My Saving Grace

Chapter 8- Confrontation of the Mother's

We have to take a stand and take control of a difficult, trying situation.

It was the day after Peyton had figured out Sophie was in town, Lucas had grounded Riley, and Owen had broken up with her.

Riley hadn't left her room all night, and Peyton was determined to get answers. She remembered Preston talking about his art teacher, and after seeing Sophie she made the connection.

Preston was in his room drawing as usual. He was working on a rather disturbing picture of a graveyard.

Peyton knocked on the door. "Can I come in?"

"Sure mom, what's up?" He said cheerfully.

She walked in and sat on the bed. "Did you tell me that your art teacher's name is Sophie?"

"Yeah," he nodded his head.

"Do you know her last name?"

"You know I never thought to ask. Why do you ask?" He was curious.

"I'm just trying to be an informed mother."

"Oh okay, well you don't have to worry about Sophie. I thought she had a crush on me, but I was wrong."

"She's a lot older than you." Peyton said concerned.

"I know that, but I felt a connection to her."

"A connection?"

"Yeah it was really weird how close I felt to her. You know it was like we had known each other forever."

She could feel the blood boiling with in her. Sophie had already tried manipulating her way back into Preston's life, and she wasn't happy about it. "Do you have class tomorrow?"

"No, my class only meets twice a week because Sophie teaches a class for beginners tomorrow."

"What time?"

"What does it matter?"

"I'm just curious."

"You're not going to say anything to her about the connection I felt are you?"

"No," Peyton was just going to confront her because of the lying bitch she was.

"It's over at like twelve. She usually stays late to set up for the next day."

"Okay."

"Mom you promise you aren't going to go down there because she made me think she liked me."

"I was just curious about your life Preston. I am your mother after all. Don't you ever forget that, okay?"

She could feel the tears forming in her eyes. She never wanted him to think of Sophie as his mother because she never was.

The next day Peyton found herself standing outside of the art classroom. She had been there almost fifteen minutes. She was trying to bring herself to enter. She felt like this confrontation was going to be worse than the confrontation with Jason.

Finally she took a deep breath and entered the room. Sophie turned around when she heard the door open. "Peyton," she was a little startled.

"I'm standing between you and the door so you can't run from me this time."

"I wasn't planning on running. I know that you probably want some answers."

"You're damn right I want answers." Her voice remained calm. "How dare you manipulate my son?"

"He's my son."

"No you lost that right the minute you walked away from him. I'm his mother in every way that counts."

"I wanted to make sure he was okay. I heard about Jason, and what he did, and I had to make sure my son was okay."

"Well he's fine, and you can leave."

"I've been here for almost two years now, watching him from afar. I was so scared the first time I confronted him."

"You've been lying to him."

"I wanted to tell him the truth, but I was scared. I didn't know how he would take it."

"I doubt he would take it very well at all. You abandoned him. You left him with a man that abused him. You don't deserve to know the boy that I raised. He's too good to be your son."

"I had my reasons," she yelled. "I was young, and Jason took advantage of me. He didn't love me. All he ever wanted was a kid. So I gave him what he wanted, a son. After Preston was born the abuse got worse, and one night I decided to take my son and leave town, but Jason woke up and threatened to kill me if I took Preston away from him. He also told me that he would kill me if I stayed. So I left, and I left my son. I was praying the abuse would stop when I left." She was crying. "I missed him every single day that I was away. I got extremely lucky that he was able to find you. You were an angel brought into his life, and I thank God everyday that you were there for him. But I need to know my son. I need him to know me."

"No way in hell will I let that happen. You are not going to take him from me."

"I just want to get to know him Peyton."

"No," Peyton refused.

"Do you remember the first time we met?"

Peyton was silent for a moment. "Preston was seven. It was his birthday. Jason had a business thing out of town, and it was just me and Preston. I always enjoyed time with Preston when Jason wasn't around. It was peaceful."

"I never forgot his birthday. I had decided that I was going to fight for my son, and then I saw you with him at the park. You were so good with him, and he loved you as if you were his mother, and I couldn't take that away from him or you."

