My Saving Grace

Chapter 14 It is up to You

Secrets and lies always catch up with us. It is just a matter of time.

It had only been a few days since Dan had reappeared into Lucas' life. Things weren't going that great for Lucas and Preston. Lucas hadn't really talked to Peyton about forbidding Preston from seeing Julie. He refused to talk about it because he wasn't sure what he was going to do about Dan. Peyton decided to give Lucas his space and let him make his own decisions about what he should do.

Preston wasn't talking to Lucas. He thought that it was unfair of him to forbid him from seeing Julie. It wasn't like he did anything wrong besides staying out all night, and he was already being punished for that.

As for Riley the day wasn't going that great. It was always hard for her on this specific day, her mom's birthday. It was even harder on her because her dad hadn't remembered. Birthdays were always very important to her mom. They would eat a big breakfast, skip school, go shopping, and spend the day doing whatever they wanted to do. Riley was hoping that her dad would remember, but he did have a lot on his mind, and she didn't hold that against him.

She decided to spend the day in her room listening to music and avoiding the world around her.

She had turned her phone on silent because she didn't want to be bothered, but she glanced over to see that she had five missed calls. They were all from the guy that always seemed to make her feel better, Owen. She didn't know what it was that made him so special, but she didn't care. She was so grateful that she had him in her life. She would do anything to keep him.

She decided to call him back because maybe just maybe isolating herself on one of the hardest days of her life from the guy that meant the most to her wasn't the best idea. It is never good to be alone.

She smiled as she dialed his number.

"Hello," he answered with a sing song voice. She loved it when he answered in that tone, and he knew it.

"Hi, I saw where you called. I'm sorry I didn't answer."

"I know that you said you wanted to be alone, but I was hoping that you would want to be alone with me."

She smiled, "What did you have mind?"

"Does it really matter as long as we are together?"

"No I guess not."

"I'll pick you up okay."

"Okay," she smiled. "And Owen thanks for not letting me just brood all day."

"I'd do anything for you Riles. See you soon."

…………………………………………..

Peyton was downstairs grading papers. She hated grading papers, but it had to get done somehow. She heard a knock at the door. "Come in."

Haley walked in. "Hey, oh grading papers. That is no fun." Haley sat down at the table.

"Yeah I know, but someone has to do." Peyton smiled. "Lucas isn't here, but I'm sure he'll be back later."

"Actually I came to see you."

"Me," Peyton was surprised. They were friends, but Haley usually stopped by to see Lucas. They were best friends after all.

"Yeah girly you," Haley smiled. "This whole Dan stuff has really consumed Nathan, and Lucas was more upset when Dan left so I figured he is taking it extremely hard."

Peyton sighed, "Yeah he isn't doing that great. But he really isn't talking to me about it. So I don't really know anything."

"He's not talking to you."

"No," Peyton shook her head. "I've noticed that when Lucas gets upset about something instead of talking about it he just broods and pushes people away."

"Yeah that's Lucas to a tee."

"Well I wish he would stop because I want to help, and our son is involved so this involves me."

"What?"

"Preston likes Dan's step daughter."

"Ooh, is that legal?"

"I think so, but Lucas laid down the law and has forbidden him from seeing her. Preston is pissed, and I'm the one that is left to deal with it."

"You don't agree with him, do you?"

"No," Peyton rolled her eyes. "You can't forbid a teenager from seeing someone they care about. It is only going to make things worse."

Riley walked downstairs and into the kitchen. "Hey Peyton I'm going out."

"Okay where are you going?"

"With Owen, is that okay?"

"Yeah go ahead have fun."

"Hey Aunt Haley, bye Aunt Haley," she smiled as she walked out the door.

"She's a good kid."

Peyton bit her bottom lip, "She's been having a bad few days, and Lucas hasn't even been around to care."

"What's wrong?"

"I don't know, but it is something. I'm glad to see she is leaving the house. I wish Lucas wasn't so absorbed in his own life."

"Luke will come around. He may brood a lot, but he always comes back from it."

