Nothings Bigger than Love – Chapter three

"Okay here we go" he said putting the key into the slot of the white windowey door, when the door didn't give way he gave a chuckle looking back at his wife who was holding their daughter and then used his shoulder to push against the door, and on the second shove the door flew open revealing a musty house that clearly hadn't been lived in for years, he instantly looked back at his wife who had a not so thrilled look on her face "Come on Peyton, it will be great we can just you know open the windows and let some air in, give it a coat of paint and we will be set" he said grabbing her hand and walking into the house, she sneezed as she stepped inside and the dust got up her nose "Welcome Home little girl" he said reaching his arms out to his baby daughter on the eve of her first birthday. Andy and Karen had begun sailing the seven seas again and while Lucas and Peyton were invited to join them they had decided that they were going to keep on travelling on the road before buying a small house on the ocean to live in for a non-disclosed amount of time, probably just while Sawyer was little but they just hadn't fully decided yet.

"Right" Peyton said still not looking thrilled about the whole house thing.

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They had spent the morning and suspected that it would continue throughout the majority of the afternoon to unpack the mass of luggage and boxes filled to the brim with their belongings, Lucas was in charge of getting the boxes out of the car and passing them to Peyton over the child proof gate that kept Sawyer running around inside, Peyton would attempt to unpack it as much as she could with Sawyer running around at her feet so at the moment only the necessities were being unpacked. They didn't have a fridge or basic living amenities yet so every piece of food that they needed was sitting in the freezer box that was placed behind the bench. When Lucas did come back into the house he could feel Peyton's hostility towards what he assumed as himself, but he put it all down to the stresses of moving into a new house. "I think I will have a beer" he said with a smile as he walked over to the freezer box and pulled a chilled one out as Peyton shrugged her shoulders, he practically ignored it and went and span the little girl in circles on the floor.

"I can't believe that a year ago we were getting married, and a year ago tomorrow our beautiful little Sawyer was born" he said smiling, he knew that no matter what sort of mood Peyton was in whenever he got sentimental about Sawyer that she would somewhat swoon and forget why she was in her original mood but he could tell something was wrong when his comment seemed to have no effect on her. "Peyton" he said getting her attention, his eyes full of concern she looked up at him "What is going on?" he asked her sitting down on the floor next to where she sat unpacking a box, she smiled briefly as Sawyer got in her face

"Nothing" she said not looking up at him, knowing full well that it wouldn't actually stop him from asking questions, she knew she hadn't fooled him.

"Peyton Sawyer Scott you cannot fool me, I know when something is wrong" he said smiling at her, trying to get her to respond in the same way

"It's our wedding anniversary" she said not looking up

"Yeah I know" he said not completely sure about what she was getting to

"And on our first wedding anniversary we didn't go out for dinner, we didn't exchange presents and we can't have S-E-X" she said covering Sawyers ears "Because we are currently sleeping on an air mattress instead you moved us into the crap shack, on our wedding anniversary, Our daughter has to celebrate her first ever birthday surrounded by dust"

"We just have to leave the windows open for a little while and a…." he said before she interrupted trying to put a positive light on it all

"A fresh coat of paint" she said in a mocking tone "And do you know who is going to have to apply that 'fresh coat of paint' ME" she said the anger in her making her stand up, Lucas laughed still knowing full well that this wasn't what Peyton was truly upset about

"What is actually wrong Peyton? Cause it isn't the house we have lived in worse homes before"

"I am sick of having to do everything while you play solitaire on your computer" Peyton yelled referring to Lucas currently trying to write his next novel and again he laughed, he was too happy with life to get too revved up

"Bullshit Peyton" he said under his breath but she heard him and he wasn't sure that his intention wasn't for her to actually hear

"What did you say?" she said with an outraged look on her face

"I said Bullshit Peyton" he said quieter realising that Sawyer was in the room looking up at him "Either you are going to tell me what is so wrong with you or I am going to continue to annoy you until you do"

Peyton sighed and put her hand to her head before looking at him, her eyes welling up and her lip quivering "You called it our home Lucas" she said as a tear rolled down her cheek "THIS" she said indicating to the space around her "Isn't our home, Tree Hill is our home"

"Peyton" he said standing up to comfort her

"No, Don't" she said before walking over to the box closest to the door and picking up her handbag before stepping over the child gate and walking away from the house, Lucas went to follow her but stopped as his daughter began to cry, he picked her up to comfort her, knowing that Peyton would come back to him when she was good and ready.

"Everything is okay bubba"

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When Peyton arrived home Lucas and Sawyer were gone, and after two hours without them returning she set off to find them, the cool breeze made her wrap her cardigan around herself tighter as she stepped down onto the sand and took off her shoes, holding them in her hand as she let the feel of the sand between her toes, in the distance she could see Lucas walking, she took a deep breath and smiled, he could still take her breath away. Eventually she caught up to them, Lucas was bent over walking while holding Sawyer's two hands so she could walk as well, the little girl was beside herself in excitement, laughing and jumping as they walked along. Lucas turned and caught Peyton standing looking on at them smiling "Hey mama" he said before moving his head in the direction of himself indicating that she should come over to them. She walked over and kissed him before linking her hand to a loop in his jeans.

"I overreacted" she said as he looked on at her with a smile telling her with only his eyes that he agreed with her statement and she smiled "My home is wherever you and Sawyer are" she said as he lifted the little girl in her high waisted blue harem pants and her purple long sleeve love heard top into the air and then onto his hip before lightly kissing his wife cheek as Peyton smiled looking on at her gorgeous daughter.

