Hello! Once again, I took awhile to update, I know, Im a Brittany's house now on her laptop and i really felt the need to update lol, so i urned on Big Brother and here I am! LOL.. here's chapter 18, Its not that great lol.. just needed to get these litle things in there... and I have no idea where to start after this, I know where I want it to go, But...how to get it there...hmmm... anyways... read... enjoy... and review as always:D

Michelley P.

Chapter 18: The Puppet Master

Lucas shook his head, unable to believe the words that he had just heard. This was impossible. His little girl, the one that he had raised to this very day, the one that he raised alone. Isn't actually his little girl. She had to be lying. She was, it was the only thing that made sense. She just wanted a way too get back into Erica's life, right? She'd do this, scare Lucas into thinking that Erica wasn't his, and use that for him to let her into Erica's life, and his.

"You're lying." Lucas finally breathed. There had been a long silence as Brooke just stared straight ahead, listening to Peyton do her very best to tear her world, which had just been built up, apart.

Peyton shook her head as she saw the look on Lucas's face, for the first time in her life, she saw what an impact her actions were having on the other people's lives. And another first rose in her body, as she realized hat she had regretted everything she had done. Including getting pregnant in the first place. She regretted it. But her pregnancy, was probably the best thing that had ever happened to Luke. "No I'm not." Peyton sighed as she ran he fingers through her curls.

Brooke rushed over to Lucas, trying to comfort, but each time she reached out for him, she pulled away, his eyes filling up with water as his hands shook. "Luke, It doesn't matter!" Brooke whispered, trying to make sure that Peyton didn't hear them talking.

"Doesn't matter?" Lucas yelled at her, his anger a Peyton for ruining everything, getting thrown into Brooke's face. "Brooke! My daughter isn't me daughter, and you tell me it doesn't matter? What's wrong with you!" He screamed, jumping to his feet and staring coldly at her.

"Luke, that isn't what I mean, if you'd listen to me…" Brooke tried to defend what she said again. Even if their DNA didn't match, Lucas is still Erica's father, his name is on her birth certificate, and he is the only family that Erica has ever known. Lucas couldn't handle this, he was furious with Peyton, and he was sure that Brooke probably meant well, but she wasn't helping. He walked into the kitchen, wanting to be alone and clear his head. The two girls just sat there in the living room, in an awkward silence that was broken by Peyton's laugh.

She just laughed, and Brooke's eyes widened at her laugh. What could she possibly be laughing at right now? "Wow…" Peyton breathed through her laugh. "He must really love you…" Peyton laughed again. But Broke couldn't respond with a smart remark or a mean comeback. She just sat there as tears welled up with her eyes while she heard Lucas's yells echoing in her ears.

Lucas circled around the table, scratching his head as he heard small footsteps come from the stairs behind him. The small voice laughed happily as she approached him from behind. "Look Daddy!" Erica laughed. "I did I all on my own! Brushed my teeth, and washed and even dressed, all by myself." Erica bubbled over happily. Feeling so independent.

Lucas turned around and stared a her sadly. He stared at the little girl who he had called her daughter for so many years, the little girl who wasn't even his daughter. "That's great sweety." Lucas whispered, turning his back to her again and leaning on the table. He couldn't even look her in the eye, because to his own dismay, he was secretly afraid that if he looked at her, he wouldn't see his daughter anymore.

"Daddy…" Erica whispered as she felt the sadness radiating off of him. "Did I do something bad?" She asked sadly, she knew she hadn't but it was still possible that she did something that was bad, and she didn't know it was.

"No sweetheart." Lucas sighed as he turned to face her, still not looking straight at her. Erica smiled with relief.

"Can I have breakfast now?" Erica asked, feeling as though she should have been worthy of a good breakfast after doing so good today. Lucas wasn't in the mood to cook or eat, and he definitely wasn't in the mood to let Peyton have breakfast with him and Erica, as some kind of family.

