Again, thank you, everyone, for commenting, and I'm sorry about the first part of the last chapter, haha, not really though ;)

So, this is the Thanksgiving chapter, and it's another one of my favorites, hope you enjoy it too :)

Please let me know what you think, I have a feeling that after reading this you will want to tell me what you're thinking anyways, lol.

BTW do you think Haley will ever get to use her plan or will Lucas and Peyton keep progressing on their own?

Anyway, I'll leave you with it.

This song is Chainsmokers (ft. Coldplay)... great song.

16. Something just like this

He told her to sleep on it, right?

He just never said for how long, and so, it seemed like both were still sleeping on it until… until something happens. Just what? Neither was sure.

They were civil though, a little formal, but civil for the next three days before Thanksgiving.

But, they avoided real conversation or spending time around one another alone, especially alone.

Lucas was fully aware that he was intentionally avoiding her, because after all, what has been running through his mind was utter craziness, just the possibility of it was crazy; there was no way Peyton Sawyer was the one.

But, then again, he couldn't get her out of his head, and that freaked him out, because she was never in there before, and now, out of the blue, she was all that was in there? Why?

He thought that with Lindsey being away he could make up his mind, but he couldn't have been more wrong, because even though he was now not spending time with either, taking a decision was harder… Lucas was basically trying to find reasons to go back to hating Peyton, or to want Lindsey more… and even though he was able to find numerous reasons, he still couldn't get her out of his mind.

He was taking a run that lasted longer than normal while trying to prepare himself for the day, all the avoidance will not work today, because Whitey has prepared Thanksgiving dinner for everyone at his house, and he had to spend the whole day with her and will even have to engage with her.

He just hoped his dear family wouldn't chant for another kiss, because then it would be deadly awkward.

When it became physically impossible for him to run any longer, he decided it was time to face it and go home. As soon as he entered the house, his nostrils were met by the smell that he grew to be familiar with ever since Peyton moved in his house, and he found his legs leading him to the kitchen where she was surely getting out pies from the oven.

He smiled, "Of course you're bringing your pie along." He said and she turned out to look at him placing the last one on the table.

"Yeah, everyone is bringing something, so, I thought we –I mean, I… um, make nothing better than this."

"Your steak is pretty good." He shrugged.

"Apparently not as good as Barlow's fries." She rolled her eyes.

He chuckled, "You realize I just wanted to keep having those dinners, right?" he said mentally being surprised at how easy it was to just talk to her again, and to give such a statement.

She frowned with a groan, "Haley warned me about that,"

"After all those years of fighting, you needed Haley to warn you?" he raised an impressed eyebrow.

"Well, sorry for giving you more credits than you deserve."

He shook his head with a smile, "It wasn't just to get the satisfaction of having you preparing dinner for me… it was… the whole thing you know…" he said and realized he was visiting a dangerous zone when she looked back at him stunned obviously not expecting this declaration, and to be honest neither was he, it was like his brain would stop giving orders to his body around her, or it would stop processing logically at all.

So, he decided to change the topic as his eyes lied on the table, "Are you taking three pies? Kiss-ass much?" he smirked.

"No, I'm taking just two." She told him with a slight glare, "This one… stays… here." She admitted awkwardly; in her head it sounded much smoother than that, however, as she said it aloud, she realized it was basically her telling him she made him a pie when they could barely hold two sentences to each other, and he obviously wasn't oblivious to this fact as he smiled picking up on the redness invading her face.

"Oh, that's… cool. Good, I missed it." He said and she looked at him and he sent her a wink.

Ugh, those winks!

"So…"

"So…"

They both started at the same time before she chuckled and shook her head gesturing for him to go on,

"I was… I'll just go take a shower."

That was obviously not what he was going to say, but, he changed his mind in the last moment instead of walking into a dangerous zone right now, he thought he better wait; it doesn't have to be now especially that they will still have to spend the whole day together, so, he can't just make it more awkward now.

"Yeah, sure."

And then he was gone.

Peyton breathed out a sigh when she was alone again; why does she feel this strong about him? What's so special about Lucas Scott? She asked herself that question a lot, and surprisingly she did come up with a few things that were special, so, yeah, she may no longer be annoyed by his presence like she used to be her whole life, but it's worse now, because instead, she likes his presence, she wants to cuddle and talk and she wants to kiss him.

Yeah, she slept on it many days, and she's not forgetting either of the kisses they shared… the thing is, he seems to have.

But, really can she blame him? Because another thing she didn't forget no matter how much she wanted to is that he still has a girlfriend.

Whitey has told everyone to come early and spend the day together as a family for once, and since he was almost everyone's boss, he knew there would be no getting out of it saying they have to work, and so, they were soon getting ready to go pretend to be the couple they actually want to be.

