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

Chapter Six: And You Will Be

IMPORTANT AUTHORS NOTE: A few readers are upset with the lack of NALEY in this fiction. I apologize greatly as I have misled you. I had intended for it to be so, but Mark Schwan accidently grabbed my heart and told me to work with LEYTON for a while. Give them the season they were never granted with. Just so I don't lose all my readers, there is more naley in store. Just not yet. I can promise romance and fluff and Jamie and the new baby in future chapters, but for now, PLEASE stop begging me for Naley. They are my favorite OTH couple, but Leyton just gave me more to work with in the long run. Keep an eye out, they will be back soon!!

Inspiration for this chapter: Dreamer by Uh Huh Her. As played in episode 7 season 6.

What's the matter with our ways
I'm missing something,
not to blame
But don't you worry,
this will pass
It's only cause my mind's
been spinning
No control,
I've lost my head
All of this is just beginning
Not enough,
it's never enough
I'll only want to keep on dreaming

Peyton Elisabeth Scott entered the kitchen with her tiny blonde baby coddled in her arms. "Luke, I have some bad news"4

"Coffee?" He asked pouring himself a cup.

"Sure" She sat down in a wooden chair at the kitchen table and laid the baby down, perched up against a half ring pillow, in front of her. "But, like I was saying, Luke, I have some bad news"

"I know, I heard you, but I was hopping you'd forget."

Her eye brows raised in spite. "Not likely"

"Okay, okay so what's the bad news?" He carried her cup of coffee over to her, made just the way she liked it.

"I'm guessing you haven't looked at the calendar lately?" He shook his head and glanced toward the refrigerator. "Guess who turns a month in two days? I'll give you a hint, she's got blonde hair like her mommy, blue eyes like her daddy and sometimes she throws these really obnoxious tantrum fits like, well I'm assuming, her Aunt Brooke."

"That's not bad; but it is quite depressing. Where did all that time go?"

"Out the door with all our money and dirty diapers" She laughed and took a quick sip of her coffee. "Guess what I bought Elle?"

"A backpack and school shoes?"

"Luke, cut it out!" She spoke appalled running her fingers over her baby's tiny feet and chubby cheeks. Elle kicked excitedly reaching her hands out towards her mother.

"What did you buy her?" Lucas pulled the baby into his arms and held her carefully.

Peyton folded her arms. "A original so that she looks beautiful when Grandma and Lily come visit her this afternoon."

"She'll look beautiful in anything" Luke whispered more to his daughter than his wife.

"Aw being a father has turned you into such a softy."

"So, do you have a problem with it? I love my baby" He held up the baby to face Peyton and pressed their cheeks lightly together.

"You're such a dork" She stood up from the table and let the water in the sink run as she pulled out Elle's plastic tub from under in the cabinet. She filled it with about a half inch of warm water and carried it back over to the table. She grabbed the yellow container of infant shampoo while Luke stripped the baby of her one piece purple Pj's. "Here" she said placing the container down on the table. "You hold her still and I'll wet her hair." Luke carefully lifted the baby into the water while Peyton used her hands to wet Elizabeth's hair. She threw her pudgy fists in the air very unhappy with the circumstances. Peyton did her best to work the shampoo through the Elle Anna's, now just above the ear length, blonde curly hair, despite her tantrum. She worked quickly, rinsing her hair and then Luke lifted her back out of the water. Peyton wrapped the baby's tiny body in a towel, hastefully drying her and then waited while Luke lathered her up in baby lotion. "I'll get her changed into her new outfit while you get showered. Be quick because we have to pick your mom up at noon."

"Yes shuga momma." He said sloppily kissing her cheek and leaving the room.

