A/N: Journey AND Bliss? Oh no she didn't! Oh yes I did! It's because I love!

I'm getting uber-excited for Monday, guys. I can't lie. I'm nervous, because I don't trust Mark enough not to mess with us some more, but I'm pretty confidant that we'll get some good Leyton scenes in this season and both characters will be able to redeem themselves.

Anywho, until then...

Lucas ran his fingers through Peyton's hair and dropped a kiss to her nose before rolling off of her, scooping her to his side. He smiled down at her, remembering that it had been a morning like this that he'd turned to look at her and asked her to be his wife. She was so amazingly beautiful and sometimes he would still wake up and think, "I can't believe Peyton Sawyer is mine."

"Hey," Peyton chuckled, her cheeks beginning to turn pink at the way he was staring at her. Lucas found it utterly endearing that she still blushed when he told her she was beautiful or spoke it to her through his eyes.

"What's going through that head of yours, Luke?"

He fingered a soft curl and replied unwaveringly.

"You."

Peyton's face turned crimson and she looked away with a giggle. He smiled and rested his face closer to hers, his mouth grazing the shell of her ear.

"Love you," he murmured. Peyton turned her head so she could look at him fully and replied,

"I love you too. So much." Hooking a leg over his hip, she snuggled closer to his side. "The kids will be so excited to see you."

"I'm excited to see them," Lucas replied, drawing patterns on her back. "I feel like I'm missing out on so much, even when I'm gone for a week. They're just at that age when they're always doing something new or…"

"Saying something seriously cute," Peyton laughed. "Or embarrassing. William learned how to say stick a few days ago, but only when he says it it sounds like dick."

"Oh no," Lucas groaned, with a chuckle.

"That's not the worst part. We were outside with Karen, Lily and Jamie and William was collecting little branches and things. So he comes running to Karen and me dragging this huge branch behind him and goes Mama, Ga-ma big dick! Jamie couldn't stop laughing."

Lucas slapped a hand over his face to muffle his laughter.

"Karen just looked at him and then at me like, did my grandson really say what I think he said?"

"Oh geez," Lucas grinned. "See this is the kinda stuff I miss-"

"What explaining to your mother that William didn't over hear me talking dirty to you?" Peyton smirked.

"No, you know what I mean."

"I know, but you get to spend all day at home with them Mr. Mommy. It's why you're so insistent on not letting Anna go to preschool."

"Hey," he mock growled. "We aren't supposed to talk about that."

"Luke, it's preschool. We're not talking about sending her to the corner to sell guns," Peyton teased. She rolled her eyes at the look he gave her. "Baby, they aren't going to keep her forever. It'll be good for her. She'll get to interact with other kids her age. That'll be good for her."

"What if she hates it," he pouted.

"Aw," she cooed, sitting up to lean on his chest. "She's still our sassy baby girl. You know we'll be the ones sobbing when she goes. She'll be fine. Just promise me you'll think about it okay? For me."

He grunted.

"I'll let you buy a shot gun in preparation for her teen years," she wheedled, teasingly. He smirked at her and kissed her nose.

"Fine you twisted my arm. We'll talk to her about it…I guess." He sighed. "But if she doesn't want to, she's not going."

"That's all I ask," Peyton smiled, dropping a kiss to his chest. "So, your book is all edited?"

"Um…Not exactly."

"Luke," Peyton whined. "You said you weren't going back up to New York until your book tour."

"That is true. Look, I hate being away from you guys so I sort of maybe suggested that Lindsey come down here to finish up the last few chapters, since she's got some vacation time coming up."

Peyton narrowed her eyes at the guilty look in his eyes. "Where is she staying Luke," she asked sweetly.

"Um, I sort of offered her the guest room, but only if you're okay with it," he said quickly, ending it with his most charming smile.

"Lucas," she groaned, throwing herself back onto the mattress.

"What? It just makes sense if she's going to be working with me and it keeps me closer to you and the kids. Plus it gives her a chance for a vacation. She has friends down here too you know."

"Luke, she has a major crush on you," she smirked, looking at him.

"Oh you're delusional," he chuffed. "She's seeing a great guy right now. His name is….Mark something."

She shot him a look. "You just made that up!"

"Did not," he cried, indignantly. "She said so."

Peyton raised an eyebrow. "Mark something?"