"Are you ready, yet?" Lucas called out as he got out of his room.

"Down here." She called and he followed her voice to the kitchen. She was covering her pies to go. And she was wearing a long-sleeve green dress that ended right above her knees with half-boots, it was big and she looked small in it making it even harder to resist just reaching out and get her out of it.

Which was so wrong to think about… yet, he was.

"Ready?" he asked and she gave him a weird look and looked at her outfit,

"Yeah," she said stating the obvious.

"It's gonna be cold at night." He told her as he proceeded forward to stand beside her. "Don't you wanna wear something warmer?"

She shrugged while continuing what she's doing, "I'm taking a shawl."

"Okay," so apparently, he is gonna have to learn to deal with this today. "Here, let me help," he said reaching out to help wrapping the pie at the same time she was doing so, and their fingers brushed before she quickly retrieved her hand letting him handle it. He cleared his throat ignoring the shiver her touch left him with, "So, what pie is this anyway?"

"Gingersnap pumpkin." She told him.

"Oh, God, can we just take them one, please?"

She laughed, "We have a whole one here. It's apple though."

"Even a better reason to take them just one, and leave two different ones here."

She smirked, "You've come a long way from resisting even the smell, Scott."

"Well," he said turning to face her with his had propped on the table making his shoulder pop up a little, "what can I say? It's irresistible." He said with a low throaty voice; see? His brain has stopped functioning and he's flirting, and the day is still young.

She didn't miss it though, however, she didn't know how to reply to that, so, she looked away, "Well, get over it, because we have to take both." She said turning to look at the table again, ready to take her pies so they could go.

She also didn't miss how he said 'we', and she just automatically said it too.

He turned to help, and once again, they reached for it at the same time causing their hands to brush, but, this time, having already set the mood and even though it left him with chills, he decided to do what they always do; teas… although in this case, adding some flirtation won't harm, "Now, I'm thinking you're doing it on purpose." He smirked.

"What?"

"Brushing your hands against mine, smooth, Sawyer." He said and his smirk became even bigger when her jaw dropped surely not expecting his boldness… and to be honest, he was afraid of having to spend this day with her, and he was afraid it would be awkward, and so, to go ahead and be this direct, this flirtatious, didn't even make sense to him.

But, it felt right. So right.

"And why would I do that?" She raised an eyebrow; seems like he has awakened the old lovable competitive Peyton.

"Simple." He shrugged, "Because you wanna kiss me."

Again, she was surprised by where this was all coming from; they literally spent the last few days being nothing but awkward because of guess what? Kissing! And now, suddenly he's so cool to even bring it up just like that…well, two can play,

"I wanna kiss you?" she raised her eyebrows playfully.

"Yup, sure."

"Well, seeing how you brought that up out of the blue," she said taking a step closer making their bodies touch, "I think you wanna kiss me." She said with a smile moving her face closer keeping eye contact, and when she saw him having harder time concentrating, she moved back again with a smirk.

Damn, she's good!

"That's not true."

"Oh, I think it is."

He smirked, "Wanna bet?"

"Bet?" she raised an eyebrow.

He smirked with a nod, "Yeah."

"And how is that supposed to go? I can keep denying forever like I know for sure you will."

"Easy!" He shrugged with a smirk, "Whoever caves in first…"

She raised her eyebrows in surprise but actually adrenaline just shot in her veins; this was such a dangerous game, and she loves dangerous, "You're being serious…"

"Deadly."

She shook her head, "You're crazy!"

"What? Scared you'll lose?" he smirked and she knew what he was doing, and it was working; he got her provoked, and really… isn't it a treat anyway?

"It's on, Scott."

He smiled offering her his hand to shake, "It's a bet," he said as she put her hand in his and he pulled her slightly towards him, "May the better one win." He whispered before letting go of her hand and regained her position.

"Good."

They didn't think it through, but, now that it's settled, they were both slowly realizing what they have walked themselves into, this meant a whole day full of teasing, seduction and playful glances, and in the end… giving that one of them caves… they kiss, whoever initiates it.

It was a competition and what are Lucas and Peyton good at if not competing against each other?

The question is, is the eventual kiss a reward or a punishment? In other words, do they want this to end? Do they want an eventual kiss?

With one final smirk, Lucas left with one pie and she took the other following him to his car. Once at Whitey's, he watched as she said hello to him and her father as they stood talking for a while and he smiled seeing that she has finally let him off the hook, although he had some preservations on the way Larry and Dan deal with things, he also knows that Larry really loves Peyton in the end and just wants her to be around now, he knew she succeeded in teaching him a lesson.

Then he watched her interacting with his mom, Keith, and Lily while Larry was talking to him, and he saw her sitting with them as Lily climbed her lap usually interrupting whatever they're talking about to make some comment that would cause them to laugh.

