A/N: Happy One Tree Hill Day! Woot!! Anyway... Yay for reviews! Thank you for all of them and please keep them coming! Also, special thanks to lizzy1234 for inspiring a large part of this chapter. It's kind of a long chapter, because I kind of felt that a break would sort of damage the flow I was going for. And besides, everyone's been so patient that I had to reward it. So hopefully this update will be enough to keep you entertained until OTH airs tonight. Ladies and Gentlemen... Chapter 10.

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Nathan walked down the steps, laughing to himself. He was going to call out to Peyton when he saw her standing in the open doorway, in front of Lucas. He quietly made his way into the kitchen. Haley looked at him.

"What's wrong?"

"Lucas is here."

"What?" Brooke jumped off the counter and looked at Nathan. "What's he doing here?"

"I don't know." Nathan shrugged. "But he's on our doorstep with Peyton standing in the doorway."

"Oh my God, I have to go out there!"

Nathan stopped Brooke before she could leave the kitchen. "No." He was firm. "Give them a minute."

-------

Peyton realized that they had been standing there, staring at each other in silence for a few minutes. She blushed.

"Hi," she said shyly.

Lucas swallowed hard. "Hi."

"You're probably wondering what I'm doing here."

Lucas was, but he wasn't going to press her on it. "It's dinnertime, so I'm guessing you're here for dinner."

Peyton laughed. "Yeah, Brooke and I flew all the way to Tree Hill to have Haley's pot roast."

"Brooke's here, too?"

"Yeah, she's in the kitchen with Haley." Peyton chuckled, obviously embarrassed. "Um, come in."

She stepped aside and Lucas came into the house. "Thanks."

They stood looking at each other for a minute before Lucas cleared his throat. "So, it good to see you again."

"It's good to see you, too." To her surprise, she realized that she was being honest. In spite of the awkwardness, she was happy to see him.

Just then, Brooke's voice broke the silence. "I don't care, Nate."

She moved into view and saw the two blondes standing a few feet from each other. Brooke took a deep breath and smile widely.

"Lucas!" Brooke walked over to Lucas and gave him a warm hug.

Peyton saw Lucas hug Brooke back and the blonde wished that it was that easy for her to be able to greet him like that.

"Hey there, pretty girl. You look great." Lucas broke away from the brunette to take her in. She did look good.

"Don't I always?" Brooke grinned. "I wish I could say the same for you. You're looking a little worn around the edges."

Peyton realized that Brooke was right. Lucas looked tired and worn out.

He shrugged. "It's been a rough couple of days" Lucas looked over at Peyton. "For all of us."

"Uncle Lucas!" Jamie had emerged from upstairs and was now running towards his favorite uncle.

"J. Luke! What's up?"

"Peyton made me a really cool picture! Wanna see? It's up in my room!"

Lucas nodded. "Of course I would. I've always been a big fan of her work."

Peyton blushed and watched Jamie lead Lucas upstairs. When they were gone, Brooke wrapped her arm around her friend's waist.

"How are you doing?"

"I'm fine." At Brooke's disbelieving look, she said, "Really. I am. I'm not going to fall apart just because we're in the same room together."

"I'm more worried about you falling into bed together after what you told me about your last encounter. I'm not sure that's the way Haley wants Jamie to learn about the birds and the bees."

"You're perverse." Peyton shook her head. "Anyway, that's not going to happen either. We're all just going to have a nice dinner together. That's all."

"If you say so, P. Sawyer." Brooke grabbed her arm. "Well, come on. I promised Haley that we would set the table."

-------

Lucas walked downstairs and spied his ex-girlfriends setting the table. As much as he wanted to talk to Peyton, this was not how he wanted to do it. Instead, he went into the kitchen where he knew his brother and his best friend were hiding.

"So…" Lucas began. "Peyton's in town."

Haley turned, looking sheepish. "Really? I didn't know."

He glared at her. "Why didn't you tell me, Hales?"

She had expected him to be mad at her. "Because it wasn't my place, Luke. Besides, I knew you were going to find out eventually. I just didn't think it was going to be like this."

Nathan put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Lucas bit his lip. "How long are they going to be in town for?"

Nathan and Haley exchanged a look. Surely they could answer that question, right? Haley cleared her throat. "Um, actually. They're going to be living here now. Brooke bought a house in town today."

Lucas was barely listening. Peyton was back in town. More than that, she was back for good. He felt his heart almost beating out of his chest. This was going to make getting her back a hell of a lot easier than he had previously anticipated.

