Disclaimer: I do not, as much as I wish I did, own OTH or any of the songs in this story. All I own is the plot of the story, and I barely own that.

AN: Okay, I've read a lot of stories where people claim that Lucas never found out about the attack, and on the show they never made it clear if he did or not, so I am going to say that he did. In this story, though I'm not going to go into lots of detail about it, I'm going to say that after Brooke finally told Peyton the truth, Peyt told Lucas the truth – then she told him the lie that Brooke had told her (that she fell down the stairs).

***********************************************************************

Chapter 9: Someone Stop This Song (Lovesick Melody)

Lucas groaned as he entered the house, the silence making it all too clear that Peyton's mood had yet to alleviate. The silence serving, too, to make him more aware of just how badly he'd screwed things up with Brooke over the years; he hadn't even realized that their friendship had turned to nothing but dust and grime, and that his selfish choices had left her in the dark once again. He shook his head slowly, seeing in his mind the image of her covered in bruises at Quentin's funeral, wondering to himself why he didn't ask her if she was alright. Wondering, too, if he could have helped her, or if he would have selfishly accepted Peyton's answer that Brooke had simply fallen down the stairs just so that his life would not have been any more complicated. In his mind's eye the handprints on her arms and neck stood out on her ivory skin like paint on a fresh canvas, and tears entered his eyes as he thought of how he'd ignored her obvious pain, pain over the attack, and over Angie. The way he'd abandoned the first girl he'd ever truly loved in her biggest time of need clawed at him, leaving him to feel bear and broken, and he knew that if didn't fix what he'd created soon, his heart may not survive.

"Peyton?" he called loudly as he walked toward his bedroom, our bedroom, he silently reminded himself. "Peyt, are you here, honey?"

He could sense her before he even reached the door to their bedroom, their connection so strong that he was almost always able to read her, to know when she was in trouble or just really needed him. Today was no different; through the door he could almost see the sadness in her eyes, the anger in her pursed lips, and the confusion in her furrowed brow. He knew all her looks, and on most days this combination of emotions would have scared and saddened him, but not on this day; not when his heart was aching in chest from a failed friendship, not when he found himself blaming her for his selfishness.

His hand rested on the door as if he was afraid of what would happen once he entered the room; he knew they'd have to talk, and for reasons unknown to him, he was terrified. He sighed and pushed open the door, the slight squeak irritating him more in that moment than ever before.

"Peyt?"

She looked up at him, tears in her eyes, "I think we need to talk, Luke," she looked into his eyes expectantly, "Brooke was right…about everything. We jumped into this engagement…"

His eyes grew wide and filled with panic, "Peyton…are you leaving me?"

"No!" She stood up immediately, her hand falling to her flat stomach, "Of course not. I love you, you know that…I just think there are things that we've managed to ignore up until this point that we need to talk about before the wedding." She shook her head and sat back down, pulling him with her, "We won't survive if we don't."

He nodded, "You're right…I'm just scared I guess."

Her eyes grew wide, "Of what?"

"What might happen to us…"

Peyton sighed and rested her forehead against his, "I love you, Lucas Scott. You don't have a thing to worry about…We can survive anything."

He nodded again, looking less sure this time, "Yeah…Anything."

Silence presided over the room, neither sure where to begin, but both knowing that this conversation was crucial to their relationship.

Peyton sighed, running her fingers through her hair, "…You said 'I do' to Lindsey," and though her words were whispered, Lucas heard them loud and clear, like a gun being fired down an empty corridor, and his heart began beating faster, unsure of what he was meant to say to that.

"Peyt…I…"

Her eyes were filled with tears of confusion and what could be confused as regret, "I need to know why, Luke. How could you look into her eyes and promise to spend forever with her?" she shook her head slowly as the first tear fell.

"Peyton," her reached his hand out and wiped the tear from her cheek, "I'm not going to lie to you and say that I didn't love her…because I did," he sighed, "Or I thought I did. I don't know anymore…"

Peyton pulled away from him and stood up, her eyes filling with pure anger, "That's your answer? You think you loved her…but you don't know?! Love isn't a game, Lucas. Just tell me the truth, did you love her?"

