I don't own One Tree Hill or any of the Characters or Flashbacks, just my plot.
Lucas wasn't sure exactly when he woke up, but he didn't care. He just wanted to feel Peyton in his arms as long as possible. She was so perfect; so beautiful. His thoughts drifted to last night. They hadn't gone any farther than that one kiss, and he wasn't sure the evening would have been as special if they had. She had fallen asleep in his arms after hours of whispering about Anna. He was so glad they'd had that talk. Now he knew her favorite color, the name of that irritating kid in her chemistry class who wouldn't leave her alone, and how she always bit her index fingernail whenever she was nervous. They had laughed over stories about her, and they had sighed with content. Neither of them had touched on the subject of themselves, but that was because they didn't need to. They already knew each other, and what had been happening in their lives could wait. Even if with morning's light Peyton pushed him away and tried to pretend tonight had never happened, this time, holding her in his arms and being free to imagine they had always been together, that they had been married all these years and raised Anna as a team, and that they would always be together, was something that she couldn't erase no matter how hard she tried. Tonight had been perfect, and for the first time in seventeen years, he felt completely happy, and his heart felt like he had finally been made whole once again.
Anna had started out early, and had smiled when she saw her parents together exactly the same way they had been last night. She was so nervous. This guy was so great. Crushes were common occurrences for her, but this was something so much deeper, so much more spine-tingling... all she knew was that she wanted to spend every minute with him, and she would hate herself if she didn't see where this was going. "It took you long enough to show up," he said in a joking voice when she finally got there. "I'm never late! Everyone else is just early," she said, trying to put on her best flirtatious smile. "So, you ready to go?" he asked her. "Always," was her simple answer. After five intense rounds, with her winning two and him winning three, they called it quits. "Okay, so you got me this time, but I still haven't pulled out all the stops," she said. "I'm sure you haven't. I mean, what was I thinking? That you were actually as bad as you looked out there?" he asked in sarcasm. She punched him in the arm, and the two of them started talking seriously as they walked around Tree Hill. She decided to take a chance, and she poured out her story about her mom and dad. "And they were still in each other's arms when I woke up this morning. Is that weird or what?" she asked him. He let out a slow whistle. "Man, it looks like things haven't settled down since our parents graduated from high school. Who would've guessed? I mean, seriously." "Yeah, I know. I have no idea what to do. I want to get close to my dad, but not if it hurts my mom. I really want my parents to get back together, but if it hasn't happened by now, what will make them get together? I don't want them get together because they feel like they have to for me or something. I want it to be real for them." "Sometimes, when someone as special as you comes into people's lives, everything changes, Anna. I have a feeling your parents have loved each other for years, and the only reason your mother stayed away from your father was because of how much she loved both of you, and if there's nothing standing in their way now, and even a few things going for them, your parents might just finally put into actions what they've known was right all along."
"Did you just say that I'm special?" Anna asked softly, looking up into his eyes. "Yeah, I did," he answered. All of a sudden, it started raining. Not the kind of rain that creates a thunderstorm, but the light, gentle kind where the sun is still shining through. "Would you be offended if I were to kiss you?" Jake asked slowly. "Would you still do it if I said I wouldn't?" she shot back softly, smiling up at him. He slowly tilted her chin up with his thumb, and their lips met. He trailed his kisses along her neck and face, stopping once more on her lips. They held each other close for the rest of the summer shower.
They reluctantly parted as the rain stopped. He smoothed her hair out, kissing the crown of her head as he did. "Was that real to you?" he asked presently. "That was more real to me than anything else in my life has ever been," she responded, no guilt or indecision in her voice. "I feel exactly the same way. You have no idea what a beautiful person you are, inside and out. I know I must be crazy, but I don't care. I just want to be with you." "Then we'll be together as much as we can," she said. The two were inseparable the rest of the day and well into the evening, and when they finally got to her house he gave her the softest of kisses before leaving for his house.