Peyton sat quietly for a moment. "I wish that I could have one more day with my mom. I wish that my dad would come back, but I know that he won't. I know that Dan left him, but he came back, and maybe he has changed, but then again maybe he hasn't. I think Lucas is going to regret not giving him a chance. It isn't like he killed someone or did anything illegal." Peyton told Haley. "But I can't tell Lucas this because he won't listen to me or even confide in me." Peyton was disappointed in her husband's actions, and Haley could tell.

…………………………………………….

Lucas was sitting on his mom's couch. She had made him milk and cookies like she used to one he was a small child.

"Thanks ma," Lucas took a cookie.

"I think you know that we need to talk about Dan." Karen sat down beside him.

"I can't believe he is back. I can't believe he has a wife and kids. He left us and moved on."

"Lucas I have something that I have to tell you."

"What?"

"I should probably wait and tell you and Nathan together, but it's better late than never right?"

"Mom, what's wrong?"

"I'm upset that Dan is back, but there are some things that I should have told you a long time ago." Karen took a deep breath. "I knew that your father was going to leave. I wanted him to leave."

"I thought he just left one night and served you with divorce papers later. He didn't even say goodbye to us."

"He thought that would be too hard on you guys. Lucas your father and I were never happy together. I was never happy with your father. I wanted out Lucas. I was in love with your Uncle Keith. I had always been in love with your Uncle Keith."

"What are you saying mom?"

"I'm the one that asked for a divorce. I needed out of my marriage Luke."

"But he left you."

Karen lowered her head. She was disappointed in herself. "We talked about it and your father thought that it would be best if you guys hated him and not me."

"What?"

"It was my fault that our marriage wasn't working. I screwed it up because of my love for Keith."

"Were the two of you having an affair?"

Karen shook her head, "No we weren't sleeping together, but we were in love, and Dan thought that you and your brother would blame me, and he didn't want that. So he packed his bags, and he left. He knew that the two of you would blame him, and we could all move on and be happy together. He did what was best for all of us Luke. You were so much happier after he left."

"All these years I blamed it all on him." He was disappointed. "But you wanted out of the marriage."

"I told him to stay and we would discuss it with you guys, but he didn't listen to me. Lucas I'm so sorry for not telling you, but Dan wanted to be the bad guy. He chose to be the bad guy in order to protect me."

Lucas nodded his head. "I always thought he was."

"I love you Lucas. I love you so much, and I wish that I could have done things different, but I did a good job with you and Nathan. I honestly don't regret any of it besides not telling you the truth before now."

"So you think that I should talk to Dan?"

"I think you should do whatever is in your heart because that is all you can do Lucas."

"Riley told me the other day that what I did to her was exactly like what Dan did to me. She forgave me, and she thinks I should forgive him."

"Lucas life isn't about holding grudges and becoming bitter. Your father did what he thought was best for you, and I know it hurt, and it still hurts, but our marriage was never going to get better."

Lucas shook his head. He couldn't believe what his mom had told him. This new piece of information made his decision that much harder.

……………………………………………

Lucas made his way to the house to find Peyton had finished grading her papers, and she was now doing laundry. "Hey."

"Hey," she half way smiled. "I'm surprised your home so early."

"I went by to see my mom today."

"How did that go?"

He shrugged, "I learned some things today that I'm not sure I really wanted to know."

"Oh, do you want to talk about it or do you want to shut me out like you've done for the past few days?" She carried her laundry basket upstairs.

"Peyt," he called after her. He followed her upstairs. "I'm sorry that I've been distant. This is hard for me."

"I know it is hard for you Lucas, but I'm your wife, and I'm here for you. We're supposed to be in this together, and every single time something happens you push me away. You don't talk about it until you're ready. You can't do that Luke. You just can't."

"I know we're supposed to be in this together. I'm sorry for pushing you away."

"You should be." She glared at him. "I love you Lucas Scott and that is never going to change, but you've got to let me in. And you can't just go making decisions without me."

"What does that mean?"

"You told Preston he couldn't see Julie. That was a decision that the two of us should made together."