His eyes lowered to the ground, remembering the day Lindsey walked away from him, breaking his heart in a way he was sure would never heal, and suddenly his answer became clear, "Yes, I loved and could have easily married Lindsey Strauss…" Peyton's gaze dropped and a fresh wave of tears fell down her cheeks. "I loved her, but she wasn't you, Peyton. What you and I have…what we've always had, nothing compares to that. You know me better than anyone, and I know you," he smiled slightly, looking up into her eyes, "I've always known you."

Peyton looked at him then, her eyes a mixture of emotions, and she reached over to pick up the silver picture frame that sat on his bookshelf. She stared down at the picture a minute before turning it toward him, "And Brooke? Did she compare?"

Lucas's jaw dropped and his eyes fell to the picture of Brooke, himself, and baby Angie, "Peyton…"

She laughed, her voice sounding harsh, "I don't hear you saying no, Luke. Do you love her?"

"We are just…"

"Friends?"

He nodded, "Nothing more, Peyton. I chose you. I love you."

Another laugh fell from her lips, this one laced with tears, "You chose me? Love isn't supposed to be a choice, Lucas! You shouldn't have to choose…you should just know!"

Lucas rolled his eyes, suddenly angry, "Right…Love isn't a choice…So you were never in love with Julian then?"

"That is not the same thing!"

"Yes it is! You loved him…"

She sighed, "But I loved you more."

He nodded, "And I loved you more…"

Silence engulfed the room again, and both could feel their blood rushing through their veins, feel their hearts breaking in their chests, "Do you still love her, Luke?"

Lucas looked down as Peyton placed the picture frame on his bed, "Yes…And part of me probably always will." She placed her hand over her mouth to hold her sobs at bay. Lucas stood, pulling her into his arms, "But you are the girl for me…you're my soul mate."

Peyton shook her head, "What if that's not enough?"

"It will be; it is." He placed his hand on her stomach, "Our baby is proof of that; she's the true symbol of our love, not my moment of clarity at the championship game or the comet, but this baby."

"She?"

He smiled, "A little girl with a tangled mess of blonde hair and skinny arms; she will be the most beautiful thing to ever step foot in Tree Hill. I can see her already…broody beyond compare."

They both laughed quietly, Lucas's smile slowly becoming a frown, "Peyton…Do you still love him?"

She hesitated, "I don't…I don't love him, but I uh…It still hurts, knowing that he can so easily forget what he had and move on to be with Brooke…You know?"

Luke's breath caught in his throat, and he found himself wondering if that's how Brooke viewed his relationship with Peyton; did she believe that he had forgotten about the love they once shared…was that why she told him they weren't friends?

"Yeah, Peyton. I know exactly what you mean…"

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Brooke sighed as she picked up her phone, dialing a familiar number, "Listen," she said softly to the voice that picked up, "Things are…complicated right now. The truth is, I need you…" she began pacing back and forth in her store, unable to escape the image of Lucas's face after she told him that she'd declined Julian's offer. "I think I might have made a huge mistake; can you come over?"

"…Of course," the man answered, "I'm in New York right now, but I'll be there in a few days, okay?"

Brooke sighed in relief, "Thanks…I owe you."

He laughed, "Nah, if anything I owe you. I mean, how many times did you skip meetings just to come see me play my music?"

She smiled, "Tons."

She could almost see his handsome smile, "See you soon, Brooke."

"Okay…"

She hit the 'end' button and slowly laid the phone back down. She glanced over at the photo album she'd been looking through earlier, her eyes falling on a picture of her, Jake, and Chris, "I really hope this isn't a mistake," she whispered softly to herself. She groaned and sat down heavily on the couch next to the lettermen jackets she's designed, "Oh, who the Hell am I kidding? This is definitely going to bite me in the ass later…"

TBC…

**********************************************************************

AN: You guys are amazing with the whole reviewing thing, but I have a request for you guys, I'd really, really like to get to 50 reviews before I post chapter 10…do you think you can help me?! Thanks as always guys!!