There's an odd feelings on my fingertips…it's strange…yet pleasantly familiar, but I can't place it. Although I'd like to know what it is, I refuse to open my eyes yet. I'm tired and have no intention of waking up because of some tingling sensation. I can feel myself drifting back to sleep and I welcome it with open arms, but just before everything fades away, that odd sensation finds its way to my lips, only it's not so odd anymore.

I'm awake now, very awake…but my eyes stay closed as I wrap my arms around his neck, my hands still lost in the sleeves of his oversized shirt. He slips an arm around my waist and pulls me as close as possible…there are no towels in the way this time.

"Good morning…" I smile as I pull away from him, our foreheads touching gently. I wouldn't trade this feeling for anything.

"Morning…" his lips are curved into a small smile, his eyes still locked with mine. He leans in towards me again, but I pull back as my eyes drift over his shoulder.

"Well good morning to you too…" Luke pulls away from me and turns towards the door, a grin taking shape as he meets the eyes of his daughter. Her head is poking shyly through a crack in the door. "Coming…" I prop myself up on my elbow and watch as she nods happily before running over and leaping onto the body, her small body weaseling its way between Luke and I. She flashes a bright smile at each of us before snuggling deeper under the covers.

"Why are you wearing daddy's shirt?" I watch Lucas cringe at the question and I can't help but laugh. If I didn't know any better, I would say that sometimes she asked questions like that just to see us squirm.

"Well…" he starts but can't seem to come up with anything else to say.

"Because it smells good." I give her my most childish grin. "See…" I hold the sleeve of the shirt up to her nose and we both watch as she inhales deeply.

"It does smell good…" she grins back at me before rubbing her eye with her fist. I catch Luke's eye and notice he has this warm smile on his face, completely different from the deer caught in headlights look he was sporting when Sam asked about my choice of clothes. Now if she decided to ask why I was in Luke's boxers…I wouldn't have a PG answer for her…which makes me happy that he got the munchies last night and had to slip his pajama pants back on before heading downstairs.

Sam lays her head comfortably against Luke's chest, her eyes closing a few moments later. He drops a kiss on top of her head before stretching his arm over her body and draping it over my waist. "I love you…" I smile over at him as the words leave my mouth.

"I love you too…" he whispers as he pulls me a little closer, careful to not smother Sam, who only snuggles deeper into the comforter at the sudden movement. I never thought I'd have this. It feels like a scene from a movie…something that I've only dreamed about…and I keep waiting to wake up, to have this ripped away from me, to learn that none of this is real, that this feeling of being a happy little picture perfect family…even if it only lasts just for this moment…that the feeling is something I imagined. But as I feel Sam's back push gently against my upper body each time she inhales…the fear of losing all of this slowly dissipates, and I allow the happiness to settle in as I fall back asleep.

When I open my eyes, I tense back slightly due to the pair of blue eyes that are focused intently on me. "Hi…" I can't help but laugh a little as Sam gives me a closed mouth smile in response.

"Did you know daddy stares at you when you sleep.." I watch Luke roll his eyes behind her…he was definitely blessed with one observant little girl.

"That's because your daddy's strange…" I try to keep my face as serious as possible, but that doesn't last long after I see her bob her head up and down in agreement.

"Thanks you two…" he looks between us, both of us smiling back at him. Sam closes her eyes and rubs roughly at her eyes as a yawn escapes her lips.

"I think someone's still sleepy…" Luke gazes down at his daughter and watches as she shakes her head defiantly. "No…" he gives her a questioning look and I can see his hands creeping up to her sides. She shakes her head again, and it's a few seconds later that my room's full of laughter as Luke tickles her. I can't help but laugh at the exchange.

"Get Peyton…" I blink back hard when I hear Sam's words ring out between giggles. I can tell from the look in his eyes that he has every intention of listening to his daughter. Before I can even think about getting up, he's reached his arms across Sam and has his hands on my waist.

"Oh…Luke please stop…" I can't stop squirming, but I can see Sam clearly and she's got her tongue gripped between her teeth…she seems to find it absolutely hilarious that I've got tears in my eyes from laughing so hard.

