AN: Hey guys, all the reviews for last chapter were SO awesome, so I have to be honest. I don't know how I feel about this chapter. I'm not 100 about it, but I promised a certain someone that I would update by this weekend. It might hit me, in a few days what it needs and I may come back and change it, but that all depends on you guys.

Also, my last semester of school has begun and I have to ask you guys for some serious patience. I have a LOT of reading and writing and figuring out what the hell I plan on doing with my life, in the next few months. I will do my best to update the stories, but the updates may be far shorter and farther between.

On the upside, it looks like we're in for a season of LP love so my updates won't be as needed, lol! I loved the premiere. I just hope LP has a serious discussion about what the hell went down between them last season. I want Lucas to say this second book was about us and I'm a freaking cowardly idiot who hides with the first girl who throws themselves at me (ie: Brooke and Lindsey). Anywho, I'm really looking forward to the new season.

Hi Matt! :p

"Lucas, I'm not getting in that water," Peyton said, placing her hands on her hips.

"Oh come on, Peyt. It's harmless."

"Absolutely not. First of all it's probably teeming with weird bacteria and alligators."

Lucas shot her a look filled with incredulity and amusement. "Alligators?"

She shrugged. "I don't know."

Laughing, Lucas hopped out of Peyton's car and looked out over the stream of water.

"Come on Sawyer, it's hot out. That water is gonna feel amazing. Hey, what happened to seizing the day, huh? Carpe Diem!"

She threw him a charming smile, picking through the giant bucket of chicken they'd bought for a picnic. "Can't we Carpe Diem at the beach?"

"Come on, this is great," he exclaimed, spreading his arms at the isolated forest around them. "It's like out of the movies."

"Oh really? Hm, lets see, that means we're either going have sex in there or get eaten by a giant snake and since we're definitely not having sex…"

"So you're chicken. Makes sense," he sighed. "That kind of attitude goes with your legs-OW!"

He glared at her as he rubbed his arm from the pinch she'd given him. "My legs are awesome!"

Lucas grinned, pulling off his shirt. "Prove it. Lets see the goods, Sawyer."

"Dude, I am not going skinny dipping with you."

"Porter's pool while they were gone three weeks ago."

"Hey! That doesn't count," Peyton cried, blushing at the hazy memory. "We were really, really drunk."

"It's why God made underwear," Lucas smirked, dropping his jeans. Peyton blushed once again and looked away. She hoped he didn't notice and looked back when she heard the splash in the water.

"See?" He called to the shore where Peyton sat on the hood of her car. "Not a snake or escaped pet alligator in sight. Although I do think a bacteria just bit me."

"Ha ha," Peyton rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.

Suddenly the smile from Lucas's face faded and he began floundering. Peyton straightened up.

"Lucas?"

Then he went under. "Lucas!" Ripping her shirt off and shimmying out of her skirt she ran into the pond. "Lucas," she cried. She found him quickly and brought him up, patting his cheeks. "Oh God, oh God, oh God."

But suddenly his eyes popped open and her grinned at her. "I'm ah-liiiiive!"

"Argh! Lucas, you jerk!" She slapped him extra hard.

"Ow," he said, rubbing his arm. "It was just a joke."

"So, not funny!" Peyton cried. He could see she was shaking and started feeling bad. Maybe don't joke about dying to the girl whose anthem was, "People always leave."

"Aw, Peyt. I'm sorry. You know I didn't mean it." He sighed as she turned away from him, her shoulders shaking. Dammit. He hated it when she cried. He tried to turn her around but she fought him, and he finally settled for wrapping his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her head.

"You know I wouldn't do anything to hurt you. I'm an idiot, okay. You know I can be a complete jackass when I want to be. Peyt, please don't cry, sweetie," he pleaded, the term of endearment falling naturally out of his mouth.

"I can't help it Luke," she warbled. "It's just-it's just-it's just that you're such a sucker!" She cried spinning around to jab her fingers into his chest, laughing.

