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 Twelve:Almost Here
Chapter Twelve dedications go to aracely6, Juzzy88, lizzy1234, Lostand1TreeHillfan, xoxotaylor (I think I know you better than ANYONE now haha), cayt326, Annie's OTH love, jamyj30, Reddevil6394, sammieleigh793, bendecida82, leyton4ever35
ReeseHolden (Again, you take my breath away! I love love love your reviews! SO this first part of the chapter is dedicated to you. You wanted your Naley, here it is.)
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"Jamie!" Nathan yelled upstairs to his son. "Come n' see this"
"Yuhyuhyuhyuhyuhyuhyuh" Jamie echoed as he ran down the steps, his voice vibrating with the movement. He leapt onto his father's back and wrapped his skinny arms around his neck. "What Daddy? What do you wanna show me?"
"It's in the kitchen, go ask your mom." Nathan placed the blonde child on the floor and watched him sprint into the kitchen, making noises as he went.
"Momma!" Jamie shouted as he skidded to a halt on the linoleum. "Show me, show me!" He cheered.
Haley pulled something out of her back pocket as Nathan stepped in besides her. "This, Jamie" She held out a small square sheet of paper and he took it in his hands, flipping it over. "Is your little brother or sister."
He nodded and looked up at his parents with big eyes. "I don't get it"
The brunette kneeled down besides the boy and looked over his shoulder at the picture. "Get what Jimmy Jam?"
"Where is he?"
She laughed. "Sweetie, that's it's nose, and it's forehead, there it's ear-"
"-it's a baby, not an it" He explained.
"Thank you for that Jamie, but we'll find out soon whether it's a boy or a girl and then it, won't be an it anymore."
"Does this mean you're excited for the baby?" Nathan asked, squatting down next to the two of them.
The six year old shrugged. "I guess, I mean I don't understand the whole fuss over a baby when they don't even do anything interesting, but Aunt Peyton said babies get better, and I hafta believe her because Elle smiled at me the other day. So that was pretty cool."
"Well that's good Jamie, I'm glad Aunt Peyton's letting Elle be your baby test subject." Haley kissed her sons head and then stood up. "Alright, you can go back and play or do whatever, we just wanted to share that with you. We're leaving for school in twenty minutes!" He flew past her and darted back up the stairs. "I hate Monday mornings" She lifted herself onto the counter and leaned back on her hands.
"I don't, I hate Tuesday nights." Nathan stood between her legs and placed his hands on her hips.
She frowned. "Why, because you leave until Saturday morning every Tuesday night?" He lowered his eyes, and closed the distance between her lips. "Don't do that." Haley moaned after she'd forcefully pulled away. "I have class today. If you get me all hot and heavy now, I'll never make in through the day." He silenced her voice by kissing her once again. She gave up and worked her fingers into his dark hair, smiling playfully against his lips.
"You know, maybe I can miss this week of training. I'm not out of shape. The season doesn't start for another month. I could just, stay home, with you…" She raised her eye brows.
"Really now" He nodded his head. "Well, I think you need to go, because I'm having a party tonight with a bunch of guys, and I kind of told them I was a single mother."
"I am definitely staying home." She kissed his lips once more, before hopping down off the counter and eloping him in a hug.
"You go, be mister basketball playing Nathan Scott. Jamie and I will be fine." Nathan picked up the sonogram from where it had been placed down next to the coffee maker. "Go score your touch downs."
A smile spread over his face and he handed the picture to her. "We make pretty cute kids."
Haley's smile soon matched her husband's. "That we do." She dragged his hand from her waist, to place it gently on her stomach.
--
"I really love our breakfast dates Mrs. Scott." Brooke said taking a bite of her blueberry pancakes.
"Me too, Davis soon to be Baker" Brooke didn't look up, and tried to hide her smile behind her hand. "So that's exciting!" Peyton continued. "Your wedding, in less than a month."
"I know, I just wish Elle could walk, or crawl, or something. I wanted her to be my flower girl."
"Well she can roll down the isle for you, if you want." Peyton laughed. "She's got the whole inch worm thing down, but then she gets aggravated because she doesn't actually move"
"Poor kid."
"Yea, well, I don't think I'm ready for her to be crawling. That means I've got to block off the stairs, and the living room and watch the cords." She inhaled deeply. "Ya, Momma's not ready for that."
"Aunty Brooke's not either.
Peyton couldn't help but blush as she reached forward and grabbed Brooke's hand. "I'm so glad we got here, married and starting families."
"Ya, I gotta get on the second part."
"Brooke are you kidding me!" Peyton half shouted. "You're the only one who's doing this right. Getting married and then having a baby."
"Haley and Nathan got married before they had Jamie."
"Yea, but they were also in high school."
