CHAPTER 26

One week later and Lucas and Peyton had put 'the talk' behind them. However Karen was keeping her part of the bargain up completely, when they were alone together she would come in at different times just to check and even when she was at the café working she'd randomly pop home, claiming to have 'forgotten' something. Lucas and Peyton did find times to be alone though, they were making regular trips to the beach house to ensure they'd be undisturbed and the stolen moments in the confines of the master bedroom made all the rest worth it, at least they thought so.

Karen had left for work an hour ago and so when Peyton walked into the kitchen in the morning she wasted no time in sitting on Lucas' knee as he sat at the table, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his lips softly. He abandoned the paper quickly and wrapped his arms around her waist, keeping her in place on his lap. He grinned and kissed her again.

'Well good morning.' He smiled afterwards.

'To you too.' Peyton smiled. 'I just want to say, even though I've said it a thousand times, thank you so much for the party last week.'

'And I have said a thousand times that I wanted to do it. Okay, anything for you… although I was a little bummed you didn't tell me about your birthday in the first place.' Lucas pouted.

'I didn't…'

'…want all the fuss. I know.' Lucas smiled and Peyton nodded, slightly surprised at how much he really did know her.

'I kind of thought that my dad… might have called.' Peyton whispered looking at the floor feeling a little childish that she was upset her dad hadn't actually made any effort for her birthday, but after all it was her eighteenth.

'Ahh I completely forgot.' Lucas said releasing his hold on Peyton who stood up confused, as he rushed into his bedroom, coming back a moment later with an envelope. 'This was sent a few days before you birthday, I'm sorry. I guess it's from your dad.'

Peyton took it out of Lucas' hands and read the back of it with a smile, before ripping it open. A card and another envelope fell out; she opened the card and read it a smile forming on her lips as she read. Lucas smiled as she shut the card.

'Off your dad?' Lucas asked.

'Yeah. So this is how you found out about my birthday.' Peyton smiled, and seeing the other envelope reached down to pick it up. Upon seeing the writing on the envelope, her smile became a little too fixed and Lucas frowned as she straightened up, just staring at the envelope in an almost confused sort of way. After a minute she opened it and took out the card, reading it quickly and then shutting it, looking a little pale.

'Who's it from?' Lucas asked trying to keep his tone even. Peyton looked up into his face and saw the concern but she forced a smile and said,

'No one…it's nothing.' She answered before shoving the cards and two envelopes into her back pocket and leaning up to kiss Lucas again. He knew this was her way of changing the subject and felt a little dejected, what was she hiding? He frowned into the kiss but reciprocated all the same, wrapping his arms around her waist, a plan forming. She deepened the kiss and he responded, his hands moving slowly from her waist to her ass and quickly, before she even knew what had happened, whipping the cards out of her pocket and abruptly pulling away.

'Lucas!' Peyton said outraged at how he'd tricked her. She tried to grab the card out of his hands but he held it above his head.

'Why won't you tell me?' Lucas asked a frown on his face.

'Give me them back.' Peyton said calmly, holding out her hand.

'Why won't you tell me who the cards from?' Lucas asked and there was a disappointed tone to his voice.

'Lucas…'

'Peyton…'

'It's just someone from LA.' Peyton said exasperatedly.

'Who?'

'My ex boyfriend!' She said in frustration.

Lucas felt like all the wind had been knocked out of him.

'You-your ex boyfriend?!' He said incredulously.

'Yes. Believe it or not Lucas, I have dated other people.' Peyton bit out, slightly annoyed at his tone.

'Evidently, so what does this… boyfriend say?' Lucas said his voice turning cold… something that Peyton hadn't witnessed before.

Peyton swallowed closing her eyes, it sounded a lot worse than it was. 'Just…read it.'

Lucas sighed and opened the card; did he really want to read this? Before he could doubt anymore he started…

Dear Peyton,

Happy Birthday! I hope it isn't too bad in Tree Hill!

I know you probably won't write back so I'll just get to the point…I'm really sorry for how I left things six months ago. I can't even believe it's been that long, I know I left without a word and it was so wrong. Believe me, I've been beating myself up about it ever since. I guess I just didn't want you to be tied down, with Jenny and everything. I mean we're young and we've got dreams and aspirations and she's my burden to bear not yours.

But after about four months I realised that nothings the same, Jenny asks for you, I miss you everyday and it's taken me two months to actually get my act together.

What I'm trying to say is that when you get back to LA I'll be there and I hope that maybe you'll consider 'us' again, I'll be waiting, regardless of how long it takes

I was stupid; I made a stupid mistake. Jenny loves you so do I.

Jake.

Lucas finished but couldn't help but stare at the writing anyway. Who was this guy and who was Jenny?! Peyton knew he'd finished reading because his eyes weren't moving but she daren't take the card off him or try to get his attention, so she waited. After a few minutes Lucas breathed heavily through his nose and said in a slightly shaky voice,

'Well that's…nice.'

Peyton stood speechless realising that his voice was shaky out of anger; he practically pushed the card back into her hands before stalking into the kitchen and sitting down. She stood in the hallway for a couple more minutes, trying to compose herself, and then followed him. He was sitting at the table, his elbows resting on the table hands clasped and his chin resting on top of them.

'Hi.' Peyton said meekly sitting down next to him.

'So how come you two broke up?' Lucas asked.

Peyton opened her mouth to say that it wasn't really any of his business but she also wanted to be honest with him.

'He left but I could understand it, he was being noble. At least, I didn't resent it.' Peyton said, she didn't really want to go into details.

'Oh aren't they the best? Amicable break ups.' Lucas remarked, with a hint of sarcasm. 'So how long were you together?'

'Luke, what does it even matter?' Peyton asked, but at an impatient look from Lucas she answered, 'A year.'

Lucas' hand gripped the table tightly, his knuckles white. 'That must have been getting serious then…'

'Luke…' Peyton sighed.

'Who's Jenny?' Lucas interrupted.

Peyton sighed, raking a hand through her hair. Lucas' eyes narrowed. 'His daughter.' Lucas seemed to choke on the liquid in his mouth as he swallowed impulsively hard; he coughed several times before saying,

'You have a daughter.'

'No, I said his daughter not mine.' But Lucas saw the pain flash through her eyes as she said it, this Jenny must seriously mean a lot to her. 'She was born a few months before we got together.'

Lucas didn't have the patience to notice that Peyton really didn't want to talk about Jake and Jenny as he pushed on, 'So you three played happy families for a whole year? I'm surprised you weren't shacked up by now. Actually I'm surprised-' He stopped and Peyton stared confused as he seemed to change tack at a million miles an hour, 'Have you been with many guys then?'

'What is that supposed to mean?' Peyton asked narrowing her eyes.

'Well a year, you know, it's a long time. You must have had a few relationships before that- its too serious for a 'first time' thing, you know…'

'If you must know he was my first proper boyfriend and I really don't like where this conversation is going. So come and talk to me when you decide to grow up.' Peyton answered, pushing her chair back and walking out of the room. He winced when he heard the sound of her bedroom door slamming. Boy was she mad. Sighing he put his face into his hands, why did this bother him so much? He and Peyton were strictly the summer so what did it matter if she got back with this guy when she went back to LA? Lucas' chest burned and he realised it mattered a lot more to him than he'd originally anticipated. Plus the fact that she'd brought up a child, practically from birth, meant an awful lot too.

He sat for a while, just thinking. He'd been wrong to act jealous, but it also wasn't his fault. Why wouldn't he be jealous, his girlfriend's ex boyfriend wanted to get back together with her and he couldn't honestly blame the guy. The truth was that it really had nothing to do with Lucas anyway; Peyton had another life that he knew barely anything about…

He stood up and made his way to Peyton's room, knocking before entering. He closed the door behind himself and turned around, seeing Peyton sitting on her bed, holding a cushion and fiddling with it. He sighed, sitting down next to her and saying, 'I'm sorry.'

'Me too.' Peyton sighed, 'I should have shown you the letter straight away, it doesn't mean anything to me.'

'Peyt, you were with the guy for a year, it's got to mean something.'

'I'll always care for him and Jenny too. But I'm not in love with him anymore. There's a big difference.'

'I know. I can't blame him really, who wouldn't fall in love with Peyton Sawyer?' He smiled, pulling her to him and kissing her head as it fell against his chest. She couldn't help but bite her lip in wonder as her heart skipped a beat… was he saying what she thought he was saying? But instead of elaborating he left it there and Peyton was left to decipher her opinion on the words. She sat up, looking at him and intertwining their hands,

'I just- I see us as different to what me and Jake had. It was great and… everything.' She decided not to elaborate as Lucas wrinkled his nose slightly. 'But there was something there with you, instantly, as soon as you hugged me on that beach ….'

Lucas placed his finger on her lips to stop her rambling, 'Peyt, I believe you. I was just taken by surprise that's all…'

'So was I, believe me' Peyton said, chuckling slightly.

'He hasn't contacted at all?' Lucas asked genuinely interested slightly.

'No, he just left because, well partly because of Jenny's mother, but partly because he knew it wasn't my responsibility to bring up his child…'

'But you did…' Lucas said, a finger tracing her jaw.

'I did. She's the sweetest little thing.' Peyton smiled.

'Do you miss her?'

'Sometimes, I've grown to deal with it. But she's probably better off without me in her life, complicating things.'

'I highly doubt that.' Lucas smiled pressing his lips against hers, she pushed his chest lightly and he leaned away with a frown.

'I can't believe you effectively called me a slut.'

Lucas winced at the words, 'I did not.'

'In a round about way you did.' Peyton insisted.

Great one Lucas thought decisively. How was he going to get out of this one, of course he didn't think Peyton was a slut. Past or present… or future for that matter. 'Peyt… I do not in any way shape or form think you are… you know. It's a horrible thing to say and I would have never said it to you. It's just you're you…' Peyton raised her eyebrows at this and Lucas went on quickly, 'What I mean is, you're pretty much irresistible to me and I can't see that being different for any other guy. You could probably have anyone you wanted…'

Peyton snorted, 'Right. 'Cause guys love the girl whose past is as complicated as the freaking Bible.'

Lucas chuckled, 'I was just… a teensy bit jealous is all.'

Peyton smirked, looking a little pleased, 'You were, were you.'

'Uhuh. Actually I was more than a teensy bit…but let's not get into that.' As Peyton smiled he remembered another part of the letter and he pouted, 'It's not too bad in Tree Hill is it?'

Peyton's mouth opened in shock and she leaned away from him, wondering if he'd actually asked that question, 'What?!'

Lucas' face looked genuinely confused as he said again, a little more slowly, 'It's not too bad in Tree Hill is it?'

'Luke, I heard what you said.' Peyton said and couldn't help but smile. 'And I can't think of a more stupid question.' She moved closer to him again, her hands on his shoulders as he turned his head to face hers, he looked like a doubtful, wounded puppy and she sighed. 'I love being here, and you know why? Because of you, you are the reason I want to get up in the morning, you are the reason this summer is going so unbelievably fast and you are the reason why I'm kind of dreading leaving.'

Peyton gulped a little, she hadn't meant to say the last bit, she'd been thinking it for while but didn't planned to share it at all, ever, Lucas' smile was a happy one but she also saw that he was hiding a certain amount of dread too, perhaps he wasn't looking forward to three weeks from now either.

Lucas leant in close, his breath tickling her cheeks as he whispered, 'Good answer.' Before leaning in more and pressing his lips to hers, she pulled him by the shoulders and they fell together into the mattress of Peyton's bed, her giggle muffled by another kiss from Lucas.

They heard the front door close and Lucas groaned, granted they'd had the whole day together and they'd spent it all in Peyton's room. He couldn't lie that his absolute favourite thing to do was kiss her and so spending the whole day doing just that felt like heaven. He pressed his lips to hers once more and they shared one more kiss before Peyton said,

'We better go Luke; you know that your mom will just come in here anyway.'

Lucas groaned and Peyton let out a sigh too, even though they were fully clothed she had to admit that spending a day in bed with Lucas Scott, talking, kissing and generally fooling around was perfect. She'd actually forgotten that there was an outside world to this room and that sooner or later it would intrude. They got up and she straightened out her appearance, making sure that she didn't look too ruffled even if their lips were a little red from how much contact they'd had today. They reached the door at the same time and Lucas smiled, releasing his hold on the handle to kiss her lips one more time before opening the door and stepping out. They met Karen and she turned to greet them with a smile,

'Hey, what have you two done today?'