And he didn't know if she was already starting her game or not, but he was definitely thinking about kissing her whenever her laugh sounded.

Dan, Deb, Nathan, Haley, Jamie, and Brooke almost arrived at the same time, with Brooke growing up having her family away, she has been spending most of her holidays with them for as long as she can remember, wither it be the Scotts, or at Peyton's or even Haley's parents back in high school before they left, but, it was mainly, a Scott/Sawyer together, since their history of partnership goes back to the grandparents…

"Please, please, please, tell me you brought a pie." Brooke said loudly as soon as she spotted Peyton.

"Hello to you too," Peyton raised a teasing eyebrow.

"Yeah, yeah, hello, hi, happy Thanksgiving and everything, so…?"

"She brought two." Lucas answered and gave Peyton a playful blaming glare reminding her he wanted to keep one and she rolled her eyes.

"Yes."

"What is it about this pie I keep hearing about?" Deb inquired.

"I told you, grandma, it's the best pie ever." Jamie told her.

"And I told you to never call me grandma," she said picking him up in her arms attracting some laughs. "What? It's not my fault that my son married at a younger age than even I did." She protested getting another round of laughter.

"Interesting," Dan commented returning back to the pie topic and looked at Peyton next to him, "Judging by your cooking history, I find that hard to believe." He said teasingly.

She raised an eyebrow, "When I was fifteen?" she scoffed; it was an incident of the one and only time Dan has encountered Peyton cooking and she was attempting to make pasta when he saw her burning it.

Dan chuckled, "Well, we'll see how far you've gone, but, I'm not too optimistic, kiddo; how can someone burn pasta?" He smirked an all too familiar smirk, and Peyton wondered like she did so many times if Lucas gets his attitude from his father. It was no secret that Dan was a competitive person, and even though he might sound rude to some, but they have grown to know better than that, and realize that it's just how he is, he would go and challenge them just like that, and most of the time it provoked them to bring out their best just to beat him… she always wondered if that has been his purpose all along, and now, she knows it is.

"Oh, I'm sorry, but I already know it's great, I don't need your opinion." She smiled and he gave her an impressed look. "And, you can ask around, everyone loves it, even your son."

"Oh, no, I believe Nathan could eat burnt papers and swear it tastes good," he chuckled, "I don't trust his taste buds."

She smirked, "Who said anything about Nathan?" she watched as his face turned into one of surprise as he turned around to look at Lucas who has been secretly listening to the conversation and noticing for the first time that her relationship with his father almost imitated his with him, this challenging spirit was there, but he had this part of him that took it a little too personal since it was his father he's been trying to impress and prove himself in front of… lately though, not so much, since he has been taking more responsibilities at work, he was just trying to do what's best for the company, and not thinking about his father.

"What?" he asked not wanting to give it away that he was listening.

"Peyton, my dear daughter-in-law here is accusing you of liking… no, loving her pie?"

"Yeah," he nodded, "It's great."

Dan gave an impressed look looking between the two of them, "Wow, a man can live as much as I have and still get surprised of what he sees." He said with a headshake as he moved on leaving just the two of them alone.

Peyton looked at Lucas, "Was this for the bet?"

"Why? Do you wanna do it?" he smirked while they both took a step towards one another.

"Do what?" she asked pulling an innocent face.

"Kiss me, Sawyer."

"You wish, Scott." She said placing her hands on his upper arms and slid them down tenderly before giving him a smirk as she turned around.

Alright, it is really on now, and if she thinks she's good, he was determined to show her he's better.

For the next couple of hours, they kept exchanging smirks whenever their eyes met instead of the usual glares, she was talking to Brooke who had a bowl of berries in her hands, and when she noticed him looking she took one and put it in her mouth seductively only for her phone to ding seconds later, and when she opened it, she saw a text from him consisting of a single emoji; the smiling face licking lips. She smiled to herself and put her phone back and looked at Brooke who was apparently catching on something,

"Okay, what's going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"Between you and Lucas." She hissed. "Did you talk?" she raised an eyebrow and Peyton didn't know how to answer that, well, yes, they talked but then they kissed again, and they need to talk again, but instead they're playing a game of flirtation and seduction… to kiss again.

Yeah, that sounds pretty mature.

"Um… not really."

"What do you mean?"

"We… we still need to talk."

She raised an eyebrow, "You look pretty fine to me."

She shrugged, "We are. Who said we're not?" she said and popped another berry in her mouth.

"Stop stealing my berries."

"You're not even eating them," she squealed back and then Brooke dropped it picking up on her own childish fight with her best friend.

