They were glad that Nathan had decided that they would come down a day later, which meant that Peyton and Lucas had some time to finalize their plans for dropping the bomb on the family.

Keeping with the idea of wanting to tell them all when they were together, they decided that staying at Peyton's old house would be for the best. With Larry coming in at the end of the week, he was the only one who wasn't going to get the big announcement in the group, and Peyton was more than okay with that notion.

The first thing they did when they got back to the house was sleep. Her flight was a long one, and because of some snow delays didn't get in until quite late. So sleep came quickly and they both fell hard, not wanting to ever come out of their new found happy place in Peyton's old bedroom.

"Peyton?" a voice calls out, cutting through the silent room.

"Not yet, Luke" she says, cuddling further into her fiance's embrace.

"Peyton, it's dad."

"Daddy?" she says, opening her eyes and looking towards the door to see her father standing there.

"Come downstairs and I'll get you some coffee... you can tell me about your flight."

Confused that her father was home so early, she wasn't thinking about anything in particular, and as she carefully removed herself from Lucas' arms, she put on a robe and her slippers, and made it downstairs and to the kitchen.

"What are you doing home early?" she says, sitting down at the kitchen table as his back was turned making a fresh pot of coffee.

"Well, don't sound too excited about it!" he replies, moving over to kiss the top of her head.

"No, I am! I am just still half asleep. We didn't get in until really late last night."

"I haven't even been to bed. I got in a few hours ago, and thought better of waking you up then."

"Well thanks for that, but I would probably rather be sleeping..."

"There any food in this place?"

"I have no clue." Peyton says, laughing a bit, "and if there is, I'm pretty sure that you shouldn't be eating it."

He laughs at that, and moves to sit across from her, putting a coffee mug in front of her and one in front of himself. As soon as he sits, she can sense that something is up.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong, but I have to tell you something..."

"Okay?"

"I'm selling the house."

Her eyes go wide, and moisten just a bit in the corners, "What? Why?"

"Peyton, nobody is ever here, and nobody is ever going to be here. I might as well just sell it and use the money for rental places if I ever get a significant amount of work off."

"But..."

"But what? You and Luke aren't going to move in here, and I'm only here a few weeks out of the year."

"I just... dad, this house means a lot to me."

"I know that, which is why I'm telling you this now, and which is also why I told you to come stay here during Christmas."

The tears were now flowing steadily down her face. She couldn't think about this right now, not being able to come home. It held so many memories for her, and it was the last piece of her mom that she had. She couldn't let him sell it, but he was right. It wasn't being used. But the idea didn't make her any less upset.

Standing up quickly from the table, she started pacing in the kitchen, not hearing the gasp that came out of her father's throat.

It wasn't until the tears had stopped that she stopped pacing, standing right in front of him. It wasn't until she looked down at him that her eyes went wide with realization. He wasn't staring up at her face anymore, because since she started pacing, his eyes hadn't left the small round stomach that she was now sporting.

"Peyton..."

"I'm pregnant..." she says, smiling down at him like it wasn't a huge thing that she just casually mentioned to her father.

Right as her father responded, "You're pregnant?", a very groggy Lucas Scott walked through the entryway into the kitchen.

Catching that last moment and taking in the shocked look on Larry's face and the unmoving gaze of Peyton, all that Lucas can do is blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, "We were engaged first!"

Larry snapped out of it, looking to Lucas with a smirk on his face, pleased that he could still put a little fear into the young man that was going to be marrying his daughter. "I'm not angry! How could you think that I'd be angry!"

"Because we're so young... and we're not married yet... and Luke is still in school... and I'm out in..."

"Peyton, you're young, but smart. I'm not so ancient to think that the two of you weren't... well... I'm not going to finish that. Luke is still in school, but is also getting his novel published. And the L.A. Situation that I think you were about to mention isn't that bad, and you guys are going to figure it out."

"You're really okay with this?" Peyton asks, with Lucas coming to her side.

"The only thing that I'm not okay with is how long it took you two to tell me! You've got to be at least four months pregnant!"

"Five, actually..."

"Wow..." he says, glancing back down to her stomach as she reaches down to cradle the baby wrapped inside.

"We were planning on telling everyone today during Christmas Eve Dinner, which you are certainly invited to."

"Peyton the second you walk in the door, they're going to see that you're pregnant."

"A well placed sweater and wrap will do wonders... we've tried. But you can't say anything to anybody about it, okay?"

"I wouldn't dream of it." he says, standing up and kissing her forehead before bending down a bit to touch her stomach with a featherlight rub.

The rest of the family, including Brooke, who made it down from New York for the occasion, was more than happy to have Larry come to Christmas Eve dinner. While Peyton was extremely nervous, her dad and Lucas assured her that nobody could see what they were trying to hide.

