An- thanks for the reviews! Okay, guys! I love the reviews but I'd like more to see if I'm doing well with the story. Special shout- outs to all of you people out there who read and then review, it ,means a lot to me. Beware: this is another sad chapter so don't beat up on me.
Previously:
-Peyton has a hard time dealing with her fathers death
- Nathan and Brooke talk some sense into an emotional Peyton
- Kaylee learns of her grandfathers death
- Lucas and Peyton deal together.
Chapter 26-Right here
When you feel
Your hearts guarded
And you see
The break started
When the clouds
Have all departed
You'll be right
Here with me
The clouds fitted grey and darker as if sucking the happiness of all Tree Hill citizens. Today is a day that flitted dark shadows, sorrow and heavy emotions around the petite, little town also known as Tree Hill. Today, they would witness the confirmation of death from a well-spirited deceased man as they all came together for his funeral. In the Leyton household, a knock echoed through the house and Lucas opened the door, a small smile slowly coming to his face at the person on the other side of the door.
"Hi Ma." Said the blonde man as he opened the door wider and stepped back, letting his mother enter the house that had been unusually quiet.
"Hi M'boy." Responded the brunette mother as she kissed his cheek. He watched as he features turned solemn and her eyes turned dark, holding a tint of sadness.
"How's Peyton?" Lucas sighed.
"She's taking this is the best way she can,Ma. It's gonna be hard for her today and she's trying really hard to be strong. I just wanna be there for her and comfort her." Karen smiled slightly.
"She's gonna need a lot of that today,Lucas. It just pains me to see that young woman in tears once again. She's been crying basically her whole life."
"Some of them caused by me." Mumbled the blonde darkly,guilt rushing through him and Karen could only give him a light smile as she patted his hand, affectionatly.
" Oh Luke- That's all in the past. We all have our ups and downs and you just happened to spend the majority of high school in your downs. Peyton's happiest when she's with you Luke, all the tears she shed for you are more then worth it. You've come a long way m'boy and I'm proud of you."
"Thanks Ma," Karen waved him off with a hand.
"Don't thank me boy, It's my job to straighten you kids out." She sighed. " Do you mind If I go talk to Peyton?"
"Not at all." Said the blonde man as he led his mother to the bedroom. " I'm just gonna go get a shower." Karen could only nod, a frown gracing her gorgeous face as she caught sight of the perturbed woman of 13 weeks sleeping on the bed. She marched to the bed and sat on it before shaking the woman with the portruding belly lightly.
"Peyton-" she sighed as the blonde simply mumbled something inconherent and nuzzled her head in her pillow.
"Peyton, c'mon sweetie wake up." She watched as the blonde woman groaned before opening her eyes, blinking rapidly before finally acknowledging her.
"Karen?" said the blonde groggily and Karen could only smile sadly as she squeezed the blonde's hand.
"How are you Peyton?" Peyton smiled slightly as she ran a hand over her protruding belly as if sensing comfort.
"I'm working my way through it- I mean- It's hard you know? It's not every day a woman finds out her father is-We had- he had so much more to do with his life and he was the only parent I had left-" choked the blonde as she felt her hormones kick in and Karen couuld only nod in understanding as she hugged the curly-headed blonde and ran her hand through her back in a soothing manner.
"I'm gonna let you in on a little secret,Peyton. When Keith died, I felt like my world had come crumbling down and strayed myself off from any emotions, locking myself in my room and grieving in an unhealthy manner." A twinkle formed in her eyes at her next words. " That is till Lilly arose. Lilly and Luke are the sole reason I get up in the mornings and what makes me sleep at night. Sure, it's hard living without Keith- raising his daughter all by myself isn't all too easy- but I learned something, when a door closes another one open." She smiled. " This baby is your opening to happiness,Peyton. Just remember that all of us here in Tree Hill have always thought of you as part of our family and you always will be. We'll all be there for you,Peyton. Don't forget that." Ended the curly-headed brunette and Peyton felt a slow smile- one that hadn't come out in a long time- come to her face.
"Thanks Karen."
"Don't thank me,Peyton. Your family." Said the brunette mother as she hugged the pregnant blonde once more. " I'll do you two a favour and get Kaylee up." Announced Karen as she flashed the blonde one more small smile before exiting the room.
Peyton immerged from the washroom twenty minutes later with a small smile on her face as she ran into Lucas.
"Hi."
"Hey." Whispered the blonde Scott as he wrapped his arms around her. " You alright?" she sighed.
" NO. but I will be." Promised Peyton as she gave him a quick kiss.
" I'll be with you the whole time,Peyt." Peyton sent him a smile.
" I know and I'm greatful cause I really need you,Luke." Said the blonde as tears slipped down her face at the thought of the ceremony to come. Lucas reached up and swiped her tears off with his thumb.
" You have me, I'm all yours." Said the 22 year old man as he kissed her forehead. Karen came in at that exact moment with a saddened Kaylee all dressed in black like her parents and grandmother in a black dress with a bow on the waistline. Peyton and Lucas smiled slightly at the girl who had unusually refused to talk and Karen couuld only let a small smile come to her face as their chauffer, Deb came in.