"Lucas," Nathan called his name, breaking him out of his reverie. "Just promise us that you'll hold off on any big romantic gestures. She needs some time…

"…. to settle in and all that," Haley finished the sentence. "It's not like you're on a deadline or anything."

They were right. He was going to give Peyton some time and space. After all, now that she was in town, they were bound to run into each other anyway.

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Once the table was set and the food was done, everyone sat at the dinner table to enjoy the feast that Haley had prepared. Well, mostly.

"Hey, Aunt Brooke! I made the macaroni and cheese!" Jamie grinned at his godmother.

"Really? That's funny because that's the most yummy-looking food on the whole table." Brooke met his smile with one of her own.

Haley loved watching her friend interact with her son. "Jamie's such a better cook that me. I think I'm going to let him make all the meals from now on."

Jamie's eyes went huge. "Uh, Momma? Please don't do that. I only knows how to make macaroni and cheese and that's not a very good breakfast."

"Ah, don't worry, bud. You're mother is just teasing you because no one's complimented her on what she's made." Nathan gave his son a reassuring nod.

Peyton swallowed the mouthful of pot roast she had in her mouth. "Oh my God, Haley. This is incredible. It's soooo good."

Haley watched as Peyton shoveled another forkful into her mouth. "Well, I can see that you're enjoying it. Thanks, girlie."

Lucas looked over to see Peyton devouring everything on her plate. Peyton had never reached the point of anorexia, but she had always been a very light eater. Apparently, living in LA had given her a voracious appetite.

"Don't you like it, Uncle Lucas? You haven't eaten much."

Watching Peyton eat had distracted him from his own hunger. Lucas felt his cheeks burn and lowered his gaze to his plate and began eating.

"This is delicious, Hales." And it was. He didn't know if it was because he was so hungry or what, but this was the best pot roast he had ever had.

Haley blushed. "Thanks. Now stop with the compliments and eat."

Peyton obliged, finishing her plate quickly. As she got herself a second helping of everything, she felt eyes on her. "What? I'm hungry."

Brooke watched as the blond female keep putting food on her plate. "While it's good to see you eat, P. Sawyer, I just hope that all that food is going to stay in your stomach."

Peyton glared at Brooke, who put her hand over her mouth. She hadn't realized what she had said until after she had said it. Four pair of eyes shot immediately to Lucas, who was still eating, oblivious to the implications of Brooke's statement.

Haley changed the subject. "Where were you all day, Luke?"

Lucas swallowed. "Home." A pause for effect. "Writing."

The young mother rolled her eyes. "I thought you were done writing that screenplay."

"I am."

Haley 's jaw drop. "Do you mean…?"

"Yep. All new stuff." Lucas smiled between bites. "And it's good, if I say so myself."

"So your writer's block?"

"Gone," he replied happily. "J. Luke, this is easily the best macaroni and cheese I have ever had."

Peyton watched Jamie flash his uncle a cheesy smile. She had known about his writer's block, he had told her about it in the elevator. She remembered how she had no idea how to reply to him. And it wasn't because she didn't know how it felt. She, as an artist, knew the frustration with wanting to put something down on paper (or canvas) and not being able to. It was a horrible feeling and she was glad that he had gotten over whatever was causing him not to write. She wanted to say something to show that she understood, but she had no idea what would have been an appropriate response in that situation. Instead, she resigned herself to continue eating.

"So, when do I get to read this new masterpiece of yours?" Haley tilted her head at him, questioningly.

"When it's done."

"When it's done?" Haley repeated. "Come on, Luke. Doesn't being your best friend come with any benefits?"

"Nope."

"See if I invite you over for dinner again," she grumbled.

"Like it would matter," Nathan pointed out. "I'm pretty sure no one invited him tonight and yet, here he is."

"Honestly," Brooke chimed in. "Peyton and I were looking forward to a nice dinner with my godson and his parents and Broody butts in and then tries to make himself the center of attention."

"Jealous?" Lucas wriggled his eyebrows at Brooke.

"Of you?" The designer laughed. "Why? I'm prettier, funnier, and more successful than you."

"True. But I'm Jamie's favorite godparent."

Jamie's eyes widened again and was trying to think of something to say when Brooke winked at him. "Only cause you've been hogging him for all these years. Now that I'm back, I'm sorry to say that your days as the favorite are numbered."

While all this was going on, Peyton kept eating. She had never been so hungry in her life. It was like a black hole had manifested itself in her stomach and all the food she was consuming was being sucked into the nothingness of it. When her plate was clean, she started piling more food on her plate.

Nathan chuckled at that. "Apparently Sawyer heard that there was a massive food shortage and is stockpiling it."