Lucas gaped at her as she swam and danced around him, laughing.

"Oh you are so dead," Lucas cried, grabbing at her as she screamed.

"I thought you were dead, daaaaarling," she made kissing noises at him and he rolled his eyes, unable to wipe the grin off his face.

"Oh you are so going down, Sawyer!"

"No Luke this water is gross, no!" She screamed as he tackled her under water.

"Do you remember that day Luke," Peyton whispered, as she stroked Lucas's hair. It was day three of waiting. He hadn't yet stirred and although she knew logically it might take awhile and that there would be so much more heartache when he did, she wanted to see those eyes. God, she wanted him to open his eyes.

"I miss those days. They were so…uncomplicated, despite everything that complicated our lives. Doesn't seem like we'll ever have days like that ever again, does it?"

"You might yet," Haley said quietly so as not to startle the blonde, from the doorway. Peyton smiled at Haley and looked back down to the man laying in the bed.

"Hey, Haley. Is Keith-?"

"Keith is home with Nathan and Jamie," Haley smiled. Peyton had been torn. She'd never spent a night away from her son before, but she couldn't bare to leave the child's father either. "They're all tucked in. I just wanted to stop by once more for the night to see how you guys are doing."

"I'm such a fool, Haley."

"If you're a fool, I'm an idiot," Haley replied, wryly. "None of this is your fault Peyton. You have to know that."

"If I hadn't insisted we be apart for awhile this wouldn't have happened. If I'd just trusted that Lucas wouldn't hurt me like that, then we'd be together."

"You don't know that Peyton," Haley insisted. "And your reasons for not being with Lucas were noble. You did it because even though Brooke wasn't even speaking to you, you still wanted to be a good friend to her. She betrayed that Peyton Not you."

"But he's suffered for it. God Haley, when I think about how much he's hurt because of what she did, what I thought he did…" Peyton whimpered, leaning down to kiss Lucas's hand.

"I know, sweetie," Haley said quietly. "I know. This is on her, though."

"But, I ruined all of us for nothing," Peyton whispered, echoing the words Brooke had yelled at her in anger the night they'd been deceived and it had all fallen apart. "And even if he can forgive me for believing my eyes over my heart…I don't know how he'll ever forgive me for keeping his boy from him. I don't know how I'll forgive myself. Brooke was right…I'm just as selfish as she was."

"Don' t let her do this to you," Haley cried as loudly as she dared. "Your selfish wasn't potentially life threatening."

"But it was…It hurt being without him Haley." She looked up at the other woman with tear-filled eyes. "Sometimes…it physically hurt. The day he had his heart attack, something happened to my heart too. It felt like someone squeezed it as hard as they could. I thought I was having a heart attack, Haley. It hurt so bad and I can remember the pain vividly. Then suddenly it just…went away. I went to the hospital and they said I was fine. They thought I was having an anxiety attack. When I got home, Brooke called me."

"Well, what are you saying you felt…You felt Lucas's heart attack?"

"I don't know, Haley," Peyton replied, shaking her head slowly. "The night of the party before I collapsed, my heart hurt so bad I thought it would explode from my chest. And now I know Lucas felt it too."

"Peyton, you make it sound like you two are Tristan and Isolde."

"I know. It's crazy. It sounds nuts, but how did Keith know Luke was his father? How did he know? And he's always known Haley. I know it. God….." She shook her head, filled to the brim with aching regret.

"We shouldn't have been apart. I should never have left him and now he-he'll never forgive me Haley."

"Well, if what you say is true-and seeing the way he's been first hand, I'm inclined to believe you-He'll find a way to forgive you. He just doesn't work without you, Peyton."

Peyton lifted Lucas's hand to her lips. "I don't work without him, Haley."

"Do not let Brooke pile on any sort of guilt onto you. She has no room to judge, because as far as I'm concerned she started this and could have-should have finished it a long time ago."

