A/N: I do not own One Tree Hill
Her lunch break had been the first time she had opened up about the problems in her life, and while it didn't make them disappear, it did make her feel a tiny bit better. She hadn't allowed tears to flow in weeks, and releasing the flood gates made it a little easier to make it through the rest of the day. Brooke, being the supportive friend that she was offered to come over after work and help Peyton look for work and decide upon how to confront Lucas. She knew this was going to be difficult.
Five o'clock came sooner than she had expected, and she began packing up the contents of her desk, her art calendar, her pens, a few small trinkets given to her from various friends, and pictures. The first picture she put in her box was taken right before graduation. Brooke, Chase, Mouth, Nathan, Haley, Skills, Bevin, She and Lucas were all standing on the river court. They all looked at their happiest in that moment before embarking on life's journey. Nathan and Haley were expecting their first child and then going to Duke for college. Brooke and Chase had just made love for the first time, and it seemed that it was the first time Brooke had 'made love' to anyone. She and Lucas had been officially together for a few months at that point, and it seemed they were both flying high with happiness. Things sure had changed since then. Which lead her to the only other picture that possessed a location on her desk, her wedding photo. That day had been the best day of her life. She thought that she and Lucas would last forever.
"I can't believe I am finally Mrs. Lucas Eugene Scott!" She said looking into the beautiful eyes that belonged to her husband.
"Have I told you lately that I love you, Mrs. Scott?" He asked adoringly at his wife while carrying her through the corridor of their hotel room.
"Why yes I believe you have, but I don't mind hearing it. So by all means say it as much as you want to." She sweetly told him before he placed her on the king sized bed in the middle of the room where he began lavishing her with kisses.
"This is how I want to spend everyday for the rest of my life, showering you with kisses, tasting your sweet skin, and feeling your gentle warmth." He said between breaths.
"Me too. I love you so much Lucas." She said incandescently happy.
Looking at the picture, she scoffed at Lucas' words that day. Nine years was a long time, but how could his feelings change after how happy they had been? She tossed the picture in the box not caring if it stayed in one piece. The lights to the building were dimming, so after collecting her personal belongings, she grabbed the box and made her way home.
She walked into the house, the house that she and Lucas shared, the house they had planned to build a large family in, and she looked at the pictures of her and Luke adorning the hallways and mantles. They would have a family, the little blue stick and morning sickness told her that, she just wasn't sure if it would be in this house or in one piece. If Lucas had slept with someone else, she wasn't sure that was something she could forgive.
She forced down some soup knowing that she had to eat for the life that was growing inside of her. It wasn't the baby's fault his father was an ass, and had a major affect on his mother. Soon after, she heard Brooke's Beetle drive up.
"Peyton, are you in here?" She said quietly.
"Yeah, I am in the kitchen." Brooke walked into the red kitchen glad to see her friend was eating. Since Peyton had dropped the news about being pregnant, she had worried about her emotions getting in the way of her health.
"So I brought newspapers, so maybe we can find you another job. I already circled some things that might be of interest. If you want one, that is? I don't know if you want to stay home until you have the baby or what. You are going to have it aren't you?"
"Yes Brooke, you know I believe this baby has a right to exist. Besides, I do want to be a mother. I just hope I can live up to my mom's, or even Ellie's standard."
"You will be a great mom, Peyton. Don't ever doubt that. Okay?"
"Thanks" she said grabbing two glasses of tea, and seating herself beside Brooke at the kitchen table.
"So have you figured out how to approach Lucas?"
"You mean how to ask him if he's having an affair? No, I mean if he's not having one, he doing a damn good job of leaving the footprints of one. I guess I will just come right out and ask him about it." Peyton's anger and sadness rose each time she thought of Lucas ravishing someone else with her kisses.
"You're a strong woman, Peyton, and I know you will survive. And don't forget that you have me to help you?"
"That means a lot Brooke. Thanks. I think I am going to take a bath now. It has been a really long day, and I know it is not going to get any better."
"Just call me if you need anything, anything at all. Okay?"
"I will" Peyton said walking her friend to the front door.
Two hours later, Peyton was sitting on the bed she shared with her husband going through the wanted ads. She knew she needed another job especially with a baby on the way and an unclear future with her husband. After her bath, she hadn't felt anymore relaxed. She wanted to be sure Lucas knew she was upset as soon as he came in the door. She began walking through the house with a box and collecting all the pictures of her and Luke together. She broke a few frames along the way, but at this point in life she was wishing the frames were Lucas when they broke. She still couldn't believe that her life had come to this. She placed the box right in front of the door, hoping he would trip on it when he stepped in. She knew this was spiteful, but quite frankly she didn't care.
She heard the front door squeak open, so she glanced at the clock to find it only said 10. She was kind of surprised. This is the first time he was home before midnight in the last two weeks. Then she heard the breaking of glass, and knew that the box had served the purpose she wanted it to. She could hear his steps approaching and then saw him enter the room.
"Peyton, what the hell? Are you trying to hurt me?" He burst, angry that she had left a box of pictures by the door.
She refused to answer the question. She did want to hurt him. She was hurting, when they got married, didn't they agree to share their pain. Oh wait, they agreed to remain faithful too. "You're getting home awfully early tonight" She ended up saying, not removing her eyes from the newspaper in front of her.
"What is your problem tonight?" he asked angry about what she was implying.
"You, you do realize you get off work at six, and I haven't seen you before midnight a single time in at least the last 20 days." She spit out, hoping he could feel her eyes boring holes into him.
"I'm sorry, I have been entertaining clients so that I can keep this job and this house that we live in." At this point, she was thinking he is a damn good liar.
"So do you always entertain clients with whiskey, and get close enough to pick up a scent of women's perfume?"
"Peyton.." He began not wanting to finish this conversation and unsure how to make it go away.
"No, don't do that. Don't say my name and expect me to drop it. How long have you been sleeping with her, whoever she is?" She said with tears running down her cheeks.
Lucas stepped closer to her hoping not to tell her the truth. He leaned down to the bed. But as he did Peyton got up and walked to the dresser. He followed her and grabbed her in hug. She pushed him away. "No Lucas, tell me how long you have sleeping with her. I deserve to know."
"It wasn't supposed to happen. We were working together on an account. We went out for drink with clients. It went too far. I'm sorry it doesn't mean anything." It was Lucas with tears now. Peyton was staring at him wondering with what nerve he could actually stand here and pretend he was sorry. "You still didn't answer my question? How long?"
"For the last year, Peyton, please forgive me. I'll stop it immediately. I'll get a new job. I don't want to lose you." He dropped to his knees in front of her, and grabbed on for dear life. She could only stand there and let the information sink in while he cried tears on her stomach, the stomach that was carrying their child, and she cried tears that fell into his blonde hair.
After finally gaining her composure, she was able to speak, but not words that Lucas wanted to hear. "A year." She said taking a step back from his grasp. "Lucas, just leave."
"Peyton, please don't do this." He approached his wife, but she stood with her hands crossed and sternly replied. "I lost my job today, I find out my husband is not only cheating on me, but has been going on for a year, and I…" she back further away and lets the tears freely flow now. "am pregnant. NOW LEAVE." She shouts, and Lucas feels the only thing he can do to help her is follow her command. She hears the front door slam, and she falls to the floor and lets the sobs overtake her body.
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