Peyton blushed and stopped scooping food onto her plate. "I'm sorry."

Haley shook her head. "Don't you dare be sorry. Eat all you want. I told you I was making it my job to see you put on some weight."

"You really do look too skinny," Lucas said in a quiet voice. He knew that she would probably bite his head off for the comment, but he didn't care. It looked like she had lost some weight in the six weeks since he'd seen her.

Brooke, perhaps fearing Peyton's response as well, quickly said, "Do you know that I have a weekly fight with my editors over the weight of the models?"

Both Peyton and Lucas tuned out of the conversation. Blue eyes met green and they look at each other for a moment. He was worried that she was angry at his comment about her weight, but she gave him a smile. Then they both went back to eating.

Even so, Lucas kept sneaking glances across the table at Peyton. She looked tired, and that worried him. But she also looked content. It was a quiet joy, one that radiated off her. Lucas yearned to feel that way himself. And the only way to feel that way, he thought, was to be with Peyton again. He looked up to see her sucking the gravy off her fork and felt his arousal hit him like a train. Lucas felt the heat rising in his cheeks and tried to will his trousers to stop shrinking.

"Why are you all red, Uncle Luke?" Jamie, bored with Brooke's talk of her business, had seen his uncle flush with color.

Suddenly all eyes were on him and the red deepened. "Uh, um, I…" Lucas stuttered, not knowing what to say.

"He was just embarrassed that Brooke's smarter than him now," Peyton said, saving him from further humiliation. Lucas gave her a grateful smile and she shrugged at him.

"Oh." Jamie nodded.

"Don't listen to them, Jamie," Brooke told her godson. "I've always been the smartest one in the group."

"Really?" His eyes went as big as saucers. "How come birds can fly?"

Brooke turned to Nathan and Haley for help. The young parents, however, just shrugged. She had gotten herself into this mess, she was going to get herself out.

The young designer lowered her face until it was inches from her godson's. "I'll make you a deal. You let this question go, and I'll get you an ice cream the next time you and I are alone together."

Jamie lowered his voice to meet Brooke's whispered one. "It's a deal."

Haley looked across the table at the two of them whispering conspiratorially. "Brooke, what on Earth are you telling my son?"

Brooke shrugged. "Ah, the secrets of the universe are only bestowed upon those worthy enough. And sorry, Tutor Mom, you don't make the cut."

Jamie smiled. "But don't worry, Momma, I still love you!"

Nathan took Haley's hand and kissed it. "I still love you, too."

"I love you, too, Haley!" Peyton piped up from beside her, squeezing her other hand. "And I really love your pot roast."

"Me too," Lucas said. "I meant about the pot roast. I'm only mildly fond of you, Hales."

Haley was beet red by this point. "All right, enough. You guys keep it up and I won't ever cook again,"

"Momma? Are you teasing again?"

"Yes, Jimmy-Jam, I'm teasing again."

"Good, 'cause I need food. I'm a growing boy. Aunt Brooke says I'm gonna be taller than Daddy. And that's a lot of food!"

Everyone laughed. Peyton was surprised at how easily she and Brooke had fallen back into the easy rhythm of being with their friends. It was almost as if they had never left. But one look at Lucas was enough to remind her that they had, indeed, left.

The conversation outlasted the food and only the oven timer got Haley to stand up. She had put the apple pie in the oven to warm up.

Haley came in, pie in hand. Lucas raised an eyebrow, that pie looked homemade. "You made pie? Don't you usually just buy it at the store."

Haley bit her lip to keep from smiling. "I didn't make it. Peyton and Brooke brought it over."

Lucas paled. "Oh! That's great. Um, Hales? Give me a small piece, okay? I'm not really in the mood for apple pie."

"Ass." Brooke tried to keep a straight face long enough to give him a dirty look. "Are you worried that it might not be good because one of us made it?"

"No, of course not." Lucas felt like a deer in headlights. "I mean, Peyton's cookies were the best I ever had."

Peyton blushed heavily, having been reminded of why they were his favorite. "We didn't make it. The lady who used to own the house that Brooke bought did."

"Oh. I guess I'm in the mood for apple pie, after all." Lucas tried to duck as Brooke threw her napkin at him.

"Hey! No fighting at the table!" Haley roared, very much in "Mom" mode.

"Yeah, you're not setting a good exsample!" Jamie crossed his arms over his chest, trying to look as much as his mom as possible.

Haley giggled. "It's 'example,' honey, not 'exsample.'" She gave her son a big smile.

"Yeah! What Momma said!"

Everyone laughed and Brooke and Lucas apologized for not being good role models. The pie ended up being pretty good and soon nothing was left on the pie plate but crumbs.

