Title: Defining Happiness on Our Own Terms

Summary: A look into the future. Haley&Nathan want another addition to their family & Peyton&Lucas have just begun expanding there's.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own One Tree Hill.

Author: Maygen Lauren

I would LOVE to thank Tweetiebird86, bjames238&lizzy1234! You guys were only the only ones who reviewed for chapter two, so guess what!? THIS IS YOUR CHAPTER! Lizzy1234 you especially loved the previous flashbacks, so I hope you like this one as well!

Chapter Three: All We Are

"I have something to tell you" She whispered nervously into the phone. She braced herself against her office desk, nails digging into her palm. A cold sweat broke out over her forehead.

"What is it Peyton?" The words came out in a rushed, harsh tone, but the truth was, nerves were boiling up under his skin. It's hard not to let your mind wander when it comes to the one you love. Drifting into his mind set, he was vaguely aware of Dixon's muttering about being on the phone while in a meeting as Peyton inhaled a sharp breath.

"Should I tell you now, or wait until I see you. I don't want you to be in a panic on your way home." Lucas' heart skipped a beat.

"A panic! How bad is it? Are you hurt? Is someone else hurt? Are you sick? You can tell me."

"I don't think I can tell you over the phone." It was very obvious to Luke that she had started crying.

He stood up from his chair and stood by the window overlooking the city of Los Angeles. "Are you going to be okay until I get there?"

She nodded as if he could see her. "Just do us a favor?"

"Anything"

"Don't do anything stupid to try and get here quickly. I'm fine, and I'm going to stay fine for now. I need to tell you this in person. Luke I just need you; so come home, okay?" A sob escaped her lips and the sound nearly broke Lucas down.

"Don't worry about me. I'm on my way."

"Luke" She called out as if he had already hung up. Her tears fell hitting the glass of her desk and wet the paper work she'd busied herself with when waiting for the call.

"I'm here" He stated, not fully aware of his responses double meaning.

"I-I" She choked on her words. "I love you"

"I love you too Peyton" Lucas glanced down at his phone a moment later. Starring at the "Call Ended" flashing on the screen, his heart began racing in his chest. He had to stay relaxed, for Peyton's sake. Turning to look at Dixon, who had dropped his "bad behavior rant", he raised his hands apologetically. "I have to go; it's important." Dixon waved him off with a wave of his hand and a shake of his head as he leaned over his desk to take down another line. Swinging his bag over his shoulder, Luke ran out of the office, and bypassed the elevator, using the service stairs to run down 5 floors of steps. He used a quick exit, leading him out to a parking lot in the back of the building. Out at the main road he flagged down a taxi, breathing out "L-A-X, please" The driver simply nodded and pulled away from the curb, noticing the young man's frustration.

Luke brought out his cell phone fumbling with the buttons.

"Los Angeles International Airport, to check arrival or departure delays, press one. To speak with an employee at our information desk pre-" Luke pressed two. "You are now being connected to a receptionist, please hold" He listened to the dial tone, and half way through the third ring, a woman answered.

"Good afternoon, Los Angeles Airport, how may I be of assistance today?"

"Hi I was wondering when the next flight leaving for North Carolina was, and preferably landing in or near Tree Hill."

"One moment sir" As there was silence, his mind began to wander back to his fiancée, sitting scared… he didn't even know where. Was she in the hospital? Or at home, tucked in bed, lying wide eyed up at the ceiling? "The next flight for North Carolina leaves in forty five minutes and lands in Raleigh."

"I know you're supposed to book flights online, but if there's an available seat, I need to be on that plane."

"This goes against regulations, but I think I can help you out. Give me your name and I'll reserve your seat. You'll have to stop by and pick up your ticket at the information desk before going through security."

"Thanks, this means so much to me. My names Lucas Scott"

"Lucas Scott, like the writer?"

"Yes, like the writer. I'll be in to pick up my ticket in ten minutes top, thanks again. I really appreciate this."

"Good afternoon Mr. Scott." He shut his cell phone, only to open it again and hit speed dial.

"Luke" Her voice sang, after the first ring.

"I'm booked for the next flight out, I'll be home as soon as I can."

"Okay, thanks for letting me know."

"No problem;" He tapped his foot nervously on the carpeted floor until a thought raced through his brain. "You are home, right?'

"Yes, I'm home" She deadpanned.

There hung an awkward silence. "How are you feeling…??"

"I promise I'm okay right now; it'll be easier just to explain everything to you later. I just, I don't want to stress you out, or tell you too much."

"Or too little…"

"Luke please, I need you to be with me on this one." She sighed loudly, making Luke feel guilty.

"Can you do me a favor? If you're up for it, of course?"

"Sure"

"Can you call a cab company to have a car waiting in Raleigh by 9:30?"

"No problem."