"What do you think Sam…should I stop…" He glances down at the smiling blonde between us and she doesn't hesitate to shake her head 'no'. "Well I guess I can't stop then…"

I hate…completely detest…being this ticklish.

"Come on…" I'm begging now…I'd be on my hands and knees if it were possible. A few seconds later I find myself on the edge of the bed…he notices too and stops…he probably planned on pulling me back to the center of the bed, but I have other plans. I swing my legs off the bed and stand up quickly, my mouth open as I try to catch my breath.

"You can't let her get away…" I shake my head and my eyes get wide as I watch Sam smile.

"Sam…why are you on his side…" All she does is giggle while looking back at her dad. I see him sit up in the bed, his legs starting to slide from under the comforter and that's my cue to run. I take off towards the door and fling it all the way open, my legs turning into the hall. I look back to see if Luke is still coming after me, and the second I turn my head I crash into something…actually into someone.

"I told you I was gunna get you…" I look up and find Nate smirking down at me. "You came right to me…" It takes me a moment to register what he's talking about and by the time I do remember his promise from the other night and turn around to run in the other direction, he's got me by the hips pulling me back to him.

"Luke already got me…come on…stop it…" He's got my arms pinned at my sides as I squirm in his arms, my back involuntarily arching. I can still hear Sam laughing, but the sound is closer than before and Lucas's voice is mixed in, signaling that they are probably both standing in the doorway…both of them taking pleasure in my misery. I hear them laughter even as Nathan and I tumble backwards and hit the floor, my head hitting the wall.

My hand instinctively cradles the back of my head as I start crawling away from Nate. He grabs my waist again, but when I turn to look at him, his expression is anything but playful. "Are you okay…" His hand is immediately over mine, his eyes shifting between the back of my head and my eyes.

"I'm fine Nathan…" I roll my eyes at how worried his is. I really can't blame him, something just like this caused me to seize less than 24 hours ago…but that doesn't make the sudden hovering any less annoying.

"Peyt…" he tilts his head to the side, his eyes still just as worried as before.

"Nate…I promise that I'm okay…I didn't even hit my head that hard…" He's still got this disbelieving looks on his face and I sigh deeply as I throw my head back. "Will you stop…" I grip his face in my hands forcing our eyes to connect. "I'm fine…I swear to you that I am just fine, and if I start feeling even slightest bit disoriented, I will let you take me to the hospital…"

"Are you sure you're okay…" I shake my head in frustration as I pull away from him and stand up.

"Lucas…please make him stop…" I hate being treated like this…like some porcelain doll.

"Peyt…you're sure that…"

"I'm positive…" I cut Luke off just as Brooke comes out of her room, her eye shifting between all of us. "Brooke make them stop…" I whine as I walk over to her, pouting like I'm Sam's age.

"Stop what…" she laughs at me as she wraps her arm around my shoulder.

"They're treating me like I'm fragile and…breakable." She laughs even harder after hearing this…especially since the two of them still look just as concerned as they did when she first walked out of her room. "Apparently I have big sticker that says 'this side up' on my forehead…" I raised my brows at Nathan who rolls his eyes and looks away in response.

"You can't honestly expect them to do anything different…" She glances over at me with a smirk on her face, her dimples showing as her smile grows.

"I know…" I give an exasperated sigh before walking down the hall and back towards my room. I'm halfway there when Luke steps in front of me. Before I can even open my mouth to ask what he's doing, his got me hoisted over his shoulder.

"Better…" he quips, and I can just imagine the smirk on his face right now. I can see Brooke and Sam laughing in the middle of the hall.

"No…not better…wrong side up…" I hit the back of his legs as he spins me around. "Lucas Scott…put me down."

"Are you two ever gunna grow up…" Karen's voice echoes down the hall and Luke finally stops spinning.

"Can you please put me down now…" I smack his legs again and he slowly slides me off his shoulder and back onto the floor. I watch Karen shake her head with an amused smile on her face. When stops her eyes glance over me quickly and I feel my cheeks quickly flush when I realize that I'm still only in Luke's shirt and his boxers.