It wasn't the only text Peyton received from Lucas as they kept coming depending on the situation like when Lily was showing her, her last work of art and before running away she asked 'Where's my kiss?' as his sister giggled and planted one on her cheek, then he sent her the winking-kissing face emoji. She raised an eyebrow at him and he shrugged with a smirk.

Brooke, Haley and Nathan didn't miss that as they exchanged looks and walked over to each other, "Why did you need to make a plan again?" Nathan asked Haley.

She frowned, "Because last time I checked, they were being too stupid to admit anything."

"Peyton said they didn't talk, I guess." Brooke shrugged.

"Then, what's going on?" Haley asked as Brooke shrugged.

"They look like they're doing just fine on their own." Nathan said with a smirk.

Haley groaned, "Why don't they let me use the plan?"

"Hold on to it, buddy, I think we might need it yet." Brooke told her.

"Oh, relax, I, personally am enjoying just watching what happens… I just want them to move faster so I get my money from Keith."

"They're five bucks, Nathan."

He shrugged, "Still. A bet is a bet." He chuckled.

A little before dinner, Lucas was looking around wondering where she's gone, when he spotted her on the porch leaning on the wooden fence alone, he went to the kitchen where his mom was just preparing hot chocolate for whoever wants and he took two cups before looking around, smirking to himself and walked up behind her, he placed the cups on top of the fence before wrapping his arms around her from behind and placing a kiss to her temple,

"Whitey is watching, don't look back now." He told her before letting go and standing next to her, he offered her the cup which she took gladly. "Also, this helps my case." He smirked.

She laughed and shook her head, "You're just trying to save yourself, because you're losing."

"Me? Losing? No way!" he shook his head.

"Keeping those texts coming means that I'm winning."

"Oh, no, that's a tactic, honey. You'll see in the end." He said and she shrugged meaning 'we'll see'. "What are you doing out here anyway? Running from the temptation or thinking about me?" He smirked and she sent him a glare.

"Not everything in the world is about you, you know." She said and he gave her a smile and waited for the real answer. She shrugged, "I just… you know it's been too long since I spent a holiday with family…"

"Yeah…" he nodded urging her to go on.

"It's just, I didn't know how much I missed that until I had it again… I mean all those years, I kept busying myself, or just hanging out with friends, you know… but I missed this…" she said looking inside, "the warm cozy familiar gathering."

He gave her a genuine smile, "I can imagine…"

"It… it's even better than I remember."

"Oh, yeah, this year it's definitely better." He nodded taking a sip from the hot drink as he reached his hand leaning over the fence to hers tracing a finger over her soft skin, "You know, sometimes it got pretty dull… wither it was an aftermath of a family feud, or a work issue… or me not having someone to argue with." He said bringing a smile to her face, "Sometimes I wondered how your holidays were going over there, and sometimes I envied you for being away from this craziness."

"You wondered about me when I was away?" she asked with raised eyebrows and a smirk.

"Yeah," he shrugged now taking her hand in his playing with her fingers seeing that she didn't move away or question his actions, "You were the brave one who just packed and left." He told her, "We all wondered by the way," he said giving her a pointed look and she laughed. He looked inside again, "But, yeah, this year, it is different."

"Because you have someone to argue with?" she asked taking a small step closer.

"No, to have a kissing bet with." He smirked and she gave an impressed look, nodded, and took a sip of her drink as well. "Hey, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," she shrugged.

"Did you plan on staying for good when you came back? Or did you like come back just until a new opportunity presents itself?"

She thought for a second and shook her head, "I was tired of travelling. When I left, I didn't know I'd miss Tree Hill this much, but I did, I thought that there were already too much pain and bad memories, I thought leaving would be therapeutic… and yeah, it was, to an extent, in the end, I missed it here…" she said and he nodded and saw she still had things to say so he kept quiet and waited,

"You know, as beautiful of a journey it was, I didn't find what I was really looking for,"

"And what was that?"

"Well, I never admitted this out loud, but, I guess I was looking for a home?" she said it more like a question, "You know, that familiarity, the feeling that you belong, that you're just secure no matter what…"

"Yeah, I know what you mean," He nodded, it was close enough to what he's looking for after all, different names but the same feeling in the end.

"Yeah… I never found that, and I told myself it doesn't even exist, so, with Tree Hill being the closest thing to that, I decided to come back… settle down and maybe open a gallery."

"You wanted to open a gallery?"

"Yeah."

"Then why don't you?"

She gave him a playful glare, "You came along and ruined it."

He laughed, "Me? I literally just found you all the art supplies you need the other day."

She laughed along but gave him a look of adoration, "Well, yeah." She sighed, "I just got engulfed in the whole mission of saving the company, you know."

He nodded, "You can still make time, and if you ask me, I'd say to hell with the company, do what you want."