"Oh, I'm supposed to remember his last name?"

"I don't need to remind you about those pictures," she said, raising her other eyebrow at him.

"No you don't," he said seriously. "Apparently cute writers are the paps new meat or something. I'll bet they were just trying to start something with us for some sleazy rag cover. Since all my books are about you, it makes sense that they would try to turn me into some kind of womanizer. But Lindsey is strictly a friend and a co-worker."

"A totally hot friend and co-worker who missed her calling as a super-model, but whatever," Peyton pouted.

Lucas rolled his eyes. "Peyton, are we really doing this? I see one woman, baby," he husked, kissing the corner of her mouth. "Angelina Jolie-ow!" He laughed as Peyton jumped on him and they wrestled playfully for a bit.

"That's okay," Peyton sighed, pertly once they returned to their corners. "When we have sex I pretend you're George Clooney."

Lucas's mouth fell open. "He-ey!"

"Sorry lover," Peyton shrugged with a wicked grin. Lucas smirked at her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Seriously. All I see is you, Peyton Scott. Oh, you feel that? I get tingles just saying your name with mine."

"Charmer," Peyton whispered.

"Where do you think the kids get it from? It certainly isn't you."

"Hey you're treading on thin ice mister," Peyton growled, poking his chest.

"So is it okay? You know Lindsey loves the kids. She's our biggest cheerleader. You know that."

Peyton made a show of sighing. "Fine, George-Ah!"

She squealed delightedly as Lucas pinned her and dug his fingers into her sides.

"Say Lucas Scott is a million times cuter than George and Brad combined," he cried.

In typical stubborn Peyton Sawyer fashion, she shrieked, "Not a chance," even though tears started streaming from her eyes from her laughter. Lucas grinned evilly, moving his wriggling fingers under her armpits, making her scream.

"Okay okay," she howled in mirth.

"Say it!"

"Lu-hee-hee-Lucas Scott is a million times cuter-"

"And sexier-" Lucas added, moving his finger to her knees.

"And sexier than George and Brad combined," Peyton finished, breathlessly. Lucas pulled his fingers back and they were both left panting and giggling from their play.

"Lets go get the kids up," Peyton said finally rolling off the bed.

"I could take them too, ya know," Lucas called as she disappeared into the bathroom. Peyton popped her head back out and raised her eyebrow at him.

"Aw baby," she sighed, before disappearing back into the bathroom. "Have you even seen Fight Club?"

Lucas pouted, childishly. "I could too, take them."

When Anna opened her eyes that morning the first thing she thought was, "Hmmm, I wonder if Daddy comes home today," complete with hmmm. The four year old sat up and looked at the Incredibles clock on her wall, the one that didn't match anything in her room, but she was insistent on having.

"But Mommy," she'd said in the store. "I yuv the I'credbles! It's my fayferit moofie!"

With a smile tugging at her mouth, her mother had chuckled. "I like that movie too, sweetie."

"Yeah! Mommy, we jus need anodder baby brodder and den we can fight cwime too!" That overly loud comment had garnered a few laughs and "Isn't she a darlings," from folks around them. Needless to say they went home with the clock. She could be very persuasive.

She stared at her clock a little longer. It was too bad she couldn't tell time. All she knew was she wasn't allowed to barge into her parent's bedroom before the big stick was on the 12 and the little stick was on the eight….unless it was an emergency…..And that she had to knock…..And that no matter where the sticks were pointed, she had to wait for them.

Some mornings though, would find her knocking on their door anyway out of boredom and a misconstrued idea of what the word emergency meant. Hunger seemed like a life and death situation to her. Anyway, how'd they expect her to remember all that? So many rules…..

Climbing out of bed, Anna scooped up her bag pack and putting it on, padded across the room in Incredibles footie pajamas to sit in front of her toys. She wondered what fun adventures Mommy had in store for her today. Although both her parents were, without a doubt the bestest ever, Peyton played the role of 'good cop' when it came to certain things.

Daddy would build forts and caves out of cushions and sheets with them. Mommy would build forts and caves out of cushions and sheets and let them eat bucket-o-chicken in them. Daddy would never let them have pizza for lunch without vegetables, but Mommy not only let them have pizza, but she let them put bologna on them too!

