A/N: Ok, so I just reread what I wrote about Lindsay wanting to be in the same motel room in Honey Grove, and that IS way creepy. I was going to write an author's note explaining that just like he left out their interaction at the diner, he also left out the consummation of his relationship to Peyton in Honey Grove because he didn't want to share such a special memory with the world, but then I went back to that chapter and saw that I had written that Lindsay knew exactly what had gone down (ewwww who does that). So I went back and changed it to her not knowing what went down in the hotel room. (Shudder) Me and the muse will have to disagree on that one.

So you guys were so awesome I just had to bang out this chapter. Even though fanfic totally erased all my revisions and I had to spend more time redoing all I had done. Enjoy!

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Chapter 6 The Scientist and the Comet

Apparently she wasn't quite ready for life to change. Bonnie smiled to herself at her obvious avoidance of the book signing- first taking the kids to get ice cream, then letting them run off the sugar in the nearby playground. She knew what she was doing- she just couldn't seem to stop it, afraid that the moment would come at the signing, but more afraid that it wouldn't, and she would be left with the feeling that she had missed something vital.

They didn't make it to the book signing until it was almost quarter to 4, and the line still snaked around the bookstore. Bonnie was surprised; the signing started at one, and was scheduled to end at 4, which is also why she didn't show up until late. She didn't want a lot of people around when she approached the famous author. That was her story, not the one that whispered she was being a giant coward for avoiding what needed to be done.

She had never read Lucas Scott's first book. She had a thing against popular anything, music, art, books, it didn't matter. If the masses liked it, Bonnie was sure not to purchase it, preferring to tread her own path and give her money to the underdogs of the world.

She didn't know where the compulsion came from, and she was probably missing out on some great pieces of work, but when it came to books, if it was a bestseller, it was a guarantee she wouldn't read it. She hadn't read Harry Potter, nor Twilight, and she didn't read the Unkindness of Ravens.

But try as she might, she couldn't stay away from 'the Comet'. Its title called to her, making her stop every time she saw it in the window of a bookstore, or on a shelf in the library. She finally broke down and bought it, but refused to read it, because she didn't read bestsellers, and the Comet was fast following in its predecessors footsteps. She had never read Lucas Scott's works, but here she was, at his booksigning, ready to get the Comet signed.

She supposed it was why she felt the urge to buy the book before; fate must have known Lucas Scott would be in town and she would need entry into speaking with him. The Comet definitely served a purpose greater than a good night's read. And it wasn't like she was missing out on something special; who liked science fiction anyway?

She sent her kids off to the children's section of the bookstore with the admonishment to be good and play quietly. The bookstore's children's section was kid friendly, with toys and chairs, crayons and coloring books, so that the kids could be occupied while their parents shopped. The twins were regulars at the bookstore, both having a voracious appetite for reading, so Bonnie was worried about them being left alone.

Bonnie waved at the clerk who manned the register in the children's section, confident that her babies would be well cared for while she waited in line. The line inched forward slowly, and Bonnie began to worry. It was close to 4 now, and she was nowhere near the front. She had no idea if he was a nice author, and would continue until everyone in line had a turn, or if at 4 o'clock, there would be a regretful announcement about how the author had to go, but appreciated his warm welcome. Translation: 'I've got you to buy the book, now times up; Im going home suckas!'

Looking apprehensively at the two large bodyguards that flanked the table where Lucas was stationed, Bonnie feared this author was one of the latter.

Her fears were confirmed as the owner of the bookstore walked over and began to speak. "We appreciate everyone who came out to support Mr. Scott's newest novel, and we thank you for your purchases. Unfortunately, it is 4 o'clock and the book signing is over. Feel free to browse the bookstore at your leisure, but we ask that you respect Mr. Scott's time and privacy, and not ambush him while he enjoys our lovely town."

As the proprietor made the announcement, Lucas leaned over to Lindsay and whispered, "They've been in line a long time. I don't mind signing autographs for the few remaining people."

Lindsay shook her head. "You do that here, and you'll have to do it in Charleston as well. Not to mention if you do give them an inch, they will take advantage of it and you'll be signing autographs the entire time you are here."

