A/N: Your reviews warmed my heart! It inspired me to write a chapter early!

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Chapter 16 Love is Letting Go

"I'll tell you what happened, you idiot!" Brooke said. "Since you're still stuck in high school mode, I'll put it in a way you can understand." She leaned over the counter. "How would you like it if you were on a date with Peyton, and she spent the entire time talking about Jake Jagielski. This is Jake's favorite food. This is Jake's favorite hangout. This is Jake's favorite song. Hey, you should wear this! Jake looked soooo hot in it the last time we went out!" Brooke walked over to him and hit him upside the back of the head.

"Hey! what was that for?" Lucas said, rubbing his head.

"For being an idiot, and ruining my record for date night!" Brooke said. "I was a legend in this town, until you blew it, buster!"

"What she's trying to say is, maybe you should have spent a little more time last night with Peyton instead of with …Peyton." Haley said, confusing herself a little bit.

"But I was with Peyton! She seemed interested in learning about herself, and trying to trigger memories all week. I thought that was what she wanted!" Lucas said, trying to defend himself.

"Ok, I can understand that, except you were ON A DATE, LUCAS! Not a trip down memory lane!" Brooke seethed.

"Ok, ok!" Haley soothed. Turning to Lucas, she asked more calmly. "Going back to Brooke's analogy, how would you feel if she spent the whole night talking about another guy?"

"Not too hot." Lucas said, cringing at the thought of Peyton talking about Jake, a past love of her life, all night. "I would think she secretly wanted him back instead of me."

Both girls looked pointedly at him.

"But she IS Peyton!" Lucas protested. "So it's not the same!"

"Yes, physically she is Peyton, but she isn't the Peyton you used to know, Lucas." Haley said softly.

"Yeah!" Brooke jumped in. "And I'll prove it to you. What's her favorite color, Luke?"

"That's easy. Black."

"No, its Blue, like the color of her kid's eyes and the sky on a clear day. Direct quote, by the way. What's her favorite type of music?"

"Rock" Lucas said confidently.

"Wrong again. As much as I'm embarrassed to say it, it's country. What's the thing she likes to do most in the world, next to play with her kids of course?" Brooke challenged, on a roll, now.

"Oh, I've got this one. Draw."

"Brrnnnnt! Three strikes, you blew it." Brooke slashed the air in a fit of pique. "She loves to dance more than anything."

"Peyton, dance?" Lucas began to laugh. "I admit she likes to do it, but come on, more than drawing?"

Brooke just shook her head, disgusted. "You know, she was right. You are in love with a memory. And until you let the high school Peyton go, you'll never have a chance with the Peyton who's here now."

She walked over and cupped his cheek. "I had to face it, and so do you. Maybe our Peyton did die 4 years ago in that plane crash." She smiled gently. "But that doesn't mean you can't still have the love of your life back. After all, I got my best friend back. I just had to get to know her." She kissed his forehead. "Just think about it. Idiot!" She added affectionately.

"Haley, Knock some sense into our boy, and I'll see if I can do some damage control with our girl." And with that being said, she swept out of the door.

Lucas sat there shaking his head. "I don't get it, Haley." Lucas said, confused. "She is Peyton, I know she is, because I can still feel it here." He pressed a hand to his heart.

Haley sighed. "I know you don't get it, Luke, but if you want Peyton, in any form, you're gonna have to figure it out." Haley got up and gave him a hug. "Maybe instead of trying to show her who she was, you should spend some more time getting to know who she is."

"It's gonna be hard, but you are going to have to say goodbye to the Peyton you knew and loved. And maybe, by getting to know Peyton as she is now, you'll fall in love all over again. I know I have."

And with that, she left him alone to think on what was said.

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"Hey Peyton," Lucas said.

He looked over and smiled ruefully. "I'm sorry, where are my manners? Hello Mrs. Sawyer." He lightly touched her gravestone before bending down in front of Peyton's, which hadn't yet been removed since no one could get in touch with Larry, and he was the only one who could authorize it since he was the one who erected it.

"This is weird, right? I mean, here I am talking to you, yet I see you everyday, cause you're here. I mean, not here, cause you're alive, here, in Tree Hill." He shook his head and tried again.