"Busted…" Brooke mouths knowing that Karen can't see it, she always did find amusement in my embarrassment.

"I'm just….I'm gunna go get dressed now…" I point towards my room before turning and walking into it. I hear Lucas tell Sam to let her grandmother give her a bath before he follows me into the room, closing the door gently behind him. He walks over to me and slides his arms around my waist, his chin resenting comfortably on my shoulder as he places a kiss on my cheek.

"You know…I'm pretty sure my mother knows I'm having sex…she does have a granddaughter." He kisses my neck, nudging my head to the side so he can get better access.

"So…that doesn't make it any less awkward…she's your mother Luke…" his hands are creeping slowly up my sides, his lips traveling further down my neck. "..and she's right down the hall…"

"I know…" I turn to face him, a look of shock making its way onto my face, but it doesn't faze him as he hoists me onto his waist. His lips hit the exposed skin on my chest as he makes his way into the bathroom, kicking the door shut once we're inside. "Wouldn't it be so much faster if we just showered at the same time…" he set me down gently before closing the distance between us. I melt into the kiss as his fingers undo the buttons on the shirt.

"With what's running through your mind right now…defiantly not…" He slides his shirt off my shoulders as he kisses me again, walking us closer to the shower.

"Well then let's just pretend we took them separately." There's a house full of people, all of them awake…I should be telling him no, but instead I'm lifting the t-shirt over his head. He reaches behind me to turn on the faucet, a smirk in place on his face as his eyes stay locked with mine. I feel his hand sliding down my torso, his fingers creeping under the rim of the boxers, a slight tug is all it takes to continue the trail of disregarded clothing.

An hour and half later we're both fully dressed and making our way downstairs. Brooke's sitting at the counter picking at a croissant, Nathan's leaning against the counter with a glass of water in his hand.

"You two just can't keep your hands off each other…" She glances up quickly before going back to her food.

"Do you ever turn your freaky little radar off…" I question as I poke her in the arm. I don't know how, but Brooke's always been able to look at people and tell when they've just had sex…it's really disturbing…always has been…always will be.

"Interesting choice of words…but no it never goes off…" she winks at me and all I can do is shake my head.

"Try…please….while I'm here…while I'm anyway in hearing distance of conversations like this…I beg of you to try and turn it off." Nathan shakes his head causing the rest of us to laugh.

"Lucky for you Nate, that's the end of that conversation…" I look towards to stairs to see Haley walking down with Kristen on her back, Sam right at her heels.

"So what's on today's agenda…" Brooke's still picking at her croissant, but eventually stops to look up at me.

"I don't know…you guys are free to do whatever you want." I shrug before pulling out one of the chairs from under the counter and sitting down. I grab the bag of marshmallows from the drawer beside me…I know it's not the best thing to be eating at 11 in the morning, but I don't really care.

"Has anyone ever told you that you are a sucky hostess…I mean seriously…you're not here when we arrive, you cause all our nerves to be shot to hell, you make Karen cook dinner, which I have to serve to you in bed, then this morning you make me get out of bed because of your incessant laughter…then you ditch us so you can 'shower'…now you want us to fend for ourselves…my God future P. Scott, where are your manners?"

"My manners…" she rolls her eyes at me playfully before turning her attention back to her food. I grab a marshmallow and chuck it at her, smiling as it hits her in the side of the head. "There are my manners…." I smirk over at her as she scowls in my direction.

"If I were you I would rethink throwing that croissant…" Brooke pulls her hand away from her plate as we all turn to look at Haley. "…if you get these girls into food fights, you will be the one cleaning up the mess…and you will clean them up too…each and every time" Hales doesn't bother to look at either one of us as she slides Kristen off her back. Brooke just sticks her tongue out at Haley before going back to eating.

"Anyways…I think we should at least make some kind of plans for tomorrow since our wonderful hostess has nothing for us to do today." Brooke smirked towards me and all I could do was roll my eyes. "I mean we can't all come up to New York and stay in the apartment the entire time…"

"As much as I hate to admit it…she's actually right…we can't take the girls on their first trip to New York, first trip out of the state for that matter, and not go anywhere special…" Nate looked around the group and we all nodded. There are so many options available around here, it would be a crime to not take advantage of any of them.

