I'm so sorry that the update took so long. I've been busy finishing up my undergrad degrees and trying to keep up with the rest of life. Graduation is in a few days and then I get to start Grad school two days later—I need a break! Luckily, I love writing these stories, so hopefully I'll have time to keep up with them. I hope you're enjoying reading them – I always love to know what you think! Thanks for being patient, happy reading!

Chapter 29 Love Leaves a Memory

The social worker came to the Scott house a few days later to speak with Laura and then with Peyton and Lucas. They understood that it was unorthodox to keep her with them considering they weren't family and they were never registered as foster parents, but the social worker agreed that she seemed content and safe there. Laura would be allowed to stay with the Scott family until the court date, when it would be decided whether or not her parents would regain custody.

About a week after the little girl had come to stay with them, the family had an off day; the first one in quite some time. Most of it stemmed from the fact that Peyton wasn't feeling much like herself. When Lucas returned home from work, he took over and made dinner for the family and then made sure that the kids had done their homework and gotten ready for bed. By the time he was finished, he felt as though he had worked for days instead of a few short hours.

"Hey," Lucas said softly as he crept out onto the back porch. Peyton was curled up into a corner of the wooden swing, her chin resting on her knees as the swing rocked her gently in the light breeze. She looked up and smiled at Lucas, but he could see the exhaustion though her happy façade. Closing the door behind him, he stepped out onto the moonlighted deck and sat next to her on the creaking old swing. "I don't know how you do this everyday," he said with a shake of his head. "I don't know how people do it without having someone at home."

"I'm not the one who needs a pep-talk," Peyton said with a small smile.

"Everyone can do with one now and again."

"Well thank you," she said softly. He continued to stare at her, so she closed her eyes to avoid his prying blue orbs. "I'm just a little out of it. I'll be fine."

"Tomorrow's going to be hard," Lucas commented nonchalantly, making her head snap up in surprise. "You thought I forgot."

"No," she said slowly. "I know you wouldn't. But really, I need to just grow up and –"

"Don't," Lucas interrupted, unwinding her hands from her kneed and taking them between his own larger hands. "Don't ever blame yourself for mourning. It's not something you're supposed to get over in any set time. It's okay to remember and be sad."

"It's just so hard," she said with choked words. "To pretend I don't miss him. He's never going to see Fred in a cheerleading competition, or see Ashton's work in an art show, or watch Ryan play ball. It's not fair. I lost her and then he was all I had for so long. And then one day he was gone too. How do I forget that?"

"You don't," Lucas assured her in soft tones. "And you don't need to pretend. We all miss him. He was a far better father than mine ever dreamed of being."

"Would you still give up Dan to bring my mom back?"

"And Deb to bring your dad back," Lucas assured her. "Why, did you find some sort of pagan ritual?"

"No," Peyton said with a laugh as she swatted him. Her eyes misted over a bit as she thought back to their teenage years, when she was just beginning to trust Lucas. "That was when I really knew I could love you, when you said that about my mom. No one else had ever offered my something so—selfless."

"Dan isn't all that much to give up," Lucas scoffed.

"But the gesture was huge. And it made me realize what a great guy you were."

"And then it only took us four years to start dating again—"

"We never dated," Peyton argued. "We just got married."

"No," Lucas said with a chuckle and a shake of his head, "I guess we didn't date too much—"

"At all," Peyton corrected him. "We never went on a date."

"What about that homecoming game freshman year? You wore that blue number—hey, do you still have that?"

"I still have it," Peyton said in a disbelieving tone. "But if you think I fit into it after four kids, you're crazier than we thought—"

"You're as beautiful as the day I met you—"

"Well yeah," she agreed and the started to laugh when Lucas began to tickle her. "Lucas, stop! Okay, you're beautiful too. Well, handsome," she corrected when he frowned. "But I am chubbier."

"You're not chubby," Lucas said with a groan. "You've had kids. You're not skin and bones. It happens. But you're certainly not chubby."

"Okay."

"You live to torture me." He sighed and leaned down to kiss her, only pulling away when he felt warm tears falling down her cheeks. "Whatever happened to you? You never used to cry."

"I don't know." Peyton was wiping away the tears, laughing as she tried to control the sobs. "I have no idea anymore."

"You're just tired."

"If you say so."

"I hope so." His wish was followed by a groan and a mock expression of annoyance. "Because I don't have time to deal with a crazy wife."

"Crazy artists bring in more money than sane ones."

"We can live without the money."

"Can I remind you of that the next time you do the checkbook?"

"What did you buy?"

"Nothing," Peyton said quickly, looking away in mock-guilt.

"Peyton—"

"Brooke and I –"

"That's never a good beginning to an explanation dealing with money."

"We went shopping for baby things for Haley."

"Haley has baby things from Jared," Lucas pointed out.

"But these things are all so cute. Besides, I just sold another painting to some big buyer in New York. You're gonna love the paycheck."

"I loved the painting."

"It's only good when it means something to someone. And it must have meant something if this guy was willing to shell out half a million."

"Peyton, that's great!"

"I was impressed," she agreed with a nod.

"You should be. We're going to dinner tomorrow night to celebrate. Actually, we're spending the whole day together."

"Luke, Fred has a doctor's appointment and I promised Ashton we'd go to the zoo after lunch. There's some animal he wants a picture of—"

"Nathan and Haley are already planning on taking the kids for the day. Brooke and Jenny are taking Fred to the doctor's appointment and then on some all-day spa and shopping extravaganza. And Hales can introduce Ashton to the wonderful world of No arguments. The kids are leaving in half an hour. Go say your goodbyes."

"They're sleeping over?"

"We have one full day of freedom, including wake up calls."

"What about Laura?"

"She loves Hales, they've already spent time together. She'll be fine."

"Luke, I won't be much fun—"

"You're never any fun," Lucas teased. "But I still love you. Now stop arguing and go help Fred pick out something to wear."

"Are you going to tell me where we're going tomorrow?"

"No."

"Please?"

"Nope."

"Pretty please with a cherry on top?" She asked in a mock-seductive voice as she pretended to flirt with him.

"Sorry, I have a wife. Old married men can't be flirted with."

"If you're old, I can't be married to you. Because I'm not old," Peyton said sassily as she walked into the house, closing the door with a smart click. Lucas chuckled to himself and sat back on the swing, content to watch the night sky for a few more minutes.

I know this chapter was a bit sidetracked, but it was on my mind. The next chapter should delved back into the major storylines. The chapter title comes from this Irish saying: "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal."