A/N; I suck. I'm SO sorry it took update, but I was at the beach since last Friday and I just got back today anddddd yeah. but. You guys are AMAZING! Again, thanks to xmissmoix, juzzy88, kylielink, lalez, smc-27, and lukenpeyton4ever for reviewing last chapter. Enjoy!
"Luke?"
That was it. At first he questioned himself as to whether or not he was just hearing it, but when his eyes met hers, he was snapped back into reality.
"Peyton? baby, yo-your, awake! Are you okay? Are you in pain? What do you need? Oh goodness Peyton, I didn't think I'd ever see you again!"
Even though Peyton was in enormous pain, she couldn't help but chuckle at Lucas. She always loved it when he rambled. Being the author he was, he hardly ever rambled. He always knew what to say, so seeing him at a loss for words always made her smile.
"Luke, baby, I'm right here" she said, as she locked eyes with him for the first time in over 10 days. She couldn't help but close her eyes as he placed gentle kisses all over her face. But as she flinched, Lucas immediately pulled back.
"Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" Lucas asked, with concern over his face.
"No, well, kinda, maybe… yeah. I'm just really sore." Peyton responded as she moved over for Lucas to join her in the bed.
"Ohhh, okay babe. I'm just so glad you're awake, I-I was afraid, that I'd never get to see you again." Lucas stuttered .
"Oh honey, you can't get rid of me that easily. I promise." Peyton responded, while wiping a tear off his cheek with the pad of her thumb.
"How long have I been out?" Peyton asked, as she was now fully awake and realized that she must have been out for quite a while for Lucas to be acting this way. Although, he always hated it when she was away, and she had to admit, she kinda loved going away, just so she could have her 'welcome back home party'.
"Hey babe. I'm fixing to board my plane, so I should be home around midnight-ish. See you when I get home, I can't wait to get out of LA. I miss you, and can't wait to be home. I'll call you when I land. muah!" Peyton recorded into Lucas' voicemail. She had been in LA for the past 4 days meeting with label executives, sitting in boring meetings, trying to strategize the next move for her artist's. She was forced to go to LA once a month and she always dreaded it. The worst part, was being away from Lucas. After the summer she spent in LA after senior year, she hated to spend any minute away from him. She boarded her plane eagerly, comforting herself with the thoughts that she would be sleeping with Lucas tonight. He had wanted to take her and drop her off at RDU, but she knew that his muse had been running wild, he had been pumping out over 5 chapters a day, and she didn't want to hinder that. Once she found her seat on the plane, she sat down and pulled out her iPod. As she put the ear-pieces in, the familiar tunes lured her into a light slumber.
As she stood by the luggage claim, she wondered to herself why she had to have a navy suitcase. "Why couldn't I have like a, tie-dyed suitcase instead of plain, freaking NAVY!" she thought to herself. All of a sudden, a pair of familiar, strong hands grabber her waist, obviously scarring the death out of her.
"BOO!"
"AHHHHHHHH!"
As she turned around, her reflexes automatically went to slap whoever was attacking her. As she soon realized that it was her boyfriend, and not a psycho Derek stalker, she couldn't stop her hand in time, and it soon collided with Lucas' face.
"Crap! Babe I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you, I didn't mean to slap you, but WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU THINKING? You know my history with psycho stalkers! You can't just come up and grab me, but what are you doing here? I told you I was fine by myself, but awwwww you came to get me! You're the sweetest boyfriend EVER!" Peyton said, going through many emotions, while Lucas responded to being slapped by a VERY strong Peyton Sawyer, then smirking to himself as she continued her ramble.
"Gee whiz, lay off the boxing skills Peyton. I just thought I'd surprise you, I didn't plan on being beat-" Lucas' sentence was cut off by Peyton's lips crashing upon his. Lucas soon deepened the kiss as he lifted Peyton off the ground and swung her around. Peyton never was much for the movie-cliché-ey welcome home kisses, but this time she really didn't care.
"You were out for about 6 days" Lucas said as he brushed her head with his fingers. As she moved her hand up to hold his, she felt her bare scalp. As her face suddenly became worried, as she felt bare skin, instead of her long, curly locks.