Peyton swaddled the baby warm in the towel. "Daddy's silly, huh?" Elle just stared at her, clearly happy to be out of the water. "Let's get your pretty new dress on." She carried her down the hall to the nursery, which was, at this time, used for changing and clothing purposes only, seeing how the baby, for now, was spending nights in the bassinet in their room. Elle was laid, back down, on the changing table and fixed with a new diaper. Then Peyton bent over to the floor, leaving one protective hand on the baby's bare stomach, to lift the gift bag onto the table. She pulled out a pair of white leggings with baby soft lace around the ankles and slipped them on Elizabeth's chunky legs. Next she reached into the drawer attached to the table and put a long sleeved white cotton shirt carefully over the infants head. Finally, she admired the pink pima cotton knit dress with blue buttons along the next line and base of the dress. It also included two blue shoulder pads fastened with soft blue ribbon. To complete the ensemble she pulled a matching pink hat over the baby's mostly bald head.

The new mother lifted Elle into her arms, supporting her neck and head, and carried her into the bedroom. She lay her in the center of the king sized bed and pulled out her cell phone to take a picture and send it to Brooke. Thanks for the new clothes Aunty I love them. Seconds later Brooke had sent back, Damn I'm too good. Thanks for spending twenty bucks at my dead beat store ;)

Peyton laughed and lay down next to her daughter. Elle turned her head as much as possible to see her mother. "Hi Pretty Girl" Her eyes brightened at the sound of her voice and she reached out to grasp onto her mother's finger. "Are we going to go see Grandma and Lily? They are so excited to meet you. And so is Grandpa, but he's stuck at work, but trying really hard to come and visit. Cause no one can stay away from you. You've got a pretty face and pretty eyes and a pretty nose." Peyton placed a finger on the baby's nose and she swatted at it playfully. The mother laughed and leaned over to kiss the baby's hand.

"What's so funny?" Lucas asked, swinging open the bathroom door.

"Our daughter" She carefully pulled the baby onto her chest as she lay back. Elle made her tiny body comfortable, resting her head against her mother's breast. Peyton placed a protective hand against her back as Luke came up besides the bed, searching the drawers for a clean shirt. "What do you think your mother is going to say once she see's we've redone the master bedroom and your old bedroom. I mean she hasn't been here since the wedding and I feel bad because we've completely taken over the house."

He shrugged. "Well it is our house now"

"I know, but I don't want her to feel like a guest, because it was her house first. And sticking her and Andy in the guest bedroom, I dunno Luke."

"She'll learn to love it; she'll just be happy because it's been six years since she had a baby to fawn over"

"Maybe we should take the guestroom, just for these few days"

"No, my conscious would be so much easier spent knowing they slept in the guest room, thank you"

"Daddy's testy, huh baby?" She patted Elle's soft head, running her fingers through the tiny hairs.

"Don't you turn my kid against me?"

"Your kid!? Well excuse me, I thought we were sharing. What you do with her during Daddy daughter time is your business, but I'm going to use every ounce of power in my womanly ways to make sure she always comes back to me."

"Don't worry about that, she'll always come back to you. Now, come on, you were the one who wanted to leave soon"

"Aw, but now I'm comfortable and she's falling asleep." Luke leaned over the bed and placed his hand down the baby's back.

"She does look cute in that dress"

Peyton's smile grew immensely. "Doesn't she?"

"Yes, now hand her over to me and let's get going" She allowed Luke to lift Elle off her chest while she slipped off the bed and grabbed her diaper bag which was waiting by the door. She slung the bag over her shoulder and walked into the kitchen to pocket hers and Lucas' cell phone in her dark blue skinny jeans.

He came in behind her, Elizabeth tucked in his protective arms, the back of her head resting gently against the relaxed muscle in his arm and the right side of her face pressed against his chest. "Now that's a site I'd pay to see everyday" She reached into the bag and pulled out her digital camera. She could see his lips form in a protest. "Don't worry, the flash is off, now hold still" She snapped a picture. Elle's gentle eyes remained close and Luke had on his well known broody smile. "Okay, now we can go"

She held open the back door for him and locked it behind herself once he passed by. He was already getting Elle situated in her car seat in the back of his civic, so she took her spot in the passenger side and her hands automatically went to the radio. Luke closed the back door and moved around to the front, starting the car and pulling out of the drive way.

