"Lucas!" "Lucas" Peyton woke up as soon as she felt empty sheets by her side and when she couldn't find him, bolted out of their room to the lobby of the hotel.

Lucas was talking to the front desk and had his bag.

"Wait!"

"You were just going to leave me." She stared at him with teary eyes.

Lucas moved them to the side for privacy. "Peyton, I can't stay here. What more is there to say? Maybe, we... I think we should take a break."

"What! You're breaking up with me?"

"I said a break. Look I know what I want and it's to be married to you. I'm not saying we can't wait to marry until we are living together but I need to know you are all in. I don't mind long distance for now and I'm even willing to move here but I need to know what you want in your heart for us."

"Lucas you have to know I do want to marry you. I want to be with you. I have no doubts about that. There is nothing in the world I want more. I'm just scared and I'm not saying you will but what if you resent me or..."

He interrupted "Peyton, being engaged or married to you doesn't mean I give up my life or dreams. I still will take any opportunity coming my way while married or engaged...to you. In fact..."

"What?"

"I, I, I just got a call from an editor in NY who wants to publish my book. " He looked like he couldn't believe what he was saying.

"What?! Oh my God Lucas I am so proud of you" She grabbed him and kissed him hard on the lips. She didn't want to let go. "You did it!" She felt so good in his arms.

He held her for a few minutes. "Peyton, I can be engaged to you and follow my dreams. I just need to know if you are willing to do the same. Why don't I give you some time to think and I'll talk to you after I go to NY?"

"No, no no I know what I want and what I want is you and I want to marry you. I'm just scared I don't want to mess us up."

"Blondie, it's just me...us there is nothing to be scared of baby about following your heart. Eventually we are going to have to be living together here in LA or Tree Hill. I can pursue my dreams anywhere, I would rather pursue them with you."

"So would I. If I'm following my heart my answer has always been yes, Lucas."

"You want to marry me?"

"YES!" He took out the ring box and she for the first time really got a look at it. "Oh, Luke it's beautiful, perfect."

He slowly slid it on her ring finger. "There, *now* it's perfect right where it belongs."

"When do you have to be in NY?"

"Not until tonight"

Smirking, she said, "well we can start celebrating today then we can finish celebrating when you come back."

"Oh really? That's a long celebration!" He grabbed her hand with one hand and his bag with the other as they made their way upstairs to their room.

.

X

Takes place in the gap between S4 and 5. At the time, it appeared like I was in the minority that blamed both LP and obviously writers for contrived plot to break them up in S5 but I 100% believed Peyton was scared and wrong with her answer of someday. She should answer and followed her heart. She always gets scared of her love for him (see not fessing up to Brooke her love for him, her running away from Lucas at the party) I thought Lucas got a lot of unfair heat for following his heart. If they had to BU I rather be for a slightly realistic reason. If people were fair or mature, while he shouldn't have left, she broke his heart and he let his pain dictate his actions understandably. Someday is nice sounding but a terrible unfair non answer to give someone. Especially when that commitment was made prior to S5.

I'm not a writer but it wouldn't leave my head.