Peyton ran a tea towel over the now dry plate, her brow furrowed in thought. It had been a long, overwhelming twenty four hours and everything was such a blur. Brooke forcefully took the plate from her best friends hands, her eyes narrowed concernedly as she watched her move, wearily leaning against the side board, staring aimlessly out of the window. 'You alright Goldie locks?'

'Hm?' She mumbled, her mind else where.

'Are you ok?' Brooke studied her expression, trying to work out what was going through her friend's mind. She'd expected her to be in the best of moods. Her husband was back, after two years. She knew Peyton hadn't been happy without him but now they had a chance at living as a family, finally after everything they'd been through they were all together again. Brooke hadn't been best pleased when Peyton had rung her at the crack of dawn, summoning her to their house, after a lot of persuasion she'd dragged herself out of bed and after several mumblings of I'm never going to drink again, she'd nursed her aching head and got herself showered. She'd been more than a little stunned when she'd rolled on by an hour later to find Lucas slouched in the living room, silently watching Isabel playing. 'Peyton' Brooke snapped impatiently, tearing Peyton from her trance.

'Sorry what?' She turned her attention back to the pile of wet plates, continuing her job of drying.

'What's wrong with you? You seem a little distant?'

'I'm fine' Peyton forced a smile.

'You sure P Sawyer?' Brooke entwined their fingers. Before Peyton had a chance to respond Haley came bounding into the kitchen, a wide smile on her face.

'I can't believe he's back, you must be so happy Peyton.'

Peyton turned away, her smile faltering as she packed away the clean crockery. She'd not spoken so much as a sentence to Lucas all morning, he'd been somewhat distant and quiet and then Haley and Nathan had arrived with Jamie shortly after Brooke and it had been a whirlwind of hugs and kisses and them all catching up while she stood by .

'So how do you think Luke's doing Peyt?' Haley questioned, wanting to know whether her best friend was truly ok.

'Honestly? I don't know Hales, he, he's broken. I haven't seen him, truly, truly smile since he's been back.' Peyton avoided her eyes. 'In all truth I don't think he wants to be anywhere near me or Izzy.' Haley didn't say anything, instead stepping forward, draping an arm around her friend's shoulder- she knew how hard Peyton found it to open up. Her major issue was being left, abandoned and that's exactly what Lucas had done to her and now that he was back Haley knew she was even more terrified that things would never be the same again. 'He just needs time right?' She brushed away her worries with a small laugh. Haley nodded.

'He just needs time' She confirmed. 'He's in love with you Peyton. He'll be ok'

'Yeah he'll be ok P. Sawyer, he's been through a lot it's going to take a while for you all to settle back into the life you once new' Brooke reassured. Peyton nodded, smiling thankfully at her two supportive friends. 'Soooo...how was it?' A mischievous grin appeared on Brooke's face as she successfully managed to change the subject.

'How was what?' Peyton frowned, looking at her best friend confusedly, to this day she still didn't know what Brooke was going on about half the time.

'How was the' She glanced over her shoulder to check they hadn't been joined by two small children in the last ten minutes, knowing full well that neither of the two mums before her would be best pleased with her if they overheard her next words. 'the sex' She smirked. Peyton rolled her eyes. 'What? You're telling me after two years you didn't have wild amazing out of this world-'

'Ok, got the picture' Peyton mumbled agitatedly. 'We were, we were about to- Isabel woke up and wouldn't go back to sleep and somehow ended up back in bed with us'. She exhaled heavily.

'God he must be gagging for it, You should so dress up for him- a slutty nurse' Peyton frowned. 'No? School girl'

'Brooke' Haley laughed. 'Why don't I have Izzy tonight- give you and Luke some time alone' She turned her head, addressing Peyton.

'Would you mind?' Peyton asked shyly.

'Of course not.'

'I've gotta hand it to you P- I really don't know how you've lasted two years, christ' Brooke shook her head disbelievingly.

'Auntie Haley?' Isabel chirped, suddenly appearing in the doorway.

'Why yes pretty girl?' Haley tore her eyes from Peyton gazing down questioningly to her little niece.

'Can you help us make cakes?...pretty please' Her eyes widened excitedly.

'Well you'll have to ask your mummy, it's her house' Haley shot Peyton a smile.

'Can we Mumma? For Daddy?'

'Sure' Peyton nodded through a yawn.

'Yay'

'Why don't you go find your cousin and I'll get the ingredients together' Haley instructed, already looking through the cupboards. Isabel nodded enthusiastically, dashing out of the room. Peyton sighed, silently watching her friend set up the table for the two youngsters to make some cup cakes. She hated how her daughter looked at Haley- with such admiration. She was never going to be the idealistic mother that Haley was- she was disorganised and not at all maternal- but she loved Isabel more than anything and that scared her a lot, she was scared of losing her. I guess you could say since Lucas's departure she had become quite the insecure mum, Lucas and her had always made decisions concerning their little girl together and without him there she felt like she couldn't function- she found it hard to enforce rules and when the little girl tried hard enough she could get away with murder, but the second she was in her aunt and uncles company she was the well behaved daughter which didn't help any of Peyton's insecurities.

'Luke, Izzy and Jamie made something for you' Peyton announced, from the door way, watching Isabel wander into the living room, closely followed by her cousin.

'Daddy I made you cakes' Isabel nervously approached her quiet father, carefully holding a plate of cup cakes, still hot from the oven. Lucas glanced up at her, a forced smile on his lips. Every time he looked at her he wanted to break down. He hated that he'd missed out on so much, that she didn't even know who he was anymore. She sucked on her bottom lip, remnants of flour sprinkled on her cheek, her unruly locks clipped back on one side so he could see right into her wide blue eyes. 'Do you want one?' She asked shyly. Lucas felt a lump rising in the back of his throat as he stared at her. She was so, so much like her mother, minus the eyes, they were all his, but everything else was her.

