I know… finally. I am so sorry guys, you have no idea how horrible I feel for not updating sooner, but I have been SO busy. I've had two deaths in the family since the last time I updated… the second one really rocked my world, I was extremely close to my grandfather. So, I'm sorry to say… this is one of my worst chapters, BUT, I promise, I'm so focused on this fic now. This is kind of a fluffy filler, but nonetheless I hope y'all enjoy it. All We Ever Needed is kind of on hiatus, until I can come up with something I don't totally hate. Seeing as that one would take place in S5… and the real S5 totally wasn't what I was expecting, I just don't have the heart to do that one right now, but I promise, I am trying hard to come up with something.

I guess you don't need it
I guess you don't want me to repeat it
But everything I have to give I'll give to you
It's not like we planned it

Lucas had been awake for quite some time, staring down at the blonde beauty in his arms. Immediately when he had woken up that morning, he had felt a sense of calm invade his body that he had never felt before. It was like everything in his world was centered and at peace. Upon opening his eyelids he immediately remembered why… Peyton.

After the intense argument and kisses outside of the restaurant last night, Peyton and Lucas had quietly walked hand in hand to her car and left, without a thought concerning the date Peyton had left behind, and the friend Lucas had. All that mattered was each other.

The ride to her house had been tense, and for a while Lucas was uncertain to whether or not she changed her mind, but when her hand slipped softly into his, all fears were dispelled at once.

"Did you… do you want to… come in, or…?" Her nervousness combined with the biting of her bottom lip was so cute to him, he had to squeeze her hand to reassure her.

"Of course, let's go in," he nodded.

Her smiled broadened.

The trek up the stairs and to her bedroom felt to Lucas like the longest one he'd ever taken. Their hands remained intertwined the whole time, but words were lost for them, causing extreme nervousness in the boy.

As soon as they had reached her bedroom, Peyton sat down on the edge of her bed, and Lucas seated himself next to her. They both turned at the exact same moment, anxiety and excitement flooding their minds, to look into each other's eyes. Once again, synced up, they leaned in and connected lips, meeting in a flurry of passion; lips moving roughly, hands stroking over sensitive skin, breathy moans being emitted from both teenagers.

When the need for air became too great, Peyton gently used her forearms to push him back from her. Their chests heaved for oxygen, and their eyes were lit with pure… bliss.

When Lucas leant in for another searing kiss, Peyton leant backwards, avoiding the make-out session she knew was in their immediate future.

Lucas immediately threw a hand up to his mouth, "What, does my breath stink or something?"

Peyton chuckled and squeezed his hand. "No, you smell really good."

"Okay, then what's the problem?" He quirked an eyebrow.

Peyton moved her head back and forth in a quirky manner and bit her lip. "I just want to take this… slow. This, us - you and me - it's so important to me, and I want to make sure we do this right. Is that okay… I mean, are you okay with that?"

Lucas pulled her close to his body and kissed her forehead, his eyes burning with emotion. "That is more than okay with me Peyton, you're so important to me, and I want this so badly, slow sounds perfect."

Needless to say, the events of the previous night had led Lucas Scott to stay in Peyton Sawyer's bed all night, holding her while they both slept. He couldn't imagine a time in his life when anything had ever felt so right.

The moment she opened her eyes and came out of slumber, Lucas sensed it and tightened his hold on her. She stretched her limbs out, arching like a cat, and yawning. When she realized it was Lucas holding her, a smile graced her delicate features.

"Good morning beautiful," he let out in a near whisper, bending to kiss the top of her head.

The smile she wore only widened. "I thought last night was just a dream."

She felt him shake his head against her neck, and brought a hand up to run through his hair.

"Not even my dreams are this good, baby," he murmured.

Peyton rolled her eyes, but felt her heart constrict at his endearment. "Such a sweet talker you are. You sure know how to charm the ladies."

Lucas's deep laugh drew up chills on her arms. "I don't want to charm other ladies, just you."