" Ready to go?" asked the blonde grandmother after she had hugged the family and gave them sweet, comforting words. Peyton and Kaylee nodded, while Lucas shook his head and walked up to his family.
" Go ahead, I'll meet you guys in a second." Promised the blonde boy as he kissed both daughter and mother on the forehead, watching as Kaylee grabbed her mommy's face in her hands and kissed her forehead before grabbing a hold of her hand and squeezing lightly, as the pair walked out with Deb in tow. Lucas turned to his mother with a greatful smile on his face. " Thank you."
" Don't thank me,boy. I'm just happy I could help." Exclaimed the brunette mother as both her and her son walked out the house and caught up to the others, their hands tightly clasped to each other as the five walked to the car.
When your life
Is going too fast
Off the train tracks
I can slow it down
Just when you think
You bout to turn back
Scared you might crash
I'll be your ground
Haley James Scott sighed as she ran a hand in her short brunette hair and stepped out of the bathroom, clad in a black ensemble and treaded to the kitchen with a sigh. Today they had to face the confirmation of death upon Larry Sawyer and needless to say, even though she hadn't known the man all too well, she could tell he was a great father and that he held pride for his daughter, she knew that it'd be awfully depressing for her blonde friend to handle the eventful day. She sighed sadly as she came across her husband who was obviously frustrated, struggling with his tie.
"Here let me help with that." Said the brunette softly as she walked over to him and enclosed the tie to perfection before slowly looking up into his tearful eyes.
" It's okay to grieve,Nathan. It's okay to be weak." Mumbled the brunette, smiling a sad smile as she felt her husband's muscular arms wrap around her waist and a toned body shake vigorously in her arms, tears dripping down his face.
"Let it out,Nathan." Muttered the brunette as her grip on him never loosened.
"He doesn't deserve this,Haley."
" I know-" said the Scott wife, sighing heavily. Many didn't know this but her husband held a lot of admiration for the deceased man. Whenever he and Dan had enticed in a falling out or an argument of some kind when he was dating Peyton, the man find solace on giving him advice or just being there for the brunette brother, needless to say the man had been more of a father figure to him than his own father had been and she knew he felt guilty for not catching up with him in the past. She could only nod as she discovered it was her sole responsibility to help him and Peyton get through this day. A few minutes after Nathan had straightened up, Jamie and Lilly( who had stayed over the previous night) came in, dressed in black and holding a look of depression on their face. Jamie walked up to his mother and father with a saddened expression on his face.
"Momma,Poppa is Aunt Peyton gonna be okay?" Haley sighed as she ran a hand in her little boys blonde hair and bent to his eye level.
" No." clarified the brunette." Aunt Peyton's gonna be really sad and she's gonna need a lot of support, you two need to be there for her ,okay?"
"Okay." Said the two four year olds, mentally promising them selves to help Peyton have an easy day as can be. Nathan smiled slighly.
"C'mon, let's get outta here." Declared the 22 year old brunette as he and his wife grabbed on to the four year olds hand before clasping their hands tightly together and exiting the house, their spirits in unison.
When you feel
Your hearts guarded
And you see
The break started
When the clouds
Have all departed
You'll be right
Here with me
When your tears
Have dried from cryin'
And the world
Has turned to silent
When the clouds
Have all departed
You'll be right
Here with me
Chase adams sighed as he found his girlfriend sobbing on the couch, her cries echoing through the room a s she shook vastly. He wrapped his arms around her, thinking how the brunette looked mascara- dripping faced people look stunning and shook his head as he remembered the object of his girlfriends sadness, sadness pouring into him. He rocked her gently as she continued to shake in his arms and rubbed her back,comfortingly.
"Chase-" rasped the brunette, her raspy voice raspier than normal.
"Shh-" comforted the brunette man as his hands found solace on rubbing her back in a soothing manner.
"He shouldn't have died so soon, Chase. He should of lived to witness the birth of his grandchild, walked Peyton down the aisle when she got married, teach his grandchildren the meaning of life, I-"
" I know,baby."
" He's practically my father,chase. He's been there for me, smiling down at me when I accomplished a goal, been the person to teach me how to ride my first bike when my father was too much of an ass to care, Took me to my first fair with Peyton when I was six, he's the man I planned to have walk me down the aisle when I got married and tell me I look beautiful as he gave me away, smile at me with pride when I delivered my first child!" rambled the brunette, she had tried so hard to be strong for her best friend, keeping her emotions at bay until the day of the funeral came and she cracked like a nutcase. That man had taught her more in life than her parents had ever done, cared for her like she was a child of his own and to learn his death hurt her in more ways possible. She knew she would never forget that man and that he'd be a great person for her children to idolise when she was older.
"It's okay to be feeling this way,Brooke. You lost someone very important to you who held a special place in your heart." Said the brunette man as he pressed a kiss to his shattered girlfriend's forehead. Brooke smiled at him a couple minutes later, chuckling sadly.
