Peyton Scott was in turmoil. The heartache and frustration she was currently feeling was evident in the way she gripped the wooden spoon, her knuckles white as she furiously stirred the mixture of flour, sugar and eggs. She stood, her shoulders rigid, her forehead creased and her pretty face that of a perfect glower. She'd not left the kitchen since her arriving back home with a miserable Isabel. After setting the child up in the living room to watch a film she'd decided she was going to make dinner and dessert, even if it killed her. Without realising, she was trying to impress Lucas yet again. In his absence she'd been forced to learn some basic recipes to provide Isabel with a healthy diet but it was still no secret that she wasn't exactly a pro when it came to cooking. It had always been something that he'd teased her about and consequently insisted he take care of dinner but now she unconsciously felt as though it were just another flaw to add to the ongoing list.

'Peyton' She jumped, spinning around to face him.

'Y.y.yes?' She stuttered, swallowing thickly.

'I' He took a few steps into the kitchen, his gaze dancing around the counter tops that were covered in cooking utensils and ingredients, in all honesty it was a complete mess. His stare slowly returned to her, eying the flour on her cheek, his eyes unintentionally narrowing coldly, causing her to immediately feel like she was being judged. She looked down unsuccessfully. Her efforts in preparing a pleasant meal to boost her self esteem and her attempts in resembling some normality of family life failing miserably yet again. 'Er...you, your cooking' He stated in confusion.

'Yes' She answered quietly.

He nodded silently. 'Where were you earlier?'

'I-I went to get Izzy. Brooke came and got her from the hospital last night because I didn't know how long we'd be waiting around and it was really late and she just needed her bed so I just thought it would be easier all round' She rambled nervously. 'I'm sorry' She quickly added, watching his brow crease. 'I know you're upset with Brooke but I really think you misunderstood. She's not trying to split us up Lucas, she's my best friend and she's just worried about us'

He stood awkwardly. He didn't want her seeing Brooke Davis, she was a potential threat to their family. When she looked at him, he was certain she could see the deluded thoughts that crossed his mind, that she could see the darkness that was slowly devouring him. Peyton's love for him made any prospect of him being mentally unstable, completely inconceivable 'I don't want you or Isabel near her ok?' His voice was calm yet demanding. She opened and closed her mouth, searching for the right thing to say. Instead she opted for completely changing the subject. She brushed the back of her mucky hand over her forehead.

'Luke I...I need to tell you something' She blurted uneasily.

'Ok. What is it?'

'Why don't you sit?' She suggested nervously, wiping the remnants of cake mixture off of her hands using her apron before pulling out a chair for him.

'I'm fine'

'Please sit' She pleaded. He reluctantly sunk onto the kitchen chair and she released a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding. She felt somewhat relieved and less vulnerable with him seated. 'There, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about for a couple of days now' He stared at her blankly.

'Well?' He prompted impatiently.

'Lucas I- I'm...'

'Yes?'

'I think I'm' She sighed.

'You think what?'

'I think I'm pregnant'

His jaw dropped and at any other time Peyton would have found herself laughing at his dumbstruck expression, but not now. His silence was doing nothing for her jittering nerves. 'You're what?' He finally mustered, standing suddenly. She instinctively took a wary step backward.

'We're going to have another baby' She whispered nervously.

'I...how?'

She wasn't sure of how to respond to his question. 'Well-'

'We've only slept together twice since I've been back and that's including last night-'

'It only takes once'

'You're on the pill' He argued.

'I-I' She stuttered. 'I came off it when you went away, I-I didn't see the point-'

'The point? The point is that you don't get pregnant. Why didn't you tell me you weren't taking anything? Don't you think I should have a say in whether or not I even want another kid'

'Lucas' She exclaimed, her huge eyes welling with unwanted tears. 'Please, I was just so caught up with you being back it didn't, it didn't even cross my mind. I didn't think-'

'That much is clear' He muttered furiously.

