A/N: Hi! I hope you're still out there, because I've missed you. I'm SO sorry I haven't updated before. It's been so hard to write lately. Actually both creatively and physically, but I guess creatively is the bigger reason. Anyway, here's finally something. I'm not completely happy with it. I was hoping to write more, but if I kept this any longer I'd never get it to you guys so I broke my plans down to smaller pieces and this is sort of the bridge to what happens over the weekend.

Monday

The following morning Peyton knocked on the Bakers' front door. No one seemed to answer but since the door wasn't locked she stepped inside anyway. There was a dark blue blanket spread in the middle of the living room floor. There were still some leftovers from what must have been a romantic dinner and And the whole room was decorated with gerberas - Brooke's favorite flowers.

Seeing it all Peyton took two steps back towards the door. Brooke and Julian had clearly had some private time last night and she was not supposed to be there.

"Don't even think about it !" Brooke's commanding voice stopped her before she could make it all the way back to the door. Peyton turned to look at her best friend who was wearing just her dressing gown.

"Looks like you had a nice one-on-one date with the hubby last night.." Peyton smiled. "I really don't want to bother.." she stepped backwards a little.

"Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer. You are my best friend. You don't bother me.." Brooke stopped her again. "Besides, part of Julian's plan was to give me some peaceful time this morning so Brandon will go to work with him today and Haley is having Ellen for all day. Come sit down. I can't think of anything I'd like more than to use this 'peaceful time' painting my toenails with you."

Peyton nodded and made her way to the couches while Brooke picked up her nail stuff.

"Pick a color." Brooke instructed as she joined Peyton. Peyton pointed at a black one causing Brooke to roll her eyes. "Some things will keep you forever in your teenage."

"So, how was the date?" they said at the same time and then bursted to laughter.

"We already started about you, so just continue. It's probably more fun anyway." Peyton decided.

Brooke raised her eyebrows at her, but then let it go. Peyton could see how she melted as she moved on to think about the night before.

"Wasn't it just last time we talked, when I whined we hadn't had a one-on-one date since Ellen was born? Well, yesterday Julian came home from work really early." Brooke smiled blissfully. "He was really mysterious. He kissed me like he always does when he comes home, but then he just went to the bedrooms and didn't really say anything. A while later he came back with a two back-bags, one for Brandon and one for Ellen. He told me to get the kids to the car and take Ellen to Naley's and Brandon to Lucas."

Brooke paused for a moment to highlight the wonderful part coming up. "In the meanwhile he had set up the most delicious gourmet picnic, lit up the whole living room with candles and decorated it with flowers." Brooke pointed with her hands how the room was still decorated as it had been. "Gah! It was so perfect. We enjoyed the silence of not having the kids around and we flirted and he rubbed my feet and then things escalated. It reminded me of the times when we were going out. The passion and the playfulness and the possibility to be spontaneous.."

"Uh, no more details please!" Peyton raised her hand up to the aird, but smiled. "I love you Brooke and I'm so happy about your happiness. You are my best friend and you deserve it. But you gotta remember that I'm an old spinster. Marital bliss isn't exactly my expertise."

"Peyton! You aren't old. And spinster? You are 29 and way too hot to be called a spinster!"

Peyton rolled her eyes. "I think being this screwed up balances for everything else.."

"Okay, so what happened on Your Date? Sounds like it didn't go so well."

"I ended the trial. I know, who am I to turn down the only man who has actually wanted to be with me since I turned 21?" Brooke looked at her sternly. She didn't have to say it out loud to let Peyton know she had to stop the nonsense.

"A part of me is relieved. I don't really miss being his girlfriend. I don't even miss the idea. If I ever even had a very serious idea about it when it came to him. He's an awesome friend, but.." Peyton didn't finish the sentence, but continued in flow. "Then the part of me thinks that I just turned down the only man who wanted me. That I just sealed my pre-existing sentence to loneliness for life."

"Peyton.." Brooke basically whimpered. It hurt to see her amazing best friend thinking so little of herself. "That won't.."

But Peyton shot up from the couch surprising herself, too, how she exploded to her best friend "You know, you have no right to finish that sentence! Whatever stupid reassuring lines you were going to feed me, don't you dare finish them until you can say you're almost 30 years old, practically the only one among your friends without a family and it it has been YEARS that way. So unless you can say you know even something about what it's like, don't come talking to me about it like you'd actually know." With that she stomped out of the house, into her Comet and drove away leaving Brooke to sit on her couch and take it all in.

Brooke's hand played with her beautiful wedding band while her mind feverishly trying to find a way to make everything better for her best friend. Had she been naive to think for a while that they would just start gushing about the future or at least book a break-up recovery evening with a loads of ice cream and chocolate and some always needed girly time? Maybe.

