Disclaimer: I don't own anything. The song in this story is by Sarah McLachlan. Hope you enjoy!

Lucas searched all of Tree Hill for Peyton. He went to all of the usual places she would normally go; Rivercourt, Karen's café, the bridge, the highschool and even the cemetery, but he couldn't find her anywhere. He pulled up his drive way as his watch read 12:35am. He reluctantly gave up the search and hoped that Peyton returned to Haley and Nathan's couch.

Lucas unlocked the front door and was about to enter when he noticed something in the corner of the porch. He slowly walked towards it and as he got closer he realized it was Peyton. She was cuddled in the corner, asleep. Lucas knelt down beside her and gently brushed a curl from her face. With the same hand, he softly cupped her face and smiled. He was relieved to know that she was safe and that she didn't leave town.

Carefully and gently, he slipped his arms under her and picked her up without waking her. He carried her into the house and shut the door behind him.

The sun peaked through the blinds as Peyton began to wake. She stretched out her arms, with her eyes still closed. It was the best, most comfortable sleep she had gotten in weeks. Slowly, memories of her father's funeral seeped into her head. She remembered falling asleep outside on the uncomfortable wood…but it didn't feel uncomfortable anymore. She was lying down on something soft. Her body was also covered with something soft.

"A blanket? Where did I get a blanket?" she thought.

Finally, she opened her eyes. "Where am I? What the hell did I do last night?" Peyton lifted her covers slightly and looked down, "Still have clothes on…definitely a good sign," Peyton thought with relief.

She sat up and looked around the room. The room felt familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. She saw a chair beside the bed, a desk on the other side of the room and a little alcove at the opposite side of the room.

"If I put a dresser over there, a computer on that desk…" Peyton suddenly realized where she was. "It can't be…it doesn't make sense….how the Hell did I end up in my old room?"

She closed her eyes again, hoping to actually wake up. When she opened them again, she was still there. "It was all a dream," she tried to believe as she threw her covers off and ran out of the room.

Meanwhile, Lucas, who had woken up before Peyton, was downstairs getting breakfast set on a tray. He was also practicing what he was going to say to Peyton when she finally woke up.

Spend all your time waiting
for that second chance
for a break that would make it okay

"Peyton, I love you," Lucas said to himself as he picked up the try of bacon and eggs and orange juice. "I always have and…" The sound of footsteps upstairs interrupted his practice speech.

there's always one reason
to feel not good enough
and it's hard at the end of the day
I need some distraction
oh beautiful release

Lucas made his way up to Peyton's room in a hurry. When he entered the room, he found an empty bed. Panicked, Lucas put the tray down on the floor and hurried out the room to find Peyton. Lucas found Peyton in a room down the hall. When he entered, her back was to him. He stood there, not knowing what to do. Peyton felt Lucas's presence in the room and turned to face him. Her eyes were brimming with tears.

memory seeps from my veins
let me be empty
and weightless and maybe
I'll find some peace tonight

"Tell me it was all a dream. Tell me he didn't die," she choked out.

Lucas could only look at Peyton with sorrow. He didn't know how to tell her. He so much wanted to take her into his arms and try to take her pain away.

"Peyton, I'm sorry," he softly said.
so tired of the straight line
and everywhere you turn
there's vultures and thieves at your back
and the storm keeps on twisting
you keep on building the lie
that you make up for all that you lack

Peyton shook her head as if she refused to believe, "No. He wouldn't leave me alone, again. He promised me," She began crying. Lucas came over to her and wrapped his arms around her. But she tried to push him away. "Don't. You're all the same. You all leave me," She continued to punch his upper body, trying to get away.

She continued to push him away from her, but he wouldn't let her. He held her close to him. He didn't care how bruised his chest was going to be tomorrow, he wasn't going to let her go. "Shh…I'm not going to leave you, Peyton. I'm never going to leave you again,"

"Stop lying to me. You already left me once and you'll do it again,"

"No, Peyton…"

"Shut up Luke… let me go," she yelled as she continued to push him.

it don't make no difference
escaping one last time
it's easier to believe in this sweet madness oh
this glorious sadness that brings me to my knees

Lucas didn't answer, but he stood his ground and kept his arms around her petite body. Peyton was beginning to get tired. Her pushes weakened and her yelling ceased because she was crying so hard. Her legs felt weak and began to buckle. Lucas slowly lowered her to the ground, cushioning her fall.

She couldn't fight him any more. She was tired of feeling alone and unwanted. Peyton leaned into him and buried her face into his chest. She wrapped her arms around his waist. Lucas kept his arms tightly wrapped around her small body as he felt her body trembling against his.

in the arms of an angel
fly away from here
from this dark cold hotel room
and the endlessness that you fear
you are pulled from the wreckage
of your silent reverie
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort there

"It's going to be OK, Peyt. You're not alone. I'm right here. I'm always going to be here for you," he whispered. Lucas kissed the top of Peyton's head as his hand rubbed her back gently. He was determined to show Peyton that he'd always be there for her and that he'd never leave her.

When Peyton's body stopped trembling, Lucas noticed her breathing became deep and regular. She had cried herself back to sleep. Lucas smiled at the sight of Peyton sleeping peacefully. As she slept, he stroked her hair and held her tight with his other. He was glad that he listened to Haley. Lucas wasn't going to lose Peyton again. And he wasn't gong to let her push him out of her life because Peyton needed him just as much as he needed her.


you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort there
you're in the arms of the angel
may you find some comfort here