While Nathan went to grab a quick shower which he couldn't get earlier because Brooke and Haley didn't want anyone interrupting the brooding blondes, Brooke took the chance to see how Peyton felt about the new living arrangement.

"So Blondie, tell me, is he good in bed?" Brooke implied suggestively, nudging her friend in the ribs.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that question?" Peyton asked with a quirked eyebrow. "And since when have you been all for 'Leyton' as you so gracefully put it?"

"Well it's like rooting for Romeo and Juliet, or Piper and Leo, or Nathan and Haley. When it's meant to be, why try batting for any other team?" Brooke explained.

"I don't think meant to be couples break up because of long distance, Brooke. Just face it, that ship sailed a long time ago."

"Ok." Brooke agreed sarcastically. "Well tell me, what's it like living with him though? Any old feelings resurfacing?"

"I think they resurfaced after about a day of living with her." Lucas whined as he pushed the shopping trolley through the grocery store, Haley walking next to him.

"So what are you going to do about it?" Haley asked as she perused the different types of cheese on display.

"I don't know. What do you think I should do about it?" Lucas asked eagerly.

"I don't know sweetie, only you can answer that question for yourself." Brooke reminded her friend. Peyton leaned her head on Brooke's shoulder.

"Why does it have to be so hard?" she pouted. "You would think that we got whatever we had out of our system by now. I mean it has been 3 years."

"I don't think it matters how recent it was or how long it's been, the connection you two had will always be there." Brooke reasoned.

"I think I'm getting a headache." Peyton complained.

"You can't just ignore it Lucas, you two are eventually going to have to work this out." Haley pointed out as they were making their way back to the apartment.

"Well eventually doesn't have to be right this very second right?" Lucas asked rhetorically.

"But since your very best friend in the whole wide world is here right this very second, don't you think you should figure it out now?"

Lucas sighed as they started making their way up the stairs towards the apartment door.

"Well I know how I feel, I guess it's just a waiting game to see how she feels."

"So how do you feel then?" Brooke prodded.

"I know that I like having him here, I don't think I could see us going separate ways again because these days all I think about is coming home to him every day and having him make me smile.' At Brooke's wide grin, Peyton continued. "But that doesn't spell romance, Brooke. I could just as easily say that I want to be able to come home to you every day. And besides, it's not like just because I'm feeling this way, he does too."

"One - I think there's a bit of a difference and two – I think that's the least of your worries." Brooke rolled her eyes. "This conversation isn't over." Brooke pointed her finger sternly at Peyton before moving to the door as a knock and Lucas' voice yelling "Let us in!" resounded through the apartment.

The apartment finally resembled some sense of normalcy after the weekend Peyton and Lucas had shared with their friends. After Nathan and Haley had ventured to return home, and Brooke had quickly left after the invitation to clean was offered, Peyton and Lucas were finishing with the last bit of cleaning, washing the dishes.

"You know you should really get a dishwasher, Peyt." Lucas suggested as he dipped his hands into the murky water for what felt like the hundredth time.

"You know you live here too right? Why don't you go out and get one?" Peyton questioned while accepting another plate to dry.

"Because you're the woman and you're place is in the kitchen, hence making it your responsibility." Lucas returns, a full blown smirk on his face. Waiting for it, he counts to 3 in his head before his is whipped by the towel Peyton is holding.

"You just think you're hilarious don't you." Peyton rolls her eyes at his antics. Peyton watches as Lucas' smirk turns in to a genuine smile as he returns to the washing up.

"What are you thinking about?" Peyton asks curiously.

"This. You and me." He motions to the two of them standing in the kitchen.

"What about you and me?" Peyton asks, suddenly nervous this was the moment Brooke had been hinting at earlier.

"Well, what we're doing right now, this situation, I just always pictured my future to look like this. I always knew there'd be a moment in our lives where we were living together and doing stupid things like the dishes and just enjoying being together." Lucas turned to face her as he explained himself. Peyton couldn't help the smile growing on her face.

"Yeah. Me too."

The next morning, Lucas thought he would sleep in since his class didn't start until later in the afternoon. However, a spanner was thrown in his master plan when he awoke and realised that he really needed to go to the bathroom. Jumping out of bed, he races to the bathroom to find the door closed and who he can only assume is Peyton singing in the shower.

"Peyton I have to use the bathroom. Come on!" he yells through the closed door.

"What do you want me to do about it? I'm in the shower and there is no way you're coming in here." She yells back

"But I'm desperate. You're going to end up with pee all over the hallway carpet." He continues banging on the door.

"Lucas, there's no way you're coming in here. I'm in the shower" she protests. Lucas tries to wait it out, standing outside the bathroom door jumping from one foot to the other. When he finally hears the shower turn off, he assumes she remembers him waiting to use the bathroom and waits for her to let him in now that's she's finished. However, this never happens and he is left waiting, continuing to jump from one foot to the other. Finally, he decides he can't wait anymore and tries the door hoping it's unlocked. The door opens under his hand and he races into the bathroom.

"Ah! What are you doing?" Peyton yells as she watches him race into the bathroom, ignoring her standing there in just a towel as she is about to step out of the shower.

"Peyt, it was a matter of life and death." He sighs as he can finally relieve himself.

"I think that's a bit of an exaggeration" she quips as he fixes himself up and goes to leave the bathroom.

"It's not like it's anything I haven't seen before. Or anything I don't enjoy seeing." he winks at her as he exits.

"Ass" Peyton yells as she slams the door behind him.

Author's Note: Ok, I have a question. How many more fun, flirty moments can these two have before I'm expected to start in on all of the deep and meaningful to get them together? Though I am thinking a kiss is due...