Peyton felt her stomach churn as she stood with Lucas, Andy and Michael. This could not be happening. Could the world really be that small? She sneaked a quick glance at Michael and could plainly see that he was just as uncomfortable as her. He was rubbing the back of his neck nervously and she would bet, if the lighting was better, she would see him blushing. Andy and Lucas continued talking, oblivious to the tension.

"Peyton, Michael here is a promoter. I was telling him about my books and the, ummmm, trouble with my publishers. He has contacts in the publishing world and he thinks he could get someone to buy out my contract so I could have a different editor. You know what that means, no more dealing with Lindsay. And as a promoter he might even come on tour with me. That would be awesome, another guy on the road."

Peyton could hear the obvious excitement in his voice and her heart sank. She knew it would be better for Lucas creatively to have a new editor. He would never be fully free to express himself for fear of hurting Lindsay, this could be the answer. But she knew he wouldn't take the offer once he found out about their night together. She was determined to tell him just as soon as they got home, but it didn't mean she had to like it.

Michael was staring into his beer, a frown creasing his forehead. She had spent a wild night with this man and never expected to see him again, how could the world be so cruel? Her one and only one night stand coming back to haunt her in such a surprising way. She really didn't know how to handle any of it.

"Peyton, what do you think?" Lucas asked with a little concern. He could tell she was miles away. She snapped her attention back to Lucas and tried to act normally.

"That's great honey, whatever you want."

"He might even be able to help you with the record label, what do you think Michael?"

Peyton choked on her drink a little and tried to recover her composure. Michael was grabbing blindly for something to say.

"Actually....well...I'm not really....I don't think....I don't really know much about the music business. I could probably give you the name of a colleague of mines but I wouldn't be able to do it." The way he was rambling was a little at odds with Peyton's first impression of him. The confident, sexy man who had reduced her to a horny teenager had been replaced by this shy, eager to please guy-next-door.

He gave her an apologetic look as the group waited for her answer.

"Thanks,um....that would be great."

"Baby, are you alright?" Lucas asked with concern, reaching out to stroke her hair back from her face.

"I'm fine, fine, I just.....need another drink. Excuse me." She walked quickly away from the men with almost a full drink still in her hand. Lucas chuckled a little.

"She must be a little drunk," he explained to Michael. "We were out celebrating ourselves when we got the news. We moved in together today, a house just a few blocks away."

"Oh wow, congratulations. So, have you been together long?" Michael asked curiously. Peyton had said she was single when they slept together but moved in with this guy a few weeks later? It didn't make sense.

"Kinda, since high school. We had almost a four year break though when I was a huge ass. I was engaged to my editor, hence the reason I want to find a new publisher. Peyton and I have only been together again for a month but it just feels like we've waited long enough."

Michael was relieved. It was bad enough out he had slept with Andy's step-son to be's girlfriend, but finding out she had cheated would have been infinitely worse.

Peyton stepped back into the kitchen and grabbed Brooke discretely by the wrist, steering her out of the kitchen and into Lucas's old bedroom. She closed the door behind them and turned to look at Brooke, fear all over her face.

"Wow, P Sawyer, you look like you've seen a ghost. What's happened sweetie?"

"He's here Brooke, He's here and I don't know what to do."

"Who's here sweetie?" she asked urgently, her mind throwing up pictures of Psycho Derek. Who else could have gotten Peyton so terrified.

"Michael, Michael's here! He's Andy's frigging nephew, how can this be happening? God Brooke, what am I going to do?"

"First of all, you are going to calm down. This isn't that big of a deal. Just be honest with Lucas, he'll understand."

"Brooke, Lucas wants to work with Michael, and he's going to be in the wedding party. It's all too close for comfort, how are we going to deal with this once Lucas knows? It will be so awkward."

"Maybe at first," Brooke chuckled. "But he'll get over it. After all, you've slept with his brother and he's slept with your best friend. He'd be kind of a hypocrite to start getting all weird about the past now. Look, he already knows you slept with someone else before you got back together, besides, he was engaged to his editor. I promise you honey, everything will be alright. Wait until you get Lucas home tonight and tell him the truth."

"You really think it will be alright Brook?"

"I do."

"Thanks, I needed to hear that." Peyton leaned forward to hug her friend, glad for the moral support once again.

"OK, lets get back to the party and show them how it's done."

The party went on for a few more hours, everyone having a great time. Everyone except Peyton and Michael. They had a silent agreement going on to stay out of each others way for the rest of the night.

When Lucas and Peyton finally said goodnight just after 2am they decided a slow walk home would sober them up a little. Peyton knew she would need to broach the subject when they got home and started to think of ways to begin.

"By the way honey....I banged your new step-dad's best man" just didn't roll off the tongue very well.

They walked in silence for a couple of blocks before Lucas spoke.

"I think this could be really great Peyton, a new publisher could be just what I need. Now that we're together again I have my inspiration back," he leaned over and planted a kiss on her neck. "But I'd never feel comfortable submitting a chapter to Lindsay that's all about how much I love you. I need the freedom to write what I want."

"Sounds great honey."

"I think it would be really good for us too. I know you were worried about me spending time with her on the book tour. You don't have any reason to be but I understand."

He put his arm around her shoulder and she rested hers around his waist.

They were now reaching the door of their house when he pulled her around to face him.

"Have I told you today how much I love you?"

"Yes," she smiled. "But you didn't have to, I already know." She leaned into his embrace and planted a small kiss on his lips. He immediately deepened the kiss and pulled her tight against him. She pulled back a little, slightly breathless.

"Lucas, I need to talk to you about something."

"Can it wait baby? It's late and I'd really like to make love to my beautiful girlfriend before I fall asleep." He punctuated his statement with a hot, open-mouthed kiss to the side of her neck.

"I guess it can wait until the morning," she sighed blissfully.