A/N: Apologies for the lack of update on this. Hopefully they will come more regularly again. Thanks to all those that reviewed and a mention to kaila5707 for being the 50th reviewer. I'm glad that people like this.

This chapter has some flashbacks, one being from an actual episode in Season 3. Hope you enjoy

Hold On

NO POV

Larry was one of the people that kept calling her mobile. Sadness and regret was all that filled her mind. After she told Brooke, Peyton continued crying, replaying the last conversation she had with her father.

Brooke went upstairs and left Peyton and Larry. He had his arms crossed and he didn't look very happy.

"Dad." Peyton's voice was timid and immediately cut off by Larry. "Why did you wait so long? If you were having second thoughts, you should have just said something."

Peyton couldn't believe what her father was saying; she had to make him understand. "This isn't me having second thoughts. I'm finally deciding to face the truth and be myself. Do remember mum always telling me to do that?"

"It isn't just that. I mean you and Brooke." He shook his head and rolled his sleeves up, showing that he wasn't that comfortable talking about this. "Your friendship was in tatters on two occasions regarding Lucas. You'll end up hurting each other."

"No we won't, we've learned from that. We'll make it work. This is what I want and I hope you'll support my decision."

Larry scoffed at the words he was hearing. "You don't know what you want. You went after Jake when you were in love with Lucas and you nearly married Lucas when you're supposedly in love with Brooke. How do you expect me to believe or even support you?"

"You're my father and should just do it anyway." Peyton was holding her emotions in, trying to stay calm, though they were bursting out.

Larry moved closer to Peyton and placed his hands on both her shoulders. "I'm not sure I can. It's not just you. Brooke doesn't have the best track record. I love her as if she were my own daughter but her past speaks for itself."

Peyton looked deep into his eyes, hoping that he could understand just by looking at her. "That's not us anymore. She's everything to me. When you weren't here, she was. She loves me too."

Larry laughed. "You're just confusing your friendship with something more, don't be an idiot. You're not gay."

Peyton pulled away from her father. "It's not about being gay. It's just about me loving her. When I see my future, she's the only one I see with me. Not Lucas or anyone else, just Brooke." Peyton had now moved so she was now standing behind the couch while her father was in front of it.

"I just think you're making a huge mistake." Larry slowly started to walk around to where Peyton was standing. "It's not a mistake but it's my decision to make."

"I don't know what to say about all of this." Peyton started to back away the closer he got. Tears started rolling down her face, which she was quick to wipe. "I don't think there's anything else to say. I can't have this conversation anymore." Peyton ran upstairs to Brooke.

Brooke knew Peyton would be closing up into her shell. She would just have to be there when she needed her.

She knew she had to get the both of them on a flight straight away. She had made a quick call to Millicent, to arrange the earliest flight back to America and to Tree Hill.

Once Brooke got the flight itinerary, she got the two of them in a taxi to the airport. Peyton's tears had slowly dried up but her silence was still evident. It was like she was just staring into space, from the hotel to when they landed back in Tree Hill.

They went to get Peyton's car, which Brooke had to drive. Peyton never let Brooke drive even though, in Brooke's words, she was the better driver out of the two. Peyton didn't bat an eyelid to Brooke getting in the driver's seat.

Brooke started the engine; she looked over at Peyton and squeezed her hand. Words didn't need to pass Peyton's lips for Brooke to know what was going on through her mind. She knew the blonde was internally distraught, probably blaming herself; she would only need to look at her to know.

Brooke had never been in this position herself. Not having a close relationship with her parents meant that most times, when she was younger, she didn't really know where they were. It was something she had to live with.

Peyton was her family and she would consider Larry, the father she should have had (despite the fact she found him hot and even put his name under hers on Peyton's door).

The little decisions were starting to weigh on Brooke; she was having an internal battle about playing music, while they were leaving the airport. Brooke knew that music helped Peyton when she was down but it didn't seem that anything could be enough except for Larry being alright.

Brooke was driving with caution, especially as she needed to get used to the car. She also knew that once Larry was better, Peyton wouldn't forget to have a go if Brooke didn't drive carefully. Just because Peyton drove like a lunatic didn't mean anybody else could do it in her car.

Without knowing anything about Larry's condition, Brooke had already decided that he was going to be fine and out of hospital in a couple of weeks. It wasn't hope or blind faith she was feeling, to her it was a fact and soon the two Sawyers would sort everything out.

Brooke also couldn't decide if she should drop their bag off or go straight to the hospital. She was assuming that Larry was in Tree Hill.

'Did Larry stay after their argument or did he go home?' Brooke thought to herself. The car was stationary at a set of traffic lights and Peyton was staring out the car, her mind sinking into a black hole. She was slumping lower into her seat. "Peyton is Larry in Tree Hill?" Peyton was unresponsive, just staring at a familiar spot, remembering another time.

Earlier Peyton had found Ellie and her father looking at her drawings in her room. Peyton is now sitting on the bench at one corner, watching the empty road and the traffic light as it switches from green to amber to red. She looks to the side and sees her father approaching. She doesn't move as he takes a seat beside her.

