CHAPTER 23

Peyton opened her eyes slightly and smiled dimly. She was eighteen years old. She didn't feel any different but neither had she on any of her other birthdays. She stretched and sighed, no one would know about today. She would be the only one who knew that she was suddenly one year older… not that she blamed anyone but herself. She was the one who hadn't wanted to tell anyone and she stood by that decision, she knew that if Lucas had known, especially, then he would have made a big fuss of her and even though she felt more at home than she had in a long time, she had to remind herself that she'd only known everyone in Tree Hill for two months. She had thought that her dad might have remembered though, because of the minor fact that he was her father but apparently not. She didn't feel resentment however because she knew that she'd be doing exactly what she wanted to do today, spending time with Lucas specifically as well as Nathan, Haley and Brooke. She smiled because there was nothing she'd rather be doing on her eighteenth birthday.

Her door opened and she smiled again, knowing who it would be. Lucas crept inside and shut the door behind him, before climbing onto her bed with her, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her chastely. He would have liked nothing better than to say 'Happy Birthday' at that point but knowing about what was happening later he held his tongue. Smiling down at her he said instead,

'Good morning babe.'

She answered him with another kiss to the lips, her birthday present was this. He smiled and kissed her back for a few moments before saying,

'So yesterday Nate saw a sign on a lamppost saying that there's a carnival thing downtown today, so we're all gonna go if you want to?'

Peyton jumped up quickly, 'I love fairs! How weird is it that it's on-' She stopped herself quickly, 'On- on a Friday. Yeah sure, I'm there!'

Lucas smiled at her retrieval of words and said, 'Great, they're all coming here at about eleven so we can get a good day in.'

'Well I better be going for a shower then, it's already ten.' Peyton said excitedly and went to run out of the room, but Lucas caught her arm bringing her back to him so he could kiss her then let her go again with a coy smile. She gave him a wink before running out of the room again and a couple of minutes later he heard the shower start. Today was going to be a good day; he thought happily leaning backwards against Peyton's pillows.

Lucas walked into the kitchen an hour later to see Nathan, Haley and Brooke all looking excited and standing there waiting.

'Where's Peyton?' Haley asked, Lucas opened his mouth but, as if on cue, Peyton shouted,

'I'll be there in two minutes guys!'

Haley grinned and clapped her hands together excitedly.

'Ok, can you please just act… nonchalant.' Lucas said quickly.

'Nonchalant. Right, got it.' Brooke answered just as Peyton walked into the room with a big grin on her face.

'Hey guys, sorry to keep you waiting.'

'It's fine.' Haley said quickly giving Peyton a hug.

'Whatever.' Brooke answered staring around the kitchen, with a seemingly bored expression on her face.

'Ok.' Peyton said, confused as Haley asked her something she turned to answer giving Lucas his opportunity,

'Brooke, I said nonchalant, not clueless!'

'Well, I'm pretty sure you just made that word up Scott, you didn't explain!' Brooke whispered back and Nathan couldn't help but chuckle,

'Dude, even I know what nonchalant means!'

'That's because you married your tutor!' Brooke hissed back before looping her arm through Peyton's. Haley took Peyton's other arm and they walked out of the kitchen with a laugh.

Karen walked into the kitchen and Nathan and Lucas hung back a little, 'I think everything's all right. Me and Nathan set up the beach house yesterday while Haley hung out with Peyt, but I'm not sure about-'

Karen cut him off with a smile, 'Luke, please stop rambling and go. Everything's going to be fine, just go have fun.'

'Fat chance of that, you know how much I hate rides.' Lucas grumbled. Karen smirked clapping her son on the back before saying,

'Just think of Peyton.'

Lucas nodded and walked out of the door, Nathan behind him before Karen said quickly,

'Nate, look after my boy. Knowing him, he's going to get pretty sick.'

Nathan snorted with laughter and gave Karen the thumbs up before they headed outside. Lucas and Nathan followed behind the three girls, who had their arms linked, with a smile, Nathan turned to Lucas to see his eyes on the back of Peyton's head with a wistful smile. Nathan shook his head, smirked and clapped his brother on the back of the head.

'Ow. What was that for?!' Lucas asked indignantly.

'You were day dreaming, I'm surprised you didn't fall off the curb… the klutz that you are.'

