Thank you to everyone who had been reviewing! Please continue letting me know what you think. I do take suggestions into consideration. For those who asked, I do plan on including Haley and Nathan more at some point and there will be a lot more to do with Brooke and Jenny. Here's the next chapter, hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 12 Beloved Sleep

Lucas entered his bedroom and saw that Peyton was already under the covers, sketching away on a notepad balanced on her knees. He quickly recognized it as one of his bankbooks. Opening one of their closets, he fished through a bottom shelf and pulled out an empty sketchpad, which he tossed gently on the bed next to her before he continued to get himself ready for bed.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly after she made the connection. "It didn't look that important."

"Oh, it's not all that important," he said with an amused smile, "I'll just explain to the IRS that I can't do my taxes because my wife turned my records into a work of art."

"Think they'd buy it?" Peyton asked playfully.

"I think I'd take my chances. It's either that or get rid of you," he said jokingly. "And I've grown quite accustomed to having you around."

"Quite accustomed? What were you and Ashton reading?"

"Beverly Cleary. Trust me, no high English there." Lucas, now clothed in a t-shirt and boxers, flopped down on the bed and gently removed the bankbook from Peyton. "I think we'll make a trade." She picked up the sketchbook but didn't open it; instead she turned her focus to her husband.

"Did you find anything in the insurance papers?"

"I found a few numbers. But it's Saturday, so we'll have to wait until Monday to make any calls. Don't worry so much. Fred's doing fine."

"If she's worse tomorrow, we're going to the hospital."

"It's a deal." Luckily for all of them, Winifred seemed perfectly fine the next day. In fact, she looked better than she had all summer. Peyton kept a close eye on her though and seriously considered staying close to home all day. The only problem occurring was Sunday dinner; traditionally a family dinner with Dan and Deb. Although it was one of Peyton's least favorite things, she dealt with it because it was easier than arguing. And it gave her the chance to see Nathan and Haley on a regular basis. They were all so busy that entire weeks flew by without more than a phone call or two between the two families.

They returned from dinner later than usual and kids were told to get ready for bed right away. Later that night, when the clock was flirting with the midnight hour, Peyton heard a hesitant knock at their bedroom door.

"Come in," she said softly, swinging her legs to the side of the bed and abandoning the sketchpad she had been working with. Standing up, she was halfway across the room when the doorknob turned slowly and the door creaked open, revealing an extremely upset looking Ashton. He was dressed in his blue pajamas covered in basketballs and he had his cute little blue robe pulled on over top. "Hey Ash. What's wrong?" The little boy looked down at the floor, trying his best to seem intently interested in the soft blue carpeting. "Hey, what's going on?" Peyton stooped in front of him, trying to make eye contact but failing; that was apparently not going to happen. She was directing him back toward the bed when Lucas came out of the bathroom in his pajamas.

"Hey Ash, why aren't you sleeping, buddy?" Peyton shook her head, signaling to Lucas that she knew nothing. The three of them sat on the bed, huddled under the warmth of the covers, before anyone continued the less-than-successful conversation.

"Did something happen? You know you can tell us." They were both silent for a few minutes after they realized that Ashton was merely building up the confidence to speak. Eventually, he started to speak in a shaky voice.

"Mrs. Leer got mad at me Friday." Peyton was about to point out that was three days prior, but decided to allow him to continue uninterrupted. "She said I wasn't allowed read more of the books."

"What books?" Lucas asked carefully. Ashton sniffled and Peyton reached over to get him a tissue, with which he blew his nose before continuing.

"History and Reading and that stupid French book. She said we're only 'apposed to read in chapter 3. She was mad 'cause I was reading chapter 6."

"We'll talk to her. You shouldn't worry about it, as long as you pay attention to what she's doing. Were you paying attention?" Lucas knew the answer from Ashton's guilty expression before he spoke.

"I already knew the stuff she was talking about," Ashton answered innocently.

"Well, it's not something to get all worked up over," Peyton tried to assure him gently.

"But she sent a note home," Ashton said despondently, "she said you have to sign it."

"Can we see it first?" Peyton asked with a smile. Apparently, though, Ashton didn't think this was any kind of laughing matter. He put his hand into the pocket of his robe and fished around for a while before coming up with a crumpled envelope that he handed to Peyton.

"Why didn't you give this to us Friday?"

"Kaylee said I'd be in trouble. I didn't want you to be mad."

"We're not going to be angry if you tell the truth. You know that. Don't listen to anyone who tells you otherwise." Ashton nodded and waited with an expression of misery as Peyton carefully glanced over the note. She handed it to Lucas and raised her eyebrows, signaling that it was an interesting piece of news. While he read over it, Peyton attempted to assure Ashton that he wasn't in any trouble but hugging him and telling him how proud she was didn't seem to be cutting it. Eventually Ashton accepted that he wasn't in any sort of trouble, but he still seemed to have many things on his young mind as Lucas walked him back to his own room. When he returned to their bedroom, Peyton was still staring at the letter from the little boy's teacher.

"What do you think?"

"It think it's insane," Peyton whispered.

"He's obviously bored in school. That note from Mrs. Leer said that he's reading at a fifth grade level. And his math is advanced at least an extra two grades."

"But at least he's with kids his own age. Can you imagine if they skip him to the fourth grade? And think about how Ryan's going to feel about it."

"We can't hold Ash back because it's going to hurt Ryan's feelings. He'll get over it. They're brothers."

"Yeah, you and Nathan were always brothers. And you almost killed one another when you met up in school."

"It was different. We weren't raised together."

"Do you think Ashton is ready for something like this?"

"Academically, yeah. He's a smart kid. I'd hate for him to miss an opportunity like this if it's something that would benefit him in the long run."

"He's just a baby," Peyton argued. "What if it screws him up for the rest of his life?"

"Those are chances we take every day," Lucas replied with a smirk. "Why don't we talk to the principle first, and find out more before we worry."

"I like how you add that in... before we worry," she muttered sarcastically. "Can we just go to sleep already? This day feels like it's never going to end."

"Sleep it is," Lucas said playfully as he threw her sketchpad across the room and gently tackled her, causing her to giggle.

"Shush," she said softly. "Aston's probably not sleeping."

"The door's locked," Lucas said mischievously.

"Have I told you today that I love you?"

"I don't mind hearing it twice," he answered before dropping fleeting kisses along her throat.

"I love you."

"And I love you." After days of worrying about nothing but their children, Lucas and Peyton Scott spent a few hours alone together, remembering once more how lucky they were to have one another. Then, after a long and trying day, sleep overtook the overworked couple.

The title for this chapter comes from this quote:

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834)
Oh sleep! it is a gentle thing,
Beloved from pole to pole.
The Ancient Mariner. Part v.