"I missed this CD!" Peyton moaned as Jack's Mannequin's Suicide Blonde, hummed softly through the speakers.

"You were definitely listening to this song on the way to Elle's doctor appointment last week"

"Shut up….I can listen to whatever I want and you have NO say in it. Oh by the way Luke, how are we going to fit everyone in the car?" She laughed. "I probably should have mentioned it to you before…"

"No it'll be fine, I just planned for Lily to sit on my mom's lap or something"

"Great parenting skills Daddy"

"Well I did learn from the best" He said dryly.

She sighed. "We are so not going to go there again Luke. You are the farthest thing from Dan, it's unrealistic. You are more like Keith than anything."

Luke couldn't help but smile. He lifted a hand off the steering wheel and rested it on her knee where she placed her own hand on top of his. "I knew I kept you around for a reason"

"And that reason better have something to do with the fact that I carried your child for nine long months"

"That, and I love you"

"I love you too" She leaned across the seats and pressed her lips to the scruff on his cheek. "You know one day Elle's gonna tease her parents about being such saps"

"I hope not, cause that'll mean she's talking and I don't think I'm ready for that yet!" Peyton laughed and held his hand tight, knowing he was serious. The car hit a pothole, thanks to Luke's "cautions" driving and the baby's seat was jostled around. Within seconds she had let out an ear shattering wail, shaking her insides, wracking with sobs.

"Oh man" Peyton whispered. "How much longer until we're there?"

"About three minutes, she can handle it" The infant continued to scream, punishment for her father's reckless driving.

"I hate you, you know that?" Peyton covered her ears in exaggeration.

"Then I hope you know that when we get a divorce, I call dibs on custody" She released the hold on her head and smacked his arm hard. "Kidding," He said leaning away from her seat. "No need to get physical."

"You can't get rid of me that easy, we haven't even made it to the one year mark." She pulled Luke's hand back into her lap and listened to her daughter's cries. "Time scares me too; now that I'm being open… I just wanted you to know that. It's hard, especially now, knowing that time is of the essence always and I want to stop it, just for a while. Long enough so that I can take it all in"

"Hopefully my mother being here for a few days will slow everything down."

"Well I hope not everything." She said with a wicked smile. "Last night was perfect. We should really stop having sex for long periods of time more often. "

"Not by choice. I don't ever wanna go through that again." Luke ran his fingers through his hair with their conjoined hands, thinking of the many cold showers and nights on the couch. Elle hiccupped from her car seat as she continued to wail. He pulled into a parking lot finding it empty and had a clear view of the endless sea. Boats filled the marina, and to Luke, they all looked the same. "Should we walk the docks or wait here? There are like fourteen docks and they might have not have even tied up yet." He asked as he parked close to the water.

Peyton shrugged and unbuckled her seat belt. "Either way I have to get Elizabeth out of that car seat before she passes out from crying so much." She turned in her seat getting on her knees to lean into the back of the car. She carefully unstrapped the baby's small body and lifted her against her chest. Almost instantly Elle's cries subsided as her eyes shown with adoration for her mother. Her wet lips parted and she pulled at a long lock of Peyton's blonde hair as she sat back down into the seat. She turned away from the infant to look out at the boats. "Hey Luke, isn't that one your mom's boat?"

--------------------------Luke followed her glance to the third dock. Sure enough, the large scaling white boat was tied in and covered. "Come on" He unbuckled his own seat belt and clambered out of the car hurriedly. He waited impatiently for Peyton to make her way around the car carrying their child, rocking on his heels to show his excitement. He placed a warm hand on the small of his wife's back and ushered her forward. They moved quickly, but carefully, making it to the bench outside their port. Within seconds Karen was yelling his name from somewhere inside the house boat and came running at him full speed.