"Anyway, Haley, and Brooke, and even you tell me I have to let you go, because the you I remember is gone forever." He bent his head, looking at his hands. "I guess I always knew that. To tell you the truth, I guess Ive been holding on so tight to you because I've been just a little scared." Lucas sighed. "It took so much for us to get together the last time- I didn't want to have to start over and have it not work out, you know?" He chuckled softly. "But I guess it wouldn't be us if it wasn't hard, and just like before, you've got me all tied up in knots trying to figure you out."

He took a moment, and stood. "So what I'm trying to say is, goodbye Peyton. I'll always love who you were. But now its time for me to learn to love who you are. Because even if you don't know it yet. I'll love you in any form. True Love Always, remember? It can't be true without the always part. And since you're still alive, we've still got some always left to go."

Pausing by Anna Sawyer's grave, he looked up. "You know, if you could put in a good word for me, Id appreciate it. Your daughter is a hard nut to crack when she gets her back up, and I have a feeling that part hasn't changed a bit. Wish me luck."

And as the wind swirled around him and the leaves danced merrily across the headstones, he smiled in anticipation. With Anna on his side, Peyton didn't stand a chance.

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Knock knock knock.

Peyton went to the door and opened it in surprise to find Lucas on the other side. "Hey, Luke! I wasn't expecting you, but the twins are in their room, getting cleaned up for dinner. You are welcome to join them if you like."

He smiled, hands behind his back. "Actually, I have plans for dinner, but thanks for the invitation." He walked into the house, turning to face her. "First, I wanted to give you these." He pulled his hands from behind his back with a flourish, holding out a fistful of flowers. "They're blue, because I have it on good authority that's your favorite color, and their Delphiniums, because you've been a saint, having to deal with me and my stubbornness."

He continued as she reached out and took them, unable to stop herself from admiring the beautiful blue flowers. "I have no idea if you like flowers or not, but I figured it was worth it, seeing as how that's what a man brings when he wants to ask a girl he likes out on a date."

Peyton looked up, smiling. "I like flowers." She said.

"Good. So does that also mean you'd like to have dinner with me? I don't know if you have soft spots for idiots, but if you do, you won't sorry giving me another chance." Lucas paused until she looked up, so he could look her in the eye. "I'd like to get to know you better."

She could drown in the blue, the same blue she saw everyday in her children's faces, but different, oh so different. Blinking to, she tore herself away from his gaze. "Well, you know I like the color blue and flowers…"

"And blue flowers." Lucas added, making her laugh.

"And blue flowers." Peyton smiled. "So since you know all of that, what more do you need to learn?" She said teasingly.

"Everything," he said seriously, making her smile slowly fade as the air quickly became heavy with tension.

"Whew! Is Broody here? Cause I can feel the electricity all the way over here!" Brooke's voice cut through the silence, breaking the moment as she came into the living room. Peyton busied herself looking for a vase and trying to calm her breathing; Lucas cleared his throat and ran a hand behind his neck. "Hey Brooke."

"Oh ho! Not such an idiot after all, eh Luke?" She went over to him, whispering, "good call with the flowers" in his ear, before heading up the stairs and calling out a little louder. "What did you say Peyton? Can I watch the kids tonight while you go out to dinner with Lucas? Sure I can. Now you two lovebirds have a good time. No, don't mention it. Okay you can mention how wonderful I am." Brooke waggled her finger. "But only to the world, mind you."

Peyton couldn't help but chuckle at Brooke's antics. "So does that laugh mean you'll go out with me tonight?" Lucas said, hopefully.

She didn't need her kids cries of "Yay, Ice cream," echoing down the stairs as they talked to Brooke, to make her decision. The minute he walked through the door with blue flowers instead of black roses, she was willing to give him another chance. And to be perfectly honest, she was excited to see just what he would do with it.

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Got the chapter title from a line in Sheryl Crow's Lullaby for Wyatt, which for some reason is my favorite song right now, even though I don't have any kids. You'll see it again in a fic coming soon! Wink wink

Hey, next chapter is almost written! Can I get at least 25 reviews for another chapter on Friday?