"We could go over to Chelsea Piers…then to the park or something…" I offer as I lean my elbows against the counter. Chelsea has a lot of things to do…stuff that everyone could enjoy. I looked around the group and watch everyone nod in agreement. "Happy..." I turned to face my best friend who only smiled brightly at me.

"Very much so…" She wiggled her eyebrows at me and just like every other time, I can't stop myself from laughing at her antics.

"Good…" I smirk over at her before digging back into the bag of marshmallows. My eye catches the ring on my finger and I can't help but stop and smile to myself. I feel Luke's arm slide around my waist, his head leaning forward until his lips are right at my ear.

"Somehow, it looks so much better right now then it did when it was in the box. I mean I always thought it was beautiful, but now, every time I see it I smile and my heart races, and just for a moment…I feel like I'm floating. So I'd say it's right where it belongs, don't you think?" My smile grows just a bit as I nod against him.

"Yeah…" my voice is barely above a whisper, and I'm sure no one heard me but him. "I love you…" I forget where I am as I close my eyes, my face pushing as close as possible against his.

"And I love you…" His lips hit my temple lightly. I could stay in the moment forever, but a loud scuff forces me to snap my eyes open, my face stays pressed against Luke's though.

"Okay…I'm officially scared to see you two as newlyweds." I glare over at Brooke who returns my look with a shake of her head. "You guys are like some cheesy romance novel….I mean eventually people get tired of going 'awww', and then suddenly its not cute anymore and people just start telling you to get a room…"

"Brooke…you never went 'awww'" I argue as I cock a brow up. She rolls her eyes at me as an exasperated sigh escapes her lips.

"That's because I'm all awed out after having to watch those two since high school…" She gestures over to Hales and Nathan with her head before turning her attention back to me, her eyes silently asking me for conformation.

"Hey…don't get bent out of shape because we're affectionate." I laugh as Haley dips her fingertips into Nathan's water and then flicks them at Brooke, splashing water on the overly witty brunette.

"Haley…" Brooke and Nathan say at the same time.

"Kristen, don't ever do what mommy just did okay…it's rude to stick your hands in someone's drink…" he glares at his wife who grins back sheepishly.

"Yeah…it's also rude to get people wet…" Brooke points a finger at Hales who smirks back triumphantly…one day we'll grow up…I couldn't tell you when, but one day it will happen.

"So since the three of them are busy bickering…do you think they'd notice if we…disappeared." I feel my checks instantly flush as Luke whispers into my ear. "Or maybe you have some stuff to pick up from the office…you know, the one with the desk…leather chair…couch…floor…walls…there's even two elevator rides on the way…car ride too…" I'm sure I'm beet red right now, the color in my cheeks has been increasing with each hushed word that's left his mouth. "I'm sure…"

"Broody…with the look in your eyes it's no wonder someone wants to make use of the counter right now, the one I'm currently eating off of." Both of our eyes dart over to Brooke, neither of us moving. "She's contemplating which means you're h-o-r-n-y and you've been listing places…but unless it's somewhere very k-i-n-k-y…I'm sure the Blondie and Boy-toy have been there…and even if it is some place k-i-n-k-y…they've probably taken care of those too….probably more than once…maybe even…"

"Thank you Brooke…" Lucas pulls away from me quickly, his feet carrying him over to the other side of the kitchen. "Thank you so much for killing the moment…ohh…and for the wonderful images in my head right now."

"You're very welcome…" she gives the most innocent smile she can muster, before breaking out into vindictive smirk.

"What did I say about you and that…radar…" I watch the girls look at each other in confusion as Nate shakes his head.

"Opps…" She shrugs before standing up coming over by me to grab a handful of marshmallows.

"Only you Davis…" I laugh lightly as she leans her head against my shoulder.

"I know…but you love me for it…" She smile brightly and all I can do is rest my head atop hers and agree. She wouldn't be Brooke without her little antics.

It's few hours later everyone's downstairs watching a movie, and the girls are running around playing hide and seek. I'm cuddled up against Luke on the couch, and we both jump slightly when my phones start vibrating my pocket.

