Author's Note: So I got a whole bunch of different reviews about the last chapter, along with a whole variation of different reactions, all of which I appreciate and all of which I hope to address. A great portion of the reviews were regarding a possible Peyton/Julian/Brooke love triangle. Let me just get this out and say right now that Brooke and Peyton will not fight over a guy in this story. I think that happened enough in the show and frankly, I think their friendship has been through enough. That's not to say that there will be nothing between Brooke and Julian, or Peyton and Julian. If you remember, when Julian came into the show in season 6 he was originally after Peyton. In some ways the relationship between Brooke, Julian and Peyton may resemble that of season 6 (a great portion of this plo-tline is still in the making, and I'm still open to opinions) but Brooke and Peyton will in no way fight over him and there will be no strain on their friendship because of Julian in this story. Let me just make that clear.

Also, I know I'm a little new to the writing a Leyton fic, to be honest this is my first. Anyone who's read any of my earlier work will know that my other two stories have been for Nathan and Haley. So please let me know how I'm doing and if I'm anywhere close to portraying the characters accurately, because that is my main goal, and I've found it to be quite a struggle to try and make sure I'm keeping the characters and plot-line as true to themselves/itself as they can be given the drastic change of having Lucas married to Lindsey. Anyways, sorry for the ramble. I'm not to happy with the beginning of the chapter, but I feel it starts to get better as you get farther in, so please let me know what you think and I hope you enjoy!

Lucas sighed as he stepped off the plane and wrapped his arm around the woman beside him. "It's good to be back."

Lindsey smiled. She hadn't seen him look this content the whole time they were away. Much to her relief, she hadn't seen him obsessing over his manuscript again after that day but the scratched out words she had seen had continued to haunt her. She wanted to talk to him about it but she had no idea how to broach the subject. Especially now as she turned her head to the man smiling beside her, a real smile for the first time in longer than she could remember, she couldn't bring herself to ask him about it. "What are you thinking?" She asked him instead.

He looked down at her before looking around him, his grin firmly planted. "Just that…it's good to be home."

She nodded before squeezing his arm. "Who's picking us up?"

"Haley," Lucas said, and then chuckled as he lifted his head to see Haley charging straight towards him.

"I've missed you!" She exclaimed as threw her arms around him.

"Woah!" Lucas was thrown off balance as he returned her hug. "I've missed you too Hales," he chuckled.

Nathan stood further back with an affectionate and amused smile on his face as he watched his wife with her best friend. "She's been moping around all week," he spoke up as he stepped forward.

Haley turned and shot him a dirty look before reaching over to hug Lindsey as Nathan as Lucas shared a 'man-hug'.

Haley snorted. "Men."

Lucas chuckled. He had missed this.

"So…" Haley started with a sparkle in her eye. "How was the honeymoon?"

Nathan wrapped his arm around her as they made their way to the car. "Hales, let them be. They just got back. Besides…" He got a disgusted look on his face. "He's my brother, I don't want to hear about those kinds of things."

"Hey!" Lucas protested. "You make my listen to your sex stories all the time!"

"Nathan!" Haley gasped as she swatted him. "You tell him about…" Her face suddenly flushed bright red and Nathan couldn't help but laugh. "We have a kid," he points out. "They know we have sex."

"That doesn't mean I want to hear about it…" Lucas muttered as they climbed into the car, making Lindsey laugh softly at her husband's antics.

"Whatever, you're just jealous 'cause I'm the hotter Scott." Nathan retorted with a smirk that made Lucas reach forward in his seat and swat the younger Scott.

Nathan turned to retaliate when Haley's voice rang through the car. "Both of you, cut it out this instant or you'll both be walking home!"

Nathan turned back to face the front and both men sat sit, looking appropriately scolded.

"My god!" Haley muttered to herself as she turned her attention back to the road. "It's like dealing with children!"

"Lindsey! Are you ready?" Lucas called from the foyer where he waited, present in hand.

