Disclaimer: I don't own Jack.

If anyone had told Peyton this morning that Lucas Scott would be banging around her kitchen trying to find utensils to cook her dinner less than twenty four hours later she would have laughed in their face. No seriously, she wouldn't have been able to stop herself. She's kind of holding in a burst of hysterical laughter now because what. the. fuck? She really doesn't have an excuse for why she let Lucas in other than that he caught her off guard.

"So I realise I asked for a pan but maybe I should ask when the last time you had anything given a health and safety check?" Lucas was gazing around the kitchen with growing horror on his face, "this is not hygienic!"

"Funny, that's what Brooke said last year when she and Jake had to crash here while he got his pipes fixed- are you admitting you're a girl now?"

Lucas snorted, "it's not being girly Sawyer, it's being very aware of mould and not wanting it growing in your oven."

"Hey shut up there is not mould in there!"

"Do you even know how to turn it on?"

Peyton blinked innocently, "isn't it on now?" He stared at her aghast for a moment before she broke out into a grin, "what? I was kidding, I know how to turn it on." She gestured quickly at the entire oven, "you just press that one there right?"

He raised an eyebrow, "sorry, which one?"

"That one." He raised an eyebrow and she scowled, "ugh I don't know these things! God, I'm a surgeon, I don't cook!"

"You know some people can do both."

"Fine" she scoffed, "it can't be that hard to do." She sat down beside the oven and jabbed at some of the buttons, "oh look, a light came on!"

"Yeah that's the timer."

She could hear the amusement in his voice and she rolled back her shoulders, "ok, minor inconvenience, nothing too drastic, can't let that defeat us." She narrowed her eyes as she swept her gaze over the oven, "there has to be some logical way of doing this." She crouched down, opening the door in front of her and sticking her head inside, "is there something in here?"

"Jesus no, get your head out of there! You're a freaking surgery wizard, don't you see enough kids come in with injuries having stuck their heads where they don't belong?"

"I don't use this thing; I don't know what you do with it! Rachel sorted it out last time."

"Last time? You've actually used this thing before?"

"Hey shut up; we baked Nathan a cake once."

"I take it all back," he said solemnly, "I'm sure that cake was completely edible."

She had a streak of oven dust or dirt, who knew, on her forehead and he smirked and leant forward to wipe it away, "look at you, getting dirty in the kitchen. Who would have ever thought you'd see the day."

Scowling she turned away and grabbed the phone, trying to avoid meeting his eye in an attempt to regain her composure, "if you're not cooking for me you can at least pay for the pizza."

He laughed, "whatever happened to equality?"

"Um, chivalry comes first."

"Yeah well maybe you should be the one who's chivalrous."

"You came over here to make me dinner!"

"Fair enough," he chuckled, rolling up his sleeves, "here we go." He flicked something to the left of the oven and a humming filled the kitchen.

"You- I- shut up."

She put the phone down and crossed her arms, "so I hear you saw the proposal go down?"

" Yeah," he laughed, running a hand through his hair, "it was kind of my fault actually."

"Your fault? What you made Jake propose?"

"No, I was um, talking about something and suddenly he got all crazy and went over and proposed." Lucas blurted out his explanation as if he was avoiding something and she raised an eyebrow.

"You mean you were bitching?"

"Uh- maybe?"

She rolled her eyes, "wow, how do you ever make any friends?"

He snorted, "you kidding? I've got natural charm babe."

Her heckles rose suddenly and she narrowed her eyes at him, "ok so we might be past certain formalities but you sure as hell don't have permission to call me babe."

Before she could say anything else he had moved to stand directly in front of her, resting his hands either side of her hips on the counter she was leaning against, "but I can call you Peyton now?"

His voice was low and it made her shiver, "only when we're not at the hospital."

He smirked like he'd caught the hitch in her breath and then turned away, "so do I need to disinfect the table or anything? Go and buy some plates from the nearest Walmart?"

"I have plates!" She leant back on the counter, watching him unpack ingredients like this was an everyday activity for them both. The ease in which he moved around her kitchen and she let him, made something under her skin itch. She sighed and scrubbed her face; this wasn't real life, they were pretending to be something they weren't here, like it was normal for him to plough into her home unannounced and cook them dinner.

"I read the file." His voice broke her thoughts and although it wasn't going to be an easy conversation she was glad for the interruption.

"And?"

He sighed and leant against the opposite counter, folding his arms across his chest before seeming to think better of it and placing them on the plastic surfacing. "I had no right to accuse any of you of doing anything but your best for my dad."

"No," she said carefully, "you probably didn't."

He let out a low huff that almost sounded like laughter, "I don't even know what I thought I would find out coming home- maybe that there had been a complication I would have seen- something I could have fixed if I'd been here that no-one else spotted."

"Sometimes you just can't fix someone," she said softly.