"Okay, I'll see you soon?" He questioned but was not looking for a response. " Love you"

"I love you too, bye"

He hung up, shrugging his shoulders and resting his head against the glass of the window. His eyes shut momentarily, collecting his thoughts. Right now all he had were presumptions. He didn't know what was wrong with Peyton, or if it was even Peyton. He felt a head ache coming and didn't have enough time to do anything about it. As soon as the cab pulled in front of the entrance, he slapped a hundred in the driver's hand, slamming the door at a run. Full speed into the main lobby, his head franticly whipped around looking for the information desk. It was off on the far right of the building. He made his way quickly, despite the irritating thump of his laptop case, as it bashed against his leg with every other step. He approached the desk and was greeted by a younger woman with dark brown hair.

"You're Mr. Scott, correct?" He nodded frantically. "I have your ticket. Can you write out a check, or charge it." Lucas pulled out his wallet and handed over his MasterCard. She smiled as she ran it through the scanner. "You're in first class;" She stared intently at him. "I gave you my monthly travel discount." The woman winked and then handed back his card, along with the ticket. "Safe flight" She flashed him another toothy smile and he ran back towards security. He made it through in record time and was able to board his plane with five minutes before takeoff. Obviously nervous, he wasn't sure what to do for the six hour flight. He wasn't one for movies, so he couldn't take advantage of the large TV screen in front of him and although the seats reclined back into a bed, he wasn't sure he would be doing much sleeping.

He rummaged through his bag, not quite aware of what he had thrown in there this morning before leaving for LA. It seemed like only hours ago he was on a plane to the meeting with Dixon and now he was leaving in a hurry to get back to his fiancé. In a side pocket he found something completely unexpected. Peyton's white iPod had been shoved to the bottom of the pocket, almost fully charged. The metal on the back of the device was cold. He let it sit in his hands for a moment, thinking of how it might have gotten there, in his laptop bag. She normally took it to work with her, but this morning she'd left especially early for a band meeting. And now that he thought about it, Peyton never said anything about a meeting with any band. She planned these meetings weeks ahead, he was sure of this. Peyton would go over the strong points of her label over and over with him before even considering walking into her office.

He turned it on.

Disintegration- The Cure scrolled across the screen. He lowered his eyebrows. While the band was one of Peyton's favorite, he thought back to a conversation they had years ago when she'd told him she listened to every song on The Cure's first album, except Disintegration. She'd listened to it once, when her mother Ana put it on all those years ago, and again when she passed away. And then once more when Ellie had died. Why would that have been the last song she'd listened to?

He popped the buds into his ears and pressed play.

screaming me over and over and over i leave
you with photographs pictures of trickery
stains on the carpet and stains on the scenery
songs about happiness murmured in dreams
when we both us knew how the ending would
be...

Interrupted were his thoughts as the plane made a lurch forward. He buckled his seat belt and turned up the volume on the player, pressing the next button. Love song, still by The Cure. He just had to pray that it was some sort of accident. This couldn't be any way connected with why she needed him home. He allowed the depressing racket, as he called it, to play in his ears, as he flipped through the picture saved on her iPod. It wasn't long before he drifted asleep. It was a dreamless sleep, almost restless. He felt as if he was just lying there, wishing the hours away.

"Sir?" A woman with blonde hair pulled up into a pony tail stood over him, an apologetic smile plastered on her face. Lucas widened his eyes. "Sir we've landed, you may exit the plane"

He stretched quickly and then stood up from his seat, checking his watch. 9:46. "Thanks" He nodded at the woman and then moved down the aisle to exit the plane. He didn't have time to feel foolish. As he came to stand outside, there was a man standing in front of a black car, holding a sign that said Luke. He made a few steps forward and the older man smiled.

"Luke Scott?" He asked.

Lucas nodded. "That's me" The man held the door open for him and then moved around to the driver's seat. He pulled away from the curb and after a time, the silence became, less awkward. Both men were comfortable just sitting, than anything else, but Lucas would have given anything for a distraction, something to take his mind of the situation. He was tempted to listen to Peyton's iPod again, waste away the time.

"So, a pretty woman called the office begging for a car to pick up her husband at the airport. Well at least she sounded pretty and all the while she was apologizing that she didn't call earlier and ranting about god knows" He smiled with a wrinkled face through the rear view mirror. "Newly weds?"

Luke shrugged his shoulders. "Well actually, no, she's my fiancée."

"Emergency?" He asked after a few moments.

"I hope not" A sigh escaped his lips. "What made you say that?"

"Well for starters, you came darting outta that airport like hell on wheels, and your fiancée was a mess on the phone; stuttering and whatnon"

"She was a mess?"

"I wouldn't say a mess, sorry, more stressed, than a mess. If you don't mind me asking, do you know what the emergency is?"

Luke shook his head at the man. "At this point, I really wish I did. I've had the words "I need to tell you something" floating around in my head for the last seven hours."

"Any ideas?"

Again, Lucas shook his head. "I'm trying not to think of any possible outcomes."