"My baby boy!" She cried, wrapping her arms around his chest. She pulled back to look into his eyes seeing something very different. "You're all grown up now. I can tell" Karen turned to her daughter in law with an enormous smile. "Peyton" She gasped. "You look beautiful." Leaning forward, she placed a kiss on her glowing check and then looked down at the baby. "I've been looking forward to this for weeks. Can I hold her?"

"Do you even have to ask?" Elle was settled in Karen's arms in a matter of seconds, but panic and terror did not strike across the infants face. She remained relaxed.

"Do you prefer Elizabeth or Ellie or Elizabeth Anna?" The new grandmother asked.

"Whatever you wanna call her mom" Luke encouraged, taking Peyton's hand in his as they looked at their daughter getting to know her only remaining grandmother.

"I've got a lot of weight to carry here" Karen explained to the infant. "Ana and Ellie would have been wonderful grandmothers, but I'm sorry to say that you're stuck with just me. So I'm going to do the best I can." Luke pulled Peyton closer to his side and she rested her head briefly against his shoulder.

"LUCAS!" A tiny brunette came darting from the boat and straight into his legs. Peyton had stepped away from the attack before it hit. "I'm six now!" Lily randomly stated.

"I know, I do read those postcards you send me, by the way." He scoffed.

Lily lowered her eyes at her much older brother and pulled him for another hug. "I missed you" Her eyes drifted up towards her sister in laws and her smile grew, but she said nothing.

"Lil" Karen whispered. "Come see the baby" The girl made her way quickly over toward her mother.

With a wide open mouth, she jumped excitedly. "She's so cute! Look at her little hat."

"She looks just like you Peyton, although I do see my son's eyes." She lightly touched the baby's nose.

"Can I kiss the baby?" The small brown headed girl asked Elle's mother.

"Sure you can, right on her forehead" Peyton replied as Karen leaned down so Lily would have better access. "You can hold her once we get back to the house"

The six year old smiled after standing back straight, having kissed her new "cousins" forehead. "You look lovely today Peyton"

"Thank you Lily. You look pretty too. I love your dress"

"Mommy bought it for me in the Bahamas when we got stuck there in the storm, which is why we couldn't come see the baby sooner."

"I heard all about that storm. Was it scary?"

She shook her head. "No, but it was really windy. We had to stay in a hotel for two nights and I'm so used to sleeping on the boat I thought the bed in our room was swaying."

"I can imagine that. You've spent more time on a boat in your six years of life than I ever have and I'm almost twenty four."

"Not to change subject" Lily said politely. "When was Elizabeth born?"

"June 7th, so just about a month ago."

"She's so tiny" Andy came quickly from the boat wrapping his arm around Karen's waist and outstretched a hand to shake Lucas.

"How are you Luke?" He asked glancing over Karen's shoulder to look at the baby. "She's beautiful"

"We're good, just taking each day as slow as possible." He looked over at the luggage stacked by the bench. "Can I help you carry those?" He offered and Andy nodded, motioning for him to lift whichever.

"Here Peyton," Karen said holding Elle back out to her mother. "I'll have plenty more chances to hold my granddaughter this week." Peyton cradled the baby who had a look of amusement on her face. The girls followed the men as they carried the bags to the car.

"Andy you can take the front seat; I'll sit in back with the baby and Karen." Peyton said knowing that Andy would feel much less awkward if he was with Luke up front.

Lily stomped her foot agitatedly. "Where am I gonna sit!?" Peyton couldn't help but laugh and raise her eyebrows expressively at Luke who could only shrug in response.

"You're going to sit on my lap silly." Karen said running her fingers through Lily's long straight hair.

Her frown increased. "It's not cool to sit on your mom's lap when you're six. Peyton may I sit on your lap?"

"I don't think so Lily, be polite." The girl crossed her arms, remaining outside of the car as Elle was buckled and the others got in.

"It's not a problem Karen; she can sit with me." Peyton spoke confidently with her response, but only one could tell that she was now troubled with something else.

"You sure?" She asked, but Lily was already running to the other side of the car. Lily straddled Peyton's legs sitting forward, head turned toward the baby.