Lucas scoffed. "Yeah, all one day of the time we have left here before Charleston. That would be a hardship." He said sarcastically. But he didn't push the issue- she had done more book signings than he, so he went with her advice, even though he didn't like it.

Lucas smiled as he watched a little girl furtively glance around before making her way past the bodyguards manning his table. They were so busy watching the adults in the bookstore, they didn't even see the tiny toddler that walked up to him and smiled brightly, dimples winking as she chirped out a friendly, "Hi!"

Lucas chuckled at her friendliness. "Hello to you too!" He looked around, then frowned as he didn't see anyone that could be the little girl's mother, and she was way too small to be roaming the store alone.

He leaned over to Lindsay. "There's a baby girl here, and I don't see an adult anywhere around. I don't know who let a 2 year old roam the store alone like this, but Im going to have Cheryl make an announcement so we can find her mother."

They both turned to face the little girl at the sound of her indignant, "Hey!"

Lucas tried to smother a grin at the sight of her frowning, hands on her hips, tapping her tiny foot in annoyance. Her attitude was apparent, endearing and no-nonsense as she informed them, "I am not a baby, and I am not 2, I am 3 years old, thank you very much!" she said, holding up three fingers.

"Oh really?" Lucas said, holding up a hand to Lindsay, who was upset about the child's attitude, and prepared to chastise her. Having been friends with girls as a teenager, and having interacted with his baby sister often, Lucas didn't see anything wrong with how she responded- he actually enjoyed it. "So, miss 3 years old, do you have a name?"

"My name is Anna. Do you have a name?" she said, not giving an inch. But the foot stopped tapping, and her dimples winked again as a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

"Yes I do. My name is Lucas." He said, enjoying the conversation as he waited for the crowd to clear out.

"Hey, that's my brother's middle name!" Anna said in awe, her hands dropping off her hips.

"Well then, your brother must be pretty cool with a name like that." Lucas grinned, happy when the little girl grinned back.

Impatient with their interaction, and still upset that Lucas had preventing her from saying her piece to the little girl, Lindsay leaned over and interrupted. "You should address adults by their last name, and his is Mr. Scott. And just where are you supposed to be right now, young lady? Does your mother know where you are?"

"Oops!" Anna said, cupping her hands to her mouth, her eyes widening. She hadn't told Laura she was leaving the kid's area, and she didn't want to get in trouble. Turning on her heel, she scurried off, back to the children's section. Lucas watched her scamper away, before turning back to Lindsay in disgust. "Did you have to talk to her like that? It's a small bookstore. It's not like she was in danger."

Lindsay sniffed haughtily. "Talk to her like what? The child was not supposed to be over here. All I did was ask her if her mother knew where she was. Obviously she didn't, which is why the little girl left so fast. So really, I was doing her a favor."

Lucas let it drop, unsettled by her choice of actions. Lindsay was never mean to kids, but it didn't seem like she enjoyed them very much. In all the years he had known her, she had never once initiated interaction with either Lily or Jamie, and always cut their attempts short. He didn't let it bother him too much- he had no plans to ever have kids with her, so it didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, but every time it happened, it just made it more obvious the gap between who she was and who he wished she was.

Lucas nodded absentmindedly as Lindsay excused herself, still staring at the entrance to the children's section, watching the little kids enter and exit their special space, hands gripped tightly by their loving parents. He was irked that Lindsay cut short his time with the little girl- he had enjoyed their interaction, and wanted to spark another saucy comment, sure that it would be entertaining. He was so focused on his own thoughts that he didn't notice the commotion that Lindsay had gone over to investigate.

"I just want to ask him a question!" Bonnie said, arguing with the bodyguard who stood, blocking her way to where Lucas was standing.

"Book signing is over." He said, not budging an inch.

"Look, it's not even about the book. Here," she held the book out to him. "You can even hold the book so you know I'm not getting him to sign it. I just want to meet him. Everyone else has left; no ones going to cry foul that I got to speak with him."

"What seems to be the problem?" Lindsay said, coming over to join the bodyguard, having seen him arguing with someonefrom where she sat.