Brooke groaned. "Ugh. I think I ate too much."

"Me too," Haley said, patting her full stomach.

Everyone turned to look at Peyton, expecting her to chime in with how she ate too much. She didn't. Instead she stood up and started clearing the table.

"Hey, sit down, Sawyer!" Nathan commanded, sitting up in his chair.

"After all, you guys did for me tonight, it's the least I can do." Peyton continued carrying plates into the kitchen.

"It was our pleasure," Haley said loud enough so Peyton could hear her in the other room. "Besides, you're our guest. AND I don't want you to overdo it, okay?"

Lucas stood up as Peyton came back to grab more stuff. "Listen, you passed out a couple of days ago. Just take it easy for a while, please?" Lucas looked deep into her eyes. "You really had us worried and we just want what's best for you."

Peyton nodded and sat down. "Okay, you win. I'm sitting here, being a lump."

Haley smiled. "Good. We'll let Brooke and Lucas clear the table."

Brooke gasped. "Hey! I'm a guest, too."

Lucas laughed and helped Brooke out of her chair. "Come on, pretty girl. You don't want to make Haley mad. She might put you on time out."

When the blond boy was out of earshot, Haley leaned in close to Peyton. "How's the stomach?"

Haley's concern for her was enough to make Peyton smile. "It's okay. I don't think I'm going to have any problems tonight. Well, as long as you don't make coffee or anything."

"No coffee. I promise." Haley stayed quiet as Lucas grabbed some more plates. When he was gone, "I'm sorry about Lucas being here."

"Don't worry about it. It was fine." Peyton shook her head. "Scratch that, it was nice. It felt like old times. This really was the best way."

"He couldn't keep his eyes off you the whole night."

"Maybe it was because I was eating my weight in food." Peyton felt embarrassed. "I can't believe I ate so much. I just couldn't help it."

"What can I say, your baby has good taste in food."

The two girls laughed.

-------

After the table had been cleared, Jamie had been tucked in. The five of them sat around the living room and just talked. It was very reminiscent of old times. Well, mostly. There was an unspoken agreement to steer clear of topics concerning Peyton and Lucas as a couple. After a while, Brooke yawned.

Peyton looked at her best friend. "You tired, B. Davis?"

"Yes," Brooke replied. "Don't forget how early we got up to go house hunting. And it doesn't help that you won't let me have my coffee."

Peyton stood up. "Well, I guess that's it, then. I have to go take Brooke home before she starts getting cranky."

"Shut up, Mood Swings Barbie."

"Too late," Peyton said.

Brooke and Peyton embraced their hosts and then turned to Lucas. Brooke stepped in and gave Lucas a quick hug.

"Don't be a stranger, 'kay?" Her raspy voice was deeper than usual. She must have really been tired.

Peyton took a deep breath and to everyone's surprise, she wrapped her arms around Lucas. He hugged her tight to him, enjoying the feel of her so close to him again. They both had to admit to themselves how right it felt to be in the other's arms. Lucas forced himself to part from her when he felt her pull away.

"I'll be seeing you, Luke."

"I'll be seeing you, Peyt."

After a beat, the blond girl took her best friend by the arm and they left.

Lucas looked at his brother and his sister-in-law. "You saw that, right? I didn't imagine it."

Nathan sighed. "Saw what? A hug?"

"That's not what it was and you know it." Lucas was excited.

"No, Luke." Haley's tone was serious. "That's all it was. A hug between friends."

Lucas groaned. They were blind if they hadn't seen it. Their hug was a sign that she was ready for him to woo her back.

"Listen," Nathan started, firmly. "Peyton's had a rough couple of days and you need to back off. Please, Luke, for her sake, just give her some time."

"Fine," he relented. He would give her some time. After all, he needed to get his head straight on what he was going to do to win her back. "You know what? I think I'm going to take off, too."

Nathan and Haley exchanged a glance. They hoped that Lucas wasn't going to do anything. He had always been a stubborn one.

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It was amazing. Peyton's hug with Lucas had reenergized Brooke. She had spent the entire car ride back to their new home buzzing about it. Peyton was again grateful for her best friend's ability to carry a conversation without any input from her. The blonde's mind was a mess and she knew that she wouldn't have any of the answers to the questions Brooke would fire off at her.

When they reached their new home, Brooke climbed out of the car. She noticed her best friend still sitting in the driver's seat.

"P. Sawyer, you okay?"

"I don't know," Peyton answered. She gave her friend a shrug. Still, she didn't make any move to get out of the car.

"Are you coming in?"