"Work" I mouth to him…I didn't need to look at the phone to my job was calling…its got a personal ring and vibration pattern, that way I always know when I have to pick up. I slip my phone out of my pocket only to have Lucas try and snatch it away.

"You're off today…" he whispers into my ear, his hand gripping mine. "You were off yesterday and you still went in…not today Peyt…please" I would love to just screw it and ignore the call, but I can't do that…I'm responsible for this magazine which technically means I'm on call 24/7.

"Luke…I'm sorry" He sighs with a small shake of his head, but he removes his hand from the phone. I can see Brooke out of the corner of my eyes, she's pouting, but she doesn't say anything as I get up and make my way upstairs.

"You do know I'm off today right…" It's not the most polite way to answer the phone, but the last thing I want right now is to be told that I have to go into work right now.

"I know Peyton…I'm sorry…" Rachel's voice echoes through the phone as I plop down on my bed. "Someone deleted the files from the external drive with the layouts and we need you to let us into the mainframe so we can rescan everything. You'd be in and out of here in under ten minutes.

"When am I ever in and out of there in under ten minutes…when am I ever in and out of there in under two hours?" I sigh as I run a hand through my hair. "Listen…hand drawn layouts are in my office in the black portfolio by my desk. Just tell everyone to use those for the day…"

"Okay…but how do I get them onto the mainframe for everyone to see…only you have access to that." I should've known that would be way too easy.

"Look…just make copies of the layout and have everyone pick up a copy…it's early in the month so right now they just need a basic idea of what they're doing. They'll have all the details Monday morning."

"That could work…thank you…enjoy the rest of your day…" I tell her goodbye before hanging up the phone and smiling to myself. I remember a time when I used to pray for someone to call me on my off days, give me a legit excuse to get out of the house. But it's not like that anymore…it's a change…a good one though.

I'm torn out of my thought when I hear someone crying from the hall. I walk out there and find Sam with tears streaming down her flushed cheeks. "What happened…" I kneel in front of her and follow her gaze down to her knees. "Uh oh…" she must have fallen pretty bad on the carpet, because her knee is missing a patch of skin, a small amount of blood breaking through. I know first hand how bad rug burn can hurt and at seven I know she doesn't have a very high pain tolerance. "Come on…" I stand up and lift her into my arms before making my way into the bathroom.

"I was playing hide and seek with Kristen, and I fell trying to get to base." She wipes roughly at the tears on her face as I sit her down on the edge of the tub. I reach under the sink and grab the peroxide and cotton balls. I soak the ball before pressing it to her knee, but I quickly retract my hand when she cries out in pain.

"Sam I'm so sorry…" I hold up my hand in defense as I stand back up. She's crying harder now then she was when she first came downstairs. I'm used to having scrapes and bruises to clean up, I'm also used t gritting my teeth and bearing the pain of having peroxide or alcohol poured over my skin. Sam's seven, she's not supposed to grit her teeth and bear it. As the tears continue to fall from her eyes, I take a step back. I turn when I feel someone grip my shoulders and I see Lucas standing behind me.

"Hey, what happened…" he's looking between me and his daughter, waiting for someone to fill him in.

"She fell on the carpet and scraped her knee. I…I tried to clean it, but…" Luke drops a kiss on my forehead before stepping past me and kneeling in front of his daughter. I watch him wipe her tears away with the pads of his thumb, tucking her hair behind her ears as she calms down a bit. He blows on her knees before gently dabbing it with peroxide, whispering to her the entire time and she doesn't do anything more than whimper.

I walk out of the bathroom and into my own room. I walk into my bathroom and close the door behind me before sliding down against the wall, my head resting on my arms which are folded on top of my knees. Luke's good at being a father…he's great at it. He knows everything he's supposed to, and it all just seems so natural. I'm not like that…I don't know all the things I'm supposed to do or say. I don't know the right way to answer her questions…for all I know I answered everything completely wrong the other morning.

I lift my head up when the bathroom door opens and Luke walks in, closing the door behind him. "Hey…" he sits beside me, his fingers instantly wiping away my tears.

