A/N Thanks for the reviews guys and gals, you lot are awesome. There's a slight time jump in this chapter, but I just wanted to let you all know that I will be addressing what's happened during Lucas and Peyton's time apart during chapters to come! Enjoy.

6 months later

'Isabel can you stop running ahead' Peyton said breathily, struggling to hold her hand luggage, pull her case and keep an eye on the restless child.

'Where is he Mummy?'

'I'm not sure, he'll be here in a minute' She sighed, stopping in front of a row of chairs and dropping the overly heavy bag to the floor. 'Izzy, stay here with me' Peyton called. Isabel's curls bounced as she halted, dragging her feet along the floor as she returned to her mother's side.

'I want to see him'

'I know baby and you will. I-I can't carry all of our things any further' She muttered, reluctantly admitting defeat. 'Just try and be patient for a bit longer'

'I've been patience all day' Isabel whined, sinking onto the floor in distress and leaning against Peyton's legs.

'You have' Peyton smiled wearily. They'd had to wait over an hour for their luggage and the four year old hadn't complained once. 'You've been such a good girl all day' She ran a hand over her daughters cheek. 'He'll be here soon' She swallowed, closing her eyes tightly. She'd been nauseous for the duration of the flight and had thrown up upon landing, much to the air hostess' horror.

'Are you okay Mummy?'

'I'm just tired' Peyton nodded. This pregnancy was definitely taking it's toll on her body. She ached all over and hated feeling constantly drowsy.

Isabel stroked her knee, a gesture she'd picked up from her grandpa. She'd watched him try to calm an emotional Peyton on several occasions and the inquisitive child had learned a number of soothing phrases. 'It's alright Mumma, just keep your eyes closed and relax' She drawled. Peyton opened one eye, sneaking a glimpse at her tender daughter and resisting the urge to smirk. 'Oh Mummy he's here' Her soft and consoling voice was gone in a second 'there's Uncle Nate' She sung loudly, scrambling from the floor. 'You stay there I'll gets him' She waggled her finger at Peyton before dashing off 'Uncle Nate!' She gleamed, running as fast as her little legs could carry her, oblivious to anybody in her path.

'Woah' Nathan chuckled, steadying himself as her small body hit him at full speed, her hands wrapping around his legs. 'Hey munchkin' He swung her up into his arms, kissing her forehead.

'I missed you Uncle Nate' She grinned. 'Did you miss me?'

'Of course I missed you' He hugged her tightly. 'Did you have fun at your Grandpa's?'

'It was ok. Mummy's tired' She changed the subject, her face serious.

'I bet she is, she'll feel better once we've got you both home'

'Yep' Her gleeful smile appeared again and she cupped his cheeks. 'Guess what?'

'What?'

'We're getting a baby' She exclaimed.

Nathan feigned ignorance. 'A baby?'

'Uhuh' She bit her lip, blue eyes sparkling.

'You're going to be a big sister?'

'Uhuh'

'Wow aren't you lucky' He threw her into causing squeal of delight to escape her rose bud lips. 'You're going to be the best big sister Izzy.' He said confidently, setting her back on the ground. Her small hand found his larger one and the youngster tugged him back toward Peyton.

'Uncle Nate?'

'Yes?'

'Will I still be your favourite Isabel?'

'Aw sweetie you'll always be my favourite Isabel' He promised, pinching her nose playfully. 'Let's help your mum'

'Mumma look look, it's Uncle Nate' .

'I can see honey. Hey Nate' She smiled, struggling to pull herself out of the chair.

'Wow look at you, you look a lot bigger than you did when we had you up on the webcam' He informed her, holding her arm and helping her to standing.

'Well observed' She mocked 'I'm guessing I'm bound to look bigger considering your computer screen is the size of my head' She snapped condescendingly.

'Wow, sarky as ever. I love you too. Good to have you back Sawyer' He engulfed her in a hug.