Also, since Mommy didn't cook, she had become quite an excellent and inventive sandwich maker. Anna and William had had endless amounts of fun standing beside her at the counter, adding marshmallows to their peanut butter, banana and cheese sandwiches. Even though it left them all with tummy aches that had them all napping together in the 'big bed' all afternoon.

To be sure, William and Anna loved it when Mommy stayed home with them, but they all missed Daddy when he was away. William had cried all the way home from the airport the first time they dropped Lucas off and for an hour after the taxi that came to pick him up the second time had left. She had missed him too, but saw how sad it made her Mommy that Daddy had gone, so she did her best to be a big girl and help Mommy make William smile again. Because no one was happy when William was sad. But Mommy had said Daddy would be coming home soon!

Anna's eyes snapped wide in delight as a brilliant idea came to her. "We should have a parade for Daddy!"

She excitedly began lining all of her toys up, except for Turtle and Buddy Pine(a doll Lucas had reluctantly bought her even though he thought it looked like Chuckie). They were in timeout(an overturned laundry basket) because Turtle tried to eat Pig and Buddy Pine, because he tried to take over her room.

She stood back when she had finished and then deduced she would need several red wagons and a very large sign to make this all happen, "without a snitch."

She bounced up and down and looked at her clock again. She needed Mommy for this! As she tried to figure out if this counted as an emergency and if the rules even still applied because Daddy wasn't home, the door to her room creaked open and Peyton popped her head in followed by the rest of her, carrying William, who was rubbing his eyes with a little knuckle.

"Hey there little girl," she whispered, pausing momentarily to shake her head and smirk at the line up of toys on the ground.

"Mommy," Anna cried, bounding towards her and wrapping her arms around her legs. "Mommy I need some wagons and a sign!"

"Say good morning, Anna," Peyton sighed at the child who often got ahead of herself.

Anna gave her mother a genuine, heartfelt squeeze and giggled, "Sorry. Mornin' Mommy."

"Good morni-Why is the laundry basket in here?"

"Time out," Anna shrugged.

"Okay, Spud, what have you got for me this morning?" Peyton sighed looking out over the sea of toys.

"It's a parade for Daddy when he comes home!"

"Aw honey, that's so sweet of you. Daddy would love that, but do you think you have time to put it together?" She asked, setting William down so he could toddle towards the parade.

"That depends on how fast you can get me some wagons," Anna smiled sweetly.

"Hmmmm," Peyton made a show of thinking. "Well I am very fast, but I think you're daddy might be faster."

At that moment Lucas popped his head in and grinned. "Is there room for one more?"

"DADDY!" Anna squealed, running full tilt into his arms. "You came home!"

"Of course I came home," Lucas laughed, dropping kisses on her cheeks and giving her a squeeze. "I'll always come home to you guys."

"We missed you Daddy! Lots and lots!"

"I missed you all too, so so much," he sighed, looking up at his wife, over his daughter's head to wink at her.

"I made you pictures!" The little girl offered excitedly.

"You did?"

"Yeah! An' Mommy showed me how to make sandwiches. I can make you one!"

"I would love that," Lucas grinned. He patted her back and rolled his eyes. "Anna are you ever going to take off that bag pack?"

"I take it off to bath and to eat and sleep like you and Mommy said!"

"Yeah, but…." He looked to Peyton for help, but she simply shrugged. She had no more luck in getting the bag pack off their daughter. "I got nothing'," he sighed.

"Tater, look who's here," Peyton laughed, turning to the baby, who was ignoring everything that was going on behind him as he double fisted two of Anna's toys.

"Tater?" Lucas echoed.

"It's coz he looks like a tatoo-tot," Anna giggled, delightedly. "It was my idea!"

"We were giving him a bath and it just came to her. I liked it," Peyton shrugged with a smile. "Look at him. He does look like a tater tot. I'm just bummed I didn't think of it myself. Although I did dub our little princess here, Spud."

Lucas laughed, although he was bummed himself. This was the kind of stuff he worried about missing when he was away. He missed the birth of new knick-names. He could just imagine Anna throwing herself on the ground to laugh about the fitting new name she'd given her brother.

"Hmm, Tater and Spud," Lucas said, looking down at his son who had yet to turn around and then squinting at his daughter, thoughtfully. "I think it fits. But you do know he's going to hate us all in ten years for this right?"

"I think he'll love it," Peyton grinned with a comical shrug of her shoulders. "Won't you Tater-Scoot."