She gave him a smile then turned it into a smirk, "Tell you what, I'll do so when you start writing." She said and he gave her a smile as if busted, "No, really, I hear everyone talking about you being a writer, and I see your eyes light up when it's mentioned, what's holding you back?"

He looked at her and for a split second thought he'd just kiss her right then and there and then ask her to stay with him forever, but, then he looked down as her thumb caressed his hand on the fence encouragingly, "I… I don't know, I guess, the company, being stressed over work, it's just hard to have inspiration with all of that."

"But, you said you have a couple of ideas now, right?"

"Actually yeah…"

"Hey, if I can make time to paint then you can make time to write." She said pointedly with a smile.

He took in a deep breath, "You're right." He looked at her and gave her a smile, "You're right." He repeated, "God, it's been too long."

"You'll get there." She shrugged. She wasn't trying to be pushy or to put her nose where it doesn't belong, but she could see from the way he talked about it that it's something that would make him happy, and she was actually curious to see what he has in mind, to read what comes out from there and how he'd put words together to form a story, but somehow, she knew it'd be just perfect.

It was then that she heard a couple of steps behind her as she looked back and saw Whitey coming from the direction of the backyard, "Hey there, lovebirds." He smirked eyeing their intertwined hands over his fence, "Don't get too carried on, dinner will be ready soon." He said as he entered the house not waiting for a reply.

Peyton looked at Lucas, "Did… did he just come from the backyard? Was he not watching?" she asked as he gave her a sheepish smile.

"Yeah, he wasn't." he said and she gasped retrieving her hand back and slapping his. "What? Don't act like you weren't enjoying; you didn't even bother to check."

"You said I shouldn't look back."

"And when did you ever listen to anything I said?" he smirked moving closer to her and she couldn't help the smile on her face; this means he just came in, hugged her, kissed her temple, and has been holding hands with her all the time without having to, at all.

"Besides, there's a bet I need to win." He added with a smirk.

"Asshole." She said and he chuckled, "And you know what, I think I already won," she said with irritation.

He raised an eyebrow, "How so?"

"It's about who caves in first… and you… you sent me that emoji, and you kissed my temple without having to."

"Hell no, that does not count." He shook his head before leaning forward snaking a hand around her waist to pull her closer, "You know what kind of kisses I mean." He said huskily looking down at her before letting her go.

"You're so gonna lose." She narrowed her eyes at him.

"We'll see."

It was silent for a couple of comfortable seconds until she gave a smile, "I think we're playing our roles just fine."

"Well, you're definitely a good wife, you know, bringing along two pies and all." He said and she laughed.

"Shut up, you have one for yourself back home."

"For myself?" he smirked.

"You know what I mean." She shook her head and he laughed. "I never thought I'd be able to play that role, you know."

"Neither did I."

She nodded and tilted her head to the side a little, "Actually, you're a proof that everything is possible."

"What?"

She laughed, "I mean, I never imagined I'd get along with you, yet…" she said and he smiled, "And I never thought that you could be deep, you know, I always thought you're this vain, shallow jerk."

"Jeez, thanks." He said and she laughed, "Do you only like me now because I'm deep?"

She frowned and looked him in the eyes, "What are you talking about? You've always been my favorite." She said and watched the smirk vanish from his face.

"What?"

She leaned forward on her tiptoes to reach his ears, "To tease." She added and leaned back with a smirk admiring his reaction when he realized she just played him. Then she decided to end it here and took a sip of her drink that was cold now and entered the house again leaving him to his thoughts.

"Smooth, Sawyer." He said to himself thoughtfully.

XxXx

It was dinner time as they gathered around the big table and Lucas took his seat next to her while dinner was being served, he leaned towards her, "You know you've always been a favorite of mine too." He said and she recalled what he means with a smile, "But, I tease differently."

She looked at him with a questioning frown while he smiled dismissing her unasked question with a shrug. She let it go for now, but then she didn't have to wait a lot longer to realize what he has planned up his sleeve next, because when everyone was busy engaging in small conversations, he did something he's wanted to do long ago, he placed a hand over her bare knee and she almost shivered from the sudden contact looking at him to find he was keeping a straight face.

And before she could react, he started caressing her leg moving up higher her thigh slowly, "What are you doing?" she whispered out.

He looked at her innocently, "Warming you up, I told you it's gonna be cold." He said and she gave him a glare and he smirked moving his hands higher pushing the fabric up along the way while his fingertips barely were touching her thigh.

She suppressed a gasp and placed her hand over his with a glare repositioning it on his own leg while he let out a low chuckle.

