When Peyton arrived at work she still had not stopped smiling. Her jaw was beginning to ache and people kept looking at her strangely. She couldn't help it and didn't really care anyway, she was happy. Usually when she was happy the old Peyton would creep back in and dark thoughts would descend. Something usually happened to ruin her happiness but she would not let that stop her enjoying this. The new Peyton would savour every moment and hold onto this feeling with all of her strength.

She began to sort through the stack of mail on her desk while humming a little tune under her breath.

Brooke watched the scene for the office doorway, a huge grin splitting her face. It wasn't often Peyton had a good reason for smiling, her life had seen so much pain. What had always amazed Brooke was her ability to get up off the mat every single time. Sometimes because she refused to give up and sometimes because Brooke or Lucas wouldn't let her give up. Her capacity to love after all she had lost was astounding. She cleared her throat a little to make her presence known.

"Hey P Sawyer, good night" she asked while arching her eyebrow?

Peyton grinned at her friend, unashamed at being caught acting like such a girl.

"The best ever, how about you?"

"We're not here to talk about me, I'm sensing you and broody worked out your crap."

"Wow, how'd you guess?" Peyton asked with more than a hint of sarcasm.

"I don't know, the humming, the smiling, the fact that you didn't come home." Brooke walked all the way into the office and took a seat in front of the desk.

"Yeah, sorry about that, I should have called to let you know," Peyton said with a little guilt.

"Don't worry about it, you wouldn't have got through. I was too busy calling Haley to let her know about you two."

Peyton's face fell for a minute and she tried to cover it quickly, not quickly enough for Brooke though.

"Peyton, I know you and Haley had your issues but she is really happy about this. I think she'll be as glad as I am to have her best friend back. And Nathan's over the moon, I think he had some bet with Skills about how long it would take you two."

"Oh, I should give Haley a call anyway. Karen and Lilly are back in town and I was thinking about having a welcome home dinner for them. You should bring Owen."

Brooke tried to hide her grimace with a cough but Peyton saw it and smirked.

"At a restaurant Brooke, I wouldn't be cooking."

"That would be great, I can't believe Karen and Lilly are home! This is so exciting. How much more perfect could things be?"

"I know, it's so weird. Usually when something good happens to one of us everyone else is falling apart. This may be the first time we've been collectively happy."

"I Know. Well, let me know of the date for dinner and let me know if you're not coming home tonight, I've got to get back to work."

Brooke stood and leaned over the desk to kiss her friend's cheek.

"See you later B Davis."

Peyton met Lucas for lunch and he took her to a little Italian place close to the office. They discussed plans for the welcome home dinner and held hands throughout. It made eating and drinking difficult but neither let go. Once plans for the dinner were in place Lucas broached the subject of Karen's return.

"So, now that Mom is home that kind of makes things awkward for us. I mean, I'm a grown man and everything but the thought of having sex with my mother in the next room kind of freaks me out. And you live with Brooke so it's not going to be easy."

Peyton leaned across the table and silenced him with a kiss. It was meant to be chaste but he kept it going by sliding his free hand into her hair and slipping his tongue into her mouth. When they pulled apart, breathless, the both let out a shy laugh.

"You think to much Lucas, this is not any different to how things were in high school and we always found a way," she said with a grin. He grinned right back at her, getting lost in some very pleasant memories.

"As I remember, we had your place to ourselves most of the time back then. Except that time your dad came home early," he cringed at the memory.

"I know, but we're not kids anymore. We can wait until we're alone without embarrassing ourselves."

"Really?" Lucas asked while running his hand up her bare thigh and staring her straight in the eye. His hand was caressing her sensitive, smooth flesh and she felt her breath catch in her throat. She had the overwhelming urge to sit in his lap and get lost in him like she had last night. He leaned further into her and whispered seductively in her ear.

"If we're out on a date, dancing closely together, kissing and running our hands over each other's bodies, are you going to be able to stop if we make it back to your place and find Brooke has stayed in after all?"

