A month later, Peyton walked off the plane in Tree Hill, North Carolina fully expecting to see her fiance waiting patiently at the gate for her arrival.

Instead she was met by a smiling one and a half year old blond and his squealing mother. "Peyton!!!"

"Haley, what are you doing here? I thought Luke was coming to pick me up!"

"He was, but apparently something went on at school and then something happened with the book, so he called me to come get you."

"Then I guess you'll do!" she says, hugging her friend.

"Gee thanks! I'm sorry I had to bring Jamie along. I couldn't leave him with Nathan and I was running late, so he got to tag along."

"That is totally okay, I haven't seen him in forever... he's so big!" she says, touching his chin ever so slightly, eliciting a smile and giggle from the infant, who immediately put his arms out to her.

She looked at Haley for permission, "He's going to be your nephew, so you can start spoiling him now if you want to."

"That's right!" she says, realizing the family she would gain. "So, come see your Aunt Peyton little man!"

With Jamie on her hip and Haley at her side, the two walked out of the airport and back to Haley's waiting car after what seemed like forever waiting for baggage. It was so long that Jamie had fallen asleep on Peyton's shoulder, with sweet puffs of baby breath hitting her neck to assure her that he was quite content to stay there forever. When she shifted him to get him into his car seat there were a few grunts and whimpers, but he settled in all right.

In that moment Haley chose to give her a proper hug, having missed her friend, and excited about the news that she was soon to be her sister-in-law.

"Congratulations, by the way!" she says, getting in driver's seat.

"Thanks..." Peyton says, blushing.

"We all knew it was going to happen some day soon. I was surprised when Nathan said that he got dropped off at the airport though. Peyton, that boy is so in love with you that he couldn't help himself. Coupled with the fact that Karen sent him the ring, he knew that he was going to ask you. I totally understand where you are coming from with this long engagement though."

"Do you really, or am I being completely irrational about this?"

"No, I get it Peyton. I had the same thoughts after Nathan and I got married and Chris dropped the tour in my lap. I had to see where it could go... and Luke told me everything that happened. You were right to make him talk it out, because the two of you wouldn't have made it on your own. I hate to say it, but you guys are the only people I know that actually need each other to stay afloat."

"You and Nathan..."

"Yeah, we need each other, and I don't know what I would do without him, but you guys are a whole other story. I still can't understand it. The man is my best friend in the whole world though, and I am more than elated that you two finally came to your senses and realized that it was forever."

"Oh, I had that realized a long time ago... it was just the whole idea of getting married so young and not getting to see if I could make it in music, and then later resenting Lucas for it, or him me, that scared the crap out of me."

"Still scared?"

"Nope."

"Then it's right."

"I know."

After the serious business was out of the way, the girls chatted about the nonsense in their lives. Peyton shared stories of all the concerts that she had been to, which definitely brought back memories for Haley, but good ones. Haley shared some funny Jamie stories, being sure to include the Jamie and Luke stories to assure Peyton that Lucas was the perfect father figure.

"So what are we thinking about for the wedding? When, who, where?"

"I haven't really thought that much about it... and I have no clue as to when. I think that we are just going to see where this next year takes us, but I definitely want to get married in Tree Hill, and I want you and Brooke to stand up for me, and I want Jamie to be our little ring bearer, and Lily to be our flower girl. Maybe it could be outside and we could do it some time in the spring, and Brooke can design my dress and the outfits for the kids and you guys' dresses....", she says, suddenly stopping when she realizes that Haley has quite a smirk on her face.

"So you haven't really thought that much about it, huh?"

"Haley... it's Lucas..."

"Peyton, I know... I have watched that boy obsess over your since the 7th grade, so believe me when I say that he probably has it all figured out too."

With that, Peyton just sat back in her seat with a smile on her face, glancing out the window, watching scenery pass by as they made their way to the house.

Once the car pulled into the driveway, it seemed like it hadn't even stopped when Luke tried to open the door on the passenger side where his fiance was sitting, and if the smile on Peyton's face was any indication as to what she was feeling she was ready to jump out of the car the second they turned in.