Peyton made fake gagging noises, "Seriously, turn it off sometime, dude."

Lucas's eyes were amused, but he didn't say a word. His hands crept up her sides, calloused hands brushing against silky skin, making each swallow to maintain a level head. Just as Peyton was about to close her eyes from the sensory overload, his fingers started digging into her sides, causing her to shoot straight up and laugh hysterically.

"Lucas stop! You have to stop tickling me!" She yelled, trying to tickle him back.

The pair continued laughing and tickling each other on her bed until they were out of breath. The situation found Peyton draped over Lucas, her legs on either side of his hips. When Lucas shifted his body and Peyton gasped, the two were suddenly quite aware of what position they were in. Peyton made a move to get up, but Lucas's large hands grasped her slim hips, and kept her in place.

"Going somewhere?"

Peyton leaned down to brush her nose against his, Eskimo kiss style, then pressed her lips sweetly to the end of his upturned nose. "Nope, I was thinking of staying right here. Good?"

Lucas looked directly into her eyes and captured her lips for a soft kiss. "Good."

The moment could've easily been overcome with lust and desire, but the two chose to kiss slowly, lazily almost - savoring the tenderness of the moment. When their lips parted, Peyton rested her head beneath his chin.

After a few easy, silent moments had passed, Peyton spoke up, the nervousness evident in her voice. "Lucas… do you think, I mean maybe… we should talk about this…"

Lucas sighed and frowned. "What I want to do… is just lay here with my beautiful Blondie and hold her in my arms. That's what I think we should do."

Peyton knew there was a talk in their future, she knew that even though she was committed to this man, this relationship, that there were still issues to sort through. But right now, her man wanted to hold her, and she couldn't think of anything that sounded better. She burrowed her face into his neck, and still laying on top of his body, fell back into a peaceful slumber.

--

Haley James-Scott was angry. No scratch angry - infuriated. Her two best friends had disappeared on her last night, without so much as an explanation as to where they had disappeared. To top that off, they had left her alone with Peyton's date. Dealing with that had not been what she had in mind for a fun night out with her best friend.

After waiting hours on end for a call from one of the brooding blondes, and hearing nothing, Haley decided to go to Peyton's house - the place they always ended up at.

Haley entered the front door and slammed it behind her - trying to send a warning signal in case any… questionable activities were going on. By the time she had reached the middle of the stairs she heard her friends scrambling around the bedroom.

"Peyton Elizabeth and Lucas Eugene! What the hell happened to you two last night?!" Her voice boomed once she reached the opening of Peyton's bedroom door. She hadn't checked to make sure that they had been dressed, but she was thankful to see that it looked like only an innocent sleepover had occurred. Well, as innocent a sleepover as these two with their crackling sexual tension could have.

Lucas was rubbing the back of his neck and trying not to smirk, while Peyton was blushing profusely and ducking her head.

"So, guess what I got to do last night after my friends," she emphasized, "left me all alone with your," she pointed to Peyton, "date?" She gave them no time to answer. "Yes, that's right, I had to sit there with him and entertain him while you two probably did it up against the restaurant wall! I had to convince him that you both are good people, and not some hormone crazy lovesick teenagers."

Upon the looks they gave each other, Haley concluded they just might fit that last category. "As happy as I am the two of you have finally got your act together, you need to apologize to him. He looked so sad that you just left him there, Peyton. I know the epic Lucas and Peyton love story cannot be deterred, but just let him down easy. He seems like a great guy."

Peyton nodded and Lucas spoke up. "I'm really sorry to have done that to you Hales, we feel really bad."

Haley laughed. "Yeah, I bet all the making out helped."

Peyton and Lucas both chuckled and nodded. "Okay yeah, that did help."

"But really Haley, I am so sorry. I will call Aidan today and apologize. And you and I will spend some much needed girl-time together today. Kick Lucas out on his ass."

Lucas mocked a hurt look and pouted. Peyton kissed his cheek, and patted his head. "Aw, get over it babe."

Haley and Peyton both giggled.