Dinner was served and they have begun eating and she was drinking from her soap when he sneaked his hand to her leg once again, this time directly over her upper thigh and she almost spat out what was in her mouth. She left her spoon and put her hand over his once again quickly before he roams anywhere further,

"I thought this bet is only about kissing." She whispered to him.

He raised an eyebrow, "Why? Do you want to do something else now?"

She glared, "No, but, this suggests you do."

He shook his head, "Honey, I'm fine with anything as long as it starts with you kissing me."

"You know, Luke," she said softly with a smile, "I can play too." She said and once again took his hand putting it on his leg but this time she let hers linger there letting her fingers rest on his inner thigh and let them glide with a feathery touch and he gulped down immediately covering her hand with his to stop it as she laughed, "Don't play a game you can't handle."

However, minutes later, he started doing it again and she glared at him, "Seriously?"

He shrugged, "I can handle any game, if you can't then that's your problem."

She sighed, "Will you stop it already?"

"Hey, if you wanna stop it go ahead, but I'm not stopping anything."

"Well, I thought I did,"

He smirked, "Kiss me right now and it all ends." He said and she gave him a pointed look; of course, he knew she's not going to kiss him now in the middle of dinner in front of everyone… sure, it could pass as a peck on the lips from a couple pretending to be in love for the old man –even though they were secretly fully aware that they no longer had to prove anything in front of him- but, the thing is, neither of them wanted this bet to end with a peck on the lips. That would be such a waste.

When she didn't reply he smirked letting his fingers roam her thigh higher and she placed her other hand over his to stop him and he smiled to himself, "Seriously, Luke, stop it."

"Okay," he said and instead of retrieving his hand back, he held hers over her leg and she looked at him and he just shrugged, "Your choice."

She sighed but then both continued eating with one hand while the other was intertwined over her leg. When she had to use both hands she left his hand and when she didn't put it back in his, he moved his fingers once again and she got the message, so whenever one of them had to use his hand, he'd do so and then return back to the other's.

"… I mean, I didn't expect it to go this smoothly, Deb was the one who kept me from calling him before his meetings, and I gotta admit, I expected it to take much longer than one meeting to convince them." Dan was talking to Whitey when it caught their attention that he was talking about their trip to New York.

Lucas tensed; yes, he didn't care as much as he did before what his father thinks, but he still didn't appreciate it when he had little faith in him.

Peyton squeezed his hand, "He was actually pretty good." She said and he looked at her not expecting her to say anything at all, she looked at him and gave a smile before looking over at Dan once again, "He knew exactly what to say and how to handle them, I mean, he saved the situation a couple of times when I said the wrong thing." She said and even though it actually went both ways back then, he was grateful she was saying those things as he relaxed; well, how can he care what Dan thinks now?

"I know, I know…" Dan nodded, "I'm proud of what you did over there," He said looking between the two with a somewhat overwhelmed look, "I'm just saying I didn't realize he had it in him until it happened."

"Well, Danny, you should give them more credit than you do," Whitey said, "I mean those kids are cleaning up the mess your management caused. And they're doing it perfectly." He said as Dan shook his head with a smile looking down at his plate knowing he's right as Whitey sent them a wink.

"Looks like your first cousin twice removed loves you now." Peyton told Lucas.

"Well, yeah I'm awesome."

She rolled her eyes, "It's because of me."

"You?"

"Yeah, he thought you were trash before I came along. I'm a valuable addition." She shrugged with a smirk and he rolled his eyes.

"No, I'm awesome, even you know that."

"You're always so full of yourself."

"Like you're not."

She smiled and said nothing more as they continued their dinner in peace talking casually with others.

After dinner, he sat there watching her engage with his family as she received praises about her pie blissfully, and even he admitted that it takes him off guard each time how good it is. He liked the way his dad told her he was wrong in assuming the worst and the way her dad told him his daughter is the best, he liked how she was getting along very well with his mother, with his sister, with Keith and even Deb, he never noticed it before, but she has always been family, and she fit like a puzzle piece.

He overheard Keith and Dan talking to Larry about her and telling him that she has come back even stronger and he proudly agreed, and Lucas smiled to himself not having any different opinion.

He also watched her laughing with his bother about something Jamie was saying and then again, he realized she was always a friend to his friends and his brother and they were all so tight, then why wasn't he and her so as well? Why are they just going there now? And why are they going there in the first place?

He has started off this day worried about how to best handle it, and how to spend a whole day with her without it being awkward because of the crazy interpretation of his feelings towards her that has been haunting him for a few days, and then, for some reason, he just started it all by flirting and suggesting this whole game. It's like he was trying to grant himself some interactions with her, and ending it with a kiss, because deep down, he knew he was willing to lose that bet.