"I know I shouldn't have told him that. I was just so mad."

"You can't take it out on him. I know he screwed up, but I handled it."

"Yeah a month is a little long." He remarked.

She rolled her eyes, "Preston is a good kid, and I'll let him off before a month. I have to seem a lot tougher than I am."

"You're pretty tough." He pulled her closer to him.

"And you're still not off the hook." She pulled away. "You can't just flash that million dollar smile at me and make me forget that you didn't really talk to me the last few days."

He smiled at her again, "Is it still not working?"

"No," she lied. It really was. She couldn't resist him. She sat on the bed and motioned for him to sit beside her. "I think you should talk to your father."

Lucas nodded. "I think maybe I should too. Things aren't always what they seem I guess."

"I'm not telling you to have a relationship and act like nothing happened, but talk to him."

He cupped his hands on her face, "I promise to get better, and I know that I have made that promise before, but this time I mean it. I know that I need you. I need you to help me with all of my problems. You're my girl."

"And you're my guy. And together we can get through anything." She leaned in and kissed him.

"You promise?"

"I promise." They fell back on the bed kissing.

…………………………………………………….

Preston was grounded, but Brook had needed him to help her move some furniture around in her house. Peyton had agreed to let him go, but he was supposed to come home as soon as he finished. He decided to take a detour on his way back to his house.

Julie answered the door, "Hi," she smiled. "I'm so glad you were able to get out of your house."

"I don't have that long though."

"It's okay. Do you want to come in?"

He looked at the swing that was in front of the house. "Why don't we just sit out here?"

"Okay, but my parents aren't home right now. I guess I should say your grandfather isn't home right now."

"That is so weird." They sat down on the swing.

"Yeah I'm totally your Aunt."

"I was hoping that instead of me calling you my Aunt I could call you my girlfriend." He smiled.

She didn't say anything, but she started kissing him.

"That's a yes right?"

"That's definitely a yes." She smiled and kissed him again. "Wait what about your dad?"

"He'll get over it. I don't care what he says. I want to be with you."

She smiled, "I have never felt this way about anyone, and we barely even know each other."

"Sometimes people click, and we did. And I want to know everything about you Julie."

"I want you to know everything about me." She kissed him again. This time they didn't stop. They were making out heavily.

Footsteps could be heard coming up the steps, but they were too worried about each other to care.

"What the hell? Preston Scott!" Lucas yelled.

"Oh crap," he pulled away from Julie. "Dad," he shook his head. He couldn't catch a break.

"You're supposed to be grounded. Does your mom know that you are here?"

Preston stood up from the swing. "She thinks I'm at Aunt Brooke's."

"I can't believe you. I told you that you weren't allowed to see her."

"Well I think that's stupid."

"Excuse me."

"I care about her and I'm not going to let you are anyone else tell us that we can't be together." Preston stood up for himself. "I know that I'm in the wrong by being here because I'm grounded, but once I'm ungrounded nothing is going to keep me from her. What are you doing here anyways?"

"I came to see Dan. Is he home?"

Julie shook her head, "No, he and my mom had to take Sarah Grace to ballet class."

"Oh okay….I um…" Lucas didn't know exactly what to say.

"Do you want me to tell him you stopped by?"

"I guess you could do that."

"Okay I will."

Lucas looked at Preston. "We need to talk."

Preston frowned. "Okay."

"Um you guys can talk here. I'm gonna go inside. I guess I'll see you later Preston."

"Bye." He watched her walk inside. "Okay let me have it."

"Sit," he pointed to the steps, and they both sat down.

"What has gotten into you? First you stay out all night, you lie to us, you come here, and you're still seeing Julie."

"I know, but you gave me no choice."

"I gave you no choice."

"I care about her, and it is not fair that you don't want me to see her."

Lucas sighed, "I admit that I was wrong for telling you that you couldn't see her. I was just upset."

"So I can see her?" He was hopeful.

"Not while you are grounded, and once I tell your mom that you were here instead of where you were supposed to be she might up your sentence."

"Wait we don't have to tell mom."

