AN: I know I've been a crappy updater lately and I'm sorry. I haven't felt very inspired to write at all and I don't mean to keep my readers waiting but when I'm not inspired there isn't much I can do. I wish I could be one of those authors who update on a regular basis but unfortunately that is not the case where I'm concerned. I go through phases of serious writers block, lack of inspiration and motivation. However, I do promise to finish all of my stories and I want to thank everyone who remains patient and keeps reading. Also thank you to everyone who continues to review, your feedback is greatly appreciated.

I hope this chapter makes up for the long wait :) Flashbacks are in italics.

I'm hoping the new season of OTH will keep me inspired and hopefully my updates will be more frequent.

Chapter 6 – Reconnect

Lucas sat on the cold plastic chair, his hands twitching, his thoughts on Peyton and his unborn child. The paramedics rushed her away from him as soon as they had entered the hospital. Now all he could do was sit and wait until a doctor informed him what was happening. He hated being away from her, he hated the thought of her suffering alone but there was nothing he could do. He was always the one to save her. He was her hero in every sense of the word but at this moment in time there was nothing he could do to make everything better and that alone made him feel utterly useless and a failure as her husband.

His thoughts were interrupted when a doctor approached him.

"Mr Scott?" he questioned.

"Yes" he replied standing up to meet the doctor's gaze. "How is she? What's happening? Will the baby be okay?" all these questions left his mouth at a rapid rate, the worry and concern clearly etched in the tone of his voice.

"We've examined your wife and" the doctor paused thinking over how to best phrase what he was about to say.

"And?" Lucas said impatiently.

"It seems that she has gone into premature labour"

"So what happens now?"

"We have no other option but to deliver the baby"

"But it will be okay right?"

"I'm afraid I can't say anything for certain right now. You're wife is only twenty four weeks along meaning the baby hasn't had the chance to fully develop"

"Are you…are you saying the baby might die?" he asked as tears glistened his fearful eyes.

"It's a possibility but I assure you we will do everything we can to make sure that doesn't happen and babies can survive at this stage in the pregnancy. Mrs Scott is being prepped for the delivery as we speak, we have decided to deliver the baby via caesarean section, it's the safest and quickest way"

Lucas nodded trying his best to process all of this information.

"Did the stress cause this?" he asked abruptly.

"Well stress is never a good thing during pregnancy but I can safely assure you that stress was not the determining factor in your wife's early labour. The fall and the impact it had on your wife's abdomen was the main cause" the doctor replied sympathetically.

Some time later the baby was delivered.

"It's a boy" the doctor said while cutting the umbilical cord and handing the baby over to the nurse.

Lucas' heart clenched at the words. It was a boy, his boy, their boy, their son. He had to be okay, he had to make it through this, it couldn't be the end for their son. He held onto his wife's hand as they waited for the tiny baby to cry but they never heard that sound.

"Why isn't he crying?" Peyton screamed tears falling down her face as worry and panic washed over her. Lucas squeezed Peyton's hand trying to comfort her as tears rolled down his own face from the pain his wife was feeling and the continuous fear of losing his child.

The doctors were busy trying to clear his airway but he was so tiny it seemed impossible. After what felt like an eternity he made a small noise and both Lucas and Peyton's eyes widened in hope.

The doctors then wheeled him away quickly.

"Where are you taking him?" Peyton screamed as more tears continued to fall down her pale cheeks. All she wanted was to cradle her son in her loving arms and welcome him into the world but she couldn't do that and it was unbearable.

A doctor finally acknowledged them. "Mr and Mrs Scott your son is in a critical condition and in order to save his life he has been rushed to intensive care"

"Will he be okay?" Lucas asked forcefully but the tone of his voice was laced with fear.

"There are no guarantees but the next twenty four hours are critical. If he makes it through this his chances of survival will significantly increase"

But he never did make it through that night.

The doctors did everything they could but he was just too tiny and undeveloped to survive. Hearing the news that he died broke both of their hearts. It was the worst moment of Lucas and Peyton's lives and everything went downhill for them from there.

She closed the door quietly behind them before leading him into the lounge. After finding Lucas in such a state at the River Court she didn't feel like she could leave him alone. He seated himself on the couch while she switched a lamp on to dimly light the darkened room. Then she sat beside him nervously fiddling with her hands as a silence washed over them.

"Can I get you anything? A drink? Something to eat?" she asked thoughtfully breaking the silence in the process.

"No…I'm fine…thank you" he replied in an empty voice refusing to make eye contact.

"Lucas talk to me"

"What do you want me to say Peyton?" he asked frustrated.

"Tell me what's going on in that head of yours" she replied raising her hand to cup his cheek, making him look at her. He relished in the physical contact leaning his face further into her soft, warm, welcoming hand closing his eyes briefly to fully absorb and cherish the feeling. It was something he had missed in the passing months and one single touch from his wife invoked so many feelings inside of him. It made him feel alive something he hadn't felt in a long time.

"Everything's such a mess" he finally said answering her question.

A mess was an understatement but she nodded her head in agreement before softly whispering, "I know"

"Let me come home Peyton please"

She wasn't expecting that. He caught her off guard with the sudden topic change in their conversation. "Lucas I"

"I want to come home" he said interrupting her, determination present in his voice.

"Its not that simple" she replied removing her hand from his cheek which in turn made him frown at the sudden loss of contact.

"Yes it is! You love me, I love you, we are husband and wife!" he exclaimed.

"But do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Love me" she clarified.

"How can you even ask me that? Peyton you know I love you I always have" he replied standing up as the frustration and anger clouded over him yet again.

"You say that now but you have no idea how you made me feel!" she shouted back standing up to meet his gaze.