"How about…I'll take you and Mikey out for breakfast this morning?" A voice interrupted shakily from behind. Brooke knew how uncomfortable Luke was, just by looking a the way he was acing around Erica. Erica jumped up and down happily and went to greet Michael who was walking down he stairs, one shoe on, the other in his hand as he tried to undo the knot he had accidentally tied in it. Brooke took the two kids by the hands and walked past Lucas to go through the patio door. On the way, she stopped to whisper in Lucas ear. Lucas knew he had treated her wrong, and he was almost afraid that he had pushed her too far away. "What's wrong with you? You raised her and now you're acting like you don't even know who she is? She's your daughter and no DNA test is going to change that, your name is on the birth certificate, so straighten up and be the father she deserves, the one you've always been before she walked through that door." Brooke spat out, so angry at the way she had caught Lucas treating Erica. Lucas just swallowed deeply, watching as Brooke and his kids disappeared out the door.

"Mr. and Mrs. Scott, how nice to see you, did you get some rest?" Nurse Troy asked them as the quietly walked into Natalie's room. The people in this hospital, the doctors, nurses and the workers were becoming familiar friends to them now.

"Yes, thank you." Nathan smiled as he watched Haley kiss the top of Natalie's head who was sleeping soundly. She lifted her lips slightly from Natalie's forehead and sadly put her fingers to her lips. Natalie's fever was still high, and Haley could feel her skin burning on her lips.

Haley sighed. "Find anyone yet?" She asked as she brushed the top of Natalie's head with her hand. She was getting so big, and the hair that was on her head was slowly getting thicker and darker.

"Not the last time I checked…" The nurse said regrettably. "But Ill go and see if I can find anything out…" She smiled as she slipped out the door, leaving Nathan, Haley and their daughter alone in silence. Nathan walked up behind Haley and stretched his arms around her waste and they both just looked down at Natalie.

"She seems like she's getting stronger…" Nathan commented. And this was true, they noticed that she was breathing on her own now, which meant that her medication was working. What if the medication could make her body and organs strong itself, and she wouldn't need a donor? They wanted that to happen, for once in their lives, they needed a miracle.

"So Peyton, what are you really doing here?" Lucas asked after he finally calmed himself and walked into the living room where Peyton was happily watching TV. Peyton switched off the tv, and stared at Lucas. Had she not made her point clear? He wasn't Erica's father, and she wanted to get her daughter.

"Are you stupid?" Peyton asked as she rolled her eyes. "I came to get my daughter." She said casually, leaning back in her chair and turning the TV back on, as if she were waiting for some huge show to start. The show she had created herself, she was the puppet master of their lives, controlling their every moves with every single breath she took. She knew that she was calling the shots now, and all she had to do was speak and they'd be crawling at her feet in order to save their so called perfect family.

"You know…" Lucas said, suddenly calmly as he outlined a flower in the pattern of he couch with his index finger. "Brooke said something earlier, and it really helped me out." Lucas smiled.

"What was that?" Peyton said in annoyance.

"Erica is my daughter. No matter what you say or do, she's my daughter. My name is on that birth certificate. Which means legally, yes, she's my daughter. I've raised her, and no judge is going to side with you after all you've done. If you want to fight for her, I'll fight you to the grave. But you will not lay a hand on her, do you hear me?" Lucas noticed his voice becoming harsh and loud as he inched closer to the edge of the couch.

"Are you done?" Peyton said as she once again rolled her eyes at him, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it up.

"For now… so get the hell out…." Lucas spat out as he pointed towards the front door. Peyton stood up, as did Lucas to direct her out of the house. She blew the smoke in his face, causing him to cough. Hen she swung the door open and disappeared outside, shutting the door behind her. Lucas just fell back onto the couch again, his heart pounding in his chest. He had no idea what he was supposed to do now.

Alrite.. there ya go... what did you think? Love it? Hate it?... please dont hate it.. lol... review please please please! LOL... thanks!

Once again, Michelley P.