I own nothing—thanks for the reviews.

Please bear with the Brucas, I know that it's annoying and frustrating, but it will pay off soon…and Luke's only with her because Peyton seems so adamant about them being together.


Everything that I said I'd do

Like make the world brand new

And take the time for you

I just got lost and slept right through the dawn

And the world spins madly on

Peyton stepped into her house, completely exhausted. Today's events had certainly taken a toll on the pregnant blonde. She couldn't imagine how tired she would get once her baby actually grew. She was about to walk up to her room when the hushed voices stopped her.

Peyton furrowed her brows, "now way", she muttered aloud.

She cautiously walked into her living room and held her breath.

"What the hell is she doing here?" Peyton asked with disgust in her voice.

"Peyton sweetie, calm down", he stood and approached his daughter carefully.

"Dad, why is she here?" Peyton asked again as her voice rose.

"Peyton, I wanna get to know you", Ellie spoke from her place on the couch.

"And I told you I don't care. I don't want to know you", she said through gritted teeth.

"Peyton, I have to work", Larry interrupted the two women.

"What do you mean?"

"You have a baby coming and it's going to need food and clothes and a doctor and if I don't work that can't happen", he chuckled nervously.

"So you're leaving again?" she asked quietly. Larry nodded somberly.

"I'm sorry sweetie; I leave in a few hours."

"It's okay, I understand", Ellie cleared her throat and Peyton refocused her attention.

"Why are you still here?" she asked in annoyance.

"I'm going to be here for a while", Ellie said vaguely. Peyton's eyes snapped to her fathers.

"What is she talking about?"

Larry grabbed his daughter's hand. It was more so that she couldn't hit him then it was a tender gesture.

"She's going to be staying here", he said slowly. Peyton's eyes widened.

"Absolutely not", she said as she shook her head; she ripped her hand from his.

"Peyton, hear me out", he pleaded, "I don't want you alone and this is a reasonable answer."

"No it's not. I don't want her here and yet she's here; this doesn't seem too reasonable", the adults watched as she paced the room.

"Peyton, you're my daughter and I want to spend time with you", Ellie spoke softly. Peyton scoffed.

"God, I'd rather live with Lucas", she mumbled.

"Peyton, I agree with her", Larry spoke up.

"Dad", she yelled disbelievingly.

"Peyton, please."

"You know you're asking a drug addict to live with me", she argued, "Lucas saw you buying drugs in the summer", she directed to the older blonde. Larry and Ellie sighed.

"I can explain–"

"I'm sure you can", she mocked, "druggies always can."

"I'm not on drugs, Peyton."

"Spoken like a true addict", she spat.

"I have cancer."

------------------------------

Lucas walked into his house in the same manner Peyton entered hers. All he wanted to do was slip off his shoes and crawl into bed. He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling when he heard the door open.

"Mom, please not tonight okay? We can talk tomorrow and you can yell and call me irresponsible and immature. You can even smack me around a little."

"Is that a promise?" the masculine voice questioned.

Lucas held his breath. He knew that voice.

"Keith?" he asked with a smile.

"Hey Luke", the older man smiled as he embraced the younger Scott.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, still in shock.

"I decided it was time to come home. I found Jules or Emily whoever she was, but she wasn't the person I thought I fell in love with", he said simply as he shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm sorry", Lucas apologized for, well everything.

"Don't worry about it", Keith promised as he waved him off, "you did what you felt was best and I appreciated that you were looking out for me. Now, what exactly is all the commotion going around this small town?" he asked with a raised brow.

"Peyton's pregnant and it's mine", Lucas said all at once. Keith let out a low whistle.

"Well, what are you going to do?"

"I'm gunna be there for her. I would never leave her to do it alone. Other then that there isn't much I can do. I'm with Brooke and Peyton's made it clear that things will stay that way", Keith noticed the tone of his voice.

"Isn't it a good thing that she's letting you guys be together? When I left you were all about Brooke Davis", Keith reminded him.

"Things change", Lucas said simply. The older Scott nodded his head understandingly.

Keith cleared his throat before speaking, "Listen, I wanna ask you something and you can completely say no if it's uncomfortable for you because I would get it. I hope that you wont say no because, well that would suck", he laughed nervously, "but like I said I would understand and–"

"Keith!" Lucas interrupted the other man's ramblings. He also couldn't help but smile; he had an idea he knew where this was going.

"Sorry. I want to ask your mother out", he said as he let out a breath.

"Did you really think you needed to ask my permission?" Lucas asked incredulously. Keith smiles sheepishly.