She laughed. "Good point." Brooke pulled her hand away from Peyton's and smiled. "Well either way, I can't wait to have my own baby's to fawn over."
"You're going to be a great mom Brooke. You great with Sam and you're amazing with Elle. And I can't wait to be an aunty!"
"So, let's skip all this baby stuff; let's talk about something else."
"Like what?" She questioned.
"Work, today, after school, you're meeting with that girl?"
"Yup; her names Ryden, she's got a troubled background, no mom, loves music, so I thought I'd give her the opportunity I never had."
"That's sweet of you P. Scott." Brooke took a sip of her orange juice. "And from what Haley said, she's got a lot of medical problems?"
Peyton shrugged. "I mean I've seen her folder and medical history, but it sounds like a lot of past problems and controlled diseases, but I'm hoping I'll get her to explain it to me better today when I met with her."
"I'm sure she really appreciates it Peyt" They continued their small talk while finishing up their breakfast. "So what's Luke up to this morning?"
The curly blonde leaned back into the booth seat. "He and Elle were out cold when I left, so I put Elle in with him on the bed"
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Something soft brushed against his nose.
Luke scrunched his eyes closed tighter and pushed the hand away. When he felt the skin, his eyes popped open. He'd expected it to be Peyton, but the size of the hand was much smaller. He turned as Elle reached out her hand again to place it on his lips.
"Well hello" He whispered to his daughter, taken back by the minimal space she'd taken up in the bed. "Where's mom?" She kicked her legs wildly in response, flailing her arms high above her head. He glanced at the clock on the night stand and then pulled Elle onto his chest, as he leaned back into the pillows, looking down at her. "Oh momma left for breakfast with Auntie Brooke and stuck you in here with me, huh?"
She leaned up on her elbows and stared back at her father, innocence the only liquid shinning in her eyes. "Elle, you look just like your mother." He smoothed his hand over the top of her head. "Cept you've got no hair right now, but it's going to be long and curly soon." He touched her cheek. "And you have her nose." He brushed it lightly with his finger tips. "And her chin and those beautiful ears"
"But" He said, coming to stop at the dip in her cheeks. "Those eyes are mine."
Elle gurgled and drooled a little out the side of her mouth. "And thank god for that. I couldn't handle two girls in my house, winning me over with those gorgeous green eyes your mother has."
The hold she had on her neck weakened, and she lay her head down on her father's chest, unable to hold it up any longer. Luke placed his hand on her back, and soothingly rubbed the fabric of her onesie. "That's my girl" He cooed with satisfaction. He closed his eyes momentarily, his daughter dozing quietly upon his chest.
"Awe, now that is sweet" Luke's eyes flew back open and he saw Peyton standing in the door way, arms crossed, her eyes lowered at him. "Now what if you forgot she was there and rolled over, huh? You might have tossed my baby onto the floor." She walked over and placed her hand on top of his on their child's back.
"How's Brooke?" He asked after shying a yawn into his shoulder.
"Fine, excited to be getting married." Elle's breathing unevened and a cry escaped her lungs. Peyton lifted Elle into her arms and looked into her child's tear stained eyes. "Did I wake you up?" She asked. "Or are you just hungry?" The four month old baby swung her head and held onto Peyton's v neck for support.
"She's probably hungry. I got up at two with her, so unless you fed her before you left, she hasn't eaten since then."
"Alright, I guess I'll feed her and then we're off to work."
"That's good" He nodded and she looked at him with confusion and began to unbutton her top. "No, that you're taking her to work. I'm meeting with a new editor today and I don't think I would have been able to bring Elle with me."
"Wait, Luke, a new editor?" Elizabeth settled in against her breast and Peyton sat cross legged on the bed staring back at him.
"Yea, I mean, with mine and Lindsay's history, I thought it would be best to just avoid her and I have been, so…"
"No, no, no, no, Luke, that is not what I want you to do."
He slumped back into the pillows running a hand over his face. "It has nothing to do with you, I promise. I just, I hate that I got you and Elizabeth." A frown creased over her forehead. "No, I mean, she got nothing after our separation. She knew I still loved you, so she backed off, but from what I know, she's still single, and I just feel bad. I don't want to show up and talk to her about my new book, because it's about how happy I am right now and how I'm just so full of adoration for my life. I don't wanna seem like I'm bragging."
Peyton nodded and reached out to place her hand on his leg, which were buried under the covers. "I understand, and I'm here to support you, so if you decide to switch editors, then go for it. You'll hear nothing out of me but encouragement. But, if you do want my opinion," His eyes met hers as he nodded. "Lindsay is a great editor. Both books did fantastic and she gave them the buzz that they disserved."
"I know, but I just want to be cautious of her feelings, you know." She nodded and removed her hand from off his thigh.
