Since entering the house, Lucas had gone directly to the study, to his place of refuge. Anger had been pumping through his every vein since the moment he'd left Brooke's beach house. The dull throbbing in his hand now disregarded as his mind was occupied with the argument he'd just had with Brooke. He contemplated her words over and over, until the repetition of her statements became distorted. She was meddling with everything, she was interfering with his relationship with Peyton. She was trying to split them up. She wanted him out of the way so she could have her best friend all to herself.His uninjured hand twitched, his fingers clawing at the leather arm of the chair. Images were flashing through his deluded mind. They were so vivid, so real. Peyton stood on the opposite side of the room, her hair elegantly pinned back, a few perfect curls falling down at the side of her face. A black dress hugged her perfect body. The strapless bodice swept down to an elegant ruched waistline, the full skirt gathered at one side where a silk black corsage was pinned. He watched her ruby red lips spread into a smile. And that's when he noticed a man standing beside her, a man that wasn't him. She twirled around and fell into the pair of strong open arms. He blinked, this was a dream, this was surely a dream.

'I love you' Her voice slurred to the man. Lucas closed his eyes. This wasn't real. It wasn't real. It wasn't real.

Peyton exhaled heavily, hoisting Isabel up for the fifth time. It was only a five minute walk from Haley and Nathan's large house but when carrying a limp four year old it seemed somewhat longer. She had gone to her best friend earlier in the hope that clearing her head would relieve some of her pent up frustration, but it had only worked as a catalyst and her mind had gone into overdrive. More than anything she wanted to relax- she'd spent the whole evening trying to think of anything other than Lucas but she was stuck in a ferocious battle, her husband was becoming a burden and the disconcerted twenty six year old was finding the whole situation unbearable. It was nearing eleven when she finally reached the place she called home and walked through the front door, a sleeping Isabel still cradled in her weary arms. She'd had a pleasant evening at her brother in-law's house but Lucas' lack of presence, although expected, had still left her disappointed. He hadn't even attempted to amend his earlier behaviour. She quietly made her way upstairs, carefully settling her baby girl down on her small bed and undertaking the tricky task of changing her into some pyjama's for the night. After running herself ragged with her cousin, Isabel had well and truly past out on her aunt Haley's lap. Peyton pulled the light sheets over the little girl, watching her contently curl up into her bed covers without a fuss. After lightly pressing a kiss to the infants head Peyton left, pulling the door to behind her. She, herself was just as exhausted and sleep was more than appealing right now but the blonde was as stubborn as she was at the age of nine and wasn't willing to let her head hit the pillow until she'd said what she considered only fair to Lucas. She couldn't forget the accusing look he'd given her earlier and hated the way he'd suddenly started ordering her around. After a quick search of the upper floor she headed back downstairs, quickly finding his brooding form in his predictable spot. The study was dark, save for the glow of the moon cutting through the open curtains. Nerved by the sinister air, she moved hesitantly, her gaze travelling from the floor. Noticeably deep breaths sounded as she listened carefully. Fathomless, dark blue eyes stared intensely into the sea of shadows.

'It was nice of you to show yourself' Her sharp voice reigned sarcastically. 'Haley and Nathan were really looking forward to seeing you' She crossed her arms over her chest, standing tall and confident, she wasn't going to loose this argument. She took a step further into the room, switching on the main light. In a second his features were lit up. Blinking slightly at the sudden bright light, he tried to decipher who was standing in the doorway. She could almost hear his heart pounding. She let out a long shuddering breath. He had become so unlike the former calm, level-headed man that she'd fallen in love with and the stranger before her shook her to the bone. 'I'm sick of this' She announced, her voice anything but even, reflecting her distress. 'I'm sick of everything' her hand flew to her mouth to stifle a sob as tears began welling in her emerald orbs. 'God damn it look at me Lucas' She stomped her foot, her face sullen with helplessness. Still his vacant eyes stared out before him. Peyton sunk to the floor beside the sofa, her teeth gritted with anger now. 'I said...' Her anguish filled expression fell as her gaze landed on his wounded hand. 'Oh my god, what-what happened to your hand?' Her tone softened remarkably and her planned argument quickly went out the window. He was mute 'Lucas?' Silence. 'Have you put anything on it?' She demanded concernedly. Silence 'I'll go get some ice'

'It's ok' He mustered dully. She ran out of the room, returning minutes later with a tea towel and ice pack. The cushions dipped, her curls bouncing as she dropped ungracefully onto the sofa beside him.