Peyton shrugged and shook her head once again. She knew what Haley was saying was true, but it didn't help assuage any of the guilt she was feeling. Most of her anger towards Brooke was for Lucas though.

"How will he get passed all this? There's so much hurt…from so many people he loved and trusted."

Haley felt her eyes burn at her words. She had thought about how Lucas would react to her keeping her knowledge of Keith from him and every time she did it ended badly. Nathan was his brother, but she had been his friend and confidante long before that. As much as she wanted Lucas awake she feared it. How do you forgive betrayal like that? How do you hope for someone's forgiveness when you can't forgive yourself?

"Peyton, I have to tell you something," Haley sighed, moving to sit next to Peyton. "And I'm not saying this to hurt you, but because you need to know. Before, Lucas collapsed…Jamie mentioned Keith to him. Lucas had known you and Jake were together beforehand and when Jamie mentioned your son, he thought Keith was Jake's, then he ran. It occurred to me and with Luke hopefully waking up soon, I thought you should know," she said insistently as Peyton sunk her face into her hands. She felt every betrayal and every pain Lucas suffered like a blow to her own chest.

"How will he get through all this Haley," Peyton asked again.

"It's a journey Peyton," she replied quietly. "He's my best friend. He has been for over fifteen years. I knew, from the moment Jake sent me that picture that Keith was his…and I chose silence. Now, I may lose him over this, and maybe for a little while when he wakes and finds out the truth he'll stay lost for awhile himself, but love can do amazing things Peyton. I believe that with all my might."

She paused to wipe away the tears that trekked down her face and sighed.

"We make our live out of chaos, hope and love. It's a journey and because we love him, he will find his way home. We just have to do it one step at a time. However long it takes."

Peyton nodded, in affirmation. It had taken her a long time to get here and life wasn't a race. It was baby steps forward and sometimes it was running for your life backwards or standing stock still until you figure out witch way you plan on going. Right now Lucas was standing still. She just needed to help him find his way home. She would save him….

"However long it takes."

The boy saw the comet and he felt as though his life had meaning.

And when it went away, he waited his entire life for it to come back to him.

What is it like to be dead? There was many a myth from a number of different cultures going back hundreds of thousands of years. Lucas had always wondered and he thought about it a lot before he stopped taking his medication. He imagined finally getting to see Keith again and that comforted him somewhat. But he hadn't imagined the darkness…or the feeling of…still being in his body. There was something solid beneath him. His mind paused. Dead people didn't breath. And slowly he began to hear a steady beep that he couldn't place.

Confused he moved a finger and then another. Finally he cracked open one of his eyes and then another. White ceiling. His eyes tracked around the room, his disorientation ceasing when he realized he was in the hospital. Dammit. He couldn't even kill himself right.

He was about to groan his annoyance out loud when a movement out of the corner of his eye stopped him. He cocked his head slowly to the side and then froze.

Why was she here?! He felt his heart begin to beat a bit harder and hoped the monitors wouldn't give him away. He desperately wanted her gone, as much as he wanted her next to him. He couldn't turn away from the beautiful glossy curls on her head, no matter how much he wanted to. It had been too long since he'd last seen her face.

Suddenly though, he spied another head of curly blonde hair. Cold realization struck him. Her son. His memory quickly put together the puzzle from the few pieces he remembered. Jake's son. Shutting his eyes he turned his face away. Fuck.

Even more bothered now that he was still breathing, he stiffened when he felt Peyton's hand cover his. Why was she torturing him? He knew at some point Jake would come in and kiss her and they would sit there like a perfect little family and pity him.

"Lucas?" Lucas ignored her, hoping she'd get the hint and go away.

"Luke, you're awake, I know you are," Peyton sighed in annoyance, her voice shaking in emotion regardless.

"We've been waiting for you to wake up. How do you feel," she breathed. He was confused by the emotion he heard in her voice, but he refused to look at her. He decided what he'd heard was pity. He did not need Peyton Sawyer's pity.