"Almost!" Lindsey called back as she hurried from the bedroom with a pair of shoes in her hands. "Sorry, I couldn't find my other shoe."

Lucas smiled. "No problem. Let's go. Jamie won't be happy with us if we're late."

The two made their way towards the car and Lucas speeds towards his brother's house. After all, he wouldn't want to be late to his nephew's fifth birthday party.

Lucas headed towards the living room and what he saw upon entering made his heart stop. There in the living room was Peyton, Julian and Jamie sitting on the floor laughing. All he could think in that moment was that they looked so much like a family that it made his heart ache and something that felt very close to jealously boil up in his stomach.

"You okay?" Lindsey asked as she came up behind him.

Lucas' jaw tensed for a second before he let out a sigh. "I'm fine."

Lindsey nodded before following his gaze over to Julian, Peyton and Jamie. She turned back and gave her husband a worried glance but he wouldn't meet her gaze. "I'm…" Lindsey looked at him but he still hadn't turned his head. "I'm going to go see if Haley needs some help." She said and she watched as Lucas nodded in confirmation before heading into to kitchen with a resigned sigh.

Lucas knew he needed to talk to Lindsey, something had been off with her for a while, but right now he simply could not tear his eyes away from the sight in front of him.

"Uncle Lucas!"

Lucas' eyes refocused as the five-year-old ran towards him and wrapped his arms around him. Lucas closed his eyes and revelled in the secure feeling that his nephew always gave him as he bent down to return the young boy's hug. "I've missed you buddy," he said softly.

"I missed you too Uncle Lucas," Jamie mumbled against his shoulder before pulling away and giving his uncle a bright smile. "You want me meet my new friend?"

Lucas nodded. "Of course I do!"

He stood as Jamie took his hand but his heart sank as the little boy led him towards where Julian and Peyton were now standing, talking amongst themselves in hushed voices. "Uncle Julian," Jamie said as he tugged on Julian's pant leg. "I want you to meet my Uncle Lucas." He gave a proud smile as he introduced to the two adults to each other.

"Hi," Julian stuck out his hand with a smile.

Lucas just looked at him skeptically.

"Uncle Lucas," Jamie urged. "You have to shake his hand."

Lucas begrudgingly stuck out his hand and shook Julian's.

"Ouch." Julian winced as he felt the unnecessary pressure Lucas had added but his smile quickly returned. "Oh Lucas Scott, I've heard so much about you."

Lucas wasn't sure but it seemed to him like Julian's tone was a little patronizing.

"Julian," Peyton muttered as she elbowed him in the side. "Play nice."

So he was right then. This Julian guy didn't like him any more than he liked Julian.

"It's good to see you Luke." Lucas' thoughts were broken as Peyton stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him.

Lucas closed his eyes as he felt the comfort of her embrace. "God, I've missed you Peyt." They stayed that way for a while before he pulled away slightly to look into those green eyes of hers. "You look beautiful," he muttered without thinking and quickly regretted it when he felt her pull away and registered the slightly pained look in her eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't…I didn't mean it like…"

Julian stepped forward and wrapped an arm protectively around her, giving Lucas a warning glare but Peyton nodded with a soft smile. "It's okay," she gave a small laugh. "Old habits die hard sometimes don't they?"

Lucas nodded but inside he was scolding himself. Why was it that whenever it came to Peyton he managed to screw up? Whenever he was around her he always ended up hurting someone; whether it was her, Lindsey, Brooke, or even himself, someone was always hurt in the end. He shook his head, he just…he wasn't sure how to act around her. He had messed things up when they were in a relationship and now he was messing them up when they weren't. How had he and Brooke managed the friends-after-dating thing so well?

At that exact moment the woman in question walked into the room. "Julian, Peyton, have you guys seen…?" She stopped when she saw who else was in the room with them.

"Lucas!" She squealed as she rushed towards him and wrapped her arms around him. "How was the honeymoon?" He hugged her back for a second before pulling away and giving her a small smile. "It was good, but I'm glad to be back."