"This lady here is trying to talk to Mr. Scott." The bodyguard uncrossed his arms and gestured to Bonnie. "Though she has a point. Mr. Scott usually doesn't turn away fans, so I was about to let her through."

Lindsay turned to Bonnie. "Look, Ms.-" she stopped in mid-sentence, unsure of what to say next.

"Scoyer." Bonnie said helpfully.

Lindsay made no acknowledgement that Bonnie spoke, but turned her back on her abruptly and spoke forcefully to the bodyguard. "She does not get through. And if she tries again, call the police." Bonnie stared as Lindsay walked away rapidly, back the way she came.

The bodyguard looked apologetically at Bonnie. "I'm sorry, but she's the boss."

"It's okay. I don't want to get you in trouble. I guess it just wasn't meant to be." Bonnie turned and walked away, making her way to the children's section to pick up her kids. She had waited almost 4 years for answers; it didn't pay to dwell on the fact that she would have to wait a little longer. She still had one more day before he left town- maybe she would catch him some other time.

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Lucas strolled through the different sections of the bookstore, eventually making his way over to the children's section, partly because it soothed the ache from missing Lily and Jamie, partly because he was hoping to see Anna again. He didn't want to seem like some creepy guy hanging out in the children's section when he didn't have a kid, especially since it was tucked away in the corner of the bookstore, in an alcove that you only entered if you were going into the children's section. It was a brilliant design, so that the comings and goings could be monitored; Luke smiled at the thought of the wily Anna, who had escaped undetected.

He must have conjured her up, because there she was, waving madly at him on the other side of the entrance, her blond curls bouncing all over the place as her movements made her entire body wiggle. Grinning, he walked towards her, entering the children's section, feeling as through he were a knight and she were a princess, granting him entrance into her palace gates.

"Hello again, Ms. Anna!" he said kneeling in front of her.

"Hello again, Mr. Scott!" she said cheekily, remembering what Lindsay had to her about grownups. She cocked her head to the side, and Lucas blinked. For a moment, she seemed so familiar. But he didn't know anyone in Honey Grove, so he dismissed the thought. "I bet you came to meet my brother. He's three too, so don't call him a baby like you did me."

Lucas smiled. "I bet your right, and thank you for the head's up! Let's go meet your brother with the cool name."

"Ok!" Anna smiled sweetly, before turning and bellowing, "Keith! Co'mere!"

Lucas started at the name she called at the top of her lungs. For someone so small, she had a pair of lungs on her.

He closed his eyes at the sight of the little boy making his way to them, the dart of pain and longing catching Lucas by surprise. His blue eyes shone brightly under a mop of curly blond hair like his sisters, which wasn't surprising, since they were obviously twins, being the same age and all. It wasn't often that he encountered a blond child named Keith, but it happened often enough that he should have been used to his reaction to the vision of a reality he never would have. He always envied the little Keiths' parents (a popular name after the release of his first book) for being able to have what he never could, even as he appreciated them for allowing Keith's memory to continue on. There was no better namesake.

Lucas opened his eyes and watched as the little boy stood beside his sister, actually the size of a three year old. If she hadn't said anything about their ages, he would have thought he was her older brother, not her twin. "Hello Keith," he said, managing a smile for the little boy.

Lucas was pleasantly surprised when the little boy grinned, and held out his hand to shake. Lucas gripped it firmly, smiling a genuine smile at the little boy's contagious grin. He didn't have dimples like his sister, but it was probably a good thing, because his mother already was going to have to fight the girls off with a stick. Whoever she was, she was one lucky woman.

"So I heard your middle name is Lucas." Lucas said. The little boy nodded.

"Momma said she doesn't know why, but it popped into hew head when I was bown. It's a cool name, if I do say so myself."

His lisp only added to his cuteness, and Lucas was hooked. He had to meet their mother and tell her to keep up the good work- her kids were cards.

"It is a cool name, both of them, Mr. Keith Lucas. Where's your mom, so I can tell her what a good job she did picking out such awesome names?"

"Mine too?" Anna piped up, not one to be left out.

Lucas chuckled. "Yours too, though she should have called you princess, Miss Princess Anna."

"Momma calls me Peanut, but I like Princess too." Anna beamed at Lucas, before her eyes widened. "There's Momma now!"

