Hi everyone! Thanks so much for reviwing and I can't tell you how sorry I am that this took so long. I've been really busy with school and work and this was the first chance I got to proof and post these next chapters – hope you enjoy! Hope everyone has a great week – and a Happy Easter to those who celebrate!

Chapter 19 Accidentally in love

After two weeks in the hospital, the doctors finally agreed to release Lucas, but only with the reassurance from the patient that he would continue resting and taking things slowly. Karen felt almost unnecessary as Peyton, Haley, and Nathan helped Lucas get settled into his bed in the corner of the living room. She sat on the sofa as she watched Peyton carefully help Lucas into bed. The intuitive mother had certain suspicions as she watched the careful and loving way in which the younger girl dealt with Lucas.

"I think I have enough books," Lucas said jokingly in regards to the three-dozen books Peyton had stacked on his nightstand shelves.

"You'll have plenty of time to read them," Peyton answered back.

"She's right, Lucas," Karen said from across the room. "You need to listen to the doctors this time. Or there may not be a next time."

"Can we not be morbid on Luke's first night home?" Haley posed the question from the kitchen where she was making dinner for them all.

"I agree," Lucas said wearily. "You guys are taking this way too seriously." Before Karen or Peyton could pounce on him with arguments to the contrary, Haley announced that it was time for dinner. That night, Peyton insisted that Karen take her bed and get some actual rest. The older woman finally agreed and left them alone, giving Peyton and Lucas the first real opportunity to be alone since he had collapsed at the game.

"I'm glad you're home," Peyton whispered gently as she crawled onto the bed with him.

"I'm glad to be home." He put his arm gingerly around her and they both moved carefully until they were in a comfortable situation. Although Peyton had fully intended to move before Karen woke up the next morning, she unknowingly drifted off to sleep and was caught when the older woman arose. Karen couldn't be angry when they looked absolutely adorable cuddled together under the covers. But then, once she thought of where that had gotten her at a young age, she gently shook Peyton awake.

"Peyton, wake up," she said gently.

"What?" She said groggily, her eyes barely fluttering open. All at once, she remembered the situation and jumped up, hitting her elbow on Lucas's nightstand and then crying out in pain. The sound caused Lucas to quickly awaken, sitting up too quickly. He cringed as he felt the pain radiating through his body.

"Careful," Peyton admonished, helping him lay back down. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." Her voice was calm but her expression gave away the fact that she was embarrassed and a little bit terrified to be found in such a compromising position by Karen.

"Mom, we just fell asleep this way—"

"Nothing happened," Peyton insisted.

"I know," Karen said, standing up again. "Which is why I'm just going to let it drop. But I want you both to think long and hard before you get involved in something you might not be ready to handle." They both nodded, looking at the bedspread so as to avoid her motherly frown. "I'll make breakfast." Luckily, Karen did let the matter drop. That didn't stop her, however, from sleeping in the living room for the remainder of her stay in the city.

Two weeks after Lucas was released from the hospital, life began to return to a normal rhythm. Peyton and Haley still watched Lucas like a hawk and Nathan rarely mentioned basketball, but they had begun to calm down, letting him out of their sight for longer periods of time. Peyton hurried home one Friday from one of her art classes, agitated that it had taken much longer than she had expected. Since Haley had left for a Biology lab around two in the afternoon, Lucas had been alone for almost three hours. She walked into the quiet apartment to find it completely empty. She immediately began to panic, wondering where Lucas might have gone; he wasn't supposed to be active or on his own.

Calling Lucas's cell phone, she groaned when she realized that it was ringing from the kitchen counter where he had conveniently left it.

Somewhere across town, Lucas was leaning heavily against his brother as they walked into the seventh jewelry store of the day. Nathan shook his head as Lucas sat in the first available chair.

"Man, you could have at least waited until you could walk," he said sarcastically.

"This is important."

"Peyton's going to kill you for leaving the apartment."

"She doesn't need to know. Her art class goes until five."

"It's almost six," Nathan said after consulting his watch.

"Well, this it the last stop. If I don't find it here, I don't think I ever will."

Lucas arrived home, proud as a peacock and grinning from ear to ear, to find Peyton crying on the living room sofa. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Her voice was harsh, her eyes not quite able to glare at his twinkling blue gaze. "Lucas, I had no idea where you were. Anything could have happened."

"Nothing did."

"But I didn't know that," she insisted. "You're not well enough to be out."

"Don't worry, I was with Nate."

"Could you leave a note next time?" She asked the question in pure exasperation, giving up all hope that she could be angry with him and teach him some sort of lesson.

"I will," he said apologetically. "I'm sorry. I thought that I'd be home before you."

"Luke, if you're trying to drive me crazy, it's working."

"I'm sorry," he said sincerely.

"It's okay. I'm just tired. Let's drop it." And with that, the excitement for the evening was ended and the two were once again able to spend time together in general calm and happiness. They spend the remainder of the evening eating dinner and watching old movies but Peyton was a bit suspicious that a knowing grin never once left her boyfriend's expression.

The title comes from the Counting Crows' "Accidentally in Love." If you haven't heard it, I highly recommend it – it's just a wonderfully happy and cute song from the Shrek II soundtrack.