"She doesn't look happy"

Peyton half laughed. "Elle doesn't like car rides. She gets fussy."

Her legs swung over more as she faced her much older sister in law. "I want curly hair like you and my mommy. But mine's boring."

"You're hair is beautiful straight, but if you want to, do you remember Brooke?" Peyton asked and Lily nodded. "Well she has a curling iron; maybe, with permission from your mom of course, we could go over there and ask her to curl a few strands for you, so you can see what you'd look like."

"That'd be awesome!" She cheered. "I'm so excited to see Jamie; He may be better than me at basketball, but I've been practicing my swimming, so I'll be so much faster than him. And my grades are probably better than his because I'm home schooled. Plus, I'm a lot cooler cause I live on a boat. How many six year olds live on a boat? But he's always so mean when he writes me letters, cause everything's a competition with him. Can't he tell that I don't care?"

Peyton laughed and Karen shook her head. "Lily, why don't you give Peyton and your mouth a break? She's already being a sport by letting you sit on her lap"

"hmpf" Lily crossed her arms. "I haven't seen Peyton in five months! Sorry if I want to share some stories with her!"

Karen rolled her eyes, her daughter's attitude only too familiar a tone on her breath. "Got any plans while you're back mom?" Luke asked from the driver's seat.

"Well besides spending some time with my family, I did promise Brooke I would go and look at the reconstructions on the store. The last time I was here she was still remodeling. And I also promised to go visit Deb, Haley and that whole gang"

"Well you haven't been home since the wedding so I can't promise that everything's the same." Karen smiled and leaned forward to place a warm hand on her son's shoulder.

"But speaking of weddings, did you get your invitation to Brookes?" Peyton asked and felt Lily bounce excitedly on her knees.

"YES WE DID!" The girl gleamed and answered for her mother. "And guess what!?"

"What?" The blonde woman spoke with enthusiasm.

"Brooke asked me to be the flower girl! I'm gonna be a flower girl twice, we'll three times…."She said thinking back to her first trial run at Lindsay and Lucas failed attempt of a wedding. "But get what else!?"

"What!?"

"ELLE'S GONNA BE A FLOWER GIRL TOO!"

Karen, Lucas and Andy laughed. "Really now?" Peyton responded and placed a hand on Lily's back as they turned into the driveway.

"Yea, and I might have to pull her in a wagon, cause she'll be so little still." Luke parked and they unloaded the car. Lily scrambled out the door and helped Andy carry her bags.

"Where are we putting our things?" Karen asked Luke and he shyly ran his fingers through his hair.

"Well, we set up Lily a bed in the nursery, which is my old bed room and you guys are in the guest bedroom in the extension." Karen didn't take it to heart that she wasn't staying in the bedroom she'd lived in for 17+ years and instead carried her things inside and set them down in the guest room. After things were set, the team met in the kitchen where Peyton was feeding Elle and lukewarm bottle and Lucas was rummaging through the fridge. "We're kind of short on food. We've been living of coffee and mac and cheese for a month now, so we should probably go out to eat tonight." He took a seat at the kitchen table rolling his head back slightly.

"You know what?" Karen said taking Andy's hand. "I kind of would like to take a walk around town. See who's out and about. Wanna come?" She asked her husband.

"Sure, why not" He turned to the small girl standing in the door way, looking at the hanging pictures. "Lil, you wanna come to?"

The girl shook her head. "I wanna stay with Peyton and the baby."

Karen shook her head and took her daughters hand. "Peyton's busy right now and I promise you're going to be seeing a lot of them over the next few days, so why don't you come on a walk with your parents?"

She stomped her little foot and crossed her arms. "But mom, that's not fair, I can walk whenever I want to, why now? I'm not going to be in the way"

"Come on Shorty" Andy said throwing her over his shoulders.

"You guys are so embarrassing." The girl cried. "I don't want to go with you."

Karen rolled her eyes and kissed Lucas cheek before leaving through the kitchen door with Andy in tow. Peyton remained silent as she continued to feed the baby. Her eyes locked on her daughter's sweet face and Luke could only guess.