'Sorry' She huffed into his chest. 'I'm feeling crap'

'It's alright' He laughed lightly. 'Come on lets get you home'

Lucas wandered into his sister in-law's kitchen. He'd been living here for a few months now. The therapist had suggested he stay with people close to him. At first it had been difficult but he'd soon become accustomed to his knew surroundings and felt at home. 'Where's Nate?'

Haley tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before hesitantly responding. 'Er he went to collect Peyton and Isabel from the airport'

'Oh right...' He nodded, wringing his hands together. 'Why didn't he tell me he was leaving? I wanted to go with him'

'I don't think that would've been a good idea' Haley said gently, turning to face him. 'She's had a long flight, she's going to be tired and emotional Luke. Give it a couple of days hey?' She suggested.

'Do you think she won't want to see me?'

'Of course she will. You have to give her time'

'I don't know that time will fix us' He muttered uncertainly. 'I screwed up'

'Luke you were unwell. It wasn't your fault. The main thing is that you realised you have a problem and you're getting help. Peyton knows that.'

'What if she can't forgive me'

'She loves you, believe that'

'Right. Close your eyes' Nathan instructed. 'You too Isabel Scott' The four year old sucked her bottom lip and grinned excitedly before snapping her eyes shut.

'Nathan what's this about?' Peyton inquired with a yawn. She desperately wanted to sit down and put her feet up but he'd been insistent that she needed to come upstairs to see something and now here she was hovering outside the spare bedroom with her eyes closed. Nathan smirked, opening the door.

'Okay, open.'

'Wow' Isabel sung loudly. 'Look Mummy, look' She skipped further into the decorated room, inspecting the recently assembled crib, baby changing unit and toys.

Peyton blinked, stepping into the small room, a small lump forming in the back of her throat as her eyes danced round the newly painted room. 'You didn't have to do this' She whispered.

'I didn't.' Her teary eyes jolted to him. 'Luke did it' He answered the unspoken question, reaching out a hand and rubbing her back soothingly. Her eyes flickered closed and she took a sharp intake of breath.

'He did this?' She questioned hoarsely, overwhelmed by this sudden piece of information.

'He spent hours up here'

The thought of him doing this, creating this sweet haven for their unborn child made her heart clench. The knowledge that he cared filled her with joy; she'd spent the last six months unsure that he even wanted to be apart of her or their children's life. 'How-how is he doing?'

'Better. He's doing a lot better now he's seeing a therapist' Nathan smiled gently. 'He wants to see you Peyton.'

'I-I don't know, I just. I don't know' She ran a hand through her wild hair. 'I just want what's best for Isabel and this baby' Nathan looked down. 'What? You think I should see him?'

'I don't know'

'Yes you do. Tell me? You think I should just fall back into his arms?'

'No. But he's been ill. Post traumatic stress disorder. It wasn't his fault'

'I know' She whimpered. It had taken her a while to come to terms with the diagnosis that Brooke had informed her of several months ago. It had taken her even longer to believe she wasn't at all at fault. Her eyes drifted over a photograph hanging above the crib. It was an image of herself and Lucas with Isabel just before he'd left, before everything fell apart, before her fairy tale ended.

'You want to know what finally made him get help?' She swallowed. 'You Peyton. You're the one that fixed him. He came to senses and realised he couldn't be without you. When you sent those sonograms he just snapped. He saw this little baby and realised he needed to help himself to get you back, all three of you.' A tear raced down her cheek. 'You can get past this. He loves you Peyton.'

Lucas stood on the river court. He'd been coming down here more frequently lately. Sometimes on his own, sometimes to watch Nathan shoot some hoops. He was yet to pick up a ball, but he was slowly starting to fall in love with the place he'd considered his private refuge at the age of seventeen.

He bit his lip. It had been three days since Peyton had arrived home. Three days in which he'd been pacing his brother's house, itching to see her. Haley had promised she'd come round and as always his best friend had been right.