"Hi…" I keep my focus on him for a moment before turning to look at the far wall again.

"Why are you crying…" I can feel him staring at me, but I won't turn and meet his gaze again.

"Because…I had no clue what to do in there Luke. She could've been bleeding to death and I would've just stood there. I got scared and I froze Luke…" He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled my body into is, my head falling against his shoulder.

"You did fine Peyt…you took her to get cleaned up. The little tricks like how to make it hurt a little less are just things you learn after time…"

"But you can't learn how to be a good mother...what if I'm not cut out for this…what if I'm just one of those people who isn't supposed have kids." I sigh deeply against him as is hands rub up and down my arm.

"Look at Brooke…would you ever think she would be good with kids…in high school I would've wanted to keep children as far as possible from Brooke Davis…but she's actually really great with Kristen and Sam. It's an attitude Peyton…if you want to be a good parent then you will be. You'll learn…everyone has to learn. Some people learn early on from younger siblings or babysitting, some people don't learn until they have a baby of their own…but no one's born with the expertise on how to be a parent. You take Sam places with you, you color with her and play with her…Peyt you take time out of your life to be with her and she loves you for it." I smile up at him, catching my lips between my teeth a few moments later. "You're doing great…you'll pick up on the little things later, but you'll be fine." His lips hit the side of my head gently before he stands up and pulls me up and into his arms.

"Are you sure…" my voice comes out muffled against his chest but he nods with a small smile. I lean up and press my lips against his, my hands snaking around his neck as he deepens the kiss. He opens the bathroom door and slowly starts walking us back into the room. My phones once again starts vibrating in my pocket and I moan as I pull away.

"Oh no…" He reaches into my pocket and pulls out the phone, flinging it onto the bed after looking at the screen and seeing that it's my job again. ""You're a little preoccupied right now." As urgent as he seems, he kisses me as gently as ever, his tongue trailing slowly along the bottom of my lip, teasing me in a way only he can.

"Lucas...I have to get that…" He's working his way down my neck and my phones continuously vibrating from the bed. "I really need to answer that…" the last time I chose not to answer my phone I spent over 48 hours in my office trying to get everything back on track. I would much rather stay where I am right now, but I also don't ever want to have to do that again. "Luke…"

"Go answer it…" he pulls away with a shake of his head.

"Lucas…I'm sorry…" he shakes his head again, but offers a small smile this time before pulling me into a hug.

"It's your job…I get it. I used to go through it when I was interning…I used to get calls at all hours of the night. You don't get to chose when you want to take a call…you have to take them all because the one you decide not to answer could be the most important."

"I love you…" I wrap my arms tighter around him as he repeats the words before pulling away. He sits on the edge of the bed as I grab my phone and flip it open, praying that Rachel just wants to tell me that everything worked out perfectly.

"Hey Peyton…I'm not dragging you in or anything I just need to know which portfolio has the correct layouts because there are two sitting by you're desk, one of the side and one under it." I breathe a sigh of relief as soon as Rachel starts speaking. She knows how much I wanted to spend time at home this weekend.

"It's the one under the desk, there should be a clip of this month's cover inside. I'll talk to you later Rach"

"Thanks…bye…" I close the phone and toss it back on the bed.

"So what's the verdict…" Our eyes meet and I slowly make my way over to him. I climb onto the bed as I slide my arms around his neck. I straddle his hips as grabs mine.

"I'm all yours…" I lean my forehead against his and he pecks my lips quickly, smiles on both our faces.

"Good…'cause I really didn't want you to go in today…" His arms slide all the way around my waist before he pulls us back on the bed. He flips us over so that he's on top of me, his arms supporting his weight. He smirks at me as he leans in, he's too caught up in the moment to hear the door open, so it's the voice that makes him pull back a little.

"Daddy…what are you doing?" I'm doing everything possible to hold back my laughter. He's currently pouting, his eyes closed tightly…partially because we've just been interrupted, and because its his daughter that interrupted us.