"Okay, that, he will definitely hate you for," Lucas laughed at his wife's antics.

"Scoot Tater?" Peyton tried with a smile. She knelt down beside the baby who was too busy to bother with any of them at the moment and physically turned him around to see Lucas.

"Hey William," Lucas called. Hearing his father's voice William finally looked up and when he did, his squeal was ear-splitting. Dropping the toys the child jumped up and down before running to his father. Anna had run to her mother with hands over her ears.

"Dadadaddadadadada! Dada!"

"Hey buddy," Lucas chuckled, swinging the excited baby up into his arms to give him a cuddle. "Aw, I missed you, baby boy."

"Ma Dada," William giggled, his arms flapping.

"Mommy he broke my ears and my parade," Anna pouted.

"Aw, sweetie, we can put it back together later in the backyard. How about that?"

"Will you hep me?"

"Of course I'll help you," Peyton smiled, brushing a long blonde bang out of her daughter's face.

"I can help you too if you'd like, Anna," Lucas offered.

"No!"

"Anna," Peyton admonished, looking at Lucas. Lucas's mouth dropped, and he tried to keep his face from showing the slight hurt he felt. Peyton knew he got a bit sensitive when it came to leaving the kids for periods of time and then coming back for obvious Dan related reasons. As ridiculous as it was, he was always afraid of becoming disconnected from his kids when he went away for his work.

"But the parade is for Daddy," Anna exclaimed in explanation. "Dat's like makin your own birfday cake. Sorry Daddy, but you can't hep."

Lucas chuckled, more so at his own silliness than his daughter's explanation.

"I gotcha, daughter of mine," he smiled. The little girl smiled back and walked towards him to take his hand.

"Can you make me breakfast now? I'm hungry," she said, sticking her tongue out of the side of her mouth.

"Sure thing, baby girl."

The family trooped down the stairs and into the kitchen. Lucas placed William in his high chair, while Peyton helped Anna up into her chair. She then disappeared into the living room to turn on what she called, "Breakfast mood music." One thing the Scott home never lacked in was the sound of music.

"You want eggs, baby?" Lucas called, as Crowded House's Don't Dream It's Over filtered through the kitchen.

Peyton bounced back into the kitchen. "Yes, please!"

Anna began to giggle at her mother's enthusiastic response. "Mommy's eggs got runnied!"

"My eggs were runny, weren't they," Peyton winked at the little girl, as she went to the refrigerator to get milk for the kids.

"You wants eggs too, sweetie?" Lucas asked, skillfully cracking eggs into a bowl.

"Yes please," Anna excitedly kicked her foot against her chair leg and accepting the Monsters Inc cup full of milk from her mother. "Daddy, I yike eggs."

"I know you do," Lucas smiled. "Scrambled right?"

"Yeah, with hams in it!"

"Ham, baby. Singular. How about we do sausage today, though."

"Okay! I yike saus-ges."

"You like all food, Spud," Peyton smirked, returning to the table once again with Cheerios and bananas for William. Anna grinned back at her bashfully, watching with interest as Peyton dropped a handful of Cheerios in William's tray and then began cutting up pieces of the banana for him.

William, who had been tracking every move Lucas made with big eyes, stopped to slowly pinch a little oat ring between his index finger and thumb. He studied it up close until his eyes crossed, making Peyton and Anna laugh, then crammed half his fist in his mouth to drop the Cheerio on his tongue.

A cup of coffee appeared in front of Peyton and she craned her neck up to smile her thanks. Lucas dropped a kiss on her lips and turned back to the stove top were the eggs and sausage were sizzling away.

"Okay, Anna, come and get it," Lucas called, plating up the eggs sausage and toast for his daughter. With food, coffee and milk distributed, they all sat down together for breakfast.

Anna pulled pictures out of her bag back that she'd drawn in Lucas's absence. In one of the pictures she'd drawn, Lucas was, for some reason, riding a deer. This led to a conversation about why Anna couldn't have a deer as a pet. William babbled away and Peyton tried to get him to say the new words he'd picked up for his father. All the while Peyton played footsie with him under the table.

Lucas smiled. God, it was good to be home.

That dick thing is actually a true story. My neighbor's fifeteen month old Shawn is my golden curled, blued eyed, giggling muse. And well the kid looks like a tater tot.

Review!