'Thank you' He said hoarsely, taking one of the decorated cakes.

'Uncle Nate do you want a cake?' Isabel turned to Nathan, proudly holding the plate out, her whole demeanour changed within all of about a second. She stared happily at her uncle.

'Yeah daddy, try one, they're the best' Jamie joined in, wriggling his eyebrows temptingly.

'Hmm, thanks munchkin' Nathan gave the little girl a small smile and ruffled his son's hair, taking one of the small cakes from the plate. 'Mmm these are good you two, I didn't know you could cook Isabel- unlike your mother' Peyton whacked him playfully.

Both Jamie and Isabel giggled. 'I can cook' Peyton retorted, pouting.

'Of course you can' Nathan nodded mockingly.'You only nearly killed me and everyone else with your chocolate chip cookies the other week'. Lucas watched the interaction between his wife and brother, his eyes green with jealously.

'You said they were really good'

'Oh they were...just a little on the salty side. I was nearly sick' He exaggerated.

'Hey' Peyton shoved him irritatedly. Lucas watched the playful banter go on, wishing more than anything that it was him having this conversation with her, it should be him.

'Oh man. I've got cookie dough all over me. It's even in my bra, maybe I should take it off'

'What?' Lucas' head peered around the wall.

'Sucker'

'Hey' He dodged the piece of cookie dough being thrown in his direction.

'You surrender?'

'I give up, I'm putting the lid down'

'Mhm'

'Now, if you're going to be taking anything off. Please, please, please let me help you'

'Luke? You ok?' Peyton hesitantly lent on his knees, wide green eyes staring up at him quizzically.

'Oh yeah' He shook himself from his daze, forcing a small smile for her. He glanced around, realising they were now alone, the children's laughter drifting in from the garden. 'Sorry, I was just thinking'

'About?' She cocked an eyebrow, sliding in between his legs and linking her hands around his neck, dying to be close to him, for him to hold her.

'You' A small sheepish smile graced his lips. Her eyes sparkled happily at his answer.

'Oh?' She prodded. He shrugged his shoulders, not divulging any more information. She removed her hands from him, disheartened by his lack of response. 'Hales said she'd have Izzy tonight so we have the place to ourselves' She informed him tentatively, fiddling with her fingers. 'I'm sorry about last night-'

'Don't apologise' He shook his head, he knew he'd been somewhat cold toward her all morning but it wasn't to do with the previous night. Of course he'd been a little disappointed to have to share their bed with a four year old on their first night reunited but it was hardly anyones fault. The reason for his mood was simply because he was finding the whole coming home to his family a little more than overwhelming. He'd forgotten how to act around these people and he knew by the way they all kept cautiously sneaking a glance at him that they recognised this significant change in his behaviour. He wished he could just flip a switch and go back to the Lucas they all so longingly wanted to be around. But not a single one of them could simply imagine what he'd been through during his time away, not one of them could comprehend what he was going to have to live with for the rest of his life, he couldn't just forget the last two years, it wasn't possible.

'Hey Blondie, Jamie and Izzy want you in the garden' Peyton averted her attention from Lucas, smiling at Nathan.

'Oh do I have too, I'm tired' Peyton mumbled, rubbing her eyes dramatically.

'Afraid so, why don't you come too Luke, Izzy would like you to watch her- they're playing basket ball- she's pretty good' Nathan smiled, trying to include his brother. Before Lucas could reply, Nathan abruptly seized Peyton by the waist, lifting her toward the door. She shrieked loudly, flailing her arms.

'Nathan you put me down' She feigned anger. During Lucas' absence they'd developed an even stronger bond. He looked at Peyton like she was his sister, trying to look out and protect her as best he could and not to mention being the best uncle he could to his favourite niece. He'd promised Luke he'd be there for them, he'd promised to look after them and he had. 'Nathan' She giggled.

'Let her go' Lucas' deep bark startled the squabbling pair, wiping both their smiles from their faces. Nathan immediately let the skinny blonde down, looking at his brother confusedly.

'Luke, we're just mucking around, I didn't-'

'You don't touch her, you hear?' He cut Nathan off mid sentence, pushing his baffled brother up against the wall, gripping his shirt, his fist raised, a wild expression on his face.

'LUCAS' Peyton screeched, yanking at his arm frantically. 'DON'T' Her high pitched yell caught his attention; his intense gaze temporarily leaving Nathan, glancing at her, her green emeralds piercing into his fiery eyes. 'Let him go' She growled. He closed his eyes tightly, his breathing ragged. Nathan and Peyton looked at each other bewilderedly as he slowly uncurled his fists, releasing Nathan's shirt.

'I, I'm sorry' He mumbled, dragging his shaking hand over the back of his neck. His eyes skipped around the room taking in the audience of people who'd appeared to see what all the noise was about. Both Haley and Brooke looked completely terrified, Jamie and Isabel hiding behind their legs. He swallowed thickly before abruptly hurrying out of the room, his head down, avoiding everyone's staring eyes.

'Luke' Peyton exhaled, attempting to go after him but Nathan pulled her back.

'Stay here'

'Nate' Tears clouded her eyes. 'I have to- he-' She shook her head, trailing off.

'Hey' He pulled her into a hug. 'It's alright, stay with Hales and Brooke while I go and talk to him, he didn't mean it Peyt, everything's going to be ok, I promise'.