Peyton shook her head. She couldn't fail to notice Brooke's worried expression. "I'm fine. I'm just going to go for a drive, okay?"

"Do you want me to come with you?"

"No. Thank you, though. For everything. You're the greatest best friend ever, Brooke Davis."

"I know." But Brooke was still worried. "Just be careful, okay? And don't be running any red lights or anything."

Peyton smiled reassuringly. "I'll be careful, I promise. Now go to sleep and I'll see you in the morning."

Brooke watched her friend drive off. If Peyton thought for one second that Brooke was going to get a wink of sleep until she got her scrawny butt home, she was crazy.

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Lucas walked into his house. It seemed a little emptier now with Lindsey gone. But it also felt more like his home again. When he was growing up, his room had been his sole sanctuary. His mom's café, Keith's garage, and the Rivercourt were more public. But in his room, he was alone. He didn't have to put on an act or be mindful of what he said. He could be himself.

Later, when he was with Peyton, she became his sanctuary. He didn't have to hide himself when she was around. She never judged him or thought any less of him. She just accepted everything and she still loved him.

But they had broken up and she stopped being that for him. He still had that room in Tree Hill. He would always be grateful to his mother for giving him the house when she went on her global journey with his sister. He needed his room more than ever then.

And then he started dating Lindsey and she sort of moved in with him part-time. Suddenly, he found himself without a place of his own. He had been tough on him. He hadn't realized how tough until now, when he had his room to himself.

He flopped back on his bed. He smiled to himself as he let his mind wander back to the hug he shared with Peyton. She had definitely been skinnier since he had seen her last. But, if she kept eating like she did at Haley's, she wasn't going to stay so skinny for long.

How was it that Peyton managed to get more beautiful by the second. Her smile, which he had seen plenty of that night, warmed his heart in a way he knew nothing else could. Every time their eyes met, surely she had felt the electricity between them, just like he had.

And she was back home. His beautiful, perfect Peyton was back where she belonged. Well, almost. But his arms would have to wait. He knew she had to settle in. And as far as he knew, she hadn't just transferred from LA. She probably needed a job. He wondered if he could hire her as a new bartender for Tric. He rolled his eyes at his own lameness. That would be beneath her. She needed something better. She deserved it.

A deep sigh escaped his lips and he wondered if Peyton was lying in bed thinking about him. A knock on his door forced him to get up.

He opened his door to find Peyton standing there.

"Peyton!" He hated how high his voice was when he said her name.

"Hi," she said, wondering why she was there. "I'm sorry if I'm interrupting anything."

"No! I mean, you're not. Would you like to come in?"

Peyton nodded and he stepped aside, letting her into his bedroom. They both sat on his bed, quietly. Lucas didn't know what to say. He was afraid that if he said the wrong thing, she would leave and he didn't want that. So, he kept his mouth shut.

"You're probably wondering what I'm doing here."

Lucas laughed and it wasn't until Peyton realized that she had said the exact same thing to him only hours earlier, that she joined in.

"No, I wasn't. I was merely enjoying having you here, Peyt."

Peyton knew immediately that he was being honest. "I told you that I didn't want to deal with… you know, us… until I was ready."

Lucas nodded, waiting hopefully for her to continue.

"And I'm not ready yet. And I won't be until we talk about something else."

"About what?"

Peyton sighed. Here goes nothing. "I'm pregnant."

Lucas blinked. That was a major bombshell, all right. But it did explain a lot. No wonder she wasn't ready to discuss the possibility of there being a "them" again. She had another life to worry about. "I understand. And I'm not going to pressure you or anything. But this doesn't change the way I feel about you, Peyt. I still love you."

Peyton looked at him, confused at his reaction. Then it hit her. He didn't realize that he was the father. God, Lucas could be so obtuse sometimes.

"Luke, you don't understand-"

He cut her off. "I get it. Really. But I want to be here for you. For you and your baby."

"OUR baby, Luke. Yours and mine." Peyton watched Lucas as his face grew slack. "You're the father."

"Oh."

What other response did she expect. She stood up. "Well, you needed to know and now you do. So, I'm gonna go now."

She walked towards the door. She put her hand on the doorknob and turned to look at him.

He hadn't moved an inch. She felt her annoyance melt away. Peyton knew she had no right to be irritated with him. She had just dropped a major bombshell on him. He needed time to process just like she had. He had stepped up when he thought somebody else was the father of her baby. She knew she didn't need to worry.

"Good night, Lucas." Peyton opened the door and stepped outside. She looked at him one final time. "I love you, too."

The door closed and she was gone. And he was all alone in his sanctuary.