'Hilarious.' Lucas muttered, rubbing the back of his head.

'Can we go on the Ferris Wheel? Or the dodgems, oh oh, what about that one over there? Wait! Let's get some candy floss.'

They'd only just walked through the entrance and it looked like the whole of the town had turned out and Brooke was already on a tirade, Lucas and Nathan rolled their eyes but were both surprised at Haley and Peyton's response that was just as excited,

'I love candy floss.' Peyton said and Haley nodded with a grin. 'But let's go on a ride!'

The three girls were off and Nathan and Lucas followed wearily to a ride which made Lucas' stomach lurch apprehensively. His nervousness grew even more as the queue dwindled so that soon enough they were at the front. Peyton grabbed his hand and intertwined their fingers dragging them to the front of the ride, and sitting down before lowering the harness over herself, Lucas did the same and Nathan sat next to Lucas, while Haley and Brooke went on Peyton's other side. They squealed as the ride began and Lucas closed his eyes tightly. Why did he get himself into these situations?

'Wow, that was really great.' Peyton said five minutes later and three of them nodded in agreement. She looked over at Lucas and placed a hand on his shoulder, he was looking decidedly green,

'Luke, you okay?' She asked, the excitement passing to concern instead.

Lucas nodded trying to smile; he really didn't trust himself to open his mouth, for fear of being sick so he swallowed instead.

'What's next?' Haley asked happily, oblivious.

Nathan looked sympathetically at his brother with a smile and said, 'How about we look around a bit, have a go on some of the games here?'

'All right.' Peyton nodded and the three girls led the way again, Lucas patted his brother on the back.

'Thanks.' He said weakly.

'No problem, I figured it wouldn't be much of a birthday present for Peyton if you managed to puke all over her.' He chuckled.

Half an hour later and Lucas was feeling slightly happier, his stomach had settled down quite a bit and he felt almost completely normal, they passed a basketball stand and the two boys stopped, the girls looking around impatiently. A smirk lit up their faces seeing the hoops and the cuddly toys lined up around them.

'Fancy a one on one, little bro?' Lucas smirked and Nathan raised his eyebrows,

'Sure, old man.'

They paid the man on the stall and held the basketballs in their hands, smirking at each other.

'Best of five. After you.' Nathan smiled balancing the ball on the tip of his finger.

Lucas smiled and spun the ball in his hands just about to shoot before,

'Come on baby!' He turned around with a smile as did the other five and the small crowd that had gathered, Peyton blushed a little and Lucas laughed before turning around again and taking a shot. With a swoosh it was through the hoop and he smirked, turning around and winking at Peyton with a grin. The crowd clapped and Nathan just smirked getting ready to take his shot.

'You make this, and I'll make it worth your while.'

Nathan turned just how Lucas had to a blushing Haley as Peyton and Brooke burst into laughter, Peyton shoving Haley slightly. Nathan took a look at Lucas, who was grimacing slightly, probably at the picture of Nathan and Haley she'd created, he shrugged with a smirk and shot, the ball swooshing just like Lucas' had.

The last shot came quickly, the score predictably was 4-4 and neither one was backing down.

'Man, their competitive.' Peyton murmured to Haley and Brooke.

'It's basketball. They are like two-peas-in-a-pod when it comes to that sport.' Haley chuckled.

'Obviously.' Peyton smiled surveying Lucas lift up his t-shirt innocently to wipe his brow, his toned stomach revealed a few inches beneath, subconsciously she drew in a breath and couldn't help but want to be the basketball that was tucked securely in his arms. She shook her head slightly, turning her focus to Nathan who was smirking as if he had the last shot covered, there was no way he was losing.

'Right, so we're gonna shoot at the same time, and the basket that goes in, or the one that goes in first wins.' Nathan said and Lucas nodded in agreement, bouncing the ball in his hands once.

'All right, one…two…three.'

The two balls whooshed into the air at practically the same time, one going straight through and the other hitting the head board behind, bouncing off the ring and going in a couple of seconds later.

Lucas threw his hands into the air, 'I won!'

'No you didn't!' Nathan said indignantly.

'Let me get this right, the one that went in first won, correct?' Lucas asked with a grin.

'Those are the rules, you win!' The guy behind the stall gave Lucas a 'Winner' flag and he waved it around goofily. He caught Peyton in his arms as she flew into them.