"Yeah I know," he said shortly, straightening up and messing with some of the weird mince stuff he'd made that looked kind of gross- she really hoped it looked better than that when they ate it or she'd be ordering pizza later anyway.

"I spent so long running from my dad, my past, even Nathan. I guess I just always assumed I'd have time to come back and prove I wasn't the screw up he always said I was. But nope, not my dad, he was such a stubborn son of a bitch he just had to get the last word in. He always had to win."

He looked up at her, his blue eyes so sincere she felt it down to her toes, "how am I supposed to fix things with Nathan now? He's so angry at me for abandoning him but I did it because I knew he'd be better off without me. He would have spent years trying to support me while I got my life together, but he was so smart, and the only thing I could do to help him was take the shit from my dad and let Nathan do all the things I couldn't do."

She didn't really know what to say, she knew some of what had gone on in the Scott brother's past- stories that had come out when Nathan's tongue was loose with alcohol or more recently when he'd been so upset last year and just blurted horrifying memories out in the dark hours they'd spent waiting on news or sitting in the hospital chapel.

"I was mad at my dad when he died," she said finally. Ok so that wasn't the best thing to have admitted to but hey, she was shit at this stuff and maybe it would help.

It appeared to as Lucas's eyes flashed up towards her, narrowing slightly, "yeah I remember you saying something after the whirlwind of horror that was this afternoon."

She snorted, "you're a big boy, you survived."

"Barely...When did he pass away?"

She shrugged awkwardly, picking at the countertop, "I was fourteen. My mom died in a car accident when I was eight, we were driving back from a wedding and- and there was ice and a guy going too fast in a pick- up. My dad couldn't have done anything about that bit, he came out of nowhere. Dead on impact so he never even had to deal with the mess he made. I met his son though- once- about ten years ago. His name is Craig; he's a cop- does everything he can to make up for something his dad did." Her eyes were heavy as they met his, "guess we can relate right? So anyway my dad put me in a blanket and sat me on the side of the road while he tried to wake my mom up and I kept waiting to hear her voice... but she didn't wake up." He was staring at her in silence and she swallowed quickly, needing to get it all out before she broke. "My dad fell apart. He left me in the waiting room on one of those stupid plastic chairs and just, didn't come back."

Lucas made a small noise of horror and she tried to smile, "yup that's me little girl lost."

"Peyton-"

"But it got better," she interrupted, "I moved in with Rachel and her parents- they weren't great but they were there on occasion and they always made sure we had enough to eat or whatever. I decided the year I found out my dad died that I was gonna be someone who could help fix families and I don't have the patience Haley does for social work so it was doctor or cop and- I don't like guns. And Rachel always knew she wanted to fix brains. So we just stuck together. Through everything; school, college, med school, moving to Chicago. Rachel is the very best family I could ever have hoped for." She met his eyes with steely determination suddenly, "and once we're done getting emotional you're gonna go across the road and apologise like you've never fucking apologised before ok? Because you might not like her very much or give a crap about her but I do. And this gesture is all very well but it's not the one you need to be making. You say you don't know how to fix things with your brother? Well here's your starting point."

He sighed and scrubbed a hand across his face, "do I really have to?"

"You said yourself you've made some mistakes; don't add this to the list. This could be the one that means you lose Nathan for good." She didn't want to sound dramatic but she knew her friends. She knew Nathan. And he loved his wife. She was sure he loved Lucas too, deep down, maybe really deep down considering their differences and Nathan's serious issues with his brother. But he had basically fallen in love with Rachel the moment he fell at her feet in their first week at Columbia at a frat party and that had been it for the both of them. They were soul mates, from their weirdass fondness for all things American history related to the way they always gravitated towards each other in sleep- whether it be in airports or cafeterias (Chris drew on both their foreheads once but never made the same mistake again after Rachel had spoken to him alone in an on call room later- he'd wondered around wide eyed and horrified all day afterwards). She inwardly rolled her eyes at the sappy crap and made a mental note to give Rachel shit for making her think such thoughts later.

"So," she put a hand on her hip, "you wanna do this now or do you need to cry some more first?"

"What?" He started, his eyes flitting around, "are they here?" He stood up, "oh my god are they upstairs?" He stalked into the living room, "I mean normally I can tell about these things but-"

"Oh christ would you relax? They're not here you idiot; they live across the road."

He blinked, "really?"

She snorted, "you didn't recognise the road?"

"Um," he pulled a sheepish face, "it's been a while since I was around here and uh... I was kind of intoxicated both times."

Peyton reached for a hoodie, rolling her eyes, "of course."

"Hey, cut me a break- I was like twenty five and home on leave for the first time."

"You didn't come home in seven years?"

He shrugged awkwardly, "I didn't really have much to come home to- I just dropped by to see Nate and things got a bit... out of control?"

"That seems like one way to put it."

