I own nothing—thanks for the reviews. The Promise

Okay, this title is from the song by Tracy Chapman. I seriously recommend listening to it or at least looking up the lyrics because it fits well with the ending in this.

If you wait for me then I'll come for you

Although I've traveled far

I always hold a place for you in my heart

If you think of me, If you miss me once in a while

Then I'll return to you

I'll return and fill that space in your heart

Fourteen days, five hours, and twenty-seven minutes. In this time Peyton had entered her seventh month while Haley entered her sixth. The blonde had recently 'ballooned' in her words from having a cute, slightly noticeable belly—to having an all out watermelon.

In this time she had gotten in touch with her father. Apparently it was hurricane season and storm after storm had hit the small town he and his crew were staying at. She was grateful that he was alive and well and that nobody on his crew had been lost. Unfortunately, he didn't know when he would get home. He felt horrible and she knew this, but it wasn't his fault so she couldn't be mad at him. They both hoped he'd make it home for the birth of his grandchild. It was March so they were still optimistic.

On the flip side of all of that, she hadn't seen the father of her child in that time either. He was working, she knew this from Nathan. The Body Shop had become a home for Lucas ever since Dan seemed to be a permanent fixture in him home. He had spoken to Karen about some of the dreams he had, but she simply thought he was still grieving; when Haley told her that she actually wanted to call him, but she stopped herself. When he was in school he was like a zombie. He went to class, went to his locker, at lunch under a tree near the edge of the quad and then did it all over again; at least that's what Brooke said.

She trudged into the kitchen and rolled her eyes. Brooke was talking to Nathan and Haley about the date she went out on. The guys name was Tommy, he seemed nice and caring and respectable, but most boys Peyton had come across seemed all those things.

"So, what did you do last night?" Haley asked as Peyton rubbed her stomach.

She shrugged. "Ate a pint of cookie dough ice cream."

Brooke's mouth hung open. "You said you threw that out because it had freezer burn."

"I lied", Peyton said without emotion.

"Sawyer, you need to be okay", Nathan stressed.

She hadn't been sleeping. She hadn't been eating well. She was closed off to the world once again. Everything wascoming at her hard. And she was letting it effect her.

"How can I be okay Nathan? I don't know what he's doing. He could be out there having crazy sex with someone and I wouldn't even know it!"

"He's not having crazy sex with anyone", Haley argued.

"Okay fine, maybe he's not, but that doesn't change the fact that he has been missing from our lives for the past two weeks."

Everyone knew that she was talking about herself and their child. It was true, Lucas had been scarce. They would never defend him to her face, but he was working a lot. And he was having a lot of secretive meetings with Mouth. Nobody could figure it out, but Lucas promised everything was okay, and that eventually everything would be okay.

They sat there silently, waiting for their friend to utter the words that they knew were looming for weeks.

"Do you guys mind if I have the house to myself? I need to do some thinking."

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"So, I was thinking red would be a good color for mine and Peyton's dress. She might not like it so much, but that's too bad."

As per Peyton's request they let her have the house, but not Brooke's room. They were currently in the once guest room discussing Naley's upcoming nuptials.

"For the wedding dress, I was thinking ivory or something off-whiteish", Brooke flipped through the swatches and Haley cleared her throat.

"I was thinking of having it be white."

Brooke stared at Haley sympathetically and patted her knee.

"Sweetie, you're pregnant. I'm pretty sure the jig is up", Nathan laughed until Haley smacked his arm.

"Brooke, I trust you to make my wedding dress, can you please make it the color I want", she asked carefully.

Brooke pouted, but quickly spoke, "Fine, but don't be surprised if people stare", she continued to go over the details. Nathan sighed loudly. Haley and Brooke ignored him until he did it for a third time.

"Nathan", Haley scolded.

"I'm sorry, but this is so boring for guys. I don't really care about the flowers or the seating. All I care about is telling everyone how much I love you", he whispered and Haley smiled before leaning over to kiss him.

"Oh please", Brooke scoffed, "are you really falling for this?"

"What's got the Brookie Monster out on full force?" Nathan asked.

"I don't know", the brunette said truthfully.

"Would this have anything to do with a certain Mr. Mysterious?" Haley asked with a smirk.

"How the hell do you know about that?" she asked with a glare.

"Mr. Mi-who?" Nathan asked in confusion.

"Mr. Mysterious is a boy Brooke has been talking to for a while."