He even made a lot of moves during the day, those texts he kept sending her flirtatiously and watching her not-so-secretly all day long… not being able to not touch her was another thing; he literally couldn't, from claiming Whitey was watching when he really wasn't, to sneakily holding hands with her over there, to going as far as exploring her legs under the table over dinner –which he knew was a teenager boy thing to do, but couldn't not, he knew it was something he wanted to do before, whenever she showed those legs of hers, but he kept pushing it to the back of his head.

The thing is, none of that felt awkward at all, but it was exactly the opposite of that, it was all natural, as if they have been doing this for years instead of fighting. And she didn't seem to be even slightly uncomfortable; he knew they were on the same page, at least that's definitely how it looks like.

And now, after watching her all day long with his family, and with him, like when she talked him into writing again, and when she defended him to his father when she didn't have to, he realized that this… this is what he wants.

At first, he didn't see it, or was scared to see it, thinking that there was no way that even if it was true how he feels that she's going to feel the same for him, but, now, he realized that for some reason, she does, like he was convinced that it was just physical attraction, but he swears that there was nothing sexier than her telling him to write again or that smile and hand squeeze she gave him over dinner before telling his father about him in New York.

Those were all things that he can't say he sees in Lindsey; she's kind and caring and everything, but, then again, he doesn't even recall her being eager to meet his family, or tell him to screw work and write instead if that's what he wants, in fact, if anything, she's all into him working and saving the company. She doesn't make him smile or even laugh the way Peyton does, and there's nothing wrong with all of that, it just is the way it is.

And suddenly, the idea that visited his mind when he talked to Haley at the beginning of the week wasn't so scary anymore; after all the searching and after all those years, Peyton Sawyer looks like she could be the one for him.

And for the first time he didn't panic when he thought so, instead, he smiled.

When it was finally time to leave, and after saying their goodbyes, he walked side by side with her as she wrapped herself in her shawl towards his car as he drove away,

"You know, Whitey isn't such a pain in the ass like you all said he is at first." She started a conversation.

"As a matter of fact, yeah, I also thought he'd be worse based on what I remember." He agreed. "It seems like you are changing your mind about everyone, huh?"

She shrugged, "Maybe I see things differently now."

"Interesting." He said and then glanced at her, "Aren't you cold?"

"I'm fine."

"What about your legs?" he smirked.

"Just focus on the road, Lucas." She shook her head with a smile.

"I can do both." He shrugged.

"Well, my legs are just fine, thanks for your concern."

"Okay, cool." He smiled and drove the rest of the small distance in silence.

However, when they got home, he couldn't just let it go, she was ahead of him when he closed the front door so he reached over, held her hand pulling her back to face him before trapping her against the wall, and looked down at her,

"Luke?"

"Isn't it time to end the bet or do you wanna keep playing?"

"Why does it have to be me ending it?"

"I'm not saying that, I'm just asking if you wanna keep playing one more day." He smirked.

"Well… today was fun."

He smiled, "So, you wanna play more…"

"What if I am?"

"Are you?"

"No,"

"Neither am I." he shook his head, "So, do you want me to kiss you?"

"You'll lose the bet."

"I don't care." He shook his head again.

Peyton thought that this was it; the answer to all her questions and everything she has been wondering about, there he was asking to kiss her putting all games aside, she knows it was not an ordinary day and she knew that everything they did can't be taken back, she knew that it was all taking them to a whole new stage of this relationship whatever it's called, and she knew it wasn't sexual, well, not only sexual, because holding hands surely wasn't, she knew that Lucas was letting her know there's something, but, she can't keep wondering, she needs answers,

"Luke?"

"Yeah?"

She looked up in his eyes, "What is all of this? What's this bet really about?"

He looked back at her questioning green eyes, "You know what it's about…"

She shook her head, "I wanna hear it…"

"I wanna… kiss you."

"Just that?"

"I… I want…"

Why was it scary? Why was he afraid of telling her he likes her? He knows he does, but suddenly, he feared that her questions meant she wasn't… what if she wasn't?

But, no, he needs to say this.

"Your phone." She beat him when he opened his mouth to speak.

"What?"

"Your phone, it's vibrating." She elaborated.

"Oh," he said as he fished it out of his pocket, she must have felt it being pressed against one another. Shit! Why does Lindsey keep calling at times like this? He rejected the call and put it back in his pocket.

"It's her, right?" she asked as she slid her body to the side getting away from him.

"Peyt," he called holding her hand.

"No, it's Lindsey, isn't it?" she asked and she didn't need his answer because she saw it on his face as she gave the smallest smile ever, "I… I can't."

"You can't what?"

"Do this, Lucas. I don't do this."

"And what do you think this is?"

"Playing around… with taken guys… I just-"

"This isn't what it is." He shook his head cutting her off.

"Luke…" she gave him a pointed look.