"Lu-Lucas? What happened to my ha-hair?" she felt her heart hit her stomach as she noticed the look on Lucas' face. She had seen this face before. This was the face where he had to tell her something that he REALLY didn't want to.
"Peyton, baby," Lucas said, as he took both of her smaller hands into his larger ones, "they had to shave off your hair because you had such a bad cut on your head." Lucas said, seeing the tears in her eyes forming.
"o-oh-," was all Peyton could get out, before the tears and the lump in her throat and the sobs hit her. It's just a mere second until Lucas has her completely engulfed her in his arms.
"Shhh Peyt, it'll be okay. It will grow back, and you know that I don't need your hair to love you. I love YOU. Even if your hair is gone, if it's gray, heck, it could be purple. I love you. There, now, it'll be okay" Lucas comforted Peyton, as he continued to rub her and hold her.
"You did get your chapters sent off to Lindsay, didn't you? They were due Sunday night, and I know I'm kind of groggy, but that was 4 days ago, right?" Peyton asked.
"Well, they, um. Here. You shouldn't be worrying about my problems, you just woke up from a 6 day coma. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Are you sure you're okay? Do you need more pillows or fluffed more or some under your leg or something?" Lucas said hurriedly, trying to change the subject.
"Lucasssss…." Peyton drawled out.
"Peytonnnnn…" Lucas responded, matching her tone.
"Luke, you know I know you. You completely dodged the question, and no I don't need any pillows. What I need is for you to tell the truth!" Peyton said, quite angrily, which surprised both Peyton and Lucas.
"Gee, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." Lucas muttered under his breath, receiving a glare from Peyton.
"Fine fine, no I didn't get them sent in. I only left twice while you were unconscious, and that was just to shower and change clothes. Trust me, the novel was the last thing on my mind." Lucas responded, looking into her eyes.
"But Luke, Lindsay's going to have a fit. You know how witchy she gets if stuff isn't on time," Peyton said.
"Going to? She already did. I don't know what's up with her lately… she used to be so nice, and now, I don't know." Lucas said, looking at the floor.
"Oh I know what's going on with her, and you do too Lucas Scott." Peyton said, raising her eye brows at him.
"Peyton, seriously, that is not the issue. She's probably just going through a rough time or something." Lucas reasoned with Peyton.
"Humph. She has been going through a – and I quote – 'rough time' ever since we announced our engagement. Seriously Luke… she likes you" Peyton said whilst rolling her eyes. She wasn't too fond of Lindsay. Or as Brooke called her, 'man faced Lindsay'. Peyton wasn't the only one who had noticed the 'overly' friendly acts of kindness that Lindsay had made, and Peyton and Brooke caught the somewhat snide remarks that Lindsay would make.
"Hey Peyt?" Lucas called out from their hotel room.
"Yeah babe?" Peyton yelled back from the en-suite living room.
"Which tie should I wear? The blue with black rugby stripe, or the navy and red with the white pin stripes?" Lucas asked, as Peyton walked into the bedroom.
"Honestly Luke? Baby, you're going to be fine. Just breathe. And wear the black and blue one, it brings out your eyes... and besides. You're gonna knock 'em dead. You already wrote Ravens, Comet, Defining Happiness and Just Laugh. You've done this 4 times. Besides, I'll be here tonight" after seeing the uneasiness on Lucas' face, Peyton continues. "Luke, honey, what's wrong?"
"It's just… we're going to announce US tonight," Lucas said, while taking Peyton's left hand and kissing her engagement ring, "and I just don't know how they're going to take it. I just don't want to get a load of all this BS about how I can't continue this hot streak I'm on if I'm planning a wedding, and you know how they went all ape crap on Andrew when he got engaged… but trust me, your worth anything they do to me." Lucas said, as Peyton nodded.
"Alright Mr. hot-shot author Lucas Scott, let's get you to your 4th book launch party" Peyton said, as she walked in front of Lucas. Lucas couldn't help but admire the view from behind.
"Hey Peyt?" Lucas called out again, as Peyton turned around to face him.
"Hmm?" Peyton said.
"Ya know, if we were to arrive fashionably late.. I wouldn't be aga-"
"Ohhhhhhh, no, no, no. we are NOT. Nope. So just get that little idea out of your head, Mr. Scott. Not until AFTER the part… then I'm all yours." Peyton said, noticing his eyes darkened at the thought of the after party.