"I came back again!"

"Yeah and ruined Rachel's new bathroom."

"Can we please not remind me about that when I'm literally going into the lion's den in less than five minutes?"

She sniggered, opening the door and trying not to reach for his hand- it was almost instinctual- god damn he was getting under her skin. Before shoving her own hands deep into her pockets protectively instead. Lucas was doing the same thing, his own hands balled into fists before disappearing into his jean pockets.

"Oh come on," she rolled her eyes again and ignoring her previous reluctance she reached out and grabbed his arm, "she's not going to eat you."

"Couldn't we just stay in your oh so cosy and warm kitchen? The lasagne might burn."

"We are not eating lasagne tonight," she said firmly, "you can do it another night."

Lucas stopped in the middle of the road- thank god it was a quiet neighbourhood because for an army kid he really wasn't that smart about road safety- and she turned back slowly to look at him.

"What?"

"We will?"

"Will what?"

He smiled softly, "do the lasagne another night."

"Uh," she looked down at her feet and when she looked back up she realised he was a whole lot closer, "um, yeah, I mean if you survive Rachel-"

"-oh come on!"

"If you survive then- uh- when we can we do dinner a couple of nights a week, you could come-"

"You guys really do spend too much time together."

"Look do you want an invite or not?"

He grinned suddenly, wide and unguarded, "you know I can come round without a chaperone- so long as you can promise to control yourself."

She scoffed and turned back towards the opposite side of the street, "yeah that's totally the problem."

"I can see it in your eyes," he said loftily, "you want to kiss me just as much as I want to kiss you."

Her mouth went dry and she tried to think of an argument for what he'd said- when she couldn't she just exhaled crossly and knocked on Nathan and Rachel's green door. "Shut up."

"You know you want me," he murmured.

"Would you stop! Lord save me."

As if Rachel was reading her mind the door flew open and her best friend appeared, her eyes going from delighted to see Peyton to intense dislike when she noticed Lucas, attempting to hide behind Peyton.

"Oh brother," Peyton sighed, "hey sweetie, I've brought you an early Christmas present."

"Are you going to string and quarter him on my front drive? Because if you are I'm going to get popcorn." Rachel leant against the door frame and glared at Lucas, "I always enjoy a salty snack when I'm watching violence happen to people I loathe."

Lucas scowled and moved in front of Peyton, "look I get it ok? You think I'm a douche."

"Not quite the word I'd use to describe you, Satan's whore? Satan himself?"

"Funny that's generally how I describe you."

Peyton elbowed Lucas in the stomach and he groaned before straightening up, "shit ok that was out of line."

"You lost sight of that line about eight years ago Lucas."

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, Peyton moved a tiny bit closer to him, praying he wasn't about to screw this up for the last time.

"So what's up dear brother in law? Come to chat about the weather? Or to blame me for the death of someone else you haven't seen in a decade?"

"Who's at the door Rach?" Nathan appeared; his tie askew and his hair pushed at all angels as if he'd been running his fingers through it a lot recently. He scanned the porch and his face darkened, one arm moving to wrap around his wife's waist, "Peyton what the hell?"

"Yeah apparently this was my good deed for the night; it's not going so well," she muttered.

"Alright," Lucas held up his hands and stepped between them all. He seemed to be steeling himself and when he looked up he took a deep breath; "I fucked up ok? I fucked up leaving you Nate and I fucked up every time I came home and- and every time I didn't. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the stupid postcard that obviously made things worse and I'm sorry I couldn't fix dad sooner and god I'm even sorry about the bathroom Rachel- even though I really don't remember what I did in there- I'm sure you have pictures you can show me later. But most of all," he paused, exhaling hard as he looked straight at his brother, "I'm sorry for not giving you the respect you deserved dealing with our family for all those years I wasn't there. I'm sorry I didn't come to your wedding and I'm sorry- I'm just sorry ok? I was a stupid kid and I couldn't handle dad anymore and I figured you were ready and that you didn't need me anymore and look at you! You really didn't anyway. You've turned out pretty damn good Nate, you got an awesome job, a shit hot wife and a freaking brilliant group of friends that would walk through fire for you and- and it's not an excuse I know- I should never have left. But now I'm here." He straightened his shoulders, "and I'm not going anywhere... Unless you kill me," he added, glancing nervously at Rachel.

There was a long moment of silence where Lucas stood, breathing heavily and Rachel and Nathan stood stock still, staring at him incredulously. Peyton didn't know what to do- was Nathan going to punch him- oh god was Rachel going to castrate him?

Before she knew what was happening Nathan launched himself off the door and shit he was going to-

Hug Lucas.

Like a bone crunching, rib cracking hug.

Lucas staggered under the weight for a moment and then threw his arms around his little brother and hugged him back. Peyton watched in complete amazement and ok so it had to be raining because her face was wet. She glanced at Rachel who still looked a little shocked by the sudden apologies and declarations of brotherly love or whatever it had been.