Brooke gave him an understanding smile. "I know what you mean, Tree Hill is home."

Lucas nodded. The two stepped apart and Brooke noticed Jamie standing there at their feet for the first time. "Hey there buddy!" She bent down to his eye level. "I was just looking for you. You're mom said it's time to cut the cake."

Jamie's eyes widened. "She did?"

Brooke smiled at his enthusiasm and nodded. "Uh huh. And you know what comes after cake, don't you?"

A wide smile spread across Jamie's face. "Presents!" And with that he ran off into the kitchen.

Lucas chuckled. "That boy is so your godson."

Brooke nodded proudly. "That he is." She then turned to Peyton and Julian. "Are you two lovebirds coming or what?" And with that she looked innocently at the three of them and then turned to head into the kitchen, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Let's go," Peyton started moving, but upon seeing Julian caught in a staring contest with Lucas she grabbed his hand and led him into the kitchen. Not noticing the way Lucas' gaze lingered on their intertwined hands before he slowly followed the behind the pair.

The group gathered around the table and sang Happy Birthday to Jamie before Haley started handing out pieces of cake to everyone as Jamie prepared to open his presents. He ripped open the wrapping paper to the first present before turning to Lucas.

"Thanks Uncle Lucas," he smiled.

"What?" Lucas asked surprised. "How did you know it was from me?"

"It's a book." Jamie pointed out with a obvious tone in his voice as all the adults chuckled.

He reached for the next present but Julian stopped him. "Wait, open that one last."

Jamie gave him a puzzled look but moved on to the next present.

Peyton turned to give him a curious look. "What did you get him?"

Julian gave her an innocent shrug. "It's a surprise."

"Woah! Thanks Aunt Peyton!" Jamie exclaimed a he unwrapped a record player with a few vinyls. "This is so cool!"

Lucas chuckled. It was such a Peyton gift. Julian glared at him.

Peyton nudged Julian before giving him a stern look. "Didn't you say you wanted to propose the movie deal to him today? He's not going to agree to it if you spend the whole day shooting daggers at him."

Julian turned and whispered back to her. "Just because I want to turn his book into a movie doesn't mean that I'm going to pretend he's not an ass."

Peyton gave him a pointed look. "I think you're a little biased."

He returned her look. "So are you."

She nodded and her voice softened. "Look, I appreciate you looking out for me but I'm fine, really."

"Really?" Julian raised an eyebrow. "Because if I remember correctly the first two times I met you you were crying, and both times you were crying because of Lucas Scott."

Peyton crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not that girl anymore."

"No she's not." Brooke added as she came up behind them. "Maybe before she would have pined away for Lucas Scott but now," she turned to her friend and gave her a smile, "we're going to find you a new guy, someone so much better than Lucas Scott." She said his name with disgust but Peyton could detect her teasing tone and she smiled, although it was somewhat half-hearted.

Brooke was right, things between her and Lucas were over and she had accepted that, but she still couldn't see herself with anyone else. That didn't mean that she was going to spend all her time pining over him, because she wasn't, but wasn't going to deny that he was the love of her life either.

"Julian," Brooke nudged him as Peyton shook her head to rid herself of her tragic thoughts. "Jamie's opening your present."

The three of them moved closer and Peyton and Brooke looked eagerly to see what Julian could have possibly gotten Jamie that was so amazing it had to be opened last.

"Oh my god!" Jamie yelled as he pulled off the wrapping paper. "It's a Wii!"

Julian chuckled at the young boy's excitement as Brooke and Peyton turned to give him a look of astonishment.

"Thank you Uncle Julian!" Jamie cried as he ran towards Julian and gave him the tightest hug he could muster.

"No problem buddy." Julian laughed. "Maybe we can play it later."

Jamie pulled away and nodded eagerly before running off to show his new toy to his friends.

"You got him a Wii!" Peyton said with a gasp.

Brooke gave him a smile and ran a hand down his arm. "That was really sweet of you."