"Just go away Peyton," he rasped, pulling his hand from hers. Hurt, Peyton remained resolute and managed to pour a cup of water for him. She placed a straw in it and offered it to him. He grudgingly took a few sips.

"Luke, don't do this."

"What are you even doing here?"

Peyton winced. Lucas's voice was low and gravelly and not at all inviting. She was beginning to feel nervous about the baby beginning to wriggle in her arms.

"Brooke called me," Peyton replied. "Nathan and Haley and your Mom have all been really worried too. They're in the cafeteria."

Lucas did nothing but shake his head, bitterly.

"I was worried," she whispered.

"Why?" He choked out, his voice thick with emotion.

And before she could summon an answer through the lump in her throat, Lucas felt a soft tiny hand patting his. "Da-da-da," came a soft coo. And his eyes and his heart clenched. The child wanted his father and it broke his soul that it wasn't him.

"Get out, Peyton. Your son wants his father."
"I know that," Peyton grated, tears falling down her cheeks.

"Then go find him," Lucas whispered, keeping his eyes shut tight, hoping the tears that was burning his eyes wouldn't find their way out. "Just go find Jake and go back to Savannah. Go be happy, Peyton. I don't know why you're here, but I don't want your pity."

"Lucas…I don't pity you," Peyton whispered.

"Da-da-da-da-da? Dada!" The patting on his hand became more insistent.

"Peyton, go," he gritted.

"Not before he sees his father," Peyton said, finally. "So, Look at him, Luke."

He couldn't help it. There was something in her voice. His curiosity got the better of him and as his eyes opened carefully again they fell upon Peyton, whose eyes were shining with tears. Their eyes locked and neither could breath. He didn't know how long they stared like that, until the soft fingers, grasped his index finger, and a soft murmur of "dada," was heard once again, shaking Lucas from their stare, throwing him back into reality. A reality where Peyton had a child with another man.

His eyes flickered down to the child's face and once again, he couldn't breath. There were instances when he could see the similarities between him and Nathan. Frightening moments when he looked at Dan and saw physical similarities that screamed that he was his son. It was the eyes that they all shared. So how was it that when he looked at Jake's son, it was as though he was looking into his own eyes?

Peyton watched him carefully, but so far all she was getting was confusion and shock. Keith on the other hand was very excited.

The baby's face seemed to light up once he saw his father finally looking at him and his happiness was communicated with a shriek of laughter. Wrapping, little hands around the guard rails he tried to tug his body closer.

Knowing what he wanted, Peyton whispered to the boy, "Remember to be gentle."

Still looking at a shell-shocked Lucas she carefully placed Keith in the crook of Lucas's arm.

"He likes to sleep beside you," Peyton explained, as Keith snuggled up against his side. Lucas finally tore his eyes away from the baby to rest them on Peyton. He saw the fear and the regret….and he knew. He looked back down at the chubby cheeked child who was staring upwards at him with a smile dimpling his cheeks. His dimples.

"Dada," he cried again, happily. This was his son.

In awe, Lucas opened his mouth to speak, but what came out was a sob.

Alright kids. Give it to me, straight and review :)

Oh! Also I was nominated for a OTH Fanfiction Award under the best leyton category for Bliss. This is the website if you'd like to vote or nominate anyone else: Find Bks-R-My-Crc for the page. I can't put the website on here for some reason. The polls open tomorrow.

Extra AN: I don't know how many of you are familiar with the medieval romance of Tristan and Isolde. Basically Tristan is the knight who is supposed to bring Isolde back to his uncle the King. There is a potion that Isolde and the King are supposed to drink so they fall in love, but on the voyage, Tristan and Isolde drink it together accidentally and they fall madly in love. There are several versions and variations, but the one I read has Tristan and Isolde so in love they physically can't be apart from each other for too long. Of course they die tragically one after the next in the end, but it's still an amazing story.

Also, I totally yanked the "We make our lives out of chaos, hope, and love," from an episode of Bones. I freakin love that show and that line just really spoke to me.