Peyton stood in front of the shelves that housed the classic vinyl record collection she had inherited from her dead biological mother, Ellie. Styx, The Beatles, The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and The Ramones just to name a few. At least the woman had had taste. In fact, mother and daughter had similar tastes. Sadly and strangely, it had taken Peyton Sawyer 17 years to realize it all. Then fate had cruelly only allowed them a few short but precious moments together. Then it was all over. All that was left, was a record collection, a picture, a leather jacket and hosts of memories and questions.

Peyton had been so angry at Ellie at first. She had been angry for so many reasons. How could this woman just give up her child and walk away? And what gave her the nerve to come calmly cruising back as if it was okay? But when Ellie's cancer status had been revealed, it had changed everything. It had opened both Peyton's mind as well as her heart. She had let her birth mother back in and given her a second chance. In a short time, she had grown to love her, to admire her almost like a real daughter. Then it was over and in the blink of an eye, Peyton had lost two moms in less than ten years.

She sighed as she ran her fingers over the edges of the records' covers. She had been through so much over the last year but life in general had been tumultuous in itself from the moment her first mother, her adopted mother, Anna Sawyer had died. Peyton closed her eyes, wondering just how different life would have been had her mom not ran that one red light. Just a few seconds could have and would have changed everything. Would she even be the same Peyton, sullen and closed off to the world, at times so angry and lonely with her dark music and even darker art. Or if she'd had a woman to talk to, to be guided by during those important adolescent years, would it have made a difference? Would she have been a lighter, happier Peyton? Sadly, there was no way to find out.

Not that she'd had a terrible childhood. Larry Sawyer was a terrific father. He had always loved her with all his heart and Peyton could testify without a doubt that never a day had passed that she didn't feel loved. But being loved and feeling lonely were two separate entities. He owned his own dredging company and he worked hard. Working, often included long trips away from home out to sea. Peyton had understood. From the time she was 13 years old, she had learned to take care of herself and be independent those days, weeks and sometimes months she was left alone. At first he had hired sitters to watch over her but Peyton was too stubborn and too self sufficient for that. Bottom line, she was a good kid and a smart one and Larry had nothing but faith in the daughter he loved and trusted so much. Those lost years had been regrettable for both but it was simply a part of life and their mutual understanding.

"Hey," came the soft knock at the door.

Peyton turned around and saw Lucas waiting for.

"Hey," she replied nervously.

He had been a real sweetheart about it but for Peyton, their time together still harbored a small level of underlining awkwardness ever since that night they had almost had sex for the first time at his mother's house.

"Everything going good this morning?" he asked, walking up to her and giving her a hug.

She closed her eyes and relaxed in his strong, warm embrace. He always smelled and felt so good.

"I'm okay. How did it go?" she asked.

Lucas grinned as he answered.

"It was great, amazing. You should have been there, Peyt. We heard the heartbeat again and we got to look at it move around on the monitor. You know, every time I look at those ultrasounds, I still can't believe that's my little brother or sister in there."

Since Keith's untimely death, once again Lucas Scott was the only man in his mother's life. He had been her rock, her support system, her confidante and best friend. He was also the one that dutifully accompanied her to every obstetrics appointment.

"That's cool. I'm glad everything is okay."

Tree Hill was eagerly awaiting the birth of two Scott's.

"So you want to go grab some lunch by the docks? I'm starving. Nathan and Hales had their appointment a little earlier, in fact, they should be getting out just about now," he glanced down at his watch. "They asked if we wanted to meet them there so I said it was cool but I'd run it by you first."

Peyton nodded.

"That's fine. I'm pretty hungry myself."

She grabbed her bag and slipped on a pair of shoes, flinching as Lucas eased up behind her, rubbing her bare arms with his hands. He lovingly placed a kiss on the side of her neck.

"You look sad," he had noted her staring at her album collection and probably missing one or both moms. "You sure you feel alright?"

She turned around and smiled at him as she reached out for his hand.

"I'm fine."

They walked quietly down the stairs.

"Think your dad will want anything?" Lucas asked.

Peyton shrugged.

"I'll find out. I need to tell him we're leaving anyway."

Hand in hand, the two younger lovers turned the corner towards the kitchen. The long cord from the telephone extended from sight, disappearing into the hallway. As they came closer towards Larry and his hushed, muffled tone, they overheard the nature of his end of the conversation.

"Carl, can't you just take care of it? No…I…yes…yes…I'm not sure…listen, I'm going to need your help on this, man. I understand the predicament we're all in. I understand how important this particular job is but you, we're going to have to find someone else to go, short handed or not…of course I understand how serious this is and what the consequences may be. It's my name on this company. It took years to build Sawyer Dredging but there is absolutely no way possible I can sail to Baja, Hungary for two and a half weeks. My daughter needs me and that is more important than any gig and for that matter, the future of this company."

Peyton stopped dead in her tracks, staring up at Lucas. She hadn't heard her father that upset in a long time. He had worked his way up from the bottom at other companies before starting his own dredging company. He had worked to keep his successful business afloat for well over 20 years. Extensive travel had always been the main part of the job but he had taken a prolonged leave of absence when his daughter had been kidnapped and it had been extended after her rescue. The attention and comfort her father's continued presence had brought Peyton had been one of the few sustaining factors in her life, post Psycho Derek. It hadn't even crossed her mind there would be a time when he would have to return to work again full time and possibly take another long trip.