'What happened Lucas?' She whispered softly. He watched her hand gently lay the ice pack on the visible burn, the coldness instantly numbing the dull pain. 'What happened?'

'I dropped my coffee' His eyes were lifeless, two dark pupils staring at the wall ahead. Peyton swallowed.

'You dropped your coffee?' she uttered doubtfully.

'Where were you?' His head swivelled to face her, his jaw tight.

'I...at Haley and Nate's' She responded confusedly, her face plastered with concern. He shook his head. He'd seen her. He'd seen her with him.

His deceiving peripheral vision was falsely convincing him that they weren't alone. His eyes jolted to her and she jumped. 'He's here now'

'Wh-who?' Peyton whispered. 'It's just me and Izzy Luke.'

'You're lying' He snarled, his face twisted, teetering on the brink of destruction. She shook her head bewilderedly, unable to find words as she stayed staring into his dark, angry eyes. A shrill ringing pierced through the eerie silence breaking their eye contact. It rang once, twice.

'Hold this' Peyton sniffled, moving his hand to the ice pack as she stood.

'Don't answer it' He muttered.

'It's late- it could be important' She said calmly, moving to the study desk and lifting the ringing phone to her ear. 'Hello?...Brooke-'

Lucas lurched from the couch in one swift motion, throwing the ice to the floor and snatching the phone from his wife's hand, hanging up.

'Lukeee, what the hell are you doing?' She exclaimed.

'I said don't answer it'

'I know but- it was Brooke, she sounded upset, give me the phone'

'No'

'Lucas-' She gasped, her stomach contracting fearfully when he grabbed her upper arm, shoving her toward the sofa.

'I don't want you talking to her'

'What?' She whimpered as he roughly sat her down.

'She, she wants us apart Peyton, she, she said she thought, she thought it'd be best if we, we weren't together- if I leave'

She opened and closed her mouth like a guppy fish, Brooke wouldn't say that. She stared at him sceptically. 'Luke you, you'd never lie to me would you?'

'You think I'm lying?'

'Brooke would never say that, she'd never say that' Peyton retorted.

'She did Peyton, she did. You belong to me' Peyton's emerald eyes narrowed as she watched him trembling. 'You...belong...to...me...right?' He asked breathlessly.

'Of course I do' She nodded, warily shifting closer to him. 'Lucas, sit down' His eyes flickered as he dropped onto the cushions. 'Are you ok? You, you're shaking' Tears glazed over her eyes as she nervously watched his hands, that were suddenly trailing relentlessly up and down her jean covered thigh.

'I'm fine' He exhaled.

'Luke' She muttered hoarsely, trying to control her tears as she gingerly laced her fingers over his, trying to slow his haphazard movements.

'Why are you crying?' He snapped frustratedly.

'I, I just, you're scaring me. I, I don't understand.' She whispered. 'One min-minute y-you don-don't want m-me near you an-and now y-you're l-like this'

'Stop crying' He growled lowly and Peyton had never been more frightened of him. She abruptly went to get up but he pushed her back with force, pinning her against the sofa.

'Lucas-'

'I love you so damn much and all you've done is hurt me' He spat, his forehead creased, his whole body breaking out in a cold sweat.

'What?!' Peyton breathed. That certainly wasn't the declaration of love she'd been waiting so long to hear.

'You think I don't see you- you think I don't know'

She pressed herself back even further into the cushions, trying to escape the bruising grip of his hands.

'Admit it'

'Admit what? Lucas you-you're not making an-any sense, have, have you been drinking?' She sobbed.

He snickered. 'You're a slut- I saw you, I saw you with him'

Peyton took a shaky breath, 'This, this is about ear-earlier is-isn't it?' She whispered. 'About St-Steve? Luke you're delusional- I swear on my life- he's just a par-parent at Izzy's sc-school. You think, think I'd ever seriously do that-that to you?' She rambled. He suddenly released his tight grip, his shaking hand clutching at his chest. 'Luke?' Her cold hand reached for his cheek. 'Are, are you ok?...I'm going to call an ambulance' She choked out.

'No' He gritted his teeth, grabbing her wrist. 'I'm fine'

'No, no you're not' She cried frantically, helping him sit back. Speckles of fear began to show in his blue eyes, only further worrying an already hysterical Peyton. 'I'm going to call an ambulance' She stood on shaky legs, fumbling with the phone, her free hand gripping his as she waited for an answer. 'It's ok Luke, we-we're going to be ok. You-you're going to be ok'