"You'll do what you think is right, I know that much." She offered him a sweet smile, and he leaned up, throwing the covers off of him, to kiss her lips. "You're sweet" She moaned after he pulled away. "We need to spend more time, doing just that."
"Kissing?"
She winked. "Yes, you know you miss how careless we used to be too"
"We can still be careless." He argued.
"No, we, have a four month old daughter who depends on us for EVERYTHING." He roughly kissed her lips again, holding her hips tightly, carefully avoiding Elle. She pulled away quickly. "Lucas Scott! I am a mother!!" She retorted and stood up from the bed, Elle in her arms.
"You play a cute mom."
The smile she had been trying to hide shone brightly over her face as she bore all her teeth. "Really?"
"The cutest"
She turned to hide her face. "Luke, stop!" She gave a nervous laugh as his feet came to stand on the floor by hers.
"You need to learn how to take a compliment" He rubbed Elle's head.
"You need to stop using them to get into my pants." She turned back towards him and placed a second arm under Elle's body.
He laughed. "I don't need to give you compliments to get into your pants. Actually, I think this" He looked down at Elle for a moment and then back up to Peyton, where their eyes met. "Happened because of you."
"Me!?"
"I said I didn't bring protection, and you said no it's fine, I'm still on the pill, blah blah blah" He whined huskily.
She pulled Elle away from his hand and left the bed room yelling, "Your little accident and I are leaving!" behind her.
He laughed and shook his head before entering the bathroom to begin getting ready for his day.
---
It was 12:30 and the fourth time in ten minutes Peyton had looked at the clock.
She was looking forward to interviewing Ryden, but still didn't know what that meant. Interview? Should I ask her questions? How did my interview go? What did they ask me? Does she start working today? I need to take my mind of this. Am I nervous? Why should I be?
Elle gurgled from inside her small play area. She had been laid out on a comforter, surrounded by toys and stuffed animals. She was on her hands and knees, once again, attempting to move somewhere, anywhere, but failing. Peyton smiled at her child and rotated in her chair to watch her more direct.
Lucas eyes shown on Elle's young face and she thought back to their conversation earlier. He was going to switch editors? That just didn't seem right. Peyton picked up her cell phone, considering something daring. Very bold, and very, yes, daring.
Peyton did, in fact, have Lindsay's office number saved in her phone.
But should she do it?
Her heart raced as she brought the speaker to her ear and listened to the dial tone. What, oh what in the world had inspired her to do this!? She looked back at her daughter. Those eyes. Oh yes, it was those eyes that had started this.
"Hello, Lindsay Straus speaking"
"Lindsay" Peyton breathed. "Hi-uh-hi, this is Peyton. Uh- Peyton Sawyer" She refrained from using Scott.
There was silence on the other end for a moment. "Peyton." More silence. "Wow, hi, uh, how can I help you?"
"I wanted to talk to you about Lucas. As your author, I mean" God, this was awkward.
Lindsay tapped her pen on her desk. "Yea, what about?"
"Well, I know he hasn't been visiting regularly with you and today he told me he was considering switching editors"
The woman sighed. "And why would you tell me this Peyton? To say that it wasn't your idea and you had nothing to do with it?"
"No, not at all. I just, I told him I didn't want him to get a new editor. I want him to stay with you, but he's afraid that your past, makes things awkward and I told him that it shouldn't because you're a great editor and that's what counts. I'd hate to see him walk away from you."
"Well he hasn't exactly been doing his part lately."
"He has, he's been writing a lot. I think he even has enough material for two new books. He's just, he's avoiding giving it to you"
"Why would he do that?" She questioned.
"Because Luke is a good guy"
Lindsay couldn't help but nod. "He is"
"And he doesn't want to hurt you with the words he's written"
"What's he writing about?"
"Uh" Peyton ran a hand through her hair. "Love"
"I see" She responded. "What would you like me to do? I don't want to lose Lucas as my author. He's work is good, great actually"
"Talk him out of the meeting today. Give him a call and tell him you'll read his story" She stopped. "And this isn't me telling you what to do. Do what you think is right"
"I will" She tapped her pen once more. "Thanks for calling me Peyton"
The blonde bit her lip, "No problem" A cry broke out and Peyton's eye's shot over to look at Elizabeth who was still struggling with her movements.
"You've got to go" Lindsay clarified the cries which she could hear from over the phone.
"I do" She sighed. "Bye Lindsay"
"Bye Peyton"
They hung up and the curly haired mother stood up from her chair and walked over to the "baby zone", where she lifted Elle into her arms. "You'll get it one day my love. Don't be in such a hurry to grow up. I want you forever young"
---
Peyton had her back to the door as she quietly breast fed Elle her afternoon meal. She felt confident that no one would interrupt, it being only two in the afternoon and Owen was probably still crashed on his couch back at his apartment.
