You guys are right, Lucas's heart attack-which is planned for chapter 8- is due to the fact that his heart has gotten weaker. I believe that he isn't able to tell Peyton about it is because he is scared himself and he doesn't want to put her through that either. He also doesn't want people telling him to quit playing basketball – he wants to finish the season first. I hope this makes some sense.

Disclaimer: I claim nothing belonging to the OTH creators.
Title of this chapter is a song by Our Lady Peace.


Chapter 7: Bring Back The Sun

I guess I never thought that my decision would have such an affect on not only my health, but also my family. At the time I thought I was protecting my family, but in the end it was what drove them away. I am now alone without a family and I am to blame. It may be too late to take back all the things I've done, but it's not too late to become the man they need me to be.


June 2017

Haley entered Peyton's living room, carrying a bowl of freshly popped popcorn in one hand and two tubs of ice cream, with two spoons, in the other.

"Alright, I couldn't decide if I wanted popcorn, chocolate ice cream or pralines and cream ice cream…so I got them all," she said setting them down on the coffee table.

"Aw, Hales, you rock!" Peyton remarked as she grabbed a handful of the buttery popcorn.

After Peyton's fight with Lucas earlier that week, Nathan and Haley arrived in Toronto with their two children. Since Nathan's team, the Celtics were defeated in the first round, Nathan and Haley decided to watch Lucas play in game six of the NBA finals. They were unaware of Lucas's radical behaviour and were very surprised when they found out that Peyton had kicked him out of their home.

Nathan had taken all four kids to the arena to watch the game in person. His braveness to watch all four Scott kids on his own, who were all under the age of six, not only let Lucas's kids to watch their father play, but it also gave Peyton time to talk to Haley and try to figure things out.

"Hey, without the kids and Nathan around, I can finally get a tub of ice cream to myself," shrugged Haley, who had a mouthful of ice cream. "So what's the score?"

"80-68, Houston. Looks like there will be a game 7,"

"You think you gonna go to that one?"

"I don't know…do you think I should?"

"Well, it's not like Lucas plays in a game 7 of an NBA finals everyday. Hell, I don't even like basketball and I want to go,"

"I told you could have gone with them tonight,"

"No way, honey. Game 6 and game 7 - totally different. Game 6 is like, you win–'yay', you lose – 'great, another game'," she rolled her eyes before continuing, "Now game 7 it's like win or die, you know,"

"Yea, I guess…you know, I want to be there for him and support him, but how can I if he won't let me be there for him? Things are just so complicated right now,"

"So…then uncomplicated them,"

Peyton rolled her eyes, "Yeah, easier said then done,"

"Look, I don't mean to pry, but considering Lucas hasn't been acting like himself lately…I am actually worried about him,"

"I am too, but what else can I do? He won't talk to me or anyone,"

"You know, if this was any other guy…I'd say walk away, Peyton. You don't need a brooding husband who's never around, but with Lucas…it's just different. Don't give up on him…if he needs time, just give it to him. He'll come around,"

Peyton pulled her long legs into her chest and rested her chin on her knees. She knew Haley was right and if she wanted to save her marriage, she'd have to try again.

"What's on your mind, Peyt?"

Sighing, she looked at Haley before looking away. Peyton felt vulnerable and guilty of leaving, "I think about it every night when I can lie in bed. I just don't understand how I could let things get this bad. I mean I am his wife and I'm supposed to be there for him, but when things got rough…I threw him out…"

"Hey, this isn't your fault. You did the right thing,"

She wiped a tear from her eye before continuing, "I just don't get it. You know, I'm supposed to be the one who builds walls to hide my feelings or the one who pushes people away and he's supposed to be the one who is strong and is…able to take care of things…God, Hales. I feel like I'm in the twilight zone or something…I don't know what to do,"

Understanding what Peyton was saying, Haley nodded her head and put her hand on her friends arm. "Do what he did with you…break down his walls,"


Two Days Later…

Game seven of the finals was being held at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The morning of the big game, Peyton flew her family with Nathan and Haley and checked themselves into the same hotel as the visiting players. Even though Peyton still hadn't talked to Lucas, she decided that it would be best to bring the kids out to watch their father play.

That afternoon was also the day Peyton decided that her and Lucas would finally talk about their current situation. The only thing was, she had no idea what she would say. Nervously biting her thumbnail, she paced back and forth in her room as scenarios occupied her mind.

Suddenly a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

The door creaked open as Lucas appeared on the other side of the door. His disheveled hair matched his scruffy, unshaven face. Peyton also noticed that her husband looked leaner and the dark circles under his eyes indicated that he hadn't slept well since she had last seen him.

"Lucas?" she was taken aback by his appearance "Are you ok? You look like hell,"

Lucas rubbed the stubble on his face before running the same hand through his mop of hair. "Yeah, thanks," he chuckling at his greeting, "I'm ok…Just game seven, I guess,"

"No, I mean…you look tired and you look…sick," without hesitating, Peyton gently placed a hand on his forehead to feel his temperature.

As the touch of her soft, warm hand touched his face, Lucas closed his eyes with comfort. The corner of his mouth curled into a smile as he remembered her touch, "I'm doing much better now that you're here,"

"I'm serious Luke, when was the last time you ate? Did you take your medication?"

"I just had lunch and yes I took a pill this morning," he said reassuringly.

"Oh," she took her hand back and felt embarrassed for questioning him like a worry-wart, "Um, they kids aren't here if you're looking for them. They went out with Nathan and Haley,"

"Yeah, I saw them in the lobby downstairs, but I didn't come to see them,"

"Oh…um, wanna come in?" Peyton stepped aside, allowing Lucas into the room.