She sniffled, unable to hold back the tears any longer. 'Y-you always said you wanted three kids and a dog and-'

'Is it even mine?'

'Excuse me?'

'You heard'

'For God sake Lucas' She shook her head in annoyance. 'When are you going to get it through your thick skull that-'

'Don't speak to me like that' He fumed, abruptly turning and swiping the food she'd been painstakingly preparing for the last couple of hours off of the table with a loud clatter that sent an icy chill up the petrified blonde's spine. Peyton warily pressed herself against the wall, her green eyes wide and glistening with tears. She was scared. Scared of him. She gasped loudly when he spun around, throwing his fist into the wall with a crazed expression. She hated feeling scared, she despised the sudden loss of control it signified. After being attacked in high school she'd been consumed with fear. Her brother, her real brother had taught her to be strong, to fight back, and most importantly he'd taught her to trust her instincts. It hadn't been easy but with Derek's help she'd seen light at the end of the tunnel and she swore she'd never let herself be in that position again. She watched Lucas as he pummeled his fists dementedly into the hard surface and in a second felt that fear that she'd battled long ago. Memories flooded her and a wave of nausea hit her. She didn't dare to move from her spot in case he turned his aggression on her 'For fuck sake' He growled. Peyton disregarded the sudden stab of panic and forced herself to stop crying, in case she'd need to defend herself. He eventually took a shuddering breath, trying to control his anger before crumbling to the floor in exhaustion. He lent back against the wall and exhaled, panting heavily.

'Mummy' Both green and blue eyes darted to the small child standing in the doorway.

'Oh god' Peyton mumbled, horrified by her daughters' terrified expression. 'Baby go upstairs'

'Mumma' Isabels' bottom lip dropped and she shook her head stubbornly.

'Baby go upstairs' Peyton pleaded, edging over to her.

'Mummy you're cryin' Isabel's own blue orbs began to fill with large tear drops.

'It's alright- go on'

'But-'

'Baby please' Peyton whimpered, glancing over her shoulder to check Lucas was still seated on the floor a good distance away. 'I'll come up in a minute ok?'

'Promise?'

'Promise'

Lucas watched her desperately convincing the four year old to leave and knew it was because she was scared, scared that he'd end up hurting the defenseless child. He felt sick at the thought. After much coaxing and a reassuring kiss Isabel ventured off down the hallway as told and her small foot steps could be heard ascending the staircase

'I'd never hurt her' Peyton's head jolted toward him, her eyes sceptical. 'I'd never hurt her'

'But you'd hurt me right?' She was suddenly angry, angry with him and angry with herself. She hastily tried to untie her apron but was having difficulty.

'No of course no-' He trailed off when she finally managed to pull the material over her head and throw it onto the sideboard. His gaze instantly fell to the strip of skin now on show above her jeans and the bruises that painted her hips and wrists 'Did-Did I do that?' He stuttered.

'It's-It's fine' She shook her head with a low sigh.

'It's not fine'

She pushed her tongue to the roof of her mouth, trying to prevent a sob from escaping her lips. She so desperately wanted it to all be fine.

'Come here' She sucked in a breath, eying him cautiously. 'Come here, I'm not going to hurt you' It broke his heart to watch her approach him so gingerly. He held his hands out and guided her down onto his lap. 'I'm sorry'

'It's ok' She muttered croakily. His touch was surprisingly gentle when he bought her hands to his mouth, pressing soft kisses to the fingerprints marking her wrists.

'I-I'm sorry' He mumbled with difficulty. 'I didn't mean to-'

'I know that' She nodded, curling herself around him and sobbing into his chest.

