he was actually enjoying it, or at least that is what he seemed like. Peyton watched as he and Hilarie played patty-cake on the couch and she looked around at her party guest. Nathan and Haley were there with the kids, along with Keith, Karen, Dan, and Deb. It was smile and quite and exactly what Lucas needed. Karen and Peyton caught eyes and Karen walked over to her.

"He is loving this." Karen smiled at her.

"Seems like it."

"Well he is definaltey a lot happier then his last birthday."

"Oh yeah?" Peyton laughed.

"It's because of you." Karen told her seriously.

"Karen.."

"I'm serious Peyton. I know we never had a chance to actually have a real conversation but I wanted to change that."

Before Peyton could say anything Karen leaned in and gave her a hug. "I'm so lucky that my son married such an angel, and I'm so happy to have you as my daughter in law."

Peyton hugged her back. "I'm happy to have you as my mother in law."

The two women laughed out loud and continued to chat, and Lucas looked up at them and smiled. He excused himself to go to the bathroom and locked the door and started breathing heavy.

"Okay Lucas." He told himself. "You're doing good. Party is almost over." HE looked at himself in the mirror. "She's not here. She's dead. Gone. Brooke is gone. You're family is here, they love you. It's your birthday." He took another deep breathe and put a smile on and walked out.

"Hey man you okay?" Nathan asked as his brother walked out.

"Yeah I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Nathan, I'm fine."

Nathan just nodded and started to walk away.

"Nathan wait."

"yeah?"

"Look, I'm..i'm sorry about our last conversation, I just.."

"Luke..it's cool." Nathan smiled and put his fist up and Lucas bumped it. The two smiled and joined the family in the kitchen.
"Guess what time it is?" Peyton smiled and kissed Lucas's cheek.

"What?"

"Cake."

Lucas sat down at the table and the family joined him.

"Do we get to sing happy birthday?" Jason yelled.

"Yeah!" Hilaire joined.

"Of course! What's birthday cake with out happy birthday!" Peyton smiled.

"We don't need a happy birthday, let's just eat cake." Lucas suggested.

"What? No way! This is our first time being married that we are celebrating your birthday! We are so doing happy birthday." Peyton told him.

"Peyton."

"Shush!" Haley smacked him with a giggle.

Lucas tried to laugh it off as his heart started to beat faster. Happy birthday meant candles, candles meant fire, fire meant memories to Brooke. He shook his head and took a deep breathe.

"Its fine Lucas. She's gone. Forget it. It's just cake." He told himself.

"Okay are you ready?" Peyton smiled.

She brought out a big cake with a picture of Lucas on it. There were twenty six candles on them and each one was lit. The fire was shining on each candle and Lucas was fighting it, fighting the memory.

"Okay everyone!"

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to you.."

Lucas kept blinking he kept thinking about happy times with his family and Peyton. He thought about anything else that wouldn't lead to Brooke.

"Happy birthday dear Lucas.."

Lucas blinked once more but when his eyes opened this time he was back at the house. Brooke was there. Her evil laugh was ringing in his ears..

"So you'd rather die then be with me? Well then so be it. I hope you don't mind burning to death. Good bye Lucas."

"NO! PLEASE!" He screamed causing everyone to stop singing and look at him. "NO! I DON'T WANT TO DIE PLEASE BROOKE NO! STOP THE FIRE STOP!"

"Lucas! Lucas stop!" Nathan was shaking him and the kids started to cry. "Mom take them in the other room."

Deb grabbed them while Keith and Nathan were trying to get him out of his trance. His eyes were wide open but it was as he couldn't see them

"Lucas!" Keith shook him. "Hey buddy look at me!"

"PLEASE! PLEASE LET ME GO I DON't WANT TO DIE!" he started to cry and was kicking and tryhing to squirm away from them.

"LUCAS!" Nathan screamed and Lucas blinked a few times and realzed where he was. He realized Brooke was gone. He was breathing so fast and his his heart was beating a mile a minute. Everyone was silent as they just looked at him.

"Lucas." Haley finally broke the silence.

"Let go of me." Lucas looked at Nathan and Keith.

"Lucas…" Keith started.

"I said let go of me." He said. His voice was so cold and they didn't know what else to do but obey his wishes. He got up and walked past everyone.

"Lucas." Peyton called out, he didn't stop. "Lucas stop! You need help! Please!"

He didn't stop, he just walked right to the door and walked out.

"Lucas!" She started walking right to the door.

"Peyton let him go." Dan spoke up.

"NO!" She walked right out the door and saw him walkign down the street. "Lucas!" He didn't stop. Peyton felt the angry tears starting to build up as she ran up to him. "Lucas, stop!"

"Let me go Peyton."

"Go where?" She yelled.

"Anywhere! Anywhere but here! I can't do this Peyton I'm sorry I tried okay! I can't do this!"

"Do what?" She cried.

"Be your Lucas anymore! Be their Lucas anymore. I just I can't. I'm not him anymore. If I could I would but I'm not Peyton. She took that away from me, I tried to get past it I did but everywhere I go I see her or I hear her and I just, I can't escape it!"

"Lucas.."

"It's just going to get worse." He told her.

"No! it's going to get better you can do this Lucas."

"Peyton no I can't! That's what you are going to have to accept. I love you but I just.."

"What? Go on say it." She yelled.

He looked down.

"Say it!" She hit him. "What you want to walk away? You want to leave? You don't want to be with me anymore? Say it."

"Peyton."

"Say it!" She hit him, he remained silent. "SAY IT!" She screamed as she hit him again harder and broke out in tears. She kept smacking and punching him before he finally grabbed her and held her against a tree.

"FINE YOU WANT ME TO SAY IT?" He yelled. "I cant be with you! We can't be together! I love you I do Peyton but i can't do this, I can't be a husband for you. I'll just dissapoint you! I cant I'm sorry I just I can't!! Peyton were done, I'm sorry."

"You don't love me anymore?" She asked him.

"Peyton.."

"No Lucas. If you want to leave me, if you don't want to be with me you tell me it's because you don't love me. None of that crap about you being a disappointment or how you can't be a husband or any of that shit! If you don't love me then say it, go on I can handle it." She sobbed.

He looked at her as the tears flowed down her face and he just wanted to hug her and kiss her. However every time he did she just saw Brooke. He loved Peyton. He loved her more then he loved anyone. She was the most important person in his life. That's exactly why he had to leave her, she as destined for greatness. He was to fucked up now. He was to screwed up , she shouldn't waste her life taking care of him. No, he wouldn't allow it. So he took a deep breathe and said one of the hardest things he ever said to anyone.

"I don't love you Peyton, I want a divorce."

With that he walked away and Peyton fell to the floor crying. He closed his eyes and when he was far enough from her he let his own tears of frustration, loss, and hatred fall freely.