Anna ran past Lucas into the arms of her mother, Keith following closely behind. Lucas couldn't catch a glimpse of her, the kids' heads blocking his view. He made his way over to the reunion, ready to introduce himself when she disentangled herself from her kids. But he didn't have to.

Bonnie stood, a kid attached to each leg and smiled at Lucas, who stood frozen at the sight of her. "Lucas Scott." She shook her head ruefully, chuckling to herself. "Fate just loves to mess with me. I was hoping I'd get to meet you."

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He couldn't breathe. His breath had stopped flowing, his heart had stopped beating, his entire body shut down. And as she continued to speak, her southern drawl, even more pronounced from living in Texas for so long, the sound of her voice triggered life again in every part of his being. Breath shot back into his lungs, his heart beat stronger than ever, his eyes saw everything clearer, his ears heard every little sound. His body tingled, as if his nerve endings were dancing.

It was her. From her brilliant green eyes to that specific shade of blonde hair on her head, even if the curls he remembered were gone, and were replaced by soft waves that fell to the middle of her bacl. Everything down to her hand gestures as she talked had remained the same.

He struggled to focus on what she was saying.

"So my name is Bonnie. Bonnie Scoyer. And I know this is random and far fetched but I was hoping you could help me." She began rapidly, rummaged through her bag searching for something as she continued to speak. "My friend Delores tells me you were in Honey Grove 4 years ago, and apparently so was I, though I don't remember. I don't remember anything before the last four years, but that's another story. Anyway, I was hoping you could clear up a mystery for me."

She pulled out a picture, taken at the Honey Grove Prom. It was tagged, Bonnie and Clyde Scoyer, Prom 2005.

"I really hope you can help me find this man, Clyde Scoyer? I know you have different last names, but he looks just like you, and he was a stranger in town that night just like you were- I was hoping maybe he was a relative of yours, a cousin or something like that. It's really important that I find him."

Lucas took the picture from her outstretched hand, still too stunned to speak. What did one do when the dream from the deepest depths of your heart becomes reality? When a prayer you didn't even know you were reciting becomes answered? When the impossible became possible?

You fall to your knees and thanked the Lord. You shout your joy to everyone who would hear. You cry from the sheer happiness that coursed through your body. You pull the woman you've loved for half your life into your arms and never let go.

Lucas did none of the above. He stared at the picture, looked up at the nervous, yet eagerly hopeful face of Bonnie Scoyer, then turned and walked away, never once uttering a single sound.

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I can't even blame it on my muse this time. In the words of demeter18- I'm evil. But it was getting long, and it was one in the morning, so I had to break the chapter into two. The good news is its already in my head. It just needs some…incentive…to be put on paper. :)

Shall we say- 25 reviews?

As soon as I get 25 reviews I will have the next chapter up within 24 hours. Your reviews will encourage me to forsake all other things and get the next chapter out for you, because I am a woman of my word. And make them good- not just 'ud soon' give me some predictions, because that it what I love most about your reviews. That and you guys telling me your favorite parts (or even telling me your not so favorite parts).

*Juzzy88 and RJMoonSpell4- you have VIP status on my stories- you can keep up your great chapters and good posts and it'll be just fine because I read between the lines ;)*

Ok shoutouts and congratulations to everyone who thought from the beginning this was an amnesia fic! This chapter was actually the one that popped into my head first in a dream, and I had to write the back story to explain it, so there you go.

Special shoutouts to everyone who believed Bonnie was Peyton. I know that it wasn't explicitly said, but if you haven't figured it out yet from the clues, Im sorry for having given it away. Go back and reread the chapter and see if you can pick them out.

Honorary shoutout to ANNIE- who hit the nail EXACTLY on the head!

The rest of the awards go to….

Cayt326

Dragonballzfreak210

MX3sOTHnnLP

LifeofRyan

Christina248

Demeter18

Lalez

Mimijester

Randi-jane.0TH

Shoutouts to everyone who called she was pregnant or thought she was Bonnie before chapter 5- you geniuses you!

Annie

Luke-n-peyton

Marybethothfan

Christina428

Patto85

Looney4MyTunes3