He did a double take as her figure approached him from across the court. His heart echoed loudly in his ears. She looked so different. Aside from her obvious rounded stomach, her hair was longer and appeared more curly, her face was fuller and her cheeks glowing a healthy pink. It suddenly struck him how very ill she'd looked before leaving.

'Hey' She greeted softly.

'Hi' He shoved his hands in his pockets.

'Nate said you wanted to see me' She watched him fidget, shifting his weight from foot to foot. He was nervous and so very different from the former man she'd been living with six months ago. His whole body seemed less tense, his shoulders relaxed and no longer hunched up and most importantly, his eyes were no longer dominated by darkness.

'Yeah...You..I...look at you' He stared at her small baby bump. 'Hales said you were getting big'

'Not big enough. The doctors say the baby's not growing at a normal rate, apparently I'm not eating enough and keep getting too stressed'

He swallowed. 'I'm sorry' He whispered. 'I'm sorry for everything'

She nodded glumly, noting the remorse in his striking blue orbs.

'Are you back for good?'

'I think so. It was nice to spend some time with my dad but how could I bring up Isabel or the baby anywhere else?' She shrugged. 'Nate said you've been seeing some doctor?'

'Yeah. I- after you left I, I fell to pieces. I didn't want to loose you for good. Nathan eventually managed to convince me to go see someone. Did anyone tell you I've been suffering from PTSD?'

She nodded uneasily. 'How're you feeling?'

'Good, good actually. Some days are better than others. It helps believe it or not' He offered her a small smile. '-Talking to someone. It puts everything into perspective'

'That, that's good Luke' She mumbled. She couldn't understand why he'd quite happily talk to some stranger and not her but the main thing was he was getting help and accepting he had a problem.

'Yeah' He agreed, scratching an imaginary itch on his forehead. There was so much he wanted to say and yet he didn't know how to voice it.

'Why am I here Lucas?'

'I, well I wanted to see you'

She sat down on the bleachers, one hand protectively stroking her bump.

'I think about you everyday Peyton... you and Isabel and the baby' He hesitantly sat down beside her. 'Can I...Can I?' he gestured to her abdomen. She bit her lip, looking at him guardedly. 'Please' One look into his blue eyes and she relented, carefully lifting her fitted t-shirt to expose her small round belly. His callous hand hesitantly settled itself on her soft skin and she involuntarily shuddered, her gaze never leaving his face. 'It, did it just kick?' He met her eyes and smiled delightedly and she couldn't prevent her own lips twitching into a smile. She laced her fingers over his directing it a little lower and again he felt a sharp kick. 'Wow, just...wow' He dropped his head and left a chaste kiss on her creamy skin, making her insides flutter 'Haley said you didn't know if it was a boy or a girl?'

It took her several moments to find her voice 'N-no, I wanted it to be a surprise. Brooke's convinced it's another girl though' She rolled her eyes. Lucas chuckled, the brunette had been adamant that the young parents were expecting a boy the first time round, so much so that she had everyone convinced to the point where Peyton had decorated the nursery with a blue sailing boat theme. When Isabel entered the world it was more than a shock for the whole family.

'You know I think she might be right this time though'

'Maybe' She nodded softly, her mind drifting to wonder who the baby would take after, whether he or she would have her lips and Lucas' nose, what colour eyes and hair he or she would inherit.

'Peyton' His voice startled her. 'I want to come home' Her eyes narrowed considerably. 'I miss you, I miss us and I know you have every right to hate me but I don't want to loose you'

'Luke I-'

'I never meant to hurt you. You have to understand that I wasn't in a stable mindset. I still get the nightmares but, but they're less and less and the hallucinations have completely gone. I know I said and did a thousand of horrible things but promise things will change. I want to be there for you, for Izzy, for this child. Let me come home'

'Luke I-I don't know, I don't think it's such a good idea. I mean the doctors say I shouldn't put myself under any more stress'

'Just say you'll think about it' She licked her dry lips. 'Please'

'I feel sick'

'What?' Lucas frowned.

'I'm going to be sick' She got a few paces away from where they'd been sitting before she was sinking to her knees and throwing up. He lurched over to her, a hand holding her hair back and the other rubbing her back. Tears prickled at her eyes but she closed them tightly in an attempt to seal off the ducts. This is where he should have been for the last one hundred and eighty four days. By her side. She lent back against his chest and his fingers trailed over her clammy forehead, brushing her damp curls out of her eyes.

'You ok?'

She swallowed back the bile welling in the back of her throat 'I don't know why they call it freaking morning sickness, it's unrelenting' She breathed.

'You get this all the time?' He questioned, rubbing her arm.

'Some days it's not so bad' She forced a small weary smile, letting him help her to her feet and sit her back on the bleachers.

'Is, is that normal? You hardly had any sickness with Isabel and you're nearly seven months now right?' He recalled, his brow creased with concern.

'I guess I lucked out with her.' She took a deep breath, trying to calm her unsettled stomach. 'Apparantly some women are lucky enough just to have it for the first few weeks but I'm one of the few who appear to have it for the whole freaking nine months' She sighed.

Lucas' face twisted at the thought of her having gone through this without him. 'I'm sorry' He settled his hand on her knee.

'It's not your fault' She laughed a little. 'Just don't ever come near me with peanut butter, pickled onions, salmon or bananas or you'll have hell to pay' She warned.

'You love all that stuff'

'Yeah, well apparently this little one doesn't' Her hand drifted back over her belly. 'Just the smell of any of that stuff makes me gag'

He nodded, mentally repeating the list in his head so he wouldn't forget. His heart sunk a little, these were things he should already know. 'So can't you keep anything down at all?'

'Not a lot, but my doctor has me taking loads of vitamins and minerals and in the last month I gained more weight so as long as I can put on a little more everything should be fine'

He nodded helplessly, he wanted to hear everything was going perfect, that she'd never felt better not that this pregnancy had her feeling ill round the clock. 'How's, How's Isabel?'

'She's ok'

'How's she dealing with the prospect of becoming a big sister?'

Peyton stared at him and knew that he was truly interested in their daughter.

'Mummy are we staying here forever?' Isabel whined, leaning against Peyton's knees.

'Don't you like it here?'

'I do. I like seeing grandpa every morning and I like playing with Barney but I miss Aunt Brooke and Aunt Haley and Uncle Nathan and Jamie and my other friends and, and Daddy' She listed.

Peyton's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the last mention. 'We'll see them all soon' She mustered with a smile. 'This isn't forever baby'

'We are going back home?'

'Yes, I don't know when yet though.'

'When we do go home is Daddy going to live with us?' She asked quizzically, scrambling onto the sofa and onto Peyton's lap.

'I'm not sure yet sweetie.' Isabel's small hands fiddled with the buttons on her mother's shirt, her eyes following her fingers. Peyton smiled and lent forward, pressing her forehead against the four year olds. As much as she felt isolated being in her Dad's house, she was enjoying the time with just Isabel. 'Izz?'

'Uhuh?' Blue eyes darted up to meet her gaze.

'There's something I want to talk to you about' She stroked her daughter's round cheek. 'Isabel...' She hesitated, taking a deep breath. 'Mummy's going to have a baby' Peyton regarded her, noting the way her little button nose scrunched up and she squinted her eyes just like her father did when he was confused.

'A baby?'

'Yes' Peyton's lips curled into a bright smile but was met with a frown.

'Where am I going?' Her bottom lip quivered.

'What?' Peyton's smile faltered.

'I'll be a good girl, I don't wanna go' Her eyes widened and glazed over with tears.

'Baby you're not going anywhere'

'You're n-not going to get rid of me?'

'Of course not.' She exclaimed. 'I love you so much, you're my little girl, you're stuck with me forever, forever Isabel. Why would you even think that?'

She shrugged with a loud sniffle 'The baby won't have my room?' She bought her hand up to her mouth, chewing on the sleeve of her top.

'No sweetie' Peyton cooed. 'We'll have to turn the spare room into a nursery. You'll be able to help me look after the baby and when he or she's bigger you'll have someone to play with and look out for. Wouldn't you like to have a little brother or sister?'

'I-I guess' She snuggled closer, settling her head on Peyton's shoulder.

'I love you sweetie, nothing is going to ever change that.' Peyton hugged her tight, hoping to put her obvious worries to rest. 'Ok?'

Isabel nodded against her and was silent for a long minute. 'Where do you get the baby?' She eventually lifted her head, looking straight into her mother's eyes.

'Well' Peyton pushed her tongue to the roof of her mouth, contemplating how to make the four year old understand without divulging too much information for her innocent ears. 'The baby's here' She indicated, raising her shirt a little. Isabel looked from Peyton's face to her slightly protruding stomach repeatedly.

'The baby's in your tummy?' She asked incredulously. Peyton couldn't help but laugh at her look of disgust and horror.

'Yeah sweetie' She breathed, rubbing Isabel's leg soothingly. 'You were in there once too'

'Was not, I wouldn't fit in there' She slid off Peyton's lap to sit beside her, giving her more room to bend over and get a closer inspection of the small bump that was still unnoticeable when covered.

'Well no, you wouldn't now silly. You were a lot smaller then'

'There's a real baby in there?' Isabel whispered, going slightly cross eyed as she fixated on Peyton's belly button.

'There's a real baby in there' Peyton confirmed, smiling. 'It's only really small at the moment though.' She demonstrated the probable size with her fingers.

'That's diddy'

'Really diddy' Peyton laughed again as Isabel settled her chin on her stomach. 'The baby has to grow a lot more and then when it's big enough I have to go to the hospital'

'When?'

'I don't know exactly, it won't be for several months yet It will be in December, near Christmas time'

'When Father Christmas comes?' Her eyes lit up, her neck straining to the side as she looked up.

'I hope not' Peyton smiled, threading her fingers through Isabel's golden locks.

'But I love Father Christmas. He leaves me presents' She chirped, excitement evident in her voice.

'Alright kido, let's not start counting down the days to Christmas just yet, you've got a long time before Father Christmas pays you a visit'

'I-I didn't know what to say to her' She swallowed.

'I'm sure you did great'

'She seemed upset at first; I think she thought I was going to get rid of her and replace her with a baby. But I think she understands now, I think she's happy. I think she's excited.' Peyton fiddled with her wedding ring apprehensively. 'At bedtime she likes to kiss the baby goodnight and sometimes when I'm sitting down she'll curl up on the sofa and lay her head on my stomach and just whisper endless stories.' Peyton looked up to find Lucas gazing at her intently, his eyes moistened with unshead tears. 'I just hope she doesn't feel neglected when the baby's actually born'

'It might take her a bit of getting use to' He said quietly, getting choked up as he listened to her describe special moments he should have been there for.

'She missed you'

'I highly doubt that' He scoffed.

'She did' Peyton said surely.

'How could she? I've not been a father to her since she was two years old'

'Luke-'

'She deserves better. You deserve better'

'Lucas' She shook her head. 'I- I love you and I don't want anyone else. I just, I need space. I-I can't forget things you said and did and I know it's not your fault but I'm pregnant and I just want to get through the next couple of months without any drama, so just, just give me some time ok?' She pushed herself off of the wooden bleacher. 'I should get back, I left Izzy with Brooke'

'Peyton' She turned. 'When, can I- can I maybe see Isabel soon?'

She opened and closed her mouth. 'Maybe later this week' She nodded. 'It's her birthday next Tuesday.' She reminded him 'You should be there'

He smiled, watching her walk back across the river court. 'Peyton' She glanced over her shoulder. 'I love you'