"But hey, it's not MY fault I have such a beautiful and pretty FIANCE." Lucas defended himself, as he emphasized the word fiancé. In just the short time that they had been engaged, he had found out that Peyton had a sweet spot for that word.
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As they mingled with fellow book authors, colleagues and critics, Lucas did his thing, talking about books and ideas and other stuff that Peyton had no idea about. But. She did what she knew how to do, stand there, occasionally take a sip from her Dirty Cheerleader, one of Peyton's favorite drinks. And if you asked Lucas, she was doing a dang good job at it too.
Throughout the night, he'd glance over and see her talking to some people she had met before at previous parties or functions, or listening to stories that they had to tell. For her to be so out of her element, she sure knew how to just wing it. And she would catch him looking at her, and she'd wink, or he would mouth 'I love you'. Peyton noticed that Lindsay was usually right beside Lucas, and laughing at all his jokes, and being little miss smarty pants. But, after receiving a talk from Lucas on the plane ride to new York, Peyton was being the good girl and taking the high road. But it was hard…
Finally it came to the sit down part, or as Peyton called it, the 'boring sit still and act like you give a crap what they're saying' part. Where they all said things, while they tried to make their selves look as good as possible, while still talking about Lucas. After all the speeches and dedications were given, Lucas squeezed Peyton's hand, and leaned in to whisper something into her ear. Peyton caught Lindsay starring at them, so Peyton decided to screw the 'high road' attitude she had been carrying on all night. Peyton raised her eye brows, sucked in her breath, and batted her eye lashes, as if Lucas was telling her something very naughty. But instead he was just saying that he was going to get up and announce their engagement, and he wanted her to be with him. Once he finished, Peyton nodded and gave him a quick kiss.
"Excuse me," Lucas said, as he stood up. "I know that we have heard all the speeches and toasts' and dedications, but there is one last thing I would like to say," Lucas finished.
"Peyton," Lucas said, as he held out his hand, and Peyton placed her smaller hand in his larger hand and stood up to join him."As many of you know, especially if you have read my books, is that Peyton Sawyer is a very important person in my life. She has always been there for me, and has helped me get through many tough things that life has thrown my way and she is the only one who has ever truly had my complete heart." As Lucas said these things, he noticed Peyton taking her free hand and wiping away tears falling down her cheeks. Peyton also noticed a smug-like look on Lindsay's face, Lindsay obviously knew where this was heading. And with that being said, I would now like to announce that Peyton has agreed to take my hand in marriage of which has made the happiest man alive" Lucas said, with a humungous grin on his face, as the entire ballroom erupted in applause.
Soon Lucas and Peyton were surrounded by people offering their congratulations, and best wishes. Nathan, Haley, Brooke and Julian were naturally the first to congratulate them, even though they already knew. Nathan and Haley had to go pick up Jamie from the babysitters, and Brooke had a few too many drinks, so soon Lucas and Peyton's best friends left. As Lucas and Peyton worked their way through the crowds, trying to get to the door, Lindsay stopped them.
"awh, you guysss! Congratulations!" Lindsay said, hugging Lucas and Peyton.
"I wasn't expecting this! But I'm sure this will not interfere with the book tour," Lindsay said, while giving Peyton an icy glare, "Will it Luke?" she continued, flashing a sweet smile to Lucas.
"of course it won't!" Lucas assured her, "she's coming with me!" Lucas said, as he pulled his fiancé in for yet another kiss.
"Okay Peyton, suuuure, Lindsay is secretly conspiring to break us up so she can have me all to herself. Okay. Now can we please stop talking about Lindsay, and start talking about my gorgeous," Lucas said, as he placed a kiss on her hand, "beautiful," he continued kissing her on her wrist," intelligent," as he kissed her neck, "successful and talented fiancé?" Lucas finished, finally placing a kiss on her lips.
"Lu-lukee, please, stopppp." Peyton said, not very convincingly.
"Well, Miss Sawyer, why would I want to stop?" Lucas asked, as he smirked in true Lucas Scott fashion.
"Becauseeeee, I don't want you to start something you can't stop, but, oh, Luc-," Peyton stopped as the door opened.