"I thought you might be here. Ever since your mom died I've been… guessing a lot. Sometimes I guess wrong. I shouldn't have… brought Ellie into your room without asking you. But, she didn't have anything to do with it. Neither did Lucas."

"Sometimes you guess right." They both look at each other as she continues. "You guessed where to find me." She smiles weakly and Larry puts an arm around her. He kisses her on the head as she looks down sadly.

"This has all been a lot to take." He says and Peyton nods.

"I want you to know you can always talk to me." He adds.

"But sometimes I can't, dad."

"Yeah, I get that. If you're not always comfortable talking with me, maybe we should find you someone."

She lifts her head off his shoulders. "Like a shrink?"

"Well, it might help you to get some of this out."

Peyton thinks as she puts her head back on her dad's shoulder. He kisses her on the forehead again.

"Peyton." Brooke tried to get her attention again. Peyton turned round, making eye contact with her. "Is Larry at the hospital here?" The question weighed heavy in her mind. The only response she had was to nod.

A lonely tear ran from Peyton's eye. Brooke brought her hand up to Peyton's face, wiping away the tear. Peyton leaned into the touch as the two of them sat there getting lost in each other's eyes.

A car pulled up behind them and started honking their horn. This broke both of them out of their gaze. Brooke gave a soft smile to the other girl and continued their drive, heading straight for the hospital.

A sense of uneasiness hit the pit of Peyton's stomach as they both made their way through the hospital. Peyton took the tentative steps to the reception while Brooke walked beside her.

"Can you tell us where Larry Sawyer is please. This is his daughter." Brooke asked the lady at reception while pointing at Peyton. She looked up at them "Just give me a moment." The lady started tapping the keyboard.

Peyton held on to Brooke's hand tightly while they were being told where her father was. "The doctor should be with you in a while." The nurse on reception added as they made their way to his room.

The girls heard their names being called. "Brooke, Peyton." They turned to spot Haley. "What are you doing here, is it Nathan or Jamie?" Brooke asked worriedly. "No, they're both fine. I came with Larry." Haley said while hugging Brooke.

She pulled out of the hug and looked at Peyton. "I guess you didn't tell her that I was the one that called you." Peyton shook her head. "I went round to Peyton's and I found him collapsed on the floor." Haley addressed Brooke with the details.

Peyton felt uncomfortable, as she didn't know what Haley was thinking about her, after everything that had happened. Yes she was her bridesmaid but she is Lucas' best friend and sister in law. To her surprise, Haley pulled Peyton into a hug. "The doctors wont tell me anything, they've been waiting for you."

Coming from around the corner, Nathan approached the girls with a cup of coffee for Haley. "Hey Brooke, Peyton." He gave his wife the cup and encased both girls in a hug.

"Miss Sawyer, can I have a word in private please?" A voice broke up the big catch up. Peyton felt nervous by the voice she was presuming to be the doctor's, worried by what he was going to tell her.

"Your father is in a serious condition and we're trying to keep him stable. Has he been under any stress recently?" The question from the doctor made Peyton feel guilty, 'was I the cause of this?' she asked herself.

"Not that I'm aware of. We did have a fight before I went away." Brooke's hand found its way to Peyton's. "We'll monitor his progress and hopefully he wakes up." The doctor walked away from them.

Peyton mumbled something to herself. "It's my fault he's in here." Brooke turned to her as she heard what was said. "No it's not. You can't think like that."

Peyton was looking down at the ground, when Brooke lifts her head up by her chin. Brooke could see the start of water building up in the other girl's eyes.

"Can I have my keys, I need to get something out of the car?" Peyton asked Brooke. Brooke looked into her bag. "I can get it for you instead and you can go and see Larry." Brooke handed the keys over.

"It's fine." Peyton spoke in a slightly abrupt tone. Brooke looked hurt by the reaction. "Sorry." Peyton said, instantly seeing the hurt in Brooke. Peyton's lips found Brooke's in a quick kiss and turned to make her way out.

"It's gonna take me a while to get used to the two of you as a couple." Haley stated. "I'm already used to it." Nathan received a hit on his stomach by Haley. This didn't stop him from having a shit-eating grin on his face.

"When did you realise your feelings for her were more?" Haley asked.

"I not really sure. She's a big part of me. She's the first thing I think of. I knew something was up because I'm normally the first thing I think of." Brooke chuckled at herself.

"And you agreed to be her maid of honour despite all of this." Nathan piped in.

"She's my best friend first, I've known her for most of my life so I just wanted her to be happy and I thought Lucas was it. How is he by the way?" Brooke asked, genuinely concerned.

"He's on Andy's boat with Karen and Lily, trying to get his head together. Andy is the only one he's talking to at the moment." Haley answered with a hint of sadness.

"I was just as shocked as everybody else at the wedding. It wasn't something I was expecting." Brooke slipped in hoping they would believe her.

"I guess there are some things you feel like you can't say. I wonder what's taking Peyton so long." Haley questioned.

"She's probably in her car listening to some depressing music. I'll go and find her." Brooke said before making her way over to where she had parked the car. She looked confused, as she was sure she was at the right spot where she parked. She walked around until she realised what had happened. She pulled her phone out and dialled. "Hales, she's not in the car park and neither is her car."