"I understand sir." He cleared his throat. "If you don't mind me asking, are you the author, Luke Scott?"

"Uh, well yeah…that's me? You a fan?"

"My wife, actually. She's got a copy of both your books, even attended one of your book signings in the city." He gave a little laugh. If he wasn't mistaken, he was feeling jealous of the young author. "Ms. Peyton Sawyer?" The man asked.

His eyes widened in surprise. "Well, yeah. How'd you know?"

"My wife reads into things too much. I never thought her late night book ranting would pay off, but here I am, talking to you. She'll be real disappointed when I tell her about this." The man pulled up in front of Luke's small house that had been handed down to him by his mother Karen.

Lucas handed the money over to the driver. "Please tell your wife I appreciate the support."

"Will do sir," Luke opened the door, and put a foot outside. "And, and good luck"

"Thanks, but I really hope I don't need it." He closed the door and couldn't help but break out in a run for the house. He stood in front of the wood frame for a moment, his hand on the knob, begging for his brain to signal his fingers to turn it. With a slight groan he pushed open the door, and quickly closed it behind him. Stepping into the bedroom, he looked around, finding himself alone. He threw his laptop bag onto the bed, stopping only a moment to glance at the three orange containers of pills set on Peyton's nightstand. Shaking his head, he refused to bend down to read the descriptions and instead left the room at a quick pace moving into to the hallway. His head whipped around in both directions. The living room was empty; he could tell by the dim light that had been turned on over the blue couch. His head turned towards the right and he found the blonde mess of Peyton Sawyer staring back at him. She half smiled and stood up quickly from her chair. Luke turned toward her, embarrassing her small frame in his massive arms as she ran into him. He buried his face into her soft hair inhaling deeply. He heard a sob escape her lips and he put his hands gently on her arms to push her away from him. He looked into her face, pale and sad. His heart broke seeing his beautiful fiancé like this.

"Peyt" He breathed leaning forward to kiss her forehead. "Please"

She reeled in air through her slightly parted lips, her eyes never leaving his. "Thanks for coming home for me. I really needed you"

"Any and every time" He brought her into the kitchen and sat her in his lap on one of the familiar wooden chairs. She turned so that she was straddling him, her hands warm against his back.

"I don't know how to tell you all of this at once." Luke took her cheek in his hand softly. She leaned into his touch allowing herself to feel at ease. "I went to a doctor, a few days ago. I had been feeling jolts of pain in my lower chest. The doctors suspected cancer. I suspected cancer. I was completely convinced. I mean Ellie had cancer, it seemed logical that I would too, right" His face didn't move, but his hand resting on her hip tightened. "They ran lots of tests and I was going to tell you this morning when I was waiting for the results, but you had your chance to go to LA and I wasn't going to ruin that for you, but this…." She turned away from him. "I wasn't expecting this."

After a moment of silence, he searched for her eyes. "What, Peyton, please"

"Luke…I'm…We're…we're pregnant" She forced out. His eye brows lowered in confusion. "Honey, it doesn't look good."

"Wait, what doesn't look good? I don't understand."

She reached out to embraced her fiancé and rested her head on his chest. His arms fell to his sides, not returning her touch. "Where ever IT is, the baby, is not growing where it's supposed to be and too much blood is being drawn to the right side of my body. The left side of my heart is growing weak and all my major organs are being thrown off. It has something to do with the shape and condition of my uterus in this particular pregnancy. A lot of things can go wrong. There's a good chance in the end it'll be me or the baby, says the doctors, but I doubt it. If we play our cards right, everything's gonna be just fine." She half smiled and pulled his arms around her waist. "It seems whatever could have possible gone wrong, has gone wrong, once again."

He shook his head, which seemed to be all he was doing today. "What do the doctors want you" He stopped. "Us to do?"

"Well" She started, placing her hands against his chest so she could look at his very lost face. "At the beginning of my final term, I have to start bed rest, which pretty much means I have limited time on my feet each day and to top it off I get to take loads of medication and prenatal vitamins."

Luke gripped her chin softly. "Is this what you want Peyton? I don't want you to do this to yourself. Risk your life for"

"For what Luke? Our child? I'd give every second of the rest of my life, and those lived to keep our child alive." She got off of him and moved toward the back door, her arms crossed. "Do you want this? Do you want me? Do you want a family with me?"

"Of course Peyton; I want you, I want a family with you. I just can't lose you"

"You're not going to lose me. I promise. It's going to be hard, really hard, but I can do this, so long as I have you."

"You have me Peyton. You'll always have me."

The end is the absolute best. What did you think?

The Mixed Tape- Jack's Mannequin.

Chapter 4: More Naley, with a side of Peyton/Jamie/Elizabeth fluff.

IS NALEY PREGO?

PS! Omg who legit watches ONE TREE HILL? What's up with Leyton? All I'm saying is Peyton better have a bun in the oven, because cancer, come on, find a cure, build the bridge and get over it. LUCAS would make a wonder full father.