Chapter 17 – Just Keeps Getting Better

Getting ready to go to the family dinner three days after Fred's return from the hospital, Peyton was pounding and stomping around the room, becoming angry with anyone in sight. She hated 'family' dinners with Dan and Deb more than she disliked anything else in her seemingly perfect life. With Karen and Keith they always felt at home, able to act normally and have a good time with the people they loved. In the presence of the man who had attempted at one point or another to ruin both of the younger Scott couples, dinner was a lot less desirable. After Winifred was born, Peyton had been surprised when Dan and Deb showed up in the hospital to meet her. As far as the new mother had been concerned, Karen, Keith and Larry were the grandparents to her beautiful baby. Thirteen years later, the most tyrannical of the Scott brood still felt they had some sort of right over Lucas and Peyton's children. Slightly amusing after all the time Dan had spent attempting to ignore Lucas's existence in his life.

Lucas probably should have turned around and walked back out of the room when he entered to find Peyton stomping around, slamming drawers and flinging clothing. Instead, he closed the door and tried to greet her. Her hazel eyes glared at him for a moment and then went back to a hasty search for some unknown item.

"I have nothing to wear," she said in a frustrated tone as she pushed hangers haphazardly along the closet bar, causing several blouses to fall to the floor.

"I'm sure there's something—"

"There's not!"

"Peyton, you look fine with what you have on." He was trying to stop her incessant pacing and mad dashes from closet to dresser, but she was obviously avoiding him.

"I'm wearing jeans," she seethed. "I can't wear jeans to Sunday dinner. You know that."

"It's not that big a deal. If you want to wear jeans, wear them."

"I don't want to go," she said suddenly, as though just coming to the revelation herself. "I can't go over there. I don't want all those people asking questions and looking at me like I've done something wrong."

"You haven't done anything wrong."

"My baby girl is sick and has been for months. And there's nothing I can do—"

"That doesn't make you a bad mother," Lucas said gently as he finally caught her and wrapped his arms around her in an embrace. "You were the only one who knew something was wrong, even when the doctors were writing it off. Fred is going to be fine. And that's not likely to be a topic of conversation at dinner."

"Has something else happened in the past three days more captivating?"

"Peyton," Lucas said with a chuckle, "I think you're worrying over nothing." That was the wrong thing to say. She pulled away from him and went back to the closet, looking once more through the dozens of apparently unappealing skirts and slacks. "This isn't all about dinner. If you're going to be angry with me, at least tell me why."

"It's not about you! And I'm not angry!"

"Peyt, you're very angry. What's going on?" Lucas finally stopped her from pacing by waiting for her to pass and grabbing her from behind. He held her in front of her, not allowing her to continue her rampage.

"Lucas!"

"Calm down for a second. Could you stop the pacing? If you're not worried about Fred and you feel fine, what's with the mood?"

"I'm just as entitled to bad days as the next person." Her words were broken with the beginnings of sobs and Lucas did let go, allowing her to continue pacing the room while he sat down on the bed in defeat.

"This is a little extreme," Lucas said. "Is it coming up to that time?"

"Are you suggesting that I'm being irrational because of my period?" Peyton's voice was dangerously cold and it caused Lucas to inwardly cringe. Nevertheless, he decided to be brave and nod.

"It crossed my mind."

"For your information, it's not that time—" She stopped herself mid-sentence and ran from the room, Lucas in quick pursuit.

"Peyton!" It had taken him a minute to catch up because he had not expected her to run away and by the time he reached the den; she had torn apart most of her desk. She clawed quickly through her date book and Lucas could see that something unexpected was found in the little rectangle of green leather.

"What is it?"

"Oh God."

"Peyton, talk to me—"

"It's been months." Her expression was one of disbelief as she thumbed through the date book, flipping back and forth to make certain she hadn't missed one of the little black stars that usually occupied a square or two every month.

"What do you mean?" He tried to look at the book and make sense of what she was saying, but he was completely lost.

"Months Lucas. I haven't—" Suddenly, he realized what she was talking about and he couldn't help the grin that quickly graced his countenance.

"Could you be?" Peyton glared at him and shook her head in disbelief at his question.

"I'm only thirty-one! Of course I could be!" He closed the den door and crossed the room, taking advantage of her surprise to pull his arms around her in an embrace.

"I know you're young enough. I just wasn't aware that you stopped taking the pill."

"I didn't. I must have missed some. With Fred, it's been so crazy—" Her voice was growing softer, calmer as the realization of the possibilities settled over her.

"It's okay. We'll handle it. It's not the worst thing that's happened."

"It's awful timing," she said mournfully.

"We should make sure before we start worrying," he said evenly, trying to stop her negative thoughts. He looked at his watch and groaned. "I'll call Deb and tell her we're not coming—"

"No!"

"Peyton, it's okay. I'll just order a pizza or something—"

"If we don't go, they'll all think something's wrong. And I don't want people dropping by all week to make sure everything's okay. The last time we skipped a dinner, it took three months to convince Deb that you and I weren't considering a separation. And it just gives Dan ammunition for the next time he eggs you into an argument."

"Are you sure about this?"

"No," she said with a shake of her head. "But we don't have a choice." A loud knock sounded on the door, transforming them immediately from worried, angst-ridden Peyton and Lucas to plain old mom and dad. It was Ryan, informing them that it was time to leave.

"Wait for us in the living room. We'll be out in a few minutes," Lucas said without regard to the fact that they were going to be late. Ryan saw Peyton in jeans and a t-shirt and indignation came over the little boy.

"Hey! If mom gets to wear jeans, so do I!"

"Your mom's not wearing jeans," Lucas retuned sternly. "We'll be ready soon. Go watch your little sister." Ryan left; sulking with the indignity of a nine year old forced to wear khakis, a collared shirt, and his hair slicked back. Peyton smiled slightly, shaking her head as they walked back to their bedroom.

"You'd think we were making him wear a bow tie," she said with a laugh.

"Hey," Lucas said with an amused sparkle in his blue eyes, "that's not a bad idea!" He could breathe again, now that he had heard her laugh; it was going to be all right. Since she so rarely got into moods anymore, the infrequent times always caused Lucas to worry. She didn't have Brooke to talk to as much anymore, and while Haley was a good friend, she had never understood Peyton as much as either Brooke or Lucas. For the moment, life was calm again and they continued to get ready for dinner, pushing from their minds the coming changes in their lives.

The title comes from the song "Amazed" by Lonestar

"I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I want to spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby, I'm amazed by you".