"Oh yes we do. She is already fussing at me for not talking to her about things. I can't keep this from her."

Preston grunted. "But I can see Julie once I'm ungrounded?"

"Yeah you can see her all you want. I'm not going to stand in the way of whatever the two of you have. I love you Preston, and I'm only trying to look out for you."

"I love you too dad. And I'm not going to lie or sneak around anymore."

"Good, I can't take anymore lying." He was referring to his mother. "Now let's get you home before your mom starts to worry."

"Okay, thanks for not being too mad at me."

"I was your age once."

"Yeah like five thousand years ago."

"Ha, ha, you are too funny." Lucas said sarcastically.

"Hey dad were you going to talk to your dad?"

"Yeah I think it is about time." Lucas half way smiled. Maybe it was time for him to finally let go.

…………………………………………………

Peyton was still doing some cleaning up around the house when the house phone rang. "Hello," she answered.

"Yes is Mr. Scott there?"

"Um no I'm sorry he isn't in right now, but I'm his wife. I can take a message."

"Could you tell him that we found his watch at the North Carolina State Prison? We are going to mail it to him."

"Why did you find his watch?"

"He left it in the holding box."

"What? Do you know why he was at the prison?"

"It says here he was visiting a Jason Parker."

"Oh okay," Peyton frowned. "Thank you for calling." She hung up the phone and became very upset. She couldn't believe that Lucas went to the prison without telling her about it.

……………………………………………

Riley and Owen were at the beach lying in the sand. He was reading her his favorite parts of Pride and Prejudice.

"I can't believe that you like Pride and Prejudice. It is such a girl book."

"It is the most romantic books. Jane Austin is an amazing author. I only wish that I could write like she did."

"I know, but guys are supposed to think that."

"What makes you say that?"

"I don't know. Doesn't it make you lose your masculinity?"

"No, I think it makes me sexy."

"I think I would have to agree." She smiled.

"I've always wanted a relationship like Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth."

"I think we could have that." She leaned over and kissed him. "You know I'm so glad that you called me. It is always hard to live through this day because birthdays were so important to my mom."

"I know you told me before. I want to make all your bad days better. I want to at least try." He sat up. "I want you to know that I'm always here for you. I will always be here for you. I love being with you, and well to be honest with you Riley I love you."

She froze when he said I love you.

"You don't have to say it back. I didn't say it so you would say it. I said it because I get butterflies every time I'm around you or even when I'm thinking about you. You are able to light up the room every time you walk in. You make me laugh when I should be sad. You make me mad but at the same time you make everything easier. You're the girl for me, and I think I've known it since the moment that I met you. If that isn't love I don't know what is."

Riley kissed him. "My mom said that when I was in love I would feel it all the way down to my toes. I feel that when I'm with you Owen. I love you too, and I'm not saying it just because you said it because I've been wanting to say it for a while now. I always get a little scared because love is a huge commitment, but I'm ready to make that commitment with you."

They fall back on the sand kissing.

"I think my mom would think this was a pretty good birthday."

"I would have to agree."

"I love you Mr. Darcy." She smiled.

He laughed, stroked her hair, and continued to kiss her.

………………………………………………………..

Lucas and Preston walked into the house to see Peyton waiting on them. "Hey mom I can explain." Preston started defending his actions.

"How could you? How could you?" She looked at Lucas.

"What are you talking about? I thought you were going to be mad at Preston."

"I'm mad at you for not telling me that you went to see Jason."

"You went to see Jason." Preston was surprised.

"Peyton," he started to defend his actions.

"Don't even start with me Lucas, you promised that you were going to talk to me about things from now on," she stomped upstairs without letting him defend himself. He couldn't win for losing.

Okay so there is chapter 14. I did an outline and there are only six more chapters left in this story. A lot happened in this chapter, and sometimes I don't like when a lot happens, but i think it was needed to move the story forward.

The next chapter will have some Dan, and a lot of Owen and Riley.

Thanks so much for the reviews. It is nice to hear from you guys. You all have really supported me, and it means a lot. So thank you so much, and I can't wait to read what you guys thought.