Lucas took a quick look at Peyton who smiled at him and he said, 'Just lounged around really, watched a few films… how was work?'

'Good. The café is doing very well at the moment, too well… I haven't actually got enough staff.'

'I could help mom, you know I would.' Lucas protested and Peyton had to fight the urge to kiss him there and then, he was so caring it made her swoon.

'Would you? Just for tonight, it's just Deb's been working overtime and she really needs a rest, so do I, truth be told.'

'Of course.' Lucas smiled.

'I'll help too.' Peyton said but Karen shook her head, 'I want to.' Peyton said earnestly and Karen smiled.

Twenty minutes later and they were pulling aprons over their heads assuring Deb that they could handle things and that she should take the night off and soon afterwards she left.

'This is so exciting; I've never been on this side of the counter before.' Peyton smiled standing by the till.

Lucas smirked, 'You dork.'

'I want a customer to come in.' Peyton whined moments later. So far it had been pretty quiet; Karen seemingly had jinxed the idea of there being too many customers. Lucas looked around at the pies; pastries and cakes on the plates around him.

'We could reload the dishes, there's definitely a blueberry pie that should sit here.'

'I'll go check in the refrigerator.' Peyton smiled practically skipping away into the back.

Lucas waited a few minutes before going to check after her, wondering why it was taking too long. He rounded the corner and saw Peyton rummaging in the oversized fridge. 'Stupid blueberry pie… She muttered pushing boxes to the side.

'Having trouble?' Lucas asked with a smile and Peyton jumped taken by surprise.

'You scared me.'

'That was the intention babe.' Lucas replied walking closer and placing a kiss to the corner of her mouth and pulling away. Peyton reached up and re-connected their lips impatiently and seconds later the refrigerator door had been shut and he was pushing her, non too lightly, against it, the cool surface against her back, making her gasp but as he pressed against her, his warm body contrasted deliciously with the cold of the door behind her. He groaned throatily as she left his lips to kiss his jaw instead, but before long their lips were together again, like a magnetic pull. The bell chimed in the shop and Lucas groaned non too quietly cursing the customer who'd just walked in.

'Later.' Peyton promised with a whisper in his ear, his eyes closed as he felt her walk past him and back behind the counter, he stood for a second, his hand pressed against the cold surface of the refrigerator before following her. The customers, he found out as he walked around the corner, were Nathan and Haley,

'What were you two doing?' Haley asked suspiciously.

'Getting blueberry pie.' Peyton smiled.

'Err okay, and where is the pie?' Nathan asked as though worried for their state of minds.

'Still in the refrigerator, distractions are a wonderful thing Nate.' Lucas smirked and as Nathan raised an eyebrow and Haley said, 'Ew, I have to work here too ya know?' he added, 'So what can we get you?' Lucas threw a wink over his shoulder at Peyton and she grinned, Nathan rolling his eyes a little.

The tell-tale signs were there and he'd suspected it at Peyton's party but he definitely knew it now and he felt like he'd been walking around with his eyes closed because it was blatantly obvious that;

His brother and the girl that was staying for the summer were falling for each other…and hard.

So don't hate me about the Jake thing... he won't be too much of a big deal but i had to throw in a little drama...just to shake things up a bit ;).

One thing about last episode was the ultrasound... favourite moment, ever. The fact that Lucas remembered and the looks on their faces were so happy. I loved that the end was parts of Lucas' script and obviously past OTH lines being brought up again, it was great. But that little 2 minute scene at the hospital made my whole night!!

Hope you all liked the chapter, i'm estimating that this story should be done by about 35 chapters :S I have a tendency to makes things longer than they need to be, and it's already pretty long at that so i think that'll be it, i don't want to ruin it by dragging the story on. I've written snippets of what is about to come and i really hope you like it. Anyways i hope you liked this chapter first and foremost and thank you for the wondeful people who review because the things that you say make my day too (along with LP+baby :P). They inspire me completely and give me the encouragement to carry on. So thank you for that.