"No, it is not." He insisted, "Are you telling me you don't know that? Are you trying to convince me you don't feel it? Because, I won't believe you, I know you feel what I feel, I know that this att-"

She covered his mouth with her hand before he could continue, "Don't." she shook her head. "Not now." She said lowering her hand.

"Why?" he frowned.

"Because… I don't want this to be a spur of the moment. I don't want you to have any regrets, I don't want me to have any." She said and he shook his head,

"It's not, I know what I'm saying."

"Luke, if you say this, there's no going back." She gave him a smile, "Please, think it through, you… you seemed sure about Lindsey, okay? I just don't think you should throw it like this…" she said and he opened his mouth to object, "Please." She said again, "Luke, this is all… so sudden, so new… and new is always exciting… but… I just don't want to… have it end badly…" she was picking her words carefully as she bit her lower lip nervously.

"Peyton, I understand, but I don't think that it-"

"Sleep on it?" she suggested with a smile and a head tilt and he couldn't help but give in when she looked at him like that, he gave a smile shaking his head,

"Fine."

"Thank you." She said sincerely.

"Well, don't I at least get a good night kiss?" he frowned teasingly knowing that there's no chance he's going to get that now, but then, she took him off guard when she gave him a small smile and then cupped his face leaning forward to capture his lips softly.

"There… I lose the bet." She told him and he resisted the urge to pull her in for another longer, more intense and more passionate kiss not caring where it leads to.

"Fine if you want this to work though, don't go around flaunting those legs in my face," He told her in a deadly serious tone and she gave him a smile before turning away.

Peyton knew that with this kiss, she was almost trying to get him to choose her, but, she couldn't not do it. But, after all, she didn't want to just keep playing around and wonder where this leaves them while he's still with Lindsey, it can't just keep going like that; she doesn't want this, whatever it is to end on a bad note, no, if it is meant to end then she needs it to be now not when there's anything deeper because it's already hard now…

So, she was willing to let go of him now if that's what he wants, because, they just laid all their cards on the table now, so, it's basically just his choice at the moment, and she needed to face it whatever it is.

Because if she waited any longer without such a confrontation, she doubts she'll be able to take the rejection.

Lucas on the other hand, didn't see why wait, why not just say it all now, as crazy as it sounds but, he knows what he wants anyway, but, if that's how she wants it to be, if she wants him to think it over, then so be it… at least that would give him time to do things more properly.

If anyone told him just a month ago that he'd fall for Peyton Sawyer head over heels leading to even think seriously about being with her, he'd have accused them of needing a mental asylum and just the thought would have made him nauseous… at least he thinks so.

He can't be sure of anything anymore; for God's sake he just spent the day trying to touch her in every way possible after initiating a kissing bet with her; how pathetic was he being?

It was crazy… yet, it wasn't.

XxXx

It took him two more days when Lindsey was finally back in town and he thought it over and over again, and strangely nothing changed, even though he wasn't certain that this is real, that it's what he really think it is, but, it was worth the shot… like Haley said, he spends too much time with the wrong person that he might miss on the right one, and since he was already feeling the disconnection with Lindsey… even if the whole Peyton thing blows, he at least shouldn't be with her anymore.

So, the right thing anyway was to end things with Lindsey.

That's why he stopped by at her apartment Sunday afternoon as he stood behind the door waiting for her to open; he was basically over there the whole time for the past six months and he doesn't even know where she hides her spare key.

"Luke," she smiled as she opened the door, "Come in." she said and he did so with a smile.

"I called you." She said as they walked up to her couch; she did call him a couple of times and he only sent her texts saying he's busy and that he'd catch her later; after all, he felt wrong talking to her and pretend everything is fine when he was contemplating whether or not he should be leaving her for someone else.

"Yeah, I know, I'm sorry." He said as they sat down, "Um, how did you find it over there? Did you have fun?"

"Yeah, I did. I missed you though." She smiled and he felt guilt shoot within him, but, no, he was doing the right thing; he shouldn't be with her when he's feeling like this, "What about you? How did Thanksgiving at the old man's go?"

"Uh… it was good, fine, yeah." He nodded awkwardly while guilt weighted more.

"Great." She nodded with a smile.

"So…" he started before she said anything else like he knew she will, "I need to talk to you."

"Oh my God, me too, Luke," she said with a smile and he mentally groaned; this was getting harder than he thinks, usually when he ends things with girls, it's at a point where they both know it's over, so, this was really not his favorite situation.

"No, I mean like… I was thinking about us, you know…"

She nodded, "Me too, and you know what, you're not gonna believe that," she said unable to hide her excitement,

He frowned in confusion, "What?"

"Luke," she bit her bottom lip, "I think I'm pregnant."

And then he thinks he blacked out.