Julian turned his head and his eyes lingered for a moment on Brooke's hand before she quickly pulled it away.

Peyton looked between the two of them for a moment with a smile before she suddenly remembered something. She swiftly reached her arm out and smacked Brooke on the side.

The brunette turned to her with a glare. "What was that for?"

"Lovebirds?" Peyton echoed Brooke's words from earlier, when she had mentioned cutting the cake to Jamie. "Really? And in front of Lucas?"

Brooke smiled. "Oh, that."

"Yeah," Peyton glared. "That."

"Well I'm sorry but you deserved to make Lucas a little jealous."

"Brooke!" Peyton tone was exasperated. "This is not a game! Things are over between us. You've said it yourself."

"Oh honey," Brooke's voice was sympathetic. "Things will never be over between the two of you and we all know it. The difference is that this time it's too late for him to win you back."

"So then why create trouble?" Peyton asked.

"Look," Brooke paused for a moment as she debated whether or not to disclose this information. "I never told you this because…well because I didn't want you to get your hopes up. We both know that Lucas is way too good at hiding his heart, even from himself. And that the harder he tries to keep himself from getting hurt, the more people he ends up hurting, and I don't want you to get caught up in that but…"

"What is it Brooke?"

Brooke hesitated. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Peyton was doing so well and…

"Brooke," Peyton interrupted her train of thought. "I want to know, I can handle it, what is it?"

Brooke took a deep breath. "The day we came back to Tree Hill Lucas came by the house looking for you and when I told him you weren't there, he asked me something. He asked me whether I thought we had made the right choices, chosen the right path, and it was clear to me that he was talking about you. I asked him if he still loved you, and he didn't deny it. Anytime any of us asked him about you all we would get was 'I have to get back to Lindsey' or some other Lindsey-related excuse. If that's not Lucas hiding his heart than I don't know what is." Brooke took a deep breath as her tone changed. "But he took it too far this time and he is not getting you back." Her voice was fierce. "I love Lucas and he is one of my best friends but I am furious with him for what he's done to you so, while I am not letting him anywhere near you, I don't see any reason why we can't torture him a little. Maybe he needs to see what's in his own heart for once."

"Brooke…" Peyton started.

"No," Julian spoke up for the first time. "She's right. It's fine for him to go and protect his own heart by being with Lindsey but I don't think he understands what it did to you and I think it's time he did."

Peyton shook her head. "Look, I love you guys for being so protective of me, and I know that you're furious with him for hurting me, but I was the one who threw myself out there and tried to get him back when he was in a relationship with someone else. He loves Lindsey and Haley was right that day when she talked to me, it wasn't fair of me to try and take that away from him. I said 'maybe' to his proposal and he waited for me for a year. I was the one who jumped to conclusions at that book signing, I was the one who walked away before he could see me and had you," she turned to Julian, "not realised that I was still in love with him I would probably be in the same situation that he's in now. When I saw him with Lindsey at that book signing all I wanted to do was throw myself into another relationship and forget all about him, and I'm sure that's the same way he felt when I didn't show up. I would have married you Julian," Julian's eyes widened in surprise, as did Brooke's, "but you were right, I was still in love with Lucas, I am still in love with Lucas, and I always will be so please, don't hate him, because everything that happened was just as much my fault as it was his."

Julian clenched his jaw and nodded. "I don't agree with you," Peyton opened her mouth to protest but he continued before she could, "but I'll give him a chance."

"Good," Peyton smiled, "especially considering the two of you might be working together on a movie."

"Speaking of," Brooke turned to him. "You should ask him soon if you're planning on doing it today, people will start to leave soon."

Julian nodded before turning to shoot Peyton one last worried glance to which Peyton rolled her eyes. "Go you dork, before you chicken out. I'm fine!"

He looked unconvinced but he nodded once again, slowly, before making his way across the room to where Lucas was sitting and talking to Lindsay at the kitchen table. "Hey Lucas," he tried to keep his tone friendly as he approached the table and watched as Lucas turned his head before making a small sound of displeasure.