" This is the first time we've delt with a loss together, chase. I'm glad you're here to comfort me."
" So am I." mumbled the brunette, emitting a small smile from the brunette woman.
" God- I look a mess!"
"You look beautiful." Said Chase as he moved her bangs from her eyes and hauled his girlfriend to her feet, smiling lightly.
" C'mon, a pregnant blonde is in dire need of her best friend." Mentioned the brunette and Brooke could only nod determindly as she remembered how broken down her best friend had been only a week prior.
" Right." Sniffed the blonde. " Peyton- let's go,jeeves." Rasped the brunette sadly emitting a small smile from her boyfriend.
" Right behind you." Exclaimed the brunette man as he squeezed his girlfriend's hand before shutting the door.
I'll be right
Here with you
You'll be right
Here with me
I'll be right
Here with you
You'll be right
Here with me
When your so trapped
And there's just no key
And you can't breathe
I'll breathe for you
The fire's got you down
On both knees
And the walls
Are closing
In but
I'll be
Breakin through
And when you feel alone
I'mma be ya home
When others come and go
Ya know I got you
Peyton exhaled deeply as they arrived to the church, all her pent up emotion willing to come out as they arrived to the ceremony that would officially declare her father dead. Another family member of hers gone to the waste land, never to be seen again, she blinked back the tears that were willing to come out, sinking into Luke's embrace as his arms instantly wrapped around her pregnant form and felt her body relax as he brang comforting words and echoed them through her system. She finally got the nerve to look up into those big, serious blue eyes that she loved so much and exhaled once again at the words she knew wanted to come out of his mouth.
"I'm fine,Luke. I just-I need some air. I'll meet you guys inside." Siad the curly depressed blonde and Lucas could only nod as he kissed her forehead before picking up his baby girl and leaving with his mother and Deb in tow who had given her a pat on the shoulder for comfort. Peyton sighed as she watched his retreating back and let the wind surround her, as if assuring comfort. She felt two presences join her and looked up to see her tearful best friends. No words were exchanged as they comforted each other in silence, that is till the chime of the bell could be heard, signalling that the funeral was beginning. The three could feel the tears burning through them as they approached the church and opened the big,oak doors, their hands clasped together as they fought their emotions and tried desperatly not to crumble.
When you feel
Your hearts guarded
And you see
The break started
When the clouds
Have all departed
You'll be right
Here with me
When your tears
Have dried from cryin'
And the world
Has turned to silent
When the clouds
Have all departed
You'll be right
Here with me
I will be there
Right be side
You take
I will be
Your strength
Your shelter
Shield you
From the rain
When you feel
Kaylee felt her tears slip down her face as the ceremony started and the priests words could be heard. Today was an equal hard day as it was for her mother, she lost her grandpa, her friend, the only grandparent she knew from her mothers side that has known her all her life. He'd been there for her multiple times whenever she needed it and now he was up and leaving to the big sky. She felt two shadows beside her and looked beside her to see Jamie and Lilly looking down at her, saddened expressions clouding their face. No words needed to be heard as the two simply got a hold of her hand, squeezed it and drowned into sorrow together.
(2x) When you feel
Your hearts guarded
And you see
The break started
When the clouds
Have all departed
You'll be right
Here with me
When your tears
Have dried from cryin'
And the world
Has turned to silent
When the clouds
Have all departed
You'll be right
Here with me
I'll be right
Here with you
You'll be right
Here with me
I'll be right
Here with you
You'll be right
Here with me
I'll be right
Here with you
You'll be right
Here with me
Yeah.
Peyton could feel the tears slip down her face like a waterfall as everyone passed in the silence that envoleped during the ceromony, She felt like the air she had to breathe had been sucked out of her as the priests last words surrounded the windy air. Most people had started clearing out, leaving her with a touch on the shoulder or a sympathetic smile except for the ones that knew her, who wanted to be there for her: the whole gang, stayed behind for emotional support and Peyton could obly smile slightly at them as a response. She inhaled deeply before removing herself from Luke's arms befor finding the courage to walk and approach her fathers tombstone, her hand lightly trailing over them as she choked a sob. She trembled as her hands found solace to clasping her necklace before looking up at the sky and untangling the necklace her deceased father had given her and putting it into a small box. She closed the box and moved it to the tombstone, Larry Sawyer had gone and Peyton Sawyer had to let him go,freely.
"Bye Dad," rasped the curly headed blonde before slowly standing up and retreating back to the people surrounding her, the people she called family and into the arms of the one loved. In the midst, the wind blew softly around the tearful pack and a ghostly smile came on Larry Sawyer's face before the clouds parted and brought him into heaven.
When you feel
Your hearts guarded
And you see
The break started
When the clouds
Have all departed
You'll be right
Here with me.
An- This chapter,made me cry, It reminds me of my Aunts death and hit me hard. The song I thought fit the song perfectly and was well suited for the chapter. If any one of you would like to hear it, the song is called Right here by Brandy.