-1Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own characters!
Peyton felt at peace. More at peace than she had felt in years. Finally telling Lucas and Lauren the truth was freeing. Granted, Lauren currently wasn't speaking to anyone but Jenny, and she was sure that Lucas would never speak to her again and Brooke probably wanted to do numerous painful things to her. Peyton's shoulders slumped. The peace she had been feeling was gone. Even listening to Karen chatter on excitedly about something didn't raise her spirits.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you I'm not coming home after the game. Logan Adams is having a party and everyone's going." Lauren said evenly, staring at Peyton as if she was daring her to say no.
"Fine. Jake and I have a date tonight anyway." Peyton said with a smile. Thinking about Jake and their somewhat unconventional engagement still managed to bring a smile. They were going to start discussing wedding plans tonight.
She vaguely heard Lauren saying goodbye and gathering her stuff to leave. Peyton however was paying more attention to Lucas who had just walked in looking worried.
"Hey Mom, have you seen Charity?" He asked Karen as he nervously raked a hand through his hair.
"No, not today, why? Is something wrong?" Karen asked quickly.
"She ran out earlier, she was upset, I was hoping she'd come here." He said.
"This is all your fault." He said finally turning to acknowledge Peyton.
"My fault?" She asked incredulously.
"Yes, your fault. If I hadn't had to explain about Lauren then Brooke would still be in the country and Charity wouldn't be god knows where, doing god knows what!" Lucas said angrily. Peyton couldn't believe what she was hearing. He really was blaming this all on her!
"Right because I magically got pregnant with your daughter. You obviously had no part in it." Peyton said sarcastically.
"Oh I'm surprised you don't claim that you conceived her all on your own, seeing how you didn't think she needed a father." Lucas replied just as sarcastically.
"Enough you two. I'll go to the gym and see if she's there. There's a game tonight, remember?" Karen said, leaving them alone.
Peyton watched warily as Lucas joined her in the booth.
"I'm sorry." They both started at the same time. Peyton laughed.
"I'm sorry Luke. I don't want to fight with you. I'm sorry about Brooke and Charity too." She said giving him a smile.
"Me too. I really want us to work this out. For Lauren's sake. I really would like to spend some time with her. Maybe we could work out some sort of custody agreement." Lucas said hopefully.
Peyton drew back as if she'd been slapped. Her mind raced with fear. Custody? No, Lucas couldn't want to take Lauren.
"No, absolutely not. She's my daughter Lucas." Peyton said adamantly.
"Peyton, she's my daughter too." Lucas said sounding confused.
"I don't care. I never should have told you." Peyton said shaking her head. She couldn't make herself believe this was really happening.
"Peyton you're being ridiculous. Please, don't make this harder than it is. We can just work something out between us." Lucas reasoned.
She continued to shake her head no. There would be no changing her mind on this.
"Don't make me have to get a lawyer to see my daughter. If she really is my daughter." Lucas said snidely.
"What?" Peyton all but yelled.
"How do I know you weren't sleeping around behind my back. Hell, who knows if you even know for sure that I'm her father." He said coldly.
She couldn't believe what she was hearing. He was starting to sound a lot more like Dan than himself.
"Alright Dan lets not get too condescending." She replied rudely.
"Hey Dan might not have claimed me, but at least he knew for sure I was his." Lucas said icily as he walked out on her.
Peyton fought to keep the tears from falling. She couldn't believe he had sunken so low as to use cheap shots against her. She had only wanted Lucas and Lauren to know the truth and now she stood to lose almost everything.