"Never stopped needing you big brother," Nathan mumbled into his brother's shoulder.

Lucas let out a small noise, tightening his grip for a moment before pulling away, clutching at the back of Nathan's neck, "I'm only gonna say this once because I'm about to burst into flames with all of this emotional crap but I am so proud of you Nate."

Nathan laughed shortly and gripped Lucas's arm, "you didn't turn out so bad yourself Luke."

They beamed at one another for about ten seconds before they seemed to remember where they were and they both turned to look sheepishly at the girls on the porch. Peyton raised an amused eyebrow at them and Nathan laughed again, shrugging before glancing at his wife with the same nervous expression Lucas had.

And oh yeah, Peyton hadn't thought that maybe she wasn't going to forgive and forget like Nathan had clearly been waiting to do for years. This could actually still go wrong.

Rachel sniffed, her eyes fixed on Lucas, "so you think I'm hot?"

Nathan snorted and Lucas flushed bright red, "why the fuck is that the only thing you have to say to me pouring all my shit out on you Gattina?"

The red head shrugged, "I'm satan- I don't do emotional scenes remember? I don't cry and I don't like talking about my feelings and-" before she could finish she suddenly burst into tears and sat down on the steps of the porch, "and I don't care!" She finished finally.

"Aw baby," Nathan sat down beside her, wrapping her up in his arms and kissing the top of her head, "it's ok."

"No it's not!"

"Yes it is. We're ok."

"Oh god Nathan I'm just- I'm so happy for you," she gasped out between sobs, "I'm so glad your stupid brother-"

"-hey!"

"Finally got his act together and you-" she pointed at Peyton, "you are evil for doing this to me! Oh crap I can't believe I'm crying on my porch!".

Lucas chuckled, "I do it all the time." He stopped smiling and stepped forward hesitantly, "Rach- look I- I meant it all ok? And I'm sorry I made you cry, in front of people but-"

"Shut up!"

He held up his hands awkwardly and glanced at Peyton desperately, "what do I do?" He mouthed at her.

She shook her head, "nothing," she mouthed back. It was better to let Rachel be for a moment. She moved to sit down on the other side of the porch and rubbed Rachel's back. "It's ok," she whispered.

"I know! God all of you shut up for a minute please!" Rachel hiccoughed suddenly and buried her head in Nathan's chest, "oh I hate you," she groaned.

Peyton was kind of afraid to ask who she was referring to.

Finally Rachel lifted her eyes to look at Lucas and after hiccoughing again and taking a deep breath she nodded, swallowing slowly, "I forgive you."

Lucas blinked in surprise, his face going slack in surprise, "you do? Just like that?"

She sighed, standing finally, "I'm tired Lucas. I'm emotional, I'm pregnant and I'm kind of in the forgiving mood- don't question it ok? Jackass."

Before Lucas could say anything Peyton shrieked and Nathan stood up and almost hit his head on the door, "wait what?"

"Did I not mention it?" She blinked, turning to look at her husband, "oh- yeah," suddenly she smiled brilliantly, "I found out this morning."

"Holy shit!"

It was one of those moments when Peyton couldn't actually be any happier- it didn't happen often- that pure joy you get when for one moment everything is so so perfect and you don't need music or ice cream or Matt Bomer smiling charmingly at you from across a nurse's desk- you're just so freaking happy because the people you love most in the world are happy and suddenly you're hugging them and they're hugging you...

And yeah. There was more hugging than she'd ever done in less than three minutes without Journey playing or Brooke around.

"You're gonna be an uncle!" Nathan said gleefully, pulling away from their little group to ruffle Lucas's hair.

"You're gonna be a freaking dad!"

"Screw you guys," Peyton interrupted, "this is about us- Sawyer and Gattina- we're gonna have a baby!"

"Hell yeah we are," Rachel cried, beaming at her and squeezing her hand tightly, "you're gonna be an aunt!"

"I am! You're gonna be a mom!"

"I know!"

"Yeah a scary one."

"Shut up Lucas!"

Nathan shushed them all and drew them back together.

"Yeah I could not have predicted this evening going down this way," Lucas murmured finally as they all huddled around Rachel.

"You need a little more optimism in your life," Peyton retorted.

Lucas snorted and then his eyes softened as he looked over at her, "maybe yeah."

And ok fuck it, she was probably going to kiss him soon. But not right now. She suspected that would be waaaay too Faithfully for her liking.

Ok so I made it happy. I hope it was ok. It won't all be sunshines and rainbows but I really wanted to fix Lucas and Nathan- if only just a little bit- and the pregnancy thing just sort of happened along the way! I am SO sorry for the delay but I'm already way into Chapter 10 so hopefully there will be more soon.