While Anna had been gone, Peyton had spent the hours trying to sort everything out. When she had finally woken up, she had seen Lucas next to her and a floodgate of memories had come back. "Good morning," he'd said as she jumped up. "Luke, we can't do this. I can't pretend like this is going to work out and then get my heart broken again. I wish that things could be different, but they never will be, so let's just figure out a way to let Anna spend time with both of us and part ways. "Don't do this Peyton. Don't shut me out like you don't give a rat's behind what happens. I know you better than that. And I know that what you felt last night, and what I felt last night, was real. Nothing is going to change that, and I want us to be together. I've spent too many years working late hours at a sports shop, occasionally spending a day with Hales, Nate, and their two kids, and every once in awhile spending the day with my mom when we both have the time. I've been around people but alone too long to deny that this is right. I want you, Peyton, and I want us. I don't care how long it takes, but I'm not giving up." "Please Luke! I want this too bad to resist it if you keep on doing this!" "Good," He's said, pulling her into a kiss before she could protest. She almost pulled away, but she remembered how good it felt to be with him, to feel herself fit perfectly into his arms. In one day, the soul mates gave in to all the desires that seventeen years had formed. They still didn't take it all the way; they knew that rushing things wouldn't get them anywhere, and they spent the day holding hands, laughing, catching up, and stealing an occasional kiss. Everything was so right, now.
"What are we going to tell Anna?" Peyton had asked once. "What do you think we should tell her? I mean, I know what I would have us tell her, but I want to hear what you have to say first. "I think she knows already," the love of his life said thoughtfully as she draped his arm around her waist. "She's always been fast at catching up on feelings and thoughts people have; it's just the practical and day-to-day department she's shortchanged in. I think she's just waiting for us to say something to make it official. "Well, I know if it was up to me, I would tell her that sixteen years ago, the person I was meant to spend my life with got away from me, and now that I've seen her and gotten to know her all over again, I've realized that I love her more than anything else. I'd tell her that no matter what happens, I'll always love her mother, and that nothing is going to keep me from being with her again." A smile played around on Peyton's face before fully blooming. "I think you have the right idea there, mister." They kept on walking as a light summer shower started.
By the time Jake got home, all of his siblings were in bed and his parents were waiting. "Where do have you been?" his dad demanded, rising up, a look of understanding and frustration, never anger, gracing his features. "I've been out with a new friend," he answered quietly. "Look, you've had girlfriends in the past, but you've never broken your curfew this blatantly. What's this all about, Jake? What girl could make you compromise the rules you've always followed and leave us totally out of your life?" his mother demanded, the anger as evident in her voice as anything. "Mom, you know how Lucas showed up at the basketball game yesterday with his daughter? Well, I've been talking to her a lot mom, and she's really, really, amazing. It's like she's everything that I've been looking for, and I really talk to her a lot. I don't see why it matters to you, though. I've always been free to make my own choices in the past." "Did you say Luke's daughter?" Brooke asked. "Jake, who's her mother?" Turning to her husband, a look of suspicion rose up onto Brooke's countenance. "All I know is she looked a lot like Peyton used to, but I can't be sure," Jake Sr. said quietly. "My son is going out with Peyton Sawyer's daughter?! Now that is an interesting twist if I ever heard one! My best friend who leaves years ago suddenly is back in town with a daughter. I wonder how that happened." "Brooke, does it really matter now? Why drag out old arguments? Jake and Anna aren't a part of that, and we made up with the two of them years ago." "Yeah, but that doesn't mean that I'm not worried about my son getting hurt. I mean, just think about it! With him and her combined into a beautiful and talented girl, there's going to be trouble. More than that, there's going to be tons and tons of drama, and I really need to go to bed now." Brooke stormed of, leaving the father and son shifting around, looking at each other uncomfortably. "Do you really like this girl enough to hurt your mother, and to risk all of the heartache that you risk when you enter into any relationship?" The older man said, looking at his son with a questioning gaze. "Yeah, dad, I do. I really think this is the real thing you and mom are always talking about, and I have to see, have to confirm what I already know to be true in my heart." "Then go after it with all you heart. Everyone though your mother and I were crazy, but we weren't. Well, at least I wasn't. Just don't let what people say influence you. Follow your heart. You have my full permission to pursue this girl in any way you see fit." Jake Jr. Smiled at his dad and said, "Thanks. I knew you would understand."