"Well…I think Peyton tastes good…so I'm gunna eat. I just need to add some spices and she'll be perfect." We both look over at Sam whose eyes have just gone wide, her mouth slightly agape. "I'll have her arms for an appetizer….then I think I'll eat her legs for the main course…and for dessert…" He scans over my body quickly, lifting up my arms and sniffing my hair. "I know exactly what I want for dessert…" he states as he sits up and grabs my hand. "Her fingers…with some ice cream…"

"No…" I watch Sam run over to us, lifting herself onto the bed and then putting herself between Luke and I. "You can't eat her…"

"Why not…" He pouts as he looks between us.

"Because I don't want you to…" she snatches my hand out of his before crossing her arms over her chest.

"Well I'm gunna eat her anyway…" He grabs my arm and gently bites down causing Sam's eyes to get wide again before she pulls my arm away from him. There's a small smile on her face that she's trying desperately to hide as she sits between Luke and I.

"No…I won't let you" She gets to her feet, her arms still crossed as she looks defiantly at her father.

"Fine…I'll just eat you then." He pulls her legs and she comes crashing down on her back beside me. Luke grabs her foot and beings gnawing on it gently, causing her to burst into fits of giggles.

"Save me Peyton…" she screams as she latches onto my arm with both hands.

"I'll save you, don't worry…" I pull her towards me only to have Luke pull her to him again. Her laughter only grows as she's being pulled between the two of us. I finally lift her into my arms and hop off the bed, her arms wrapped tightly around my neck as we both watch Luke get to his feet on the opposite side.

"Now how do you plan on getting away…I'm hungry…very hungry." I watch him round the bed slowly, his demeanor as serious as ever while I can barely keep a straight face.

"Well you're gunna have to find something else to eat…" I run towards the bed hoping to get across it and over to the door, but Lucas jumps on as soon as I do, pinning Sam and I underneath him.

"Well, well…what was that you were saying about not being able to eat you two…" He smirks before he bits down gently on my arm again.

"No…" I watch Sam reach up and tickle his sides and I'm shocked to see him squirm.

"I didn't know you were ticklish…" It's my turn to smirk as he looks down at me.

"I can turn it on and off sometimes…" I think it's safe to say that right now it's on and I'm going to use it to my full advantage. I follow Sam's lead and attack his sides just as he did to me this morning. Soon enough he's the one on his back, trying desperately to stop laughing. "Okay…I give up…I give up" He wraps an arm around each of us, pulling us down on either side of him. Sam's head is resting comfortably on his stomach, mine on his chest, my fingers tracing circles against his shirt.

"Aww….how cute…" The voice comes after the flash of the camera. I look towards the door to see Brooke smirking in the doorway. "See…there's your 'aww'…happy now?" I roll my eyes, but nod right after. She winks at me before continuing down the hall, probably to go finish the movie.

My gaze travels down to Sam whose eyes are closed, her chest rising and falling steadily. "Looks like someone wore herself out…" Luke looks down at Sam and smiles lightly.

"I guess so…" his runs a hand gently over her hair, the adoring smile never leaving his face. "Thank you…"

"What…" I watch him turn his neck and meet my gaze…he smiles at the confused look on my face.

"Thank you…" he repeats with this unbelievable amount of happiness in his eyes.

"For what…" My brows wrinkle as he kisses my forehead.

"Come here…" his voice is so hushed that I barley hear it, but I push my body up and lean in towards him. I stop less than an inch away from him, his breath hitting my face before he finally leans all the way, closing the miniscule gap between us. He doesn't make a move to deepen the kiss, he simply pulls my body closer to his. There's passion, but no lust…the kiss is chaste, but there's something new and exciting lingering behind it…something that I don't think has been there before. "Thank you for making me the luckiest man on Earth" He presses his forehead against mine, he's so close that his lips brush against mine as he speaks. "The woman I adore and love with everything in me, loves my daughter and treats my daughter as her own. There's nothing else I could ask for Peyt…you're not required to take time out for Sam, to take part in family moments. You could have been distant and said that you needed time, and because she's not your daughter, because you've really just met her and are still getting to know her…it would have been completely understandable...but you've welcomed her into you life with open arms, you don't make her feel uncomfortable or unwelcome when she just pops into the room, you really do treat her like you would treat your own daughter. I'm just really lucky to have you, Sam and I are both lucky to have you. So thank you, for being you…you're truly amazing…"

I've got tears in my eyes and with each word that leaves his mouth it's getting harder to keep them at bay. "Thank you for welcoming me into your family" it comes out as a whisper because I can't manage anything stronger right now. I press my lips to his and let the kiss linger for a moment before pulling away and moving down to rest my head on his chest again.