'You won, you won, you won…' Peyton chanted as Nathan rolled his eyes, but with a smile. He wasn't that bitter.

'Aw babe, hard luck.' Haley said wrapping her eyes around him as Lucas chose one of the cuddly toys from the stall manager. Lucas took it off him and thanked him before turning to Peyton,

'For you, my lady.' He smirked pressing the toy into her hands. Peyton laughed slightly leaning up to kiss him.

Ten minutes later and they were walking away from the stand Lucas smiling broadly and waving around the 'Winner' flag with a smirk.

'You know I let you win right?' Nathan said matching his smirk, his arm wrapped around Haley's shoulders.

Lucas snorted, 'Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel any better.'

'I could have totally won if I wanted to.'

'Sure, sure. All that matters is what actually happened though, right? And the outcome of what actually happened is … that I won!' Lucas answered as though explaining a simple problem.

'Well, we could have a re match, a proper game of basketball.' Nathan reasoned with a shrug, the girls rolled their eyes as Lucas said,

'Fine, I won once, I can win again.'

'I'll kick your ass off the court.' Nathan vowed with a grin.

'Okay, stop with the macho talk. Lucas won, Nathan won… who cares?!' Brooke said with a frown.

'I agree.' Haley piped up.

Peyton however smirked and turned to Lucas, 'They're just jealous 'cause their man didn't win.'

Lucas nodded with a smile, 'That's right, and your man did win.'

'Uhuh.'

Lucas smiled again leaning down to be met with Peyton's lips. The others groaned,

'Only they could diminish this fight with a make out.' Brooke sighed.

'It wasn't a fight, merely a fact…' Nathan smiled.

'Sure, babe… you suck at losing.' Haley smirked, leaving Nathan with an open mouth, shocked.

Five minutes later and he'd only managed to mutter, '… meant to be my wife.' which made everyone laugh all the same.

Lucas couldn't believe he was in this situation again, they were on a slow ride but it went really high, almost like the Ferris wheel but Lucas swore it went a lot higher than that, he was sitting next to Peyton and wished that he'd decided to sit this one out. Peyton looked over and saw Lucas clutching the handlebar, his face white and his eyes closed as the ride lurched precariously.

'Luke?'

'Uhuh.' Lucas gritted out.

'Do you not like rides?' Peyton said and couldn't help the grin that spread across her face.

'No I don't!' Lucas said and opened his eyes, teeth clenched, 'Oh I'm so glad you find it funny, I swear if we go on one more of these stupid fair ground rides I'll-'

Peyton rolled her eyes and placing a hand to his cheek cut him off with a kiss to his lips, it surprised Lucas so much that his grip on the handlebar loosened. Surprisingly he found that Peyton kissing him took his mind straight off the ride he was on, and made his fear lessen. He smiled and deepened their kiss even as their 'carriage' lurched in a worrying way to the left sending her sliding into him, soon after one of his hands left the comfort of the handlebar completely to rest on her hip, keeping them steady as they kissed.

Lucas almost couldn't believe it when the ride finished and Peyton broke away from him with a grin,

'Can't we stay on for one more go?' Lucas whined, grabbing onto her hand as she stood up.

'I thought you didn't like rides.' Peyton smirked.

'I do now.'

'Luke, people are waiting.' Peyton chuckled, 'Come on.'

Lucas stood up grumpily, still holding onto her hand.

'Wow, you're not green.' Nathan said with a smile as they stepped off the ride.

'Let's just say… I'm a fan of rides now.' Lucas grinned and Peyton chuckled.

'Dodgems are the best!' Nathan said, bursting into laughter at the furious look on Peyton's face.

'I can't believe you all rammed into me.' She said moodily.

It was quite late in the afternoon now and they'd nearly spent all of their money on the attractions but the boys had insisted that dodgems were a must. The girls didn't really see the significance of driving around in an electrical car just to hit other people with it but agreed none the less, Peyton drawing the short straw in the end as all four of her so called friends counted to ten and drove into her at the same time.