"You came to the house that night and dropped off a present. You told me to take care of him, and I have, and I don't think that you coming back into his life is a good idea. He doesn't even remember you."

"But I want him to know me. I don't want to be his mother because he already has you, but I want to be apart of his life."

"Then just be his art teacher."

"That was my plan, but he's a smart kid, and he knows that there is something else going on. He's bound to figure it out."

Peyton didn't say anything.

"I never stopped loving him. Please Peyton let me tell Preston that I gave birth to him. Please give me a chance to explain my actions."

"What?" Preston walked into the room. He had heard the last part of their conversation.

"Preston," Peyton wasn't sure how much he heard.

"You're my mother?" He was in shock.

"Yes," Sophie had tears running down her face.

Preston was shaking his head in disbelief. "You knew about this?" He looked at Peyton.

"I just found out."

"I've got to go."

"Preston," she yelled but it was too late. "Damn it."

"We just need to let him think about it for a while."

"Don't tell me what we need to do. You don't know him. I know him, and I am his mother not you. You should really think about leaving town, after all you are pretty good at it."

Peyton walked out of the room. Sophie took a deep breath. She was glad that he finally knew, but she was afraid that she would never be able to see him again.

……………………………………………..

Back at the Scott household, Riley was in her room doing some homework when Lucas walked in.

"Do you not know how to knock?"

"I was afraid you had snuck out again."

"I'm still her unfortunately."

"I brought you a sandwich."

"Thanks, but I'm not hungry."

"You have to eat Riley."

"You can make me eat."

Lucas sat down on her bed after putting the sandwich on her desk. "We need to talk."

"We talked enough yesterday."

"Today is a new day, and we need to talk again."

She sat her books to the side.

"I have apologized to you a thousand times for the mistakes I made in the past, but those apologies stop now Riley. I am sorry for abandoning you and leaving you without a father, but I am here now and whether you like it or not you are stuck with me." He bit his bottom lip while he collected his thoughts. "I'm not going anywhere, and I'm going to show you everyday how much I love and care about you."

Riley didn't say anything.

"You screwed up the other night, and you know that. And I know if you could take it back you probably would because that's who you are. I think that this can be a learning experience for you. We're both still learning and growing up, and trying to figure out this whole father/daughter relationship thing. We have to do it together. We have to trust each other."

He stood up from the bed not expecting her to respond.

"I'm sorry daddy." She had tears in her eyes. "I knew what I was doing was wrong, but Katie has always had this kind of influence on me. When mom was alive I got in a lot of trouble because of Katie. I know that I made the choices and decisions when I was with her, and I'm sorry."

He walked back over to the bed and gave her a hug.

"I promise I'm gonna be better, and I know that you love me. I love you too."

He hugged her tighter.

Peyton busted into the room without knocking. "Has Preston come home yet?"

"No, why?" Lucas was concerned. He could tell by the look on her face that it was serious.

"He knows that his mother is in town." She was crying.

"What?" Riley felt out of the loop.

"I'll explain it as soon as we find Preston. Do you know where he could be?"

"Um I'm not sure. I could help you look for him if it's okay with dad."

"Go ahead," Lucas didn't mind. "I'll help too. I'm sure he's fine."

Peyton was shaking, "He was so hurt Lucas. I'm scared."

He took her in his arms. "It's okay. Everything is going to be okay."

……………………………………………………

Later that night everyone had been looking for Preston, but he wasn't answering his cell phone, and he wasn't in any of the places Riley thought he would be.

"Maybe we should call the cops," Peyton suggested. She was worrying herself sick.

"That's not necessary Peyton. He'll come home when he's ready."

"I wish he would just come home now. I need to know he's okay."

………………………………………….

Preston was sitting at the library. Riley didn't think to look there because she wasn't a big fan of the library.

Sophie walked in and sat next to him. He didn't say anything. "I know that I'm probably the last person you would want to talk too."

"How did you know I was here? My mom hasn't even figured out that I was here."

"Because I watched you over the past two years, and this is one of your favorite place to go. I would have been here sooner, but I wanted to give you sometime to think. And well I honestly thought you would go home before now."

"I don't want to go home right now."

"What all did you hear earlier?"