"Dad…what, what's going on?" she asked carefully.

Larry turned around to see Peyton and Lucas staring at him with concerned looks on their faces.

"Carl, let me get back to you," he hung up. "Hi, honey. Hey, Luke."

"Hey, Larry."

"Dad, what happened? What was Carl saying?"

He chuckled but the worry was still apparent on his face.

"It's nothing…"

"Didn't sound like nothing. What's wrong?"

The older man sighed.

"We got a big contract for this job in Hungary and our team is two men short, including a supervisor. Anyway, there was a small problem but it's okay now. I don't want you worrying about that stuff, Peyt. I talked to Carl and we got it all worked out."

Peyton frowned.

"It doesn't sound like it's worked out to me, Dad. I heard you tell him you're not going."

"I'm not."

"Why?"

He turned to his daughter and rubbed her shoulders soothingly.

"Because it's time I started getting my priorities straight. For years I put Sawyer Dredging first, in the name of making a better life for you. All it did was keep us apart. I realize now that even though I meant well, my place was home with my little girl. I refuse to make those same mistakes again. My main responsibility is to you now. You need me and this is where I plan to be."

"But I'm okay."

"I know you are, Baby Girl, and I intend to keep it that way."

"What happens if you don't go?"

"I, I don't know. The job will probably get cancelled."

"Canceling a job this close to taking off? Won't that terminate the contract?"

"Most likely," he said, regret and worry hidden deep in his voice.

"Dad, are you crazy? You can't do that. You can't do it to the company you worked so hard to build and what about the people that work for you?"

"I will deal with it, Peyton. It's alright, honey."

"But it's not alright. This is your entire business on the line. I appreciate what you're trying to do for me but it's not right. I don't want you to stay. It's only for a few weeks and I've been alright here by myself for longer than that. You should go."

"The circumstances are much different this time. I can't just leave you here by yourself. Peyton, I'll work something out with the contractors."

"Your team needs you, Dad. This job needs you. I will be fine. Go."

"That's not a good idea. Honestly, I don't think you're ready to be alone like that."

Peyton bit her lip. He was right but that was beside the point. The point was, her father's life work was possibly about to go up in smoke all because of her and her fears. It was too big of a sacrifice, one she couldn't let him make, no matter how scared she was.

"Dad…"

"I could stay," Lucas chimed in, volunteering.

Both Larry and Peyton turned to him.

"What?" Larry asked.

"I could move in, you know, temporarily. I'd take care of things around the house, most especially Peyton. I could stay over here most nights and a few times a week we could crash at Mom's so I can keep an eye on her too. That way you could go on your job and you won't lose the contract. It would probably be good for you to get away for a while, anyway. And you can do it all without having to worry about what's going on here."

Larry frowned.

"I don't know, son. I mean, I couldn't ask you to do that, besides…"

Lucas was a fine young man with his adult daughter's best interests at heart but Larry Sawyer was still a father first. He wasn't exactly comfortable leaving his house and giving the young lovers permission to shack up for the rest of the summer.

"I get it," Lucas chuckled. "Listen, Larry, I know what you're thinking but it's not about that. Yes, Peyton and I are together but I'd only be here because of what has happened. I just want to keep her safe and make sure she's not afraid."

"But…"

"Guys, um, hello. I'm standing right here, you know. I get that you're both concerned but it's me we're talking about and I do have a say."

"Alright," Larry nodded. "And how do you feel about it?"

"I think it's a great idea. I think you should go. I want you to go. I know how much you want to go. And Lucas will take good care of me. I don't need a babysitter but I know how worried you both are. He will be here and in a few weeks you'll come back and the house will still be standing and I won't be pregnant."

"Peyton!" Larry narrowed his eyes.

"It was a joke, Dad. Okay, a bad joke…a totally inappropriate joke. Sorry."

"I still don't know…"

"Larry, it's okay," Lucas reassured him. "I know this is your daughter we're talking about. I know how much you love her. Well, I love her, too."

He put his arm around his girlfriend and Larry instantly relaxed. Standing before him was the young man who had risked everything to find and rescue Peyton, including his own life. Teenagers would be teenagers but if he couldn't trust Lucas Scott, who could he trust?

"Okay," he finally exhaled.

Peyton squealed and hugged him.

"You won't regret it, Dad. Besides, you're gonna have a blast. I know how much you miss being out to sea."

"I do miss it."

"Everything here is going to be fine. You'll see."

"This isn't a love shack. No sleeping in the same bed, you two."

Lucas and Peyton looked at each other coyly and tried not to laugh.

"Okay," they both lied.

Larry gave them a skeptical glance but what could he do? The last thing he needed or wanted was for his dredging business and professional reputation to go belly up. He would worry about Peyton constantly but he knew he could rest a little easier with Lucas on the scene.

"Thank you for doing this," he turned to Luke.

"You don't have to thank me. It's a favor to you and you know I'd do anything for Peyton. Everything will be okay. I won't let you down, man."

Larry smiled. He knew he wouldn't.