It really was a family affair, with some friends as well, taking place at Karen's small Tree Hill home. The kids were bouncing around in their chairs, and even at one and a half picked up on the excitement, and the adults too, were excited at the chance to see each other all together again.

After a wonderful dinner, everyone sat in the living room opening one small present before desert, and when it came to Karen, Lucas stepped in, "Actually, I know what I want you to open mom... hold on..."

Lucas left for the kitchen, and a few seconds later calls out for Peyton to help him as the rest of the family starts back into the loud conversations that they were having before.

Hearing all of them in there made Peyton even more nervous as she took her wrap off and changed into a different sweater that would proudly show the baby bump, "Luke, are you sure that we have to tell them now?"

"Peyton, if we wait until next time you're in Tree Hill, you are going to be seven months pregnant... how do you think that is going to fly with everyone? They're all going to flip that we waited this long as it is!" he says, laughing at the thought of their faces that late in the game.

"I know... do you think they're going to be happy for us?"

"I do."

"All right, you ready?"

"Yup."

No one looked up as they walked back into the room, except for Brooke who has to constantly know everything that is going on. In fact it was she who noticed that Peyton changed shirts, being the fashion designer and having her mind always on clothing. It was also she who noticed why Peyton had changed shirts, "Holy Crap!! You're pregnant!!" she screams.

As loud as the room had been was as quiet as it got the second everyone looked to Brooke and then to who she was staring at.

"Merry Christmas!" Lucas says, breaking the silence.

It seemed like all at once everyone was over to them, asking about due dates, and doctor's appointments, why they kept it a secret for so long. Anything and everything having to do with the pregnancy was covered in the span of fifteen minutes.

Then, aside from a few glances every now and then to Peyton, with a smile, everyone seemed to just accept it. There was no judgment, and everyone was genuinely excited that the couple was going to be parents in a few months. Haley and Brooke started to compete for Godmother, while Nathan and Skills tried to reason why each of them should be Godfather.

Laughing at the idea of fighting over such a thing, Peyton excused herself to go to the bathroom. However, Karen, watching her soon to be daughter-in-law noticed that the blond didn't go into the bathroom, instead stepping out on the back porch.

She gave her just a few minutes to herself before stepping out onto the porch to sit beside her, "Is this seat taken, or can an old Grandma sit here?"

Peyton smiles at that, leaning into the older woman, "There is always a seat for Grandma."

"I think that is the best Christmas gift I've ever gotten."

"Really?" She asks, obviously meaning more than just asking about the Christmas gift.

"I know that you two are young, but you have made this work. And that boy has been in love with you for as long as I can remember."

"I'm glad that you're okay with this."

"Okay? Peyton, I am so happy for you and Lucas!"

Peyton smiles, but then turns again, looking into the night, pulling the blanket she grabbed around her just a little tighter.

"You scared?" Karen asks, sensing that she was thinking a little too hard about something.

"To death..."

"That comes with the territory, kiddo. It also doesn't stop... I admit that when the two of you finally got it together that my worry slowed a bit, but it's still there."

"Yeah..."

"I would do anything to bring your mom back for you Peyton, but I can't do it."

She nods, letting a tear fall, but smiling at the woman's words, so similar to what her son said to her years ago. "I know that."

"But, being a mom, I can say this... she would be so proud of you Peyton, and she is still with you every step of the way. And... I know that I can't replace her, but if you ever need a mom moment, you know that I will be there in a second for you." Karen says, wrapping her arms around the younger woman, letting her have a few moments of tears before mentioning that they should get back inside.

"Yeah...Oh!" she says, her look changing to surprise in just a moment.

"What is it? Are you okay?"

"Yes... no... I don't...I think she just kicked... but I've never..." Peyton says, putting a hand to her stomach, and smiling after just a few minutes, feeling another vibration against her hand. "...wow."

Karen smiles at her, and Peyton grabs her hand, placing it on her stomach over the spot she felt that last kick. Their smiles grew wider when they felt that tiny little flutter against their hands one more time.

Fitting for the moment, Lucas chooses to step out onto the back porch to find his fiance and mother, finding them both in tears on the balcony.

"Okay, please tell me that you are okay."

"We are, come sit for a minute!" Peyton says, grabbing his hand and doing the same as she did for his mother.

"Why am I putting my hand..." he starts, jumping back when he feels the baby kick back at him, "What was that?"

"That, Lucas Scott, is your daughter saying hello..." she says, pulling him in for a kiss.

That was how Karen left the pair that evening, sitting in each other's arms and kissing by the moonlight.

–

Okay, so how did we feel about everyone finding out... and can I just say that I would have LOVED more Karen/Peyton scenes in the actual show, because I have always loved the idea of that relationship. I just wanted you all to know! So yeah... Reviews make me smile!

Oh, and there was a clue in there as well... anybody pick up on something that's going to happen? Hehe.... only a few more months to go...