Hey, this is another one of those "set up", chapters. Lots of foreshadowing. Anyways, read and review. This chap is kind of choppy on the details, but only because all of this has to be explained and there is not much to go there. Lol. Read and Review, and Request!

Xoxo HaLeY

Chapter 4: "What's the point in all this screaming?"

Lucas and Peyton stepped out of the car in silence when they arrived back at the apartment complex.

Peyton reached into the backseat, to get sleeping Spencer.

"I can get him." Lucas offered

"No. It's cool." Peyton insisted.

~Peyton laid her son down on his bed… well what was kind of a bed, Spencer slept on a mattress on the floor. It actually suited him well with his tendency to fall out of bed and all. Peyton remembered countless mornings when she would find her son halfway across his room.

Maybe it was because Spencer never had a crib… When he was born Peyton c

ouldn't afford one. He would just lay on the bed tucked in the crook of her arm. Then it became pointless to get him one, because he would grow out of it. So she saved up to get him the mattress, it was brand new. The only new thing that she really owned.

Lucas was sitting on the bed when Peyton came back out to the living room.

"So, did you ever graduate high school?"

Peyton regretted that she had to shake her head no.

"No, knew I was having Spencer so I had to work to save up money." She explained. "But a couple of years ago I got my GED."

"Good." Lucas said

There was an awkward silence.

"Look Peyton, you could have stayed. You know that we would have all been there to help you!"

"IT IS NOT THAT EASY LUKE!"

"Did you forget about my mom? She was no older then you when she had me, and look at her now!"

"If you are about to even criticize how I choose to live my life, or how I raise my son then I suggest that you find another bed for the night because I am not trying to hear it!" She said

"Peyton, Spencer is a great kid. I know I would not have been able to raise him on my own."

Peyton looked at Lucas with empty eyes.

"I am going to bed now." She said.

That night Peyton fell asleep crying gentle tears into Spencer's soft curls.

Lucas awoke the next morning to an quiet apartment… He sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. It took awhile for him to process where he was.

He crept out of the bed, heading to the bathroom. He passed Spencers door, which was cracked opened slightly.

He peeked his head in the room. Peyton was lying on the mattress against the wall with her young son held close to her. Their faces were so close together Lucas could have sworn that their noses were touching. Spencer had an arm wrapped lovingly around his mothers neck.

Lucas had never seen Peyton show love… real love for anyone, except her father. He often worried about her after he died… he worried that her heart had grown hard and cold… but Spencer may have been the thing that saved her, that kept her going, the love that she lived for.

Lucas left the two, and went to the bathroom where he took a quick shower. When he went back out to the living room Spencer was sitting on the bed.

"Hey." Lucas said.

"Hey."

"Is your mom still asleep?" Lucas asked

"Yeah."

"Doesn't she have to work?"

"I called and said she was sick." Spencer said.

"Do you think she will be mad?" Lucas asked approaching the boy. Spencer shrugged.

"How do you know my mommy?"

"We were friends in high school." Lucas said not meeting the boys eye.

"Are you still friends?" He asked looking up at the older man.

"We are." Lucas said looking down at the small child.

Peyton came out of the bedroom later to find Lucas and Spencer at the table with huge stacks of pancakes in front of them.

"What the heck is going on?"

"We made you breakfast!" Spencer said, batter matted in his hair.

"Oh shit, I am an hour late for work!" Peyton said

"'S o'tay, I tol' Gladys you're sick." Spencer said smiling.

Lucas got up from the table and set a plate of pancakes down, gesturing for Peyton to sit.

"Any word on your car yet?"

"No. The police said that they have my license plate in the system, but can't do much more than that now. They are going to call me if it turns up."

"So how are you going to get to the wedding?" Peyton asked.

"Well I was thinking that you and Spence could just come down with me."

"Are you out of your mind? I thought we talked about this last night. I have work." Peyton explained.

"So? I bet you have never taken a vacation!" Lucas said

"Mommy please!" Spencer begged.

"Spencer this is between Lucas and I."

Spencer pouted.

"I cannot afford to take anytime off, alright? So drop it." She said.

Spencer and Lucas looked at each other.

"Thanks for breakfast." Peyton muttered under her breath.

It rained that entire day. There was nowhere for them to go and nothing for them to do.

Peyton and Lucas spent the whole day ignoring each other, well Peyton ignored Lucas. The tension went unnoticed by Spencer. He was thrilled when he and Lucas sat on the floor in front of a small TV and watched a basketball game. Peyton on the other hand sat in the corner sketching… in all black…

Soon enough the sun set and it was Monday morning, which meant Peyton had work, and Spencer had school, … and Lucas would be left up to his own devices.

"Hey. Can I use your car? I was going to stop by the police station." Lucas said.

"The sooner he is gone the better." Peyton thought.

"Yeah." She said. "Come on, we can't be late." She said as they all rushed out of the door.

"Do you want me to drop you at work now?" Lucas said

"Well Spencer has to go-"

"I will drop him after you." Lucas offered.

"Sure, whatever."

They dropped off Peyton, who gave Spencer a kiss goodbye and then Lucas made his way to the pre-school.

"Ready Buddy?"

"NO!" Spencer insisted.

Lucas was shocked. He had never heard the boy speak like that.

"Why don't you want to go?"

"'cause." He said pouting.

"There has to be a reason." Lucas said.

"They make fun of me." Spencer mumbled.

"Who?"

"Tommy, and Sam."

"Why?" Lucas asked turning to the boy.

"They say I got no Daddy." Spencer said sadly.

"Kids said the sa me thing to me too." Lucas said.

"Really?"

"Yeah. My dad wasn't around when I was little either."

"Wat'd you do?" Spencer asked looking up at him.

"Nothing. I knew I was better than that. I knew my mommy loved me enough for a mommy and a daddy." Lucas explained. "Pe-, your mom loves you so much. You know that right?"

"Yeah." Spencer said.

"Do you want me to walk you in?" Lucas asked.

Spencer nodded, and climbed out of the car after Lucas.

"This is my class." Spencer said stopping at the door.

"Alright, I will be back here at 4:30." Lucas promised hugging the boy.

"Can we watch the game after school?" Spencer asked hopefully.

"Yeah buddy, bye. Have a good day." He said as he left the class room.

The two boys, Tommy, and Sam came up to Spencer.

"Who was that?" They asked

"My dad." Spencer said simply.

"You ain't got no daddy!"

"Do too!" Spencer said.

"DO NOT!" Sam said pushing him.

With that Spencer whipped out his fist hitting Sam straight in the nose and kicked Tommy right in the shin…