"I had to see it to believe it."

Lucas was at the Rivercourt shooting some baskets when another voice from the past startled. He turned around and couldn't help but feel relieved and happy at the same time. If there was someone who he needed to talk to at the time more than anyone was his uncle Keith.

"Come here rugrat. I think your uncle deserves at least a hug."

Lucas smiled and embraced his uncle.

"So, do you want to tell this old man where the hell you've been hiding for five years?"

Lucas knew there was going to be a catch to Keith seeking him out.

"Who sent you? Mom?"

Keith sighed and shook his head.

"Figures. Look Keith, there are a million different lies I can tell you but nothing is going to sound as real as the truth. You know, you're the first person I've in Tree Hill that hasn't yelled nor slapped me yet."

Keith laughed and put his hand on Lucas' back leading him towards the bleachers.

"So…"

"It's not like it's gonna matter what I say."

"Try me."

"After I got out of rehab, I went to New York. I've always wanted to go there and well I thought that was as best a time as ever to go…so I went and before long, I started to build a life there and I felt real comfortable in the big apple. I didn't have to lie to everyone about who I was. Did you know that New York has one of the highest alcoholic rates in the nation?"

"Lucas…what are you not telling me? What's the main reason for you not coming back? Rehab only takes about a month to three months."

"Peyton. One day I talked to mom and she told me what happened to her after I left."

"Are you talking about Russell?"

"Yeah. Mom told me she had a one night stand with him a couple of days after I disappeared. This was before she found out I was in rehab. Believe me Keith when I say this. I had all of the intentions in the world to come back, but that was before mom told me she was pregnant."

"Lucas…"

"I would've forgiven her because I understood why and how it happened but I couldn't forgive her for not taking care of herself that night. When we were together, she was the most cautious person in the world. She would've never allowed us to have sex without a condom or her being on the pill. There was only one occasion before I disappeared that she allowed it but it was only because we were both too drunk to realize what we were doing that night. But…getting pregnant by a man she hardly knew? Come on, Keith. If my mom would've ever done that to you, would you have forgiven her?"

"Lucas, these are two totally different situations. Did you even listen to your mother or ask Peyton for an explanation about her pregnancy?"

"I didn't need any. I heard everything that I needed to hear. She told me she loved me." Tears have gathered in Lucas' eyes he remembered the moment his mother told him that Peyton was pregnant. The pain he felt that day, resurfaced once again. He swallowed his tears and stood up with the ball in hand.

"How about a game of horse? I promise to take it easy on you old man."

Lucas smiled at his uncle and Keith couldn't resist himself. He took the ball from Lucas and took a jump shot.

In her room, Peyton was crying on her bed. Russell entered and laid next to her, looking at her, trying to find her eyes.

"Hey baby, what's wrong?"

"You know, when I was gone for about 30 minutes from the reception?" Russell shook his head and Peyton situated herself on the bed so that she would be on her side looking into his blue eyes. "I went after Lucas. I told Haley to give him the keys to the old apartment. The one that Nathan and her lived at when they first got married. I asked him so many questions but only got like two answers. You have no idea how hard it was for me to see and talk to him again. He's changed so much Russell. I hardly recognize him."

"Imagine how hard it must have been for him. For you and everyone here, he's a ghost from the past. To him, you all must be the same. It's never easy coming from out of the shadows like he did to come back to a past…a family…friends…that he once had. Everything he once knew, doesn't exist anymore Peyt. Everyone here in Tree Hill must accept that."

"You sound like you're talking from experience."

Russell smiles and runs his hand lovingly through Peyton's hair. "Maybe I am…maybe I'm not. Just give the poor man a break. I know you once loved him and that he broke his heart. But imagine that maybe his broke too."

"I hope it's true. I want him to feel everything that I felt."

"Peyt, don't talk like that."

"I can't help it. It comes naturally when Lucas Scott is referenced to."

"And how do you when it comes to your husband?"

"I just think about how wonderful and handsome he is and then my mouth does all the rest when it comes to thinking of all the beautiful words to describe him." Peyton laid a hand on the side of his face and kissed him intensely on the lips. "Have I told you today how much I love you?" Russell shakes his head no. "Because I do, I do love you Russell Peretz…I love you with all my heart and God help me if anything were to ever happen to you."

"I promise you that you will never have to worry about my wellbeing. I promised to love and respect you and with those vows came promises such as to protect myself, you, and little A. As well as to make sure that every night I come home in one piece so that my wife can scrub off all the dirt that comes with the package."

Peyton smiles and leans her forehead against him. "You are one sexy fireman when you come home. I don't mind scrubbing you clean baby."

"I hope you wouldn't because then that would have meant that I was losing my touch with the ladies."

"It better just be lady."

"You know it babe."

Russell kissed his wife softly on the lips and was about to get off the bed to change when Peyton pulled him by the arms and kissed him passionately. "Make love to me husband." Russell happily obliged.