"I know you're my mom, and now I know you've been stalking me for two years. Why didn't you just tell me?"

"I was afraid you would hate me."

"I'm not a big fan, but my mom always taught me not to hate or at least she tried too. We both really hate Jason."

"I'm so sorry for putting you through all of that."

"You should be. It was hell until my MOM came along. She saved me." He sighed, "I can't believe she knew you were in town and didn't tell me. She always tells me everything."

"To be honest with you she didn't realize I was in town until yesterday."

He smirked, "I thought you liked me and come to find out you're my mother. It is a little creepy."

"I know I should have told you sooner."

"You're damn right," he jumped up from his seat. The library threw him a dirty look. "At least I know now," he whispered.

"I never stopped loving you."

"I should go. I'm sure my mom is worried about me." He grabbed his things. "I think it would be best if I didn't do your art class anymore. It would be way too weird." He walked off and Sophie wanted to scream, but she knew she couldn't.

…………………………………………….

Preston walked into the house moments before Peyton called the cops. "Thank God," she dropped the phone and ran to hug him. "I was worried about you."

"I know, and I am sorry."

"You have a cell phone for a reason."

"I know. I'm sorry for worrying you guys. I'm kind of tired. I think I'm gonna go to bed."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No not really," he shook his head and walked upstairs.

Peyton was extremely worried about him. "I should talk to him."

"Let me," Lucas intervened.

……………………………………………..

Preston was in his room shredding his art work. Lucas opened the door. "Hey what are you doing?"

"I got my talent from her. This was the one thing that made me closer to my mom, but now I know where I really got it. I got it from the woman that left me with an abusive father."

"Hey stop it," he took the book away from him. "You're mom, the one that has been with you for all the big moments in your life, is the one that taught you how to draw like this. She is the one that made you who you are today. A mom or a dad isn't about blood or DNA. It is so much more than that. It is about love and commitment, and that woman loves you more than anything. The two of you are going to be connected forever by the most important thing, love."

Preston looked at him. "I know she loves me, but now this woman has come into my life. What am I supposed to do?"

"You do whatever you want to do. If you want to get to know her, then you get to know her, but if you don't, then you don't. No one can make those decisions for you. It is all up to you."

"What would you do?"

"My dad left me when I was younger. He never loved me or my brother. My uncle was my father, and I have feeling if Dan walked through the door tomorrow I wouldn't want anything to do with him, but that's just me. I know why he left me, but you don't know why she left you."

"You think I should ask her, don't you?"

"I think you should follow your heart." Lucas walks to the door. "You've got to good heart, and it will lead you into the right direction."

"You know you're right, it isn't about blood or DNA."

Lucas smiled. He knew exactly what he was talking about. "I love you Preston."

"I love you too," he waited for a minute, "Dad."

Lucas couldn't believe that he called him dad, but he liked it. "Goodnight son," he walked out of his room.

Preston thought about what Lucas had said, but he wasn't sure what he was going to do. He had always liked Sophie from the beginning. Maybe he should get to know her.

……………………………………

Peyton was sitting up in the bed. She had a very long day and couldn't sleep. "How is he?"

"He is going to be just fine."

He sat on the bed next to her. "I hope you're right."

"He called me dad."

"Huh," she smiled.

"It was one of the best moments in my life. It has to be top five."

Peyton kissed him.

"I want to have baby with you," she told him.

"What?"

"I want to have your baby Lucas Scott. I want that more than anything."

He kissed her, "I would love to have a baby with you."

He held onto her with dear life. "I hope she looks like you."

"I bet he'll act just like you."

They both smiled. They were going to try to have a baby. Everything was going to be okay as long as they had each other.

Okay so first of all thanks so much for the reviews. You guys are always so motivating, and I love it.

Now to this chapter I really liked it, and it was easy to write. It had drama, but it also had love and a little bit of mushy, and I like to write mushy, but I love drama. So i hope you guys enjoyed, and I can't wait to hear what you to say.

So please Review and tell me if you liked it, hated it, or didn't care either way.

I'm still deciding what I'm gonna do with Sophie so if you guys have any ideas please throw them my way. I always love your ideas.