But a knock on the door startled her greatly and she fumbled to find her words. "Aye- uh, one moment" She shouted and then pulled Elle away from her chest to fix her shirt. The infant was very aggravated with the loss of contact and looked up at her mother with tears in her blue eyes, as if saying Hey man, I wasn't finished yet.
"Come in"
A curly blonde haired teen entered the room with an apologetic smile on her face.
"Ryden?" Peyton asked as she lightly bounced Elizabeth in her arms. "School's not out yet; what are you going here?"
"I had gym last period and didn't bring a change." She walked forward and took an unsure seat in front of her desk.
Peyton held Elle on her hip as her daughter's tears subsided. "Listen kid, if you want this job you can't be cutting class, even if it is gym."
"I was just joking; I had a free, so I thought I'd show up early." Ryden deadpanned. "I'm assuming you want to ask me some questions before you hire me and what not."
"Oh, yea" She stood up frantically and walked over towards the small crib and placed Elle inside. "Sorry, you kinda caught be off guard." She scratched her forehead and looked down at the girl. Ryden was wearing jeans and a Ramones tshirt with quarter length sleeves. Her curly hair fell to her shoulders and she had on minimal make up, if any. "So I've never done this before" Peyton admitted.
Ryden raised her eyebrows. "And you think I have?"
The woman lowered her eyes at the teen. "No, I'm just not sure what I'm supposed to ask you. It is an interview after all."
"How about you just give me something to do and I prove to you that I can do it?"
"Alright," She nodded her head and walked over to the filing cabinets which were outside of the studio. "You can start with all the folders on the top shelf" She pointed with her finger. "And making a copy of the rejection letters, place the old one back in the folder, stick the copy in an envelope," She walked over to another filing cabinet containing secretary supplies. "Find their contact information in their information sheet, use the label maker for the addresses, return address is already saved in the label maker, stick them on the envelope, grab a stamp, stamp away, seal it up, and start a pile."
"Bitch work?"
"Aye, no" She looked momentarily over at her four month old daughter who was knocked out amongst bedding. "Not bitch work. If you weren't gonna do it, I'd still have to."
"Okay, fine then."
"You are getting paid for this."
She nodded. "I know, and it beats anything else I could be doing, so thank you."
"You're welcome" Ryden stepped towards the filing cabinets as Peyton ran a hand through her hair. "Oh, do you know how to work the copy machine?"
"The printer thing, what do you think?"
"Okay, okay" She raising her hands up in the air. "I'll just let you get to work" Peyton walked over to her turntable and leaved through her collection of albums. She picked an old U2 record and gently slid the needle over the tread. The music softly floated around the room.
"So who else have you signed?" Ryden asked after getting through four or five folders. Peyton couldn't tell by looking at the pile.
"Three so far." Peyton swirled in her chair to look at the girl standing in front of the printer. "Mia's done the best in the charts, but I've got Sunday's Best, which is a little local band, really amazing, and Today's Worth Fighting For. They've got a really big internet fan base and are out on tour right now."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I heard them on Pandora the other day. I downloaded their song off strikegently."
A smile grew over her cheeks. "I bet you did. I'll have to introduce them to you sometime"
"That'd be sweet." She ducked her head back down to work and Peyton rolled her eyes and then let her fingers run over the keyboard on her laptop.
A half an hour later a knock sounded and Luke poked his head in door and his eyes met Peyton's. "Hey" Ryden turned around at the sound of a man's voice and the two quickly looked at each other. She broke their gaze and looked back down to the label maker.
Luke walked towards his wife, eyes widened with confusion. She lowered her brows and crossed her arms. He scribbled something quickly down on a post-it note on her desk and dragged their eyes to match once again.
You never told me she looked like Peyton Sawyer. He'd written in his chicken scratch.
She shrugged her shoulders. "Haley said the same thing. So, are you here for the kid?"
He turned to look at his daughter passed out in the crib. "Afraid so" He stepped over the gate like Peyton had done thirty times that day, and lifted a sleeping Elle into his arms. Her eyes remained closed as he gently rocked her.
"I don't know what time I'll be home tonight, I've got to hit up the pharmacy on the way home."
"Oh, pick up my prescription while you're there?"
She frowned at him. "How long have you been empty?"
"We've been busy"
She stomped her foot in that very Peyton way like she did every time she got aggravated with him. "Lucas I don't have time for this"
"Peyton, come on"
"Go" She pointed towards the door. "I'll talk to you later."
Weird ending I KNOW. BUT
Chapter 13, is going to jump forward a bit. What you can expect 1. A flashback to a quick fight Luke&Peyton had regarding his medication&Lindsay. 2. Peyton signs on a new band thanks to Ryden. 3. Ryden makes a mess of her own. 4. Brooke has commitment issues.
Pahleeze Review.