"Julian," Lucas nodded before turning to continue his conversation with his wife.

Julian cleared his throat. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

Lucas turned his head, surprised.

Lindsey smiled. "I'll go see if Haley needs any help," she said softly before disappearing.

Julian looked around nervously for a second before taking her place.

Lucas looked at the man in front of him suspiciously. "Why did you want to speak to me?"

"I have an offer for you."

Lucas looked at him for a moment, waiting for him to continue. It was clear he had no idea what this was about.

"I'd like the movie rights to your novel Lucas. I want to turn Ravens into a movie."

Lucas' eyes widened before he shook his head. "No way, the novel is way too-"

"Personal? Real?" Julian cut in. "I know, and I know how much it means to you, but I think that it's a story worth telling, and I feel like you can reach a bigger audience, effect more people, if we turn this into a movie."

"We?" Lucas didn't like that sound of that. "I would be producing it, and, if you would be okay with it, directing it. I understand that you have a vision Lucas, and I can make sure that this movie stays true to your vision."

Lucas was still shaking his head.

"You don't have to decide right now, give it some time. Here," Julian slid his business card across the table. "Call me if you're interested."

"Well?" Peyton asked as she saw Julian heading towards herself and Brooke. "How'd it go?"

"He said he'd think about it." Upon noticing the look on Peyton's face he shrugged. "Honestly, I wasn't expecting anything more. This book clearly means a lot to him and at this point I'm a complete stranger asking him to sign over his life to me."

Peyton rubbed his arm softly. "I'm sure he'll come around. I really think this would be a great opportunity for both of you and, in time, I'm sure he'll see that too."

Brooke snorted. "Not if you keep doing that he won't."

Peyton looked confused for a moment as she looked down at her hand on Julian's arm before looking back up to meet the gaze of a glaring Lucas.

Julian scoffed. "Unbelievable."

"What was that about?" Lindsey asked as she came up behind her husband.

Lucas sighed. "Julian wants the movie rights to Ravens."

"What?" Lindsey exclaimed as a smile spread across her face. "Luke, that's great!"

Lucas shook his head. "I'm not doing it."

"Luke," Lindsey's shock was evident in her voice. "Why not? This would be great…"

"I'm not working with him," Lucas said adamantly and as Lindsey followed his gaze she frowned.

"Of course this is about Peyton." She said with a slightly exasperated tone and Lucas turned to give her a surprised look.

"This is not about Peyton. This is about me. I don't trust the guy and I don't want him anywhere near Ravens."

"What's not to trust about him?" Lindsey said with a slightly challenging tone in her voice. She looked at him for a moment before her voice lowered to a mutter. "I mean other than the fact that he's with Peyton." She wasn't surprised when Lucas turned to give her a slightly shocked look. She wasn't being herself, she knew that. She always prided herself in being above passive-aggressive comments but it seemed like every time Peyton was around she brought out the worst side of her. She hated that. She felt like she loved her husband too much sometimes. She didn't want to be the jealous wife. She knew that Lucas cared about Peyton and that he was bound to be protective of her but looking at him now, it sometimes…it seemed to be so much more than that. She sighed as she rested her hand on Lucas' arm. "Luke…it's a great opportunity, at least think about it."

Lucas laughed but it was void of humour. "That's funny," he muttered. "That's exactly what Julian said."

And with that he walked away. He couldn't explain it but something about Julian Baker just made his blood boil and his temper flare. It wasn't about Peyton, it couldn't possibly be about Peyton. He and Peyton were done, he knew that, and if Peyton was moving on then that was good, he was happy for her. That ache in his heart, the dull, pounding pain in his chest, that was normal. It had to be.

The next chapter should include Lucas' decision on the movie and a revealing conversation between Lucas and Brooke. Please leave me your thoughts, good or bad I can handle them and I'd love to hear them! Thanks!