"What about Tommy?" Nathan asked in confusion. He could never keep up with 'girl talk'

Brooke rolled her eyes and responded to Haley's comment. "He's not a boy, he's just someone that I talk to once and a while, he's a friend", she shrugged it off.

"He's a friend that she talks to, sometimes three times a day", Haley added in much to Brooke's displeasure.

"I really need to move out", she grumbled.

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He opened the door and thanked the fact that it didn't squeak. He knew where to step so that the floor didn't rattle. He may not have been here in two weeks, but he still knew this place like the back of his hand.

He had been away for too long, he knew that. It shouldn't have taken him two weeks to come and talk to her. To finally be ready to tell her everything he was feeling and thinking. But he was ready. At least he thought he was. He hoped he was.

"Get out", her voice broke him from his thoughts.

He whirled around and stared at the other blonde. Her stomach had grown. Her hair was starting to curl again. She had a small crumb on her chin and all he wanted to do was wipe it off. To have his skin brush against hers.

"Peyton let me—"

"I don't need your excuses."

"But, I just need—"

"No! Get out!"

"I know you're angry—"

"I'm not angry", she said truthfully. "I was angry when you called us a mistake. I was angry a month ago when you snapped at me because I brought up basketball. I was angry two weeks ago when you caused a scene here and then refused to come and apologize", his eyes glanced to the stairway, "regardless of the fact that Brooke told you not to", she read his mind, "you still should have come."

"But I'm not angry anymore. I'm disappointed."

He could swear in that moment his entire world came crashing down. The last thing he wanted was for her to be disappointed in him. He felt like Dan.

"Peyton, I am so sorry. I never meant for things to play out the way they did."

"Well, too late now isn't?" she asked bitterly.

"Can we please talk about this?"

"Now you wanna talk? Fine let's talk", her arms were folded over her chest, "let's talk about the total flake you've been recently. Lucas, this isn't who you are and I know that. I love you, you know that I love you right?" she asked rhetorically.

"I love you so much that it hurts. It physically hurts Lucas", her voice shook.

He stared at the girl in front of him. True pain was etched onto her flawless face. Tears clouded her beautiful green eyes. Her perfect lips quivered. And he was the cause of it. God, he was a fool.

"I love you too", he declared as his own voice shook. He walked over to her and she took a step back. His face fell, but he continued his pursuit. Her back hit the wall and she cursed. She was trapped.

"I'm in love with you Peyton", he tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and she got lost in the moment. As her eyes closed images of the past weeks flashed.

She was angry. Furious. This boy, who she loved with her whole heart, felt the need to repeatedly take that for granted. She pushed him back and he nearly fell over from the shock of it.

"Then show it sometime", she yelled. As quickly as it had come, the anger was gone. She didn't know if it was from her lack of sleep or her ever changing hormones.

Silent tears rolled down his cheeks. She brought her hand up and cupped his cheek; he immediately leaned into her touch.

"I really do love you", he whispered, "so much."

"I can't do this anymore", she sobbed out.

"Peyton please", he begged.

"I can't be strong for everyone. I have done everything I can to be there for you, but you still won't talk to me. You yell and get angry for no reason. You walk out on me and slam doors. We're in a cycle Luke, and it's not a good one", tears violently fell and he wrapped his arms around her.

"I can't lose you Peyt", he whimpered.

"I'm not going anywhere; I just can't keep doing this."

He knew she was right. She was always right when it came to him. Peyton Sawyer knew him better then anyone else. He needed to clear his head; sort out his thoughts.

"I still love you . . . this is gunna be so hard", he spoke more to himself.

Her sobs intensified and she felt her legs giving out.

"Lucas, I'm sorry . . . God, I am so sorry", she grabbed onto him and soaked his shirt with her tears.

"I'm gunna be the guy you used to know babe. I promise. I'll sort everything out and then I'll be okay. We'll be okay", he tightened his grip on her and leaned down to her ear, "I swear it", he whispered with more honesty then he had ever felt.

He cupped her face and brought her lips to his for a searing last kiss. The salty taste lingered between them. He untangled himself from her arms and slowly made his way to the door. He turned to face her before walking out.

"I'll be seeing ya", he whispered with a smile.

Peyton watched him leave with silent, pain filled tears streaming down her face.

Remembering

Your touch

Your kiss

Your warm embrace

I'll find my way back to you

If you'll be waiting

I've longed for you and I have desired

To see your face your smile

To be with you wherever you are

Gahh…don't hate me lol. Let me know what you think, but be nice lol