'I'm sorry'

'I don't know who you are any-anymore' She closed her eyes tightly. 'Luke you...I've never felt scared of you before' She breathed. 'But recently, I-I am and I-I d-don't l-like it' She paused, hesitantly pulling her hands back to wipe futilely at the constant tears currently making tracks on her pale skin. 'I-I don't know what you want me to-to do. I've- I've been telling myself things are going to get better, that you just need time but then' She took a shaky breath. 'I started thinking perhaps it's me, not you. Perhaps you don't want me any more. You wanted to leave, you wanted to leave me when you got home and I-I refused to listen, I insisted you stay but now, now I'm' She swallowed and bit her lip, attempting to compose herself and swallow back the lump in her throat. 'Now I'm pregnant I need to know if you still want to have a life with me and our-our children?' He stared at her expressionlessly. 'Ok' She whispered despairingly after a long couple of minutes.

'Peyton-'

'No it's fine' She rose off of him, shoving his hands off of her and stumbling away from him.

'Peyt-'

'I get it' She dismissed sharply. She didn't want to listen to an explanation. He didn't want her. He didn't want Isabel and he didn't want their unborn child, that's all she needed to know.

He dropped his head into his hands letting out a cry of frustration as she disappeared from the room. She didn't understand how he felt. He desperately wanted to go back to a time where everything was perfect with them but things were different now and he was afraid he'd never be that Lucas again, he couldn't seem to pull himself out of this dark hole. His mind was forever consumed with nightmares and flashbacks and the thought of bringing such another innocent life into such a cruel world made him feel sick. And he sure as hell didn't want any child to have him as a father, he'd corrupt it, like he was corrupting everything else around him. Isabel deserved better. He pressed the heel of his palms into his eyes, attempting to stop the tears that were leaking. He could hear Peyton upstairs, clattering around and her wavering voice telling their daughter to choose a couple of favourite toys. She was leaving. He'd known this day would come, it had only been a matter of time before she came to her senses. She was leaving but he was unsure if he could physically let her go. He wanted her within his sight, he wanted, needed to keep a watchful eye over her. She belonged to him. Tears of despair and betrayal escaped, making a path down his cheeks. She belonged to him. His misconstrued mind began to quickly break down as it often did these days, negating any rationality, the dangerous power the pain held over him, numbing his whole body. He let out an exasperated breath, concentrating on breathing. He didn't know how much time had past but the sound of the front door opening, startled him from his daze. He forced himself off of the ground, walking with heavy steps out into the hallway to the wide open door.

'Isabel just get in the car baby ok?' Peyton pleaded, struggling to heave a case into the vehicle.

'Mumma where are we going?'

'Peyton don't go. You can't go' Lucas strode down the small path. 'You can't'

'Don't Lucas. I think you've said enough, you've made your feelings pretty clear' She mumbled, slamming the boot of the car. 'Izzy get in the car'

'But mummy I don't wanna go-'

'Now'

'This is our home, you belong here' Lucas reprimanded.

'I can't stay here when you, you don't love us. Izzy. Car. Now'

'I-I do' Lucas stuttered.

'You do? Luke you really hurt me and I can't be around that, I won't' She forcefully lifted a whimpering Isabel into the car, hurriedly strapping her in and shutting the door.

'I'm sorry. I do though, I-'

'Tell me then Lucas. Tell me' She demanded, spinning around to face him, her eyes blood shot and her hair a tangled mess. 'Tell me you love me no matter what. That you love our little girl more than anything, that you'll love this baby no matter what, that you can't imagine life without any of us. Say it' She waited for a long hopeful minute. 'Say it Luke and I'll stay' She whispered pleadingly.

He opened and closed his mouth, unable to verbalise what she wanted to hear. 'Where-where are you going?' He asked instead, his voice quivering.

'I don't really think that's your concern anymore' She brushed past him.

'Peyton-'

'Goodbye Luke' She cut him off, clambering into the drivers seat.

'Peyton' He put his hand on the door, trying to open it again but she quickly locked it. He slammed the window in frustration. 'Where are you going?'

She didn't respond, her shaking hands quickly starting the engine and pulling out into the road. 'Goodbye Luke'