Haley stared at Brooke as Peyton left. "What the hell was that? I thought you wanted them to be together, Brooke. What the hell is your problem?" she asked.
Brooke looked back down at her wine. "I don't know. I thought I wanted them together, too. I guess it just kind of shocked me that they're already getting married," she said softly.
Haley was still mad at Brooke about the scene she had made. "I just got Peyton over all of her doubts. If what you just said makes her give up Lucas again," she paused. "Well, you just better hope it doesn't. Get over whatever your problem is and go fix what you just did," she said.
Brooke looked up at Haley. "I guess when it was just talk about them getting together it was easier. Maybe I'm still hurting about high school. I know I shouldn't be, though," she said.
Haley wanted to be mad, but she couldn't anymore. Brooke was her best friend, too. "You have a great husband of your own, and two kids. You can't still be thinking about Lucas," she replied.
Brooke nodded resolutely. "You're right. I love my husband more than anything. And I know Peyton and Lucas are epic. I have to fix whatever mess I just made," she said and stood up to find Peyton.
When Peyton had entered the house she had found Nathan sitting alone in the kitchen. "What are you doing?" she asked him.
He shrugged. "I could ask you the same thing," he replied.
Peyton raised an eyebrow. Nathan sighed and motioned for Peyton to take the seat next to him. Peyton sat slowly, waiting for Nathan to speak again. "Are you sure you know what you're getting into with Lucas?" he asked.
Peyton laughed. "It's nice that you care and you're trying to protect me, but I know what I'm doing. I've waited too long for this. You're brother's always been the one for me. Now I'm doing something about that," she said.
Nathan sighed and looked at Peyton. He could tell she was happier than she'd been in a long time. "Okay, Peyton, just be careful," he said with a smile.
Brooke came into the kitchen then. "Peyton, I need to talk to you," she said. Nathan took that as his cue and headed out to the back porch to find his wife. Brooke took his now unoccupied seat. "I'm sorry," she said.
Peyton sat stiffly. Brooke sighed and tried to word what she was thinking. "I guess maybe I'm just jealous of you and Luke. I mean, you've always had that epic romance. I know that he does make you happy, though, Peyton, and I'll try to be a better friend," she said.
Peyton smiled. "You have your own epic romance with Ethan, Brooke. Yours just involved a lot less drama. Trust me, you're better off without it," she said, gently nudging her friend's shoulder.
Brooke smiled back at Peyton and hugged her best friend. "I'm glad you're happy, P.Sawyer. Or should I say P.Scott," she said as she pulled away.
Peyton's grin widened, but then quickly faded. "Oh, gosh, I'm getting married. I don't even want to think about wedding plans until Lucas can walk again. What if something happens, Brooke? What if he gets in another accident, or he dies, or something?" she asked, her fears flooding back. She had to know Brooke's reaction to these questions.
Brooke shook her head and groaned. "He's still here, isn't he, Peyt? I mean, if fate or destiny or God or whatever wanted to take him away from you, he'd be gone, wouldn't he? Obviously he was in that accident to shake you up enough to realize your true feelings," she answered.
Peyton thought about that. She decided that would be how she thought of it. Any time she started to have doubts she would remind herself of that. "Thanks, B," she said. "I have one more person I need to see, though," she said, standing.
Brooke looked at her questioningly. "Who else could you possibly have to tell?" she asked.
"My Mom," Peyton answered simply, heading outside for her car.
At the cemetery she sat, staring at Anna's name carved into the cement. "Well, your daughter will not die alone now," she said, laughing nervously. "I mean, I thought I'd find somebody eventually, but I never imagined that it'd be Lucas. After he left I thought he'd be gone. Out of my life forever," she paused.
As Peyton thought of all she'd been through she smiled. "It's been a long, hard road, but somewhere in my heart I'd always known that we were destined to be together. It took far too long, but now here we are," she said.
Peyton cleared her throat. "I've missed you so much. I miss you every day," the tears were welling up in her eyes. "I wish you were here to see my daughter and see my wedding. I wish Dad was here to give me away on my wedding day," she paused again, the words catching in her throat. "I know that you're with him though, where ever you are. You're watching me. You and Dad and Ellie, you're all together up there, watching. That's what helps me get through," she said.
"Well, that and Layton. You sent her to me, didn't you, Mom? I needed someone and you sent me my baby girl. I'm so glad you did. She's almost exactly like I was, hard-headed and stubborn, but she's a smart kid. She'll make it, I'm sure," Peyton trailed off as she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye.
She smiled as she saw who was also at the cemetery. "That's my sign that everything will be okay, isn't it?" she asked as she stood. "I love you Mom, and I always will," she added before walking to the other person who was there.
Lucas was sitting at Keith's grave. He had made his mother drive him here and leave him. "Well, Keith, I may have made some mistakes in my life, but things are finally going right. I may have been in the accident, but at least Peyton came back to me because of it," he paused.
Lucas didn't notice Peyton come up behind him. "I'm sorry I haven't come by in fourteen years, I've been a bit of an idiot. I know I shouldn't be asking anything of you, but do you think you can send me some kind of sign that things will be okay? I love Peyton more than anything, but I could use some kind of sign," he waited for a moment.
Peyton chose this moment to speak up. "Hey, you," she said. He turned to look at her and smiled. There was his sign. He struggled to get up and she helped him. "Need a ride home?" she asked.
Instead of answering he pulled her in for a kiss. He never wanted to stop kissing her. Peyton lost herself in his kisses. There was the sign they both had been waiting for.
A/N: There's some more Leyton goodness. I really like writing this fic and I'm sad because there will only be a few more chapters. Reviews are always appreciated.
Disclaimer: I don't, in any way, own any part of One Tree Hill.