"Excuse me, I hate to barge in, but I need to change Miss Sawyer's IV drip, and then you may, continue." The nurse said, as Peyton pulled the covers over her head in sheer embarrassment, while Lucas cleared his throat and took his seat in the chair.
"Oh kids don't worry about it," the nurse said, who Lucas assumed to be in her late fifties, "trust me. That's not the first time I've walked in on couples, well…" as she saw the look on Lucas' face, she figured he knew what she meant.
"Alright Miss Sawyer, your good now for another fourteen hours, and remember stud," she said, while looking at Lucas, "Miss Sawyer here was just in a horrible accident. So… be easy with her." The nurse finished, as she winked at Lucas. Peyton just giggled while Lucas turned beet red.
"Well well 'stud', she told you didn't she?" Peyton said, as she poked Lucas in the forearm.
"Humph." Lucas responded, not thrilled with what just happened.
"Hey Luke?"
"Yeah?" Lucas replied, nonchalantly.
"Remember before you came home I said there was something I needed to tell you? well, I kinda, sorta… " Peyton said, trying to get the words out. "might be pregnant. But I don't know now, after the accident and the surgeries and all the medicine and everything and I know it's early and we really hadn't talked about it and please don't hate me, I know that we're not even married yet but I don't know Luke, it just feels right but I mean it might have died during the accident and… oh my word Lucas what if I killed our child? And I mean I know it's really early and we're NOT prepared and I don't even know yet for sure, I just had a feeling and I'm late but I already want him or her so much and please don't be mad it's just, why are you looking at me like that?" Peyton finished her speech, as Lucas was looking at her with a grin on his face.
"You are" Lucas said, as he took her hand in his.
"I'm WHAT?" Peyton asked, making sure that she had heard right.
"You; Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer, are pregnant. And no, you didn't kill the baby during the accident, and while the doctors were doing surgery they saw him or her, and he told me, and they've been adjusting your medicine. And no I'm not mad, and I don't hate you, and so what if it's early? I know I love you and that's all I really need to know," Lucas said as he stood up to kiss her "I love you, I love you Peyton."
"Wow. I mean, I think I knew all along, ya know? But it just feels so different to know." Peyton said, as she placed her hand over her stomach, something that did not go unnoticed by Lucas.
"Yeah, I know. But why didn't you tell me? You weren't sick or anything, and you PROMISED you would tell me everything that was going on!" Lucas questioned, remembering the pact that they made shortly after they got engaged. They had to tell each other everything.
"Well, I noticed I was late before you left, but then when it never happened and I started feeling sick, I got to thinking. So I called Haley and told her, so she went out and bought like a gazillion pregnancy tests and-,"
"You mean to tell me that Haley knows before I do?" Lucas interrupted, asking.
"You didn't let me finish!" Peyton spat out "so she came over and brought them, and I couldn't do it without you there, so she left. But I couldn't sit there starring at them, I needed to think. So I drove to the river court, and then, well, I think we both know what happened after that." Peyton said, while looking down at the floor.
"But hey, how did YOU know?" Peyton asked, suddenly realizing that he knew.
"The doctor told me." Lucas said "he stopped me out in the hallway a couple hours after your first surgery and told me. But I haven't told anyone Peyt, honest. I didn't know if you knew or not, and I knew that you had something to tell me and I didn't know if that was it or not and yeah… here we are." Lucas said, as he started to rub her belly.
"Here we are," Peyton replied, placing her hand on top of his "all 3 of us. And we're going to get through this… on crutches and casts' and all." Peyton said.
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A/N; alright, I know everybody prolly saw it coming, but anyway. Also, I probably took Lucas a litttttle OOC when it came to his speech, but one of my best friends once told me that a little cheese is always needed, so I went WAY cheesy. Oh well.
Ya know the drill ; REViEW prettttty please! Also, are you liking all the flashbacks? Want more? Want less? Could care less? Please let me know, any &alllllll feedback is GREATLY appreciated. &if you would like to see a certain something happen, just LMK and I'll try &work it in.
Also, sorry for the lack of NH or BJ or 'other' people in this chapter, but I will make up for it later on, I promise!
Please Review!
Xoxo, Taylor