Peyton had been paying too much attention to his breath in her ear, his lips so close to her and his hand almost at the top of her thigh.

"Huh?"

"That's what I thought," he chuckled removing his hand.

Peyton took a few seconds to process what he had just been demonstrating and got her breathing back under control.

"Well, it really can't be helped Lucas."

"Yes it can, we could find a place of our own. Think about it Peyt, this could be the fresh start we need."

Peyton looked at him doubtfully.

"Peyton, I know we still have a lot of things to talk about, to work through but why can't we live together and do that too? We both know where this relationship is heading, why not help it along? We've wasted enough time."

"Lucas, this is a pretty huge step, I mean what would everybody say? They would think..."

"I don't care what they say or what they think," Lucas said emphatically. "It's no-body's business but ours. We can make this work for us Peyton, I can feel it. Can't you?"

"Yes," she said with a smile. "Let's do it Lucas. Let's live together."

He leaned over and gave her a sweet, lingering kiss, grinning like an idiot the entire time.

"You won't regret this, I promise. I'm going to make you so happy."

"You already are," she whispered, tearing up slightly.

Lucas walked her back to work, holding her hand and strolling slowly, savouring the feeling of being with her. "Oh, I forgot to ask, can you draw an alligator?"

"What?" she asked with a little laugh.

"An alligator. Lilly is obsessed and I told her you could draw. She may be small but she's not easily taken in, she wants proof," he grinned. He was relishing having his family close again.

"Sure, I mean I could give it a go. Why don't you come up to the office and I'll doodle one quickly. I'll draw her a better one later but a rough draft should keep her happy for now," she laughed.

As they walked through the office door Peyton was suddenly reminded of her missed appointment. Chris, Charlie and the rest of the band were sitting on the couch waiting her arrival. She immediately felt embarrassed at her lack of professionalism.

"Guys, I am so sorry. I completely forgot about our meeting."

She turned to Lucas who was wearing a strange look on his face and staring at the band, Chris in particular.

"Luke, do you mind if we do this later? I totally spaced on the band and I need to get to work."

Lucas tore his thunderous gaze away from Chris long enough to give her a little smile and a kiss on the cheek.

"Sure honey, will I see you tonight?"

"Yeah, I'll come over after work."

With that, he shot one final murderous look at the base player and left the office.

'That was weird,' thought Peyton.

When Peyton dialed Haley's number that night it was with a little trepidation. Brooke had told her Haley was happy about her and Lucas but she still felt slightly apprehensive. After a couple of rings the phone was answered by an incredibly cheerful Nathan.

"Hello."

"Hi sunshine, what's got you so happy?"

"Why that would be you Sawyer."

"Me?"

"Yup, you and my brother to be more precise. I had a little bet going with Skills on how long it would take you two and I won. Five hundred dollars."

"You bet five hundred dollars Nathan? What the hell possessed you?"

"My confidence in you pair. Like I told you, I knew he'd work it out sooner or later. Luckily I bet sooner."

"well enjoy the money buddy, is your wife there?"

"She's in the shower right now, I'm taking my family out to eat, on uncle skills! You and your boyfriend should join us."

"Sorry, Karen and Lilly are back in town so we'll probably be eating there. That's actually what I wanted to speak to Haley about, I'm organising a Welcome Home thing. Can you get her to call me tomorrow?"

"No problem, I'll give her the message."

"Nathan, is Haley OK with me and Luke being back together? I mean she doesn't think we're rushing it or anything?"

"Wow, slow down Sawyer. First off Haley thinks it's great, she's been smiling since Brooke called last night. Secondly, would it matter if she thought you were rushing? This is up to you and Lucas, whatever makes you both happy. Also, we got married in high school, she wouldn't be the best person to make that judgement."

Peyton let out a relieved sigh.

"Thanks Nate, I'll catch you later."

"Any time Sawyer."

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