He reached a hand out and placed it on her thigh. "Let me hear it"

Her eyes so used to being joyful over the past month were now hallow with sadness. The same deep and dark eyes she wore daily in high school, containing nothing but secrets. "What?" Her voice wavered.

"Don't do that Peyton; don't hide it. You've been keeping it in since the car ride back."

Moisture filled her eyes. "I don't know what you mean"

"It's not cool to sit on your mom's lap when you're six" Lucas quoted as the tears began to fall from her cheeks. He quickly took the bottle from her hand and set it down, then placed Elle on the table against her pillow. He moved closer and allowed Peyton to press her face against his shoulder.

"It's dumb. I know it. Just blame it on the hormones." She sobbed.

"No Peyt, it's not dumb. I promise" He placed his hand on her hair and turned to kiss the side of her temple. "It' going to hurt you to hear people say things like that; I understand, I do."

She drew air deep into her lungs. "She just relies on me for so much now, but I can't help but think about when she won't need me at all."

His hand moved to rest against her hip bone. "I know you already know this, but the best I can do is enforce it." He brought her eyes to look into his. "You've got many many many years before she doesn't need you anymore. "

"I know, Luke, I do, but I don't have many memories of my mother. Probably because she died when I was only 9, but I don't Elle to have to talk about me that way."

"Can I point something out?" Peyton nodded and hugged him back to her body. "Notice how my mom didn't take it to heart. She wasn't even fazed by Lily's comments and by the time Elle is her age I bet you won't be either."

She reeled back, understanding, but still upset. "You're probably right" Luke whipped her eyes.

"You know, I kind of like this hormonal version of Peyton."

She crossed her arms, pushing her kitchen chair away from his. "And why is that? Because at the end of the day I'm easier to make fun of?"

"Well, Mrs. Scott." He leaned forward and straddled her legs with his arms, hands grasping the chair. "I don't know if you're aware, but you and I are pretty much the most untalkative married couple in history and lately we've been doing pretty well."

"That we are" She raised an eyebrow at him and unexpectedly kissed his lips. "Despite everything we've just talked about. I'm so happy to be here with you and our baby."

He rolled his eyes. "You're such a dork"

"Luke!" She whined. "Not in front of the baby. She'll get ideas and gang up on me!" Elle's eyes brightened as they noticed her parents looking back at her.

"You're mom's a dork" Luke said placing a hand firmly on the baby's stomach.

"Am not!" She spoke defensively.

"Oh but you are"

"Luke stop it!" She threw her hands up in defeat as the baby admitted a small noise. They turned to her and her tiny lips were upturned in an unsure smile. "No!" Peyton spoke as shock over took her body and a very toothy smile spread across her own face. Elle, more sure of her actions, let her lips strength, and gave her first sure smile since birth. As soon as it was there, it disappeared, but luckily both parents had witnessed it.

"Did you see that?" He asked, moving his hands to lift his daughter into his arms.

"She smiled Luke; a real smile." She lightly brushed her baby's soft cheeks with an unpolished finger. "You're so beautiful." She remarked.

"Dork" He muttered and the baby's lips quivered into another small smile.

SORRY FOR ANY ERRORS THAT WAS A TOUGHY.

So, was it good? Sweet and short. Don't worry Karen, Lily and Andy will be in the next chapter. Along with Larry; if I'm not mistaken he does make his first appearance in chapter seven. ALSO major cliffhanger in the next one. Some serious drama, for the first time, I KNOW! But it's gonna be big so I wouldn't miss out if I was you.

Chapter 7- Peyton's twenty fourth birthday. Her and Lucas spend time alone for the first time since the baby was born. &Brooke babysits, finding that Elle&Angie have some disappointing similarities They both like to cry. A LOT. AND things don't always go acquiring to plan. Maybe Elle&Angie have TOO much in common…if you know what I mean??

REVIEW, or I WONT update… Chapter 7's done… do you want it!?