It's about twenty minutes later that Haley knocks lightly on the door, an amused smile on her face. "Kristen passed out too downstairs during the movie. Nathan's putting her in the bed right now. We're all going upstairs on the roof since it's so nice out…Nate and Brooke said you can stay down here Luke, but Peyton has to get up because they miss her and they didn't come all the way up here to visit your apartment, or to spend time with each other, and although me and the smartass are still bickering, I do agree with her…so Peyt, you have five minutes to get you skinny butt upstairs before I send Nate back down here to carry you up there." She winks in our directions before turning around and walking away.

I sigh against Luke but sit up a minute later and reluctantly get to my feet. I watch as he gently slides Sam's head off his stomach, sliding her body further up the bed so that her head is now on the pillow before he gets off the bed. He wraps his arms around my waist as we walk, his head resting on my shoulder as we waddle out of the room. As we enter the hallway he stops and uses one hand to pull my body closer to his, the other hand grasping mine and interlacing our fingers.

"Dance with me…" he whispers against my ear. I smile as I crane my neck to look at him.

"Excuse me…"

"Dance with me...come on…" He grips my hand tighter as his feet start taking small steps in the direction of the stairs. "One, two three. One, two, three. One, two, three…" I can't help but throw my head back against his shoulder and laugh as we move down the hall, dancing to the nonexistent music. His lips hit my cheek before he places his chin against it, the smile on his lips growing with each step. "Have I told you how much I love you today…"

"Maybe…but it never hurts to hear again…" we're still dancing from one side of the hall to the other, slowly making our way towards the terrace stairs.

"In that case…I love you Peyton Sawyer. I love you very, very much" His lips flutter against my neck, causing my smile to grow.

"Well I love you very, very, very much…so I guess I win…" He laughs as he presses his face closer to mine.

"Oh really…says who…maybe deep down I wanted to say very a few more times…" He rubs small circles against my hand with his thumb, and I absentmindedly grip his hand a little tighter.

"Well however many times you decide to say very, I'm always gunna say it one more time…I'll always win." I close my eyes and relax against his body, allowing myself to get lost in the moment.

"Ohh…to be young and in love…" I look in front of me to see Karen smiling from the doorway of the stairwell, her arms crossed over her chest. Lucas and I both just laugh, still dancing towards her.

"Hey ma…" Lucas smiles over at her and she just shakes her head.

"Get upstairs before they come looking for you…" she warns as she walks past us and down the hall to her room. We eventually reach the stairs and his releases me as we start going up. Halfway up, Nathan starts walking down, not looking up until he's almost reached us.

"Hey, I was just sent after you two…more specifically, Brooke sent me after you…" he points to me with a small smile before turning back around. "Hurry it up love birds…" he snaps his fingers twice before starting back up the stairs with Luke and I in tow. The second we reach the top Nate pulls me towards him, his arms wrapping around my stomach as he starts walking us towards the rest of the group. "I don't remember the last time I saw you this happy…that last time you smiled this much." His whispers into my ear and I can't stop myself from smiling even more.

"I know…it's a change…" I respond as I bite the inside of my lip.

"Yeah, but it's a good one…you wear happy well sis…" I smile again as we reach the others who are sitting around the table. He kisses the back of my head before letting me go and giving me a slight nudge in Luke's direction. He pulls me down onto his lap, his arms wrapping lazily around my waist.

We spent the rest of the afternoon talking about nothing in particular, just enjoying our time together. Lucas kept our finger intertwined the entire time, even when I shifted so that I was leaning against his chest, only of his arms snaked around my waist. To be young and in love…I wouldn't trade it for anything.