"I can see where I'm not wanted," Lucas tried to stay mad, but he couldn't with his two favorite women in the room.

"No Lucas, you got us all wrong!" Haley cried out, "We want you to stay… we need someone to make us breakfast."

Peyton fell back on the bed, laughing heartily.

"Nice girlfriend you are," Lucas grumbled out.

Peyton stopped laughing and let her heart beat wildly in her chest at him calling her his girlfriend. As Haley bounded out the door to run down to the kitchen, Peyton hopped out of bed and grasped Lucas's hand before she could exit her room as well.

Lucas turned around and met those emerald eyes he loved so much. "What?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to do this." Her hands reached up to grasp the sides of his face, and pull him down into a loving kiss. He had been caught by surprise, so she took the opportunity to slip her tongue into his mouth. Lucas's eyebrows raised, but he sunk into the kiss, wrapping one arm around her waist and burying another fist deep into her curls.

Their foreheads rested together when the kiss was over. "You called me your girlfriend," she spoke in a giddy tone, one that was hard to hide.

Lucas grinned, his heart thumping wildly. "Well… aren't I your boyfriend?:

Peyton didn't waste a second in answering. "You're my boyfriend."

Lucas closed his eyes, a lump forming in his throat; his voice gruff, he spoke: "Those are the sweetest words I've ever heard."

"Get your ass down here blondes!!" The screaming voice of Haley James-Scott came from the kitchen.

Lucas grabbed his girlfriend's hand and led his beauty down to breakfast.

--

After breakfast had been consumed and the three friends had conversed, Lucas had run home to change clothes and shower, promising Peyton he'd be back as soon as possible, leaving the girls to clean up and do the dishes.

Haley was stationed at the sink, soaping up and rinsing the plates, whilst Peyton stood next to her, taking on the task of drying. After moments of feeling Peyton's eyes bore into her head, Haley threw the washcloth down and put a hand to her hip, sass radiating from her.

"What?" Haley snapped.

Peyton furrowed her brows and bit her lip, focusing on rubbing a spot on the fork dry. "What, what?"

"You've been staring a hole through my head the past 5 minutes, is there something wrong with my face? Do I have something on my cheek?"

"No! I just… Haley, you haven't been yourself today. I mean, you barely talked throughout breakfast, and you basically just pushed your food around your plate. What's wrong, Foxy? You love to eat!" Peyton laughed out, placing the silverware in its correct spot.

Haley blew her bangs out of face, and took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "Nothing's wrong, Peyt, I'm just a little tired."

Peyton placed her hand to her friend's shoulder. "Haley, I know you - and I know you're not okay. I also know that Nathan called you the other night, and since then you haven't been your perky self."

Haley started to deny it, started to lie and hide her feelings, but knew if anyone would understand and listen, it would be the faithful friend she had found in Peyton.

The musician walked to the kitchen table and plopped down on the chair; Peyton followed her lead and took a seat next to her, placing a hand on her knee in comfort.

Haley brought a hand up to her throat, rubbing the skin lightly, a trait she inherited from her mother, one she used whenever she was about to get very emotional. "Nathan called. Two nights ago. I was going to tell you or Lucas, but you two had your emotional mini-drama going on, and I didn't want to make you guys worry."

"Hales… who cares what was going on with us, I would've listened! No matter what."

Haley placed her hand on top of Peyton's and gripped. "I know, I know. I guess… I wanted to sort it out in my own head as well before I began to sort it out with you." She took a deep breath. "So, Nathan called. You know… he went to High Flyers. I guess now that it seems Dan's going to be okay, he decided he had to go, and I understand that, I do. I mean I went on an 8 week rock tour. Who am I to hold him back from his dreams? I know.." she stumbled on her words, her throat clenching. "I know that what I did hurt him, hurt him maybe even beyond repair of our relationship, but I wanted to come back and talk it out; see where we stood."

Peyton was still holding her hand, and had now taken to rubbing her back; the tears in Haley's eyes weren't hidden. She didn't have a good feeling about where this conversation was going.