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By the time they got home it was dark and the little girl in her arms was fast asleep, holding on tightly to her mother, Lucas took Sawyer off her and walked her up the hallway, and while Peyton knew she didn't have to she followed him up the hall to Sawyers room, he walked in and was taken aback by the painting that was now occupying the white wall that he had left many hours ago

"Peyton what is that?" he asked standing still in front of it

"I gave It a coat of paint, just like you said makes all the difference" Peyton said with a smile before looking at their daughter "Next time that little girl opens her eyes it will be her birthday" she said which made Lucas happy, he knew Peyton was out of her mood because she was all sappy and sentimental again. Lucas put Sawyer in the portable cot that he had set up earlier when Peyton was out and Sawyer needed a nap, she then kissed him tenderly and dragged him out their daughter's bedroom and pushed him up against a wall, both to his surprise and delight. She then pulled away ignoring Lucas' protests and spoke "You know this was the best one year wedding anniversary, you know the part after my hissy fit" she said before he pulled her back into his embrace and kissed her, he then got himself off the wall and walked her up to their bedroom at the end of the hall, he pushed the door open with her back and then stood above their air mattress. Now he wasn't quite sure how it happened, maybe he was just caught up in the moment and forgot his surroundings but he threw himself; wife first down onto the air mattress, the drop down was a lot bigger than he had expected and as they landed with a thud they also landed with a pop. Their faces disconnected while their bodies remained very connected as they looked at the slowly deflating mattress

"Uh-oh" Peyton said with a hysterical laugh

"Whoops" he said joining in on the laughter before looking back down on her and continuing to kiss her in the hopes of having sex right there right that very minute.

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Peyton was awake at five forty five, she lay awake practically lying on the floor where the air mattress once sat, she just wanted for her daughter to be awake so that she could start the celebrations, but she knew that the earlier that the little girl woke up the quicker the celebration would be over. She lifted up her singlet to reveal her belly; Peyton put her hand to the scar from her emergency caesarean and rubbed it, feeling a mix of emotions, she was completely absorbed by it, so absorbed that she didn't hear Lucas stir and wake up; she physically jumped when he put a hand on her shoulder, when she realised that he was awake she took his hand and placed it on her scar and he looked on intently as she made him feel it from the left to the right, since the birth of their daughter he had been in awe of his wife's amazing ability, his brother was right the woman next to him was a super hero. At six the heard mumbling over the baby monitor and with that both of them were at their feet practically running to the little girls room. The little girl stood in her crib smiling up as they entered "Happy Birthday darling girl" Peyton said before leaning down and swinging the now one year old Sawyer in the air before passing her to her dad who smothered her in kisses as she laughed.

They took her to the living room and sat her down in front of a pile of presents and she began to, with the help of her excited father open them, the last one was the biggest and when it finally did get opened after the little girl getting distracted at least seven times, it was revealed to be a white rocking horse with a fitted bucket seat so that Sawyer could sit on it on her own without the fear of falling, Peyton put the little girl in it as it began to rock Sawyer smiled all excited, Lucas got the camera out: the amount of photos they had taken just in that year was phenomenal, as he took the photo and there was a knock on the door, as neither of them were expecting anyone they both looked at each other with confusion.

"Who is that?" Peyton asked as Lucas shrugged his shoulders and headed towards the door, as he opened it the sound of her voice filled the room, Sawyer recognised the voice and began to smile and jump in the attempt to get out of the rocking horse.

"There is no way in hell that I was missing my grandbabies first birthday" Karen said before pushing past her son then walking into the living room scooping the little girl out of her mother's arms, practically smothering her in kisses. Peyton walked over and hugged Andy and the little black haired bombshell that was Lily Roe Scott.

"We brought presents" Andy said walking over to where Karen stood and kissing the little girls forehead "And we found this one on the door step" he said with another parcel in his opposite hand.

Peyton had to open the parcel as it was too tough for the little girl to get in to and she was already too excited and distracted to concentrate on anything around her. Everyone turned to Peyton as she made a noise that sounded something like "Aww" she had the widest smile on her face.

"What is it?" Lucas asked looking at his wife

"Brooke!" she said before pulling out and showing the items in the parcel revealing one at a time the items of clothing Brooke had sent, First came out the TRIC, Karen's café and Ravens onesies and then the grey zip up jumper with 'Keith Scott Motors' on the back of it. They all looked around smiling at each other as the items were passed around the small circle that had coincidently made around the birthday girl. Peyton jumped up remembering that she had promised to video call her Tree Hill family, she grabbed her laptop and set it up so that the video was streaming and as soon as the call had connected three faces popped up on their screen, all three looking intently and closely as though looking through the screen itself. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" they all said in harmony and after a few moments of conversation Peyton noticed something

"Hey where is Brooke? Wasn't she supposed to come to your house this morning?" she asked as a knock sounded on the door and Haley smiled, Peyton didn't know why but she got up and walked as fast as she could to the front door, throwing it open and embracing the brunette who stood on the other side. Brooke had flown to be with them on Sawyer's first birthday, Peyton was in tears.

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They all sat around a pile of boxes that represented the kitchen table including Nathan, Haley and Jamie who sat up on one of the boxes, Sawyer sat in Brooke's lap as Lucas and Peyton stood in the kitchen, they walked over with a small plate which had a cupcake with a lit candle that was simply the number one. Peyton looked on with a massive smile as her family; minus a couple of key participants, Sang Happy Birthday to her smiling daughter who looked from all the people surrounding her. Peyton thought of how quickly this year had gone past and knew that before she knew it the next year would be on her doorstep and not so far away. She was drawn back in when Lucas touched her shoulder she smiled at him and he smiled at her as the extended group sang "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!" one last time as Brooke helped the little girl blow out her candle.

This chapter is finished!

But this story isn't over.