'We'll explain it later…' Brooke winked, Haley, Nathan and Lucas laughing along making Peyton frown with a pout. Lucas took a quick glance behind him and the look on her face made him laugh even more, he turned straight away intending to hug her but the laughter reflected on his face turned to concern,

'Peyt, your head, it's bleeding.' He said and Peyton instinctively reached with her hand to wipe her forehead, looking at her hand she saw blood. Lucas took her hand, placing it at her side, cupping her cheek and placing a finger over the cut just above her right eyebrow. Peyton winced as his finger touched her cut.

'It's not that deep.' Lucas murmured,

'Doctor Scott over there.' Nathan muttered with a smirk. But Peyton wasn't listening she couldn't help but gaze up at Lucas as his brow creased into a frown as he inspected her forehead. She bit her lip as his eyes flickered with concern and his fingers caressed her face with the upmost tenderness. He smiled and said,

'I think you'll live, but I'm sorry.' He pressed his lips tenderly to hers and, as always when he kissed her, she lost most of her rational thought.

'Come on! You two can make out later!' Nathan moaned.

Peyton broke away from Lucas and pointed to her forehead with a look of pure innocence,

'Luke was just consoling my injury, that you all did when you drove into me!'

Nathan couldn't help but smirk but said, 'Aw Sawyer.' He pulled her to him and hugged her, 'We didn't mean to actually injure you.' Peyton looked up at him, surprised at the concern on his face too, but rolled her eyes at the smirk. He puckered his lips and leant down, 'Do you want us to kiss you better too?'

'Ew. No, I'm good thanks.' Peyton said pulling away with a laugh.

'Dude get your own girlfriend.' Lucas said wrapping a protective arm around Peyton's waist.

'He already has a wife.' Haley said with a good natured grin and Nathan looked around saying, 'There she is! I love you.' and giving her a small kiss which inadvertently made her smile wider.

Brooke looked at the two couples with a grimace, 'I wish Chase were here- you four are sickening…really.'

Lucas turned his head to the side as they walked, watching Peyton eat her candy floss with a smile. They were walking home now because, although Peyton didn't know about it, they didn't want them to be late for the party. Lucas and Peyton were leading the way, his arm wrapped around her shoulders with Nathan, Haley and Brooke behind them.

'Can I have some?' He asked looking at the pink candy.

Peyton smiled and accidentally got it on his face.

'Oh come on, now I'm all sticky.' Lucas smirked, biting off some of the floss all the same. 'Want a kiss?' He said goofily and leant in.

'Not if you're all sticky.' Peyton said leaning away.

'At least I'm not being sick.'

'This is true.' Peyton smiled and let him plant his lips on hers, the sweet sugary taste of the candy floss on both their lips. He felt strangely drunk from the sugar plus the adrenaline from the rides and plus the exhilaration from the fact that he'd been on rides without getting ill. He kissed her again as they walked, one arm around her shoulders the other hand cupping her cheek, who was she to resist Lucas Scott? She lost all sense of everything every time he kissed her and she wouldn't have it any other way.

'Okay, before you do yourselves an injury stop making out…and look where your going.' Haley voice came from behind them and Peyton couldn't help but laugh, her lips still on Lucas' he chuckled and said,

'Always the rational one is Haley.'

The two hung back a little, so that they were in step with the other three as they walked home laughing and joking. Peyton couldn't keep the grin off her face, today had been perfect… little did she know that it was about to get so much better...

It's been ages since i last updated, i know... and although excuses don't really make up for it, i'll try anyway. I've been ill for a while and it's made me want to spend all of my free time sleeping rather than writing. That's why being ill sucks :P. Also i kept changing this chapter, because i'm not quite happy with it and i wanted to get the best possible outcome for it, but ahhh i realised tonight that you really deserved something at least, so voila!

Isn't it great that OTH's back?! I was excited for the episode, although a little apprehensive too and although at first i was a little annoyed that Peyton's pregnancy was revealed over the phone, it doesn't really matter, because their reactions were perfect! I also loved how Haley found out and she was like, 'I got first dibs on godmother' lol But, the last scene made my LP heart swell! LOL So short yet so... perfect. Tummy kiss!! and the pure look of happiness on both of their faces.... ahh i could go on about it for ages but it's clear to every LPer i think lol. Loved the episode and am looking forward to the next one!!

Anyway hope you enjoyed the chapter... its a LOT cheesy but really, who can write angst after the episode?! There's too much LP love around! Reviews make my day :)