"Apparently while I want to work things out… he wants to divorce me," Haley choked on the last words, and couldn't hold it in any longer, she started sobbing onto her friend's shoulder.

Peyton felt tears in her own eyes, but gathered her broken friend into her arms, rocking her soothingly.

"Oh my God, Haley, I am so sorry, sweetie. I don't even… I don't know what to say, I just want you to be okay," Peyton whispered after long moments of trying to comfort Haley silently.

Haley pulled back and wiped her tears from her cheeks, slightly embarrassed she had let herself fall apart so freely. "You don't have to say anything… being here is enough, I love you for that."

"I love you too. If I can help you in any way, I want to - let me know. I want to be here for you." Both girls nodded at each other gratefully. "Wait! What did Lucas say, he must be…"

"No! I didn't tell Lucas, and I really would appreciate if you didn't either. Him and Nathan have enough problems without this getting in the way. This would push Lucas over the edge and I don't want that."

Peyton made a sharp bob of her head in acknowledgment; this was true, Lucas was extremely protective of his best friend, especially when it came to his brother. "Okay, but… he would want to know, Hales."

"I know, and I will tell him, I just want him and Nathan to work things out, without this big cloud in the way."

"So Haley, Lucas and I have plans today, but I am going to call him and cancel, you need me today, I can spend time with him tomorrow," Peyton stood to grab her phone from the kitchen counter, but Haley stopped her.

"No Peyton, don't cancel your plans with him, seriously. That's not what I want, I don't want to drag you down in my misery, too," she tried joking.

Peyton looked at her sternly, and shook her head. "No, I am calling Lucas and telling him-"

"Telling me what, my love?" Lucas swept through the doorway, and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her into him.

Peyton looked at Haley, and Haley just smiled in confirmation of her earlier decision. "That I can't wait to see you," her voice thickly sweet.

Lucas rolled his eyes and pressed his lips to hers gently, keeping in the back of his mind that his best friend was near. "And you call me a charmer."

"So, Lucas, honey, I know we were supposed to spend the day together, just the two of us, but I was thinking Haley should join us. Is that okay?"

Lucas was slightly bummed at the idea of not having the whole day alone with his new girlfriend, but pushed the thought aside - this was his best friend, if there was anyone else he wanted to share the day with, it'd be her. He pulled Haley into his other side. "Of course not Hales, this just means I get to spend my day with not one, but two, beautiful ladies."

Haley rolled her eyes in frustration at Peyton, and Peyton just stuck her tongue out at her in response, carefully so that Lucas wouldn't see the childish banter.

"Okay well, before we head out, let me use your bathroom to freshen up, Peyton," Haley excused herself.

Lucas pulled Peyton to him, wrapping his arms around her waist, while hers flew up to encircle his neck.

"Is something wrong with my best friend, that you're not telling me?"

Peyton smiled with nervousness, and chuckled. "No, why do you ask that?"

He shrugged and held her tightly to his body. "I don't know, she just seems… off."

"Yeah, well, sorry babe, I don't know. She hasn't told me anything, maybe you should ask her." Peyton felt terrible for lying to her boyfriend, but her friend's trust meant the world to her.

Lucas nodded and brushed the thought from his mind. "Maybe I will. Anyways… I missed you while I was gone."

Peyton giggled in delight and ran her hand delicately up his arm and to his neck. "But you were only gone for an hour."

He put his lips right to the shell of her ear. "I don't like being away from you at all, though."

An involuntary shiver ran up her spine, and she snuggled herself into his chest. She thought of how lucky she was to have this man in her life. This man that loved her and wanted her no matter what she threw his way. Another thought popped into her head… if the "perfect couple" that was Haley and Nathan couldn't make it, how would they? When one roadblock seemingly would always be in their way… Brooke Davis.

Listen when
All of this around us'll fall over
I tell you what we're gonna do
You will shelter me my love
And I will shelter you
I will shelter you

Let me know what you think!