His smile slightly calmed her churning stomach and caused her to let out a small smile of her own. She had missed being with him dearly.

"So, what brings you by?" she wondered.

He too was nervous and was lost for words. All he wanted to do was make things right, but he didn't know how, "I…um… just wanted to see how you were doing,"

Peyton nodded her head, "I'm doing OK...considering," She began to hope that there was more behind his visit. But when he said nothing else, she took the initiative, "Lucas, since you're here, I was thinking, maybe we could talk?"

"Sure," he softly agreed.

"um…come on," Peyton made her way over to the bed and laid down comfortably. She timidly looked at Lucas and patted the other side of the bed with her hand, asking Lucas to join her.

Lucas shrugged off her strange request and walked over to the other side of the bed and laid down. Side by side, they both looked up at the plain white ceiling. They could now both could feel the awkward tension growing between them.

"Remember back in high school when we used to do this…you know, just stare up at the ceiling and pretend that it was just the two of us?" Peyton reflected.

"Yeah,"

"And we could just talk about anything?"

"Peyton…"

She turned her head to face him, "Lucas, please. We used to be able to talk about everything. Why has it been so hard lately?"

Lucas looked away, hiding his tears.

"Look, I know that this is probably not the greatest time with the game and all, but I need to know where we stand…where our marriage stands,"

He turned his head back towards Peyton, "I…um," Lucas stammered as he tried to find the words to say.

Sitting up, Peyton continued, "Lucas, I don't want to lose you…and I'm sorry that I kicked out when you probably needed me the most, but I'm here now and I'm not going to give up," Tears began to fall from her eyes.

"Hey," Lucas said in a calm voice. He sat up and took his wife into his arms, trying to take away her sadness. "You don't have anything to be sorry for," Lucas leaned back and looked into Peyton's eyes, "You had every right to kick me out…I was a jerk. I know that. You were just looking out for our kids… and it was probably for the best,"

"Lucas, you know it was only temporary," Peyton said desperately trying to get Lucas to understand her actions, "I don't want you out of their lives… or mine. I just didn't know how to help you and I got mad and scared,"

"Hey, I know," he interrupted. "I know. I just meant that since I've been gone, I've had time to think about things,"

"Like what?"

Exhaling, Lucas answered, "Look, I know I haven't been the husband or father that I should have been and I'm sorry for that. But things are going to change. I've decided that… that this is going to be my last game,"

"Last game? What are you talking about?"

"I'm gonna…retire," it was an easy decision for him, yet so hard for him to say, "I realized that without you and the kids, basketball isn't worth my life. I need to put my family first…and I want to be around for my family. I want us to watch Roewan and Sawyer to grow up together,"

"Luke…what are you talking about? You have been and we will in their lives. It's just the past couple of months have been stressful for you, but the doctors said that as long as you get your heart checked regularly, you don't have to give up basketball,"

Lucas nodded his head as tears formed in his eyes. "Yeah, I do," he softly said.

Peyton cradled his face, sensing there was something he was holding back from her, "Why, Luke?"

With his hand, he gently removed her hand from his face and held it. He looked into her worrying eyes. The news of his health would only add fear to them and he couldn't do that. In that second he made the decision not to tell her yet.

He wiped his red eyes and got off the bed, "Can we talk later? I need to get ready for the game,"

"Lucas? Wait, why can't you tell me now?" she demanded as she followed him off the bed.

"Because I don't want you to worry,"

Peyton stood in front of her husband and blocked his path to the door. Nothing made sense to her. There was something else that he wasn't telling her, "Tell me what's going on. Please, Luke. Just tell me,"

"I will. After the game, it'll just be you and me. We'll work everything out then…I promise," he gently let his forehead rest on hers.

A few seconds later, Lucas made his way to the door with Peyton in tow.

Peyton watched Lucas open the door, "Lucas…" she pleaded in soft voice.

Instead of giving into her plea, Lucas gently pushed her curly bangs out of her eyes and kissed her forehead. "I love you,"

She stared deeply into his soft, comforting eyes that knew exactly how to make her give in easily. Peyton never quite understood how he did it, but every time he looked at her that way she never won an argument – no matter how stubborn she was.

Peyton threw her arms tightly around him. She too had missed him dearly and longed for his touch and comfort. Lucas slowly wrapped his arms around her slender waist and held her, welcoming her embrace. He buried his face into her neck, took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Together they took in the moment as neither of them never wanted to let each other go.


Back in his own room, Lucas let out a heavy sigh as he plopped himself on his bed. His conversation with Peyton replayed in his mind. He wondered how things could have been different if he told her. He also wondered why he didn't tell her.

Lucas reached across the bed for his brown leather journal that was sitting on his nightstand. His back settled up against the headboard as he flipped through the manila coloured pages until he found a blank page after his last entry. With his black pen, he began to write out some of his thoughts:

After all the things that Peyton and I have been through, how could I be so selfish to think that what I am doing is right? Ever since we've been together, she had been my rock…the only person who understood me and who was there for me. So why couldn't I tell her that my heart condition worsened and that I was told to quit playing professional basketball?

Maybe it's because I never wanted Peyton to worry about me or feel as scared as I was every time I stepped onto the court. Maybe it's because I knew she would make me obey the doctor's order and quit playing that second... I just need one more game before I can prove it to them. I know I can take care of myself and when I get myself through this last game, I'll be OK...we'll be OK.