"Man, you two got it bad" Nathan says, watching his brother and former ex-girlfriend share a few crazy kisses, as he gets his now awake son out of his car seat.

"You get the love of your life every day... I get mine once a month, so you can leave me alone, thank you." Lucas says, taking Peyton's hand and separating from her just long enough to get her bags into the house.

After getting Peyton settled, and they took some time to catch up, the group headed off to Tree Hill, which was just an hour away, to have dinner with Karen and Lily.

Karen was always a great cook, and she insisted that the kids come home at least a couple of times a month for a home cooked meal. She knew that the three were too busy with school and taking care of Jamie to really worry about taking care of themselves, so it gave her peace of mind to know that at least they would get some nourishment during their college years.

Once the meal was done, the boys found their way to the TV, watching whatever basketball game that was on, with Lucas trying to pick up on new plays to try with the team that next year. Haley had insisted that Karen relax as she put Jamie and Lily down, reading them both a story.

Peyton, however, found her doing dishes. So, grabbing a dishtowel, she set to help the older woman clean up.

"I never got to say congratulations to you.", she says with a smile as she watches Peyton take off her engagement ring and place in on the window sill for safe keeping.

Peyton just glances back at her with a blush to her cheek and a smile on her face.

"I was so happy when he told me that he was thinking about asking you, so I couldn't help but send him that ring. I'm sorry if it made him ask a little too soon."

"No! Karen, I love him... and I have wanted to marry him since... for... I want to marry him. And I think that this is just going to make us stronger. And I want you to know that it means so much to me that you would trust me to wear that ring." she replies pointing to the ring that once belonged to the woman she felt was like a mother to her.

"He used to talk about you... even before you knew each other he would tell me when he saw you doing something that he knew the two of you had in common. Then I remember when you finally did start talking and he started playing basketball for The Ravens, and his whole face would light up. And I saw what you did for Brooke... stepping aside even though you felt for him the way you did."

Peyton just stared as she spoke, taking in the words that described everything from she and Lucas' past. Wondering how she could have known what was happening those years ago.

"I'm a mom Peyton, and one day you will see that mom's know everything. Keith and I had a love that was built on the two of us being there for each other through everything. We fought, we were with other people, we watched the other get hurt, and in the end we knew that the two of us we inevitable. You and Lucas are that to each other, and I'm so glad that the two of you are going to be able to have forever what Keith and I had for just a short time..." she says, taking a moment to control the tears that were building in her eyes. "Now, with that said... you take care of my boy, and you take care of that ring, because I want it to see all of the great love stories of our family, okay?"

With a watery smile, Peyton allowed the woman to embrace her, laughing a bit at their sappy girl moments, knowing that there was no better place for her to be.

It seemed like she had just gotten there when Lucas was hugging her at the gate, explaining that he would be in LA in just 29 short days to see her again, and that she was to call him the minute she got home.

"This was nice..."

"Jamie didn't keep you up the whole weekend?"

"Well, he did, but that just gave us more time together, so I'm more than okay with that..." she paused for a moment, taking in the sight of him, smiling back at her. "it really is an amazing thing you are doing Luke... staying with them and helping them take care of Jamie. You know that right?"

"They need me... what else could I do? I love that little boy, and I don't know where I would be if I didn't have Keith with me every step of the way... so that's what I want to be for him."

"Lucky boy..."

"Lucky me... having such an amazing family... yourself included."

"You know that you have me now... you don't have to woo me any more Lucas."

"I know that, but I kind of like doing it anyway."

She smiles, giving him one last kiss, taking her bags and walking towards the door with a promise to be waiting for him in L.A. In a few weeks.

–

Okay, so this was the first of the in Tree Hill moments. I have to say that this story was somewhat inspired by another fic that was about the bedtime conversations of Lucas and Peyton spanning a year. I don't remember the name of the fic, so if you do, please leave it in a review so others can see it, cause it was awesome. Also... there may be some cliché stuff happening, but I kind of want to keep the drama at a minimum with this one, since my other fics are so drama heavy. And this is the first time where I'm writing the whole fic before I start posting any chapters... that way I can actually update it on a regular basis!!!

Anyways, review review review!!