The truth was Brooke obviously couldn't say she had experience in Peyton's current feelings. She had the most wonderful husband and two amazing kids. Although there had been times when she had been "the lonely one" in the group, she had already been married for the last five years. Brooke hadn't had Naley-timing, but she had still been younger than maybe most people. However, she also knew that in this day and age, Peyton wasn't by any means late to the party yet.

Her best friend was a smart, beautiful and successful woman with an amazing heart. Peyton would be wanted and loved and get everything she ever wanted. Brooke had no doubt about it. She search for her cell phone and event typed the message. "I'm sorry P. I know I don't know. But I still do know that that when everything is just right, you will be a wife to someone amazing and a mother of a bunch of awesome kids. I have no doubt about that."

She didn't send the message. It wouldn't have done any good. As she erased the text she thought about what her best friend would need to get what she wanted so bad.

Peyton just needed to find someone she wanted to share all that with. In a way Neil had been too safe. He could make her laugh, but that was just too shallow. Who could break down the walls she had built up? Who could be the one to receive and give such fierce and powerful love Peyton deserved and clearly wanted, too?

Brooke sighed. She knew the history. She knew there was one man who could bring up that Peyton. She hoped to God there were others, too. But so far she had only seen one man to make Peyton live life to the fullest. The passion and the will power just multiplied when Lucas was around. Whether they were "just friends" or a couple.

So hesitantly she chose Haley to receive her text message and wrote: "I'm still extremely cautious of your best friend's love for my best friend. But if you are helping him to win her back, I want to be there, too. Team Leyton as long as it's Team Peyton."

Brooke hit send. She knew Haley was over the moon about the obvious fact that Lucas still loved Peyton. She also had to admit he had been nicely humble about himself lately. It had been darn good speech he had given to Brooke about not being good enough for Peyton. She still agreed, but the desperate, pitiable best friend she had talked to this morning was not okay. If he could help bring some life into Peyton, it might make up for the fact he was Lucas Scott.

Brooke's phone beeped. 1 new message from Haley.

"Uh! Great! Mia is out of town until next week, but then we need to meet up and talk! I'm so happy for your blessing."

Brooke replied right away.

"This is NOT yet a full blessing to the cause! Next week works. Why Mia?"

They could take things slow, right? Evaluate whether broody could be worthy of Peyton again.. Then again it was Lucas and Peyton. Could they really take it slow?

Haley's reply paused Brooke's thinking. "Oh trust me, we'll need Mia in this one."

Friday

"Aunt Pey! What's this?" Lydia had just arrived to Red Bedroom office. She jumped to the chair behind Peyton's desk and looked at the computer screen. Peyton followed her goddaughter to her desk.

"That my friend, is Facebook." Peyton reached for the mouse to close the window, but the five-year-old was quicker and blocked her way to the mouse.

"What's that? Isn't that mama's picture?" Lydia was intrigued.

"Yeah it is. When you're over 13 years old you can put up a profile and talk with your friends there. Your mama just wrote there that she's excited to be driving to Charleston with your daddy." Peyton explained and closed the browser.

"But we should have talked to someone. Isn't that what we're supposed to do there?"

"Well right now we're supposed to go check out that band so we can drive to Wilmington and get started with the girls' weekend." Peyton sighed. She was feeling somehow really weak all of a sudden.

Lydia accepted. They closed the office and went to listen to the soundcheck at Tric's side. The wave of weakness had still not subsided and so Peyton was extremely happy there were a few couches at Tric.

Lydia on the other hand wasn't as happy with the circumstances. She had accepted it when Peyton said they needed to leave the office and the interesting social media applications. But unlike Brandon, Lydia didn't enjoy just sitting still and listening to a random band play. Even if she loved the company of her favorite aunt, hanging out like that wasn't socially fulfilling enough.

"Aunt Pey, I'm bored."

Peyton offered her coloring books and few other easily accessible activities, but it wasn't quite fun enough, when the visions of facebook and talking to her favorite people were still so clear on her mind.

"I wanna talk with someone."

"I'm sorry honey, I have to listen to this band a little bit, but I promise we can talk when we're driving to Wilmington. Won't be long anymore." Peyton was surprised how nicely she said it. She was feeling extremely tired and an unhappy five-year-old was really not what she needed to get the energy back.

"Well can I call someone then?" Lydia flashed her best Scott-smirk. She knew Peyton couldn't refuse it.

"Who do you want to call? Brandon?"

"Nooo." Lydia smiled sweetly. "I wanna call uncle Lucas? Do you have his number?"

A/N: The next chapter will continue with Peyton&Lydia's weekend. Maybe Lucas will be part of it somehow, too.. Should he? Why would Haley and Brooke need Mia? A review would help help me get motivated again.. I'll do my very best to get back on track with writing and updating again. But considering the last half a year I can't promise more than my best effort to try and beat the obstacles.