"God Peyton I'm sorry how many times do I have to say that?"

"You don't get it do you?"

"Obviously not"

"You blamed me Lucas! You blamed me for our son's death and you have no idea how that made me feel"

"I didn't mean it, you know that"

"It doesn't change the fact that you said it, that you thought it!"

He moved closer to her raising his hand to touch her flushed cheek "Lucas" she breathed trying to protest but he interrupted her.

"I'm sorry Peyton. I know I hurt you these last few months and I'd do anything to take it back…I'm sorry" he said as he continued to caress her face with his hand all the while his gaze focused solely on her lips.

She knew what was coming and she wanted so badly to stop him, to stay strong but it was never that simple, not when it came to Lucas Scott because the feelings she held for this man were undeniable and most of the time out of her control.

He took a hold of her hand and brought it to his lips placing delicate, loving kisses to her fingers making her momentarily close her eyes wanting to lose herself in the sentiment.

"Don't" she whispered opening her eyes trying to gain some self control but she knew she was fighting a losing battle.

"Please Peyton" he whispered, the vulnerability and desperation evident in his voice. He just wanted to be with her, to feel close to her again, it had been far too long and for once he just wanted them both to feel something other than pain. They had become so disconnected with one another, both physically and emotionally. He wanted to change that and reconnect with her on all levels.

Focusing in on her lips again Lucas bravely moved his head closer to hers closing the distance between them until their lips finally met. She didn't push him away, in fact she responded with just as much need and want as he did. The passion overtook them both as Peyton snaked her arms around his neck pulling him closer to her. Lucas slid his tongue into her warm, welcoming mouth moaning at the feeling he had so desperately been seeking. His hands roamed her body as the urge to be with her completely washed over him. He pulled the jacket off of her shoulders; the garment fell to the floor as they both continued getting lost in one another.

When air became an issue Peyton broke away from the kiss and stared into his crystal blue eyes. "We…um…we really shouldn't do this" she finally said trying to think rationally but for some reason she couldn't remove herself from his arms. It was a place that always made her feel safe, secure and loved; she had yearned to feel that way again. Not to mention his eyes, those blue orbs that captivated her in every way imaginable, that drew her in. She really wasn't ready to lose the physical contact they were engaged in right now. She had missed and desperately craved it for months.

"No" he agreed but also made no effort to distance himself away from her. He stared into her eyes searching for a sign to continue but before he could even think about his next move she grabbed his face and pulled his lips to hers in a very passionate and extremely heated frenzy.

She impatiently pulled at his jacket and he shrugged his shoulders out of it making it fall to the floor. He hurriedly backed her up against the wall her legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as they continued crashing their lips together relishing in the feeling of one another. His lips eventually found her neck causing her to moan out in pleasure. The sound made him smile against her neck; he loved the effect he had on his wife and he knew all of her weak spots. Wanting more of a response from her his hand slid under her top cupping her breast, rubbing and gently squeezing causing her nipple to hardened from his touch. He smiled once more before crashing his lips to hers over and over again. Their tongues duelled together, tasting, exploring and loving. He couldn't get enough of her fast enough. She ran her hands through his sandy blonde hair trying to contain herself but failing miserably as she continued to moan at the pleasurable sensation.

"Mmmmmhh Lucas" she breathed rocking her hips against him, the urge to be closer to him taking over her.

That action caused him to harden even more, his trousers starting to feel uncomfortably tight. He pushed himself closer to her warm centre wanting to rid his clothes and be inside of her so badly. With that thought running through his mind he stopped kissing her to pull her top off over her head revealing her black bra and silky soft skin. He traced her skin with his hand sending tingling sensations throughout her entire body and then he sucked above each breast causing Peyton to throw her head back in ecstasy.

Not being able to wait anymore he moved them onto the couch and hastily pulled his shirt and jeans off not caring where the articles of clothing landed. His body then covered hers as his lips got reacquainted with hers in a passionate and loving embrace. Air soon became an issue as they broke apart panting heavily. He placed his hand over her racing heart pleased that he could still have that affect on her, then he lifted her hand so she could feel his own racing heart beat before whispering, "I love you"

She didn't respond verbally but he could see the love in her eyes. He softly pecked her on the lips before his lips descended down her neck and between her breasts trailing all the way down her stomach stopping when he reached her jeans. He expertly removed the remainder of her clothing along with his boxers. Nothing separated them any more, they were both completely naked now and the realisation of what they were doing started to sink into Peyton's doubtful mind.

"We can't do this" she breathed out heavily whilst trying to push him away.

"Peyton" he said softly staring deeply into her conflicted eyes while stroking his hands down her long luscious legs. "I love you" he added rubbing his fingers in between her warm, moist folds.

"Oh god" she replied throwing her head back. He was making it extremely difficult to think clearly. All rational thinking was being swept away as he continued to tease her hot throbbing folds.

"Tell me to stop" he whispered huskily in her ear while sinking two of his fingers deep inside of her. She moaned in response as he moved them teasingly in and out of her warm centre. "Just tell me to stop and I'll stop" he added attentively kissing her neck, sucking on her pulse point for added effect.

"God no…don't stop, don't stop" she cried out giving into the pleasure she was so obviously feeling.

He smiled at her response and looked deep into her eyes with nothing but love and adoration before removing his fingers causing her to whimper. He then positioned himself over her and laced his fingers through hers.

"I love you" he said once more before sliding into her. He groaned at the feeling and she wrapped her legs around his waist as they both started thrusting together in a mix of heated, fast, slow, hard, soft, and most importantly loving movements until the pleasure sent them both over the edge and the exhaustion overwhelmed them.

AN: Reviews make me happy :)