"Keith, this has been my dream since I was like nine."

"So, this thing you have for Peyton, why not act on it?" Keith asked as he got comfortable.

"Because, I'm dating her best friend and she would never do that . . . again", he added regrettably.

"Sometimes you need to take a risk", Keith advised gently.

"I know, but she's been adamant about us being friends and I'd rather be her friend then some guy who picks up his kid on the weekends."

"That would never happen Luke."

"I wanna believe you, but every time we get close to a relationship she gets scared and I can't risk her cutting me out." Keith chuckled softly.

"I don't find any humor in this", Lucas said helplessly.

"It's not funny, just familiar. You just described your mother and me."

------------------------------

"So, how'd this happen?" Ellie questioned as they sat on Peyton's bed.

Larry had left a little over an hour ago. At first the awkwardness enveloped the room. Ellie had dropped the bomb, but neither of them dared to touch it. Peyton couldn't stand and turned on the radio. They both groaned when some ridiculous teeny bopper song came on. That led to a conversation about music. And that led to them sitting on her bed with a tub of ice cream. Ellie had shared some of her former pregnancy cravings and mint chocolate chip ice cream with ketchup and bologna sounded pretty desirable to Peyton.

Peyton eyed her skeptically as she shoved another spoonful into her mouth.

"Do you want a diagram?" Peyton asked sarcastically.

"Okay, let me clarify. Was it planned or . . ."

"It just happened. We weren't like friends with benefits or anything."

"Friends with benefits?"

"Yea, Lucas and Brooke kind of were, but now they're dating or at least they were", she said as she shrugged.

"Isn't that just like sleeping around?" Ellie questioned with a raised brow.

"No, you can be friends with someone you have sex with, but you get to hook up with other people too", Ellie sent her a look, "okay, so it's the same", they both laughed.

"So do you have any beneficial friends?" Ellie asked, hoping her motherly tone went unnoticed.

"No, that would be too weird. I mean I'm pregnant. There was this one guy, but he was more then a beneficial thing", she said quietly as she played with her melted ice cream.

"Were you in love with him?" Ellie asked cautiously. Peyton nodded her head.

"That's the hard part. The sex is easy, but if you find someone that you're in love with who's also your friend . . . wouldn't that be the greatest benefit?" Ellie hoped she was making some type of headway with the curly blonde. She knew how much Lucas cared for her estranged daughter. She knew there was more there then either of them was willing to admit.

"It's a fairytale I guess", Peyton brushed it off.

"There's nothing wrong with fairytales, everyone ends up happily ever after."

------------------------------

"So, how are you holding up?" Keith asked as they sat at the kitchen table.

"I don't know", she answered honestly, "I don't think it's sunk in", she admitted as she sipped her coffee.

"He's a good kid; he'll do the right thing", Keith assured her as he placed a hand over hers.

"You know what's really weird?" she asked rhetorically, "last year when he told me about Brooke possibly being pregnant I slapped him, but when he and Peyton announced it at the café earlier I almost smiled. How sick is that?" she asked in disbelief.

Keith smiled, "It's not sick. He and Peyton have always had . . . something and they always will", he said quietly as he stared at her.

Karen swallowed hard. Keith Scott had been many things in her lifetime. Her boyfriend's older brother. Her only confidante after her boyfriend left. Her son's godfather. Her son's father figure. And eventually he became the man she fell in love with. But she couldn't take that step. She was too scared of loosing him if it didn't work out.

"I wanted to ask you something", Keith started out slowly.

"Keith, don't", she begged, "please don't make this hard."

He looked at her dejectedly.

"Karen, I can't turn this off, sometimes I wish I could because I know it would make things easier, but in the end it's always there."

He got up from his seat and walked out the door. She sat there in the silence and thought back on his words. He talked about Lucas and Peyton and Karen knew he was right, her son and the seventeen year old curly blonde would always have something. She and Keith always would too.

"Keith", she called out as she followed after him, "Keith wait", she pleaded. He finally stopped.

"Karen its okay–"

"I have something to say", she took a deep breath, "we've known each other for a long time and every time we've gotten close to something I've been stubborn and scared . . . and I've found ways for things to get in between us."

"Karen–"

"I can't let that happen again", she said softly as she as she cupped his face and kissed him.

I let the day go by

I always say goodbye

I watch the stars from my window sill

The whole world is moving and I'm standing still


Okay, so this was more or less a filler chapter. I know some of the dialogue was taken from the show, but